OFFICIAL I HAVE A NEW (FILM RELATED) TOY THREAD!!
- Thread starter jemdna
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It's now reached the stage where people say "I hear you like old cameras". It perhaps wouldn't go down well if replied more honestly and said "it's a little more nuanced than that. I like some old cameras if they will do what I want them to and in a format I enjoy". Hence me ending up with this:
A Kershaw Eight-20 Penguin. In good condition bar one repairable bellows hole. Quite a nice thing really and very solid. A couple of apertures and a focus mechanism which means in period it would certainly be a step up from a box camera.
Once I've plugged the hole I'll run a film through it.
A Kershaw Eight-20 Penguin. In good condition bar one repairable bellows hole. Quite a nice thing really and very solid. A couple of apertures and a focus mechanism which means in period it would certainly be a step up from a box camera.
Once I've plugged the hole I'll run a film through it.
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- Peter
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A few things I acquired recently.
First a Voitlander Vito B.
The good news...
The camera came in an old school vinyl camera bag and with its case, four filters, the proper lens hood, a working Weston Master 2 meter (reflected light readings from which closely match my Sekonic), cable release, tripod with ball and socket head, Zeiss Ikon Ikoblitz flash and some flash bulbs (just need the correct 15V battery)!, the full kit in pristine condition, only degraded by time.
The bad news...
The camera shutter fires but the shutter does not open. Looks like a sticky lubricant situation. Unfortunately the cost of a repair may be prohibitive.
First a Voitlander Vito B.
The good news...
The camera came in an old school vinyl camera bag and with its case, four filters, the proper lens hood, a working Weston Master 2 meter (reflected light readings from which closely match my Sekonic), cable release, tripod with ball and socket head, Zeiss Ikon Ikoblitz flash and some flash bulbs (just need the correct 15V battery)!, the full kit in pristine condition, only degraded by time.
The bad news...
The camera shutter fires but the shutter does not open. Looks like a sticky lubricant situation. Unfortunately the cost of a repair may be prohibitive.
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- Peter
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Second...
An Ilford Envoy medium format 6x6 camera with case. The shutter works fine. It's an interesting camera maybe inspired by the Agfa Clack and bakelite Kodaks like the Brownie 127. The film plane is curved to compensate, in part, for the simple meniscus lens. This work well for the Agfa Clack so I'm looking forward to using the camera. Only one shutter speed, no aperture settings but two, yes two!, focus settings marked 'PULL OUT FOR PLACES' and 'PUSH IN FOR FACES'. I've always wanted to try one of these. The case is rubbish, by the way, the worst ERC ever designed.
An Ilford Envoy medium format 6x6 camera with case. The shutter works fine. It's an interesting camera maybe inspired by the Agfa Clack and bakelite Kodaks like the Brownie 127. The film plane is curved to compensate, in part, for the simple meniscus lens. This work well for the Agfa Clack so I'm looking forward to using the camera. Only one shutter speed, no aperture settings but two, yes two!, focus settings marked 'PULL OUT FOR PLACES' and 'PUSH IN FOR FACES'. I've always wanted to try one of these. The case is rubbish, by the way, the worst ERC ever designed.
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Third...
Read it from cover to cover as soon as I bought it.
Read it from cover to cover as soon as I bought it.
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But there is more...
I visited an antiques centre (more like a warehouse) near Northampton.
There were a few photographic items which caught my eye; a big box of photographs, two magic lantern slide projectors and a couple of Daguerreotypes.
Of the projectors, one was a wreck but the second was in pretty good shape. both only £85 each. I had to pass because the good machine was huge, almost industrial in scale and I've given away all my slides to a local collector. The Daguerreotypes were interesting and a bit expensive but I don't collect early images. There were two of children, one of which I feel certain was post mortem. They were pictures I would like to own, definitely, but I just have to resist the temptation some times. In the end I bought these four pictures.
I like the Queen Victoria look alike in the second picture. The negative of the first photograph seems to have been tampered with to suggest an aura around the woman.
Both the CDV's were made in the North West so I had to have them. The last photograph makes me wonder why the man is wearing a pith helmet, could the picture have been taken somewhere abroad?
I visited an antiques centre (more like a warehouse) near Northampton.
There were a few photographic items which caught my eye; a big box of photographs, two magic lantern slide projectors and a couple of Daguerreotypes.
Of the projectors, one was a wreck but the second was in pretty good shape. both only £85 each. I had to pass because the good machine was huge, almost industrial in scale and I've given away all my slides to a local collector. The Daguerreotypes were interesting and a bit expensive but I don't collect early images. There were two of children, one of which I feel certain was post mortem. They were pictures I would like to own, definitely, but I just have to resist the temptation some times. In the end I bought these four pictures.
I like the Queen Victoria look alike in the second picture. The negative of the first photograph seems to have been tampered with to suggest an aura around the woman.
Both the CDV's were made in the North West so I had to have them. The last photograph makes me wonder why the man is wearing a pith helmet, could the picture have been taken somewhere abroad?
stevelmx5
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If you find that it’s a bit bulky, my SnapShot is lighter (around 600g without lens) and offers both standard and technical (15mm rise/fall/shift) lens cones with a full International/Graflok standard spring back.
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Very nice. Hope it is in good working order.
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- Wayne
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The crown Graphic is surprisingly ergonomic, the strap being on the left leaves the right hand totally free to do all the fiddling about with the lens apertures and movement adjustments.
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All good so far, very happy, had to rearrange the order of the ground glass and fresnel but all good, the pillock who tightened the ground glass clamps had tightened them to the same torque as a wheel nut.
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More new toys,
Run out of 510 pyro and been told that the Pyrocat HD is better so made some. Found a new SH bookshop in town, pick what you want and make a donation so I gave a fiver for the two. I was concerned that I was being a bit tight but the staff were made up.
Run out of 510 pyro and been told that the Pyrocat HD is better so made some. Found a new SH bookshop in town, pick what you want and make a donation so I gave a fiver for the two. I was concerned that I was being a bit tight but the staff were made up.
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Finally got a replacement lens for my R4!
ChrisR
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But, but, but... it's all wonky!!! (
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- Ian Grant
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I was going through my German 35mm & 120 cameras, and made a discovery.
2 Leicas, a Contax, 2 Wrras, a Praktina, and Exa & Exacta, Ikonta, Super Ikonta, and 2 Rolleiflex camera.
The Werramatic, bottom right, was boughtr for £20 in February, came with the lens hood & cap, as well as its case. It's fully functional, meter is accurate. What I hadn't realised until 2 days ago is this is one of the Werras that take interchangeable lenses.
Two other CZJ lenses were available a 35mm an 100mm, thge view fider has the bright-lines for all 3 lensews.
I showed a friend this camera last night, he's a photographer and also a prototype engineering engineer, he was amazed at the build quality. It's an East German camera, the only camera made in the Carl Zeiss Jena lens factory. The focusing is in Metres and Feet.
Now to find the 35mm & 100mm lenses for a reasonable price.
Ian
2 Leicas, a Contax, 2 Wrras, a Praktina, and Exa & Exacta, Ikonta, Super Ikonta, and 2 Rolleiflex camera.
The Werramatic, bottom right, was boughtr for £20 in February, came with the lens hood & cap, as well as its case. It's fully functional, meter is accurate. What I hadn't realised until 2 days ago is this is one of the Werras that take interchangeable lenses.
Two other CZJ lenses were available a 35mm an 100mm, thge view fider has the bright-lines for all 3 lensews.
I showed a friend this camera last night, he's a photographer and also a prototype engineering engineer, he was amazed at the build quality. It's an East German camera, the only camera made in the Carl Zeiss Jena lens factory. The focusing is in Metres and Feet.
Now to find the 35mm & 100mm lenses for a reasonable price.
Ian
ChrisR
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I had a Werra 1 as my only camera from 1967 for 4-5 years or so. Stopped using it soo after I got onto my Pentax SLR track, and then som 30 yers later gave it away to a charity shop. I do regret that. The lens was excellent. I have thought of getting another one... but no, maybe not! I remember the film loading faff, and the lens sticks out far too much for the pocketable mission I have in mind (plus I'd prefer an on-board light meter these days). But it's interesting to see how they have developed from my early model.
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Shoreditch Design week is looking pretty cool especially the Design Burger 100 just around the corner from the Town Hall.
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- Allen
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I would not paint it black as the paint may flake off causing future problems.
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- Chris Tarling
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Never (until now) owned a Pentax. The MX shutter is capping at 1/1000s. Anything below is OK so will send for a CLA. Bit disappointing given the description of the camera on ebay. Hey ho.
ChrisR
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AFAIK there isn't a Pentax-M 24mm lens, and the Pentax-A 24/2.8 has its lettering outside the barrel; there also isn't a Pentax-M 30mm lens (see https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-M-Lenses-c27.html), so I suspect these two are the earlier "K" lenses, more closely derived from the screw-mount Takumars. The 30mm and 120mm (definitely a M) get great ratings from PentaxForum users, and the 24mm does OK, too. The M 50/1.7 is also a lovely, small, light lens; the 1.4 is heavier and only slightly better IMO. You've got a spectacular set there, Chris!
I've had multiple MXs (daily drivers rather than shelf queens); the most expensive issue for me has been variable frame spacing. I'm now gentler and more consistent in my film advance, and don't seem to have an issue any more.
I love my LX, though it's heavier. Metering is superlative (down to -6.5 EV and up to 120 seconds exposure in auto mode!); I tend to use it for colour, either negative or transparency, or for low light. Add 1 or 2 stops of EC in Auto and let it do its thing!
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Back in June I posted a photo of an unusual camera system. I have now made a YT video if anyone wants to see a little more detail and (non clinical) photos from it.
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- Kell
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I've decided to stop my scatter-gun approach to buying Minolta lenses.
I've now ended up with several generations (below), partly just through 'GAS' and partly as some lenses came with Cameras I've bought. So from here on in, I'm only going to (deliberately) go for MCII lenses.
I may well end up selling on the other kit, but there are one or two lenses I'll probably hold on to. Especially as they never made an MCII zoom and I really like a couple of the zooms.
To that end, I've picked up five more MCII lenses since my last post.
The 58/1.2 - like the last one I posted, this is also a radioactive thoriated glass version so is a little warm. I've bought a cheap UV torch, so I'll see if it makes any difference.
MCII 58mm f/1.2 ROKKOR-PG by Kell, on Flickr
58 1.2 MCII Front by Kell, on Flickr
The 58/1.4 - I wasn't originally going to get this as well as the f/1.2, but after months of searching for a good f/1.2 I was giving up and kept seeing a mint f/1.4 for sale, so I bought it. Then the very next morning, a good, relatively inexpensive, UK lens came up on my alerts, so I bought that too.
58 1.4 MCII Front by Kell, on Flickr
MCII 58mm f/1.4 ROKKOR-PF by Kell, on Flickr
The 200/3.5 - I have an MC-X version of this, which is good. This is the first lens I've bought from Japan and was really pleased with the way it went. The only downside is that the lens was a steal at £30, but the postage was £30.
MCII 200MM F/3.5 TELE ROKKOR-QF by Kell, on Flickr
The 135/3.5 - it was a spares or repairs lens that was just £15 as it had oil on the aperture. I've stripped it down and cleaned it and was going to use it today to test but forgot my memory card.
The 100/2.5 - this is currently on its way.
I know (or suspect) that a lot of you have more lenses than this, but it's too many for me really. So I am planning to thin it out a bit.
This is the current list - separated by generations.
