OddCameras.com                          ICA Icar 180

The ICA cameras were produced between 1909 and 1926. ICA was a merger of four reknown camera makers: Hüttig AG, Dresden, Kamerawerk Dr. Krügener, Frankfurt/Main, Wünsche AG, Reick (near Dresden) and Carl Zeiss Palmos AG, Jena. They joined their forces to become the Internationale Camera AG (ICA), Dresden. In 1926 ICA, Dr. Ernemann, one of the best German camera makers, Goerz and Contessa-Nettel merged to become Zeiss Ikon, Dresden. Outside of Germany they kept selling ICA named cameras for some years, so there could be ICA cameras with shutters and lenses from 1928 or so.

Because of its name, the Icar 180 model must be a new model, after the 1909 merger. The 4 merged companies kept producing some of their old lines under their old model name. I could not find out which company made the Icars, as Zeiss made "Icar" lenses, it might have been the Zeiss Palmos camera making plant.

The Icar 180s are folding plate cameras, built like very compact field cameras. Film size is 9x12. These cameras are above the entry level. They feel solid, are easy to manipulate, but do not have double extension. The lenses are interchangeable, a feature which is not common on this type of camera. I own 2 of these. Here is the first:

Lens: Zeiss Icar 1:6.3 13.5cm,
F6.3-36, interchangeable lens/shutter unit
Shutter: Ica Compound 1-1/100 B T (nw)
Weight: 839gr.
Size: 157x110x45

Some photos:

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A nice set, somewhat worn from use, with a case, several holders, a push-on filter and a 120 roll film back.

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Camera closed. Tripod socket on the bed.

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Seen from the right. Brilliant finder with spirit level, can be switched to landscape format. There is no wire frame on this camera.

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Seen from the left. Distance scale. The tab has to be pressed down to move and blocks itself when released. Tripod socket for landscape format on the housing.

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Lens and shutter.

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Lens/shutter unit deposed.
The lens/shutter blocks can be switched between the Icar, the Toska and the Ideal, but my Toska has a smaller hole in the front standard. So some blocks are too big to pass through the hole. One could easily widen the hole by 2mm and they would fit.
 
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Rise/fall and shift movements are possible, risen and shifted left a bit.

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Back, hood open.

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Ground glass deposed.

As there was a roll film back, some photos of it:.

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It slides into the back instead of a plate holder. Red window covered by a little slider.

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Film advance.

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Holder open and insert taken out. Note the simple, but effective light seals made of gummed canvas.

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Insert inserted.

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Seen from the film plane, dark slide out.

And now the second model:

Lens: Zeiss Novar Anastigmat 1:6.8 13.5cm, F6.8-36, interchangeable lens/shutter unit
Shutter: Ica permanent 1-1/100 B T (working)
Weight: 845gr. w/o ground glass, but with a holder
Size: 160x114x40 w/o ground glass

Some photos:


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It came with a leather case and holders, but no ground glass and hood. I looks less used.

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Seen from the right. This one has a wire frame.

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And from the left.


jpgodd/ica_icar_180_2_IMG_7886.jpgLens and shutter.

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Unit deposed.

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Rise/fall and shift movements are possible.

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Holder deposed..

The camera opens via a button on the left side, near the top. Lower the bed until it clicks into place. Squeeze the tabs on the front standard and extend, there is an automatic stop. You can either use the finder and the distance indications or the ground glass to focus. Set shutter speed and aperture, cock the shutter if it's not a permanent one. Put a film holder into place, lift the dark slide and take your photo. Do not forget to put the dark slide again. To shut the camera, push the front standard to the end of the bed, press the hinges of the bed and it will close.

These cameras are about a century old. The lenses are uncoated and the shutters are simple. Nevertheless they are a good entry into large format. The cameras are leightweight and very compact seen the film size. 9x12 film is still made. These cameras are very cheap, simple to use and can give a lot of fun.

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