OddCameras.com
ICA Sirene
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.
The Sirene is a folding plate camera, built like a very compact field
camera. Film size is 9x12. The Sirenes are simple entry level cameras.
They feel solid, but are not so easy to manipulate because they lack a
focussing knob and have no double extension. The Sirene was an old
Wünsche model, continued under ICA.
Lens: Ica Periskop Alpha 1:11 focal length not given (said to be
13cm), F11-36
Shutter:
Ica permanent 1/25-1/100 B T (working)
Weight: 813gr.
Size: 160x115x51
Some photos:
A set with case, holder and cable release.
Camera closed. No tripod socket on the bed, it's in the body.
Seen from the right.
Brilliant finder, no spirit level, can be switched to landscape format.
Distance scale on the bed.
Seen from the left. Tripod socket for landscape format on the housing.
Lens and shutter.
Rise/fall and shift movements are possible.
If you loosen the screw for the shift, the stansard tilts a little, but
it's not stable.
Back, hood open.
Ground glass deposed.
The
camera opens via a button on the top. Lower the bed until it clicks
into place. Grab the tab on the front standard and extend to the
infinity mark, there is no automatic stop. You can either use the
finder and the distance indications or the ground glass to focus. As
there is no knob to focus, you have to push the front standard in
either direction. Set shutter speed and aperture, the shutter is a
permanent shutter without cocking. 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 standars beyond the
bed into the housing, 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.
On this one it's very basic. The better ones are a good entry into large
format. As better ones are cheap as well, I would not recommend the basic
ones like this. But it still works after a century. 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.