CameraWorth.com

Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/16 (Ikonta B, Opton)

The Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/16 (Ikonta B) is a folding medium-format roll film camera taking 6×6 cm exposures on 120 film, produced by Zeiss Ikon in the post-war era. Examples fitted with Opton-branded lenses reflect the West German Zeiss output following the company's split, and the camera sat as a compact folder aimed at amateur photographers.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Ikonta 521/16 have ranged widely from around £12 to £170, reflecting how condition-sensitive folders of this age have become in today's market. The three recorded saleroom results give a median near £100, and buyers should note these are wholesale hammer figures rather than retail asking prices, so a tidy user-grade example is typically worth materially more once dealer margins are added. Variant and lens configuration — particularly whether the camera carries an Opton Tessar — drives much of the spread in what the model sells for.

Variants

Select a variant to filter the sales history below.

Variant Years Edition Sales Price Range
standard Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar lens (non-Opton, vs Zeiss-Opton Oberkochen Tessar on parent) — — 1 £85 – £85
I have one to sell

Sales History

Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.

Based on 14 recorded sales.

Last checked on eBay: 14 August 2026. Most recent sale: August 2026.

Date Price Value GBP Source Variant
Aug 2026 £9 £9 🇬🇧 eBay —
Aug 2026 USD 120 £89 🇺🇸 eBay —
Jul 2026 EUR 35 £30 🇪🇺 eBay —
Jul 2026 £46 £46 🇬🇧 eBay —
Jul 2026 USD 60 £45 🇺🇸 eBay —
Aug 2024 £12 £10 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions —
Nov 2023 £50 £40 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions —
Nov 2016 EUR 200 £174 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction —
Dec 2010 EUR 100 £85 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction standard Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar lens (non-Opton, vs Zeiss-Opton Oberkochen Tessar on parent)
Nov 2003 EUR 172 £119 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction —
Nov 2003 EUR 172 £119 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction —
Nov 2003 EUR 104 £72 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction —
May 2003 EUR 250 £178 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction —
May 2003 EUR 167 £119 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction —
Have one of these? Get a free valuation →

Frequently asked questions

What is a Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 521/16 worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer results span roughly £12 to £170, with a median value near £100 for examples in typical used condition.

How much does an Ikonta B sell for at auction?

Clean, working examples with an Opton lens have sold for around £170 at the top end, while rougher bodies change hands for well under £50.

What affects the price of an Ikonta 521/16?

Bellows condition, shutter accuracy, cosmetic wear and the specific lens variant are the main factors determining what the camera sells for.

Other Zeiss Ikon cameras