Zeiss Ikon Compur Cocarette Analogue camera

This Zeiss Ikon Cocarette produced in Dresden, Germany, circa 1930, is one of the most elegant and technically refined bellows cameras of its era. Designed for 116 roll film, it yields 6.5 × 11 cm negatives, ideal for portraits and landscapes rich in detail. This special edition stands out for its automatic front-opening mechanism, activated by pressing the side button, an advanced feature for its time that improved both speed and precision in composing the shot.

The camera is equipped with a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:4.5 f = 12 cm lens, renowned for its exceptional sharpness and beautiful tonal contrast. Designed by the legendary Paul Rudolph, the Tessar was one of Zeiss’s most famous lenses, and its inclusion in this model underscores its high quality. It is mounted on a Compur shutter with exposure times ranging from Bulb to 1/250 s. Mechanically, the camera functions correctly; it has not been tested with film, but the shutter and trigger system operate smoothly, a clear sign of excellent care over the years.

The black leather bellows are in splendid condition, retaining their original flexibility with no light leaks. The metal parts retain their luster, and the Zeiss Ikon and Cocarette inscriptions are clearly legible on both the body and the front support. This exemplar includes the original internal spool for advancing and winding the film, making it complete and ready to use, requiring only a compatible 116 film, along with its original case.

The Cocarette series, produced by Zeiss Ikon between 1926 and 1932, was distinguished by mechanical precision, compact design, and robustness. The leather-textured metal body, the clean lines, and the chrome details reflect the industrial refinement of Germany between the two world wars.

Dimensions: 17 × 8.5 cm (6.7 × 3.35 inches).

Produced up to around 1932, the Cocarette remained a symbol of German photographic engineering before World War II. Today, these cameras are sought after by collectors and enthusiasts for their balance of aesthetic beauty, structural solidity, and historical significance within the Zeiss Ikon catalog.