Lenses OCT 2026 copy by Kell, on Flickr
Primes
ARI 55 f/2 (1414490)
ARII 55 f/1.8 (3421715)
MC-X 200 f/3.5 (5554194)
MC-X 50 f/2 (1018123)
MCI 135 f/2.8 (1167556)
MCI 58/1.4 (5066710)
MCII 135 f/3.5 (1558010)
MCII 135 f2.8 (1597420)
MCII 200 f/3.5. (5541814)
MCII 28 f/2.5 (1553252)
MCII 28 f/3.5 (1558085)
MCII 300 f/4.5 (3512394)
MCII 35 f2.8 (4599102)
MCII 58/1.2 (2559177)
MCII 58/1.4 (5717223)
MCII 85/1.7 (2504250)
MDI 16 f/2.8 (1201554)
MDII 100 f/2.5 (1215955)
MDII 24 f/2.8 (2210712)
MDII 28 f/2.8 (1173498)
MDII 35 f/1.8 (1201642)
MDII 45 f/2 (1614827)
MDII 50 f/1.2 (1006245)
MDIII 135 f/3.5 (8080639)
MDIII 20 f/2.8 (8003300)
MDIII 28 f/2.8 (8007413)
MDIII 50 f/1.4 (8208790)
MDIII 50 f/1.7 (9805945)
Zooms
MDII 50-135 f/3.5 (1033140)
MDIII 24-35 f/3.5 (1004363)
MDIII 24-50 f/4 (8003594)
MDIII 28-85 f/3.5-4.5 (1006561)
MDIII 35-70 f/3.5 (1189564)
MDIII 70-210 f/4 (1053724)
MDIII 75-150 f/4 (1029992)
MDIIIa 28-70 f/3.5-4.8 (52003979)
MDIIIa 28-70 f/3.5-4.8 (56012150)
Panagor 80-200/3.8
Tamron Adaptall 80-210/3.8-4.0
I've now ended up with several generations (below), partly just through 'GAS' and partly as some lenses came with Cameras I've bought. So from here on in, I'm only going to (deliberately) go for MCII lenses.
I may well end up selling on the other kit, but there are one or two lenses I'll probably hold on to. Especially as they never made an MCII zoom and I really like a couple of the zooms.
To that end, I've picked up five more MCII lenses since my last post.
The 58/1.2 - like the last one I posted, this is also a radioactive thoriated glass version so is a little warm. I've bought a cheap UV torch, so I'll see if it makes any difference.
MCII 58mm f/1.2 ROKKOR-PG by Kell, on Flickr
58 1.2 MCII Front by Kell, on Flickr
The 58/1.4 - I wasn't originally going to get this as well as the f/1.2, but after months of searching for a good f/1.2 I was giving up and kept seeing a mint f/1.4 for sale, so I bought it. Then the very next morning, a good, relatively inexpensive, UK lens came up on my alerts, so I bought that too.
58 1.4 MCII Front by Kell, on Flickr
MCII 58mm f/1.4 ROKKOR-PF by Kell, on Flickr
The 200/3.5 - I have an MC-X version of this, which is good. This is the first lens I've bought from Japan and was really pleased with the way it went. The only downside is that the lens was a steal at £30, but the postage was £30.
MCII 200MM F/3.5 TELE ROKKOR-QF by Kell, on Flickr
The 135/3.5 - it was a spares or repairs lens that was just £15 as it had oil on the aperture. I've stripped it down and cleaned it and was going to use it today to test but forgot my memory card.
The 100/2.5 - this is currently on its way.
I know (or suspect) that a lot of you have more lenses than this, but it's too many for me really. So I am planning to thin it out a bit.
This is the current list - separated by generations.
