Zeiss Ikon Netter 6x4.5 - "nice if stopped down" ?

[IloveTLRs]

Hi.

I'm debating on getting a Zeiss Ikon Nettar 6x4.5. I've looked around the internet and a bunch of people have said it's a nice camera if stopped down. My question is, what happens if it's opened up? Is it soft? Is there swirly bokeh? Vignetting?

I like to use all f-stops on my cameras (also I don't print, I dev then scan) so I'd like some advice from folks with experience. Thanks

[Ole]

It's soft, with very soft corners. No swirleys either - just mush.

[IloveTLRs]

Hmmm, doesn't sound too bad. Pretty mush or cheap, dark lens mush?

And I hate swirlies ... are they confined to old Japanese lenses or it just my bad experience?

[k_jupiter]

Somewhat soft in the corners, more like the problem tends to be that at open apertures, what you are foguessing at won't be in focus. Maybe it's just me, but I usually have an idea of what I would like to have in focus and that doesn't quite happen at 5.6.

OTOH.. at f11 on down, my 6x6 Nettars are quite nice, I can usually guestimate distances so at that apertures, it looks nice, while I can still get a bit of fall off at the horizon.

BTW, what model Nettar is 6x4.5? I have only been aware of 6x6 and 6x9.


tim in san jose

[IloveTLRs]

It looks like this: http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~tobiko/nettar.html

I might steer clear of it then. I like to use all the f-stops on my cameras.

[Ian Grant]

Which is virtually identical to an Ikonta 521, except the Ikonta film wind is on the top next to the shutter release.

Ian

[Mark Layne]

Nettars come with either Tessars or Novars. The latter are triplets made by Rodenstock or Hensoldt and should not be discounted. Either of these lenses needs to be stopped down probably 2 stops, but most of the fuzzy problem comes from front standards that are now a bit out of focus. I have had to recheck the focus on almost every old folder I own
Mark

[JPD]

Nettars come with either Tessars or Novars.

...or Nettar Anastigmat.

It shouldn't be difficult to find a pre-war Nettar or Ikonta with Tessar for $60 or less.

[IloveTLRs]

...or Nettar Anastigmat.

Yep, the one I'm looking at has that lens.

[Mark Layne]

Yep, the one I'm looking at has that lens.

The Tessars usually had better shutters
Mark