What is it about old German folding cameras? I have a number of them and, while they can feel clunky compared to point-and-shoot cameras, or DSLRs (or mirrorless), there is something just so wonderful about using a film camera.
This is a cropped 6×9 image from my Zeiss Ikon Ercona, ca. 1950 and serviced by Jurgen Kreckel. His cameras are well worth their costs, high or low.
I have problems figuring out how to go up or down with a camera-top viewfinder. My brain doesn’t seem to “get it” but maybe I’ll get the other half to logically explain it to me. He’s good at that.
So, out for a walk to check out the camera – I bought it last July – and trying to become familiar with the camera, and guestimating exposures. Some good pictures resulted, and some dogs. I’m better at guessing exposure factors for 100 speed film. I used a roll of 120 Portra 400 film as my test roll.
Whenever I get film back, I am always so pleased. I really do prefer it to digital, hands down, but digital has its place, too. This Ercona was fun to use, a bit of a pain, too, but whenever you have something new in hand, or something old, there is always a bit of a trial-and-error period. This happens even if you have shot with the camera before.
A rose by any other name, and shot with any camera, is pretty sweet – even better when you like your photo!
Ink, Yarn & Beer 
Lovely! You can’t go wrong with Zeiss, I have an Ikoflex TLR which I love, keeping my eye out for an Ikonta with a Tessar lens in working condition!
I can’t fault you for liking the Zeiss cameras, but did you know other 120 cameras are furnished with Tessars? Isolettes with Solinar lenses are the equivalent, and the Isolettes, if properly repaired, are lovely to work with. My Certo 6 camera is, I think, a Tessar. My Ercona has a Zeiss Novar, which is really nice. I like the Heliar and also the Anastigmat lenses on different cameras. As long as the camera works, each has a personality of its own – the beauty of old glass.
Happy Holidays!!