Lenses OCT 2026 copy by Kell, on Flickr
Primes
ARI 55 f/2 (1414490)
ARII 55 f/1.8 (3421715)
MC-X 200 f/3.5 (5554194)
MC-X 50 f/2 (1018123)
MCI 135 f/2.8 (1167556)
MCI 58/1.4 (5066710)
MCII 135 f/3.5 (1558010)
MCII 135 f2.8 (1597420)
MCII 200 f/3.5. (5541814)
MCII 28 f/2.5 (1553252)
MCII 28 f/3.5 (1558085)
MCII 300 f/4.5 (3512394)
MCII 35 f2.8 (4599102)
MCII 58/1.2 (2559177)
MCII 58/1.4 (5717223)
MCII 85/1.7 (2504250)
MDI 16 f/2.8 (1201554)
MDII 100 f/2.5 (1215955)
MDII 24 f/2.8 (2210712)
MDII 28 f/2.8 (1173498)
MDII 35 f/1.8 (1201642)
MDII 45 f/2 (1614827)
MDII 50 f/1.2 (1006245)
MDIII 135 f/3.5 (8080639)
MDIII 20 f/2.8 (8003300)
MDIII 28 f/2.8 (8007413)
MDIII 50 f/1.4 (8208790)
MDIII 50 f/1.7 (9805945)
Zooms
MDII 50-135 f/3.5 (1033140)
MDIII 24-35 f/3.5 (1004363)
MDIII 24-50 f/4 (8003594)
MDIII 28-85 f/3.5-4.5 (1006561)
MDIII 35-70 f/3.5 (1189564)
MDIII 70-210 f/4 (1053724)
MDIII 75-150 f/4 (1029992)
MDIIIa 28-70 f/3.5-4.8 (52003979)
MDIIIa 28-70 f/3.5-4.8 (56012150)
Panagor 80-200/3.8
Tamron Adaptall 80-210/3.8-4.0
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- Messages
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- Brian
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This arrived last week, the latest recruit to my medium format gang. These cameras are notoriously complex and, if the handbook procedures are not followed to the letter they lock up and repairers are a challenge. But I want to take the chance as it is reputedly much better than the Hasselblad CM500 series, but released ten years too late! (Anyway, as the Germans say, why would anyone not want to follow the procedures). So I have read, re-read and memorised the handbook on my .........
Rolleiflex SL66
Examples from first roll here
Rolleiflex SL66
Examples from first roll here
excalibur2
My F4's Broken...
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If you turn the lens round and mount it's for close-ups. For me the shutter speeds stopped working and had to have it repaired, also for portraits (unless you buy expensive leaf lens), the 1/30 sec flash sync wasn't of much use for me. Anyway I liked it until I bought the RB67 and bronica etrs and then it didn't get much use and sold it.This arrived last week, the latest recruit to my medium format gang. These cameras are notoriously complex and, if the handbook procedures are not followed to the letter they lock up and repairers are a challenge. But I want to take the chance as it is reputedly much better than the Hasselblad CM500 series, but released ten years too late! (Anyway, as the Germans say, why would anyone not want to follow the procedures). So I have read, re-read and memorised the handbook on my .........
Rolleiflex SL66
Examples from first roll here
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I knew a repairer, years ago, who was Rollei trained and a wizard with the TLRs.
I once asked him about the SL66 and he was not an enthusiast. He gave it the ultimate insult by saying "even those people at Bronica made a better machine!"
I once asked him about the SL66 and he was not an enthusiast. He gave it the ultimate insult by saying "even those people at Bronica made a better machine!"
excalibur2
My F4's Broken...
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Well I bought my SL66 in 1980 so it wasn't that old and was disappointed the shutter speed mechanism stopped working, but in those days plenty of places to get film cameras repaired.I knew a repairer, years ago, who was Rollei trained and a wizard with the TLRs.
I once asked him about the SL66 and he was not an enthusiast. He gave it the ultimate insult by saying "even those people at Bronica made a better machine!"
IMO the SL66 was German over engineered with more things to go wrong, the RB67 was crude in comparison but hey it worked with no problems after 46 years........ so far.
For me I would never buy a Rollei camera again only because I'm unlucky with that make and the tele rollei I had is another story
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I had a lot of trouble with a Rolleiflex T but my Tele-Rolleiflex was as reliable as any camera I've owned. In the end I sold it on at very nice profit and put the money towards a Hasselblad....because I'm unlucky with that make and the tele rollei I had is another story