OFFICIAL I HAVE A NEW (FILM RELATED) TOY THREAD!!

[auntiemaryscanary]

Just acquired a Periflex - something I always hankered after in my youth and now in old age can indulge myself with.

It came with a Periflash electronic flash gun. Intersting construction in aluminium sheet. Large capacitor to fire the flash and mains powered.

Unfortunately it only has a 2 cord flex. I think that I may fit a new 3 core flex with a proper earth before I plug it in!

I'd never heard of Periflex but pleased I looked it up. Looks a very interesting camera. Someone has put in lot of effort to record the camera maker and its products on this little website https://corfield.org/camera/corfield.htm

 

[StephenM]

The bits of the web site I looked at were interesting. My first job was with STC at the time when Kenneth Corfield was in charge, but some years before that I bought a Corfield Lumimeter, an enlarging exposure meter which I still have. Once calibrated for the paper etc., it gave the exposure time and the paper grade to use. Later on Kenneth Corfield was involved with Gandolfi Cameras.

 

[Cluster]

My fascination with 50s and 60s cameras continues.
Adox wasn't really on my radar until I noticed this nice scale focus camera on the auction site. I won it and it arrived soon after.
Adox Polomat 1S is a 1960-64 scale focus camera, with a Prontor 500LK shutter and a Radionar L 45mm/f2.8 lens (with Lanthanum).
I discovered that their similar "Polomatic" range have automatic exposure, based on their Selenium meters, so may be worth avoiding as a user.

Whilst the similarly specified Balda Baldamatic is based on a die-cast main body, this one is plastic. It looks to be of high quality.
My example has a non-working Selenium needle match light meter (they are rarely even nearly accurate at this age anyway) and a nice mechanical DOF pointer system very similar to some Balda models. The aperture is displayed within the VF, a nice touch.

Test film loaded and few frames shot today, in overcast conditions. I hope to try another six in sunlight before developing the short strip of around 12 frames.

 

[Jakemico AE-1P]

Told myself I was selling the Pentax 67 and would do some good with the cash….

This wasn’t what I had in mind. And the 50mm 1.2 AIS is in the mail

 

[desf]

Told myself I was selling the Pentax 67 and would do some good with the cash….

This wasn’t what I had in mind. And the 50mm 1.2 AIS is in the mail

You did good.

I had a black one many moons ago, lovely camera.

 

[Cluster]

On a wet weekend, I browsed old cameras for sale and was struck by how smart this camera looked. A little searching on t'internet showed that it is possible (it even looks to be easy!) to cut a roll of 120 film to use on a 127 camera. I was the the only bidder, and won it at a price less than the postage cost.

It is a lovely example of style over function. It has all the complexity of a box camera and very likely, IQ to match.
I'm looking forward to trying a few frames in it.
1955 Ferrania Tanit. Fixed aperture, fixed speed (+B) and a some degree of focus adjustment. 4x3 on 127 film.



The wet weekend was a long weekend, once I had accepted that I needed another old camera, a few others were added to the haul.

1958 Bilora Bella 44, a German made camera with two shutter speeds (+B), two apertures and focus! 4x4 on 127 film.
A beautifully made die cast body and back, looks the business (but, of course, is not)! Has a two element lens.


A rather odd looking Ferrania Ibis from 1955/56. Has a pop-out lens and no adjustments at all.
So ugly that it is quite cool (like a 2CV). This one needs a little attention to the shutter. 4x6 on 127 film.



And... an Agfa Jsoly (sometimes called a Junior Isoly). 1960-64. Does 4x4 on 120 film. Some sources attribute the Holga to this camera design.
Fixed shutter, fixed focus, two apertures and a tiny slide-in extra lens to give a close up.
This one was nearly ready to go, just a clean up and straightening of the winding knob.



Oh, I nearly forgot....
A super simple Ferrani Eura, uses 120 film to give 6x6 frames. A box camera with shape.... very light plastic construction.
This one needs a clean and a shutter fix.



Some of these came in a job lot, so not all were my direct choice........

I feel much better now.

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

Enlarger controller/ timer arrived yesterday and looking better after a good clean



Connected to a 15w incandescent lamp for testing. Corresponding sockets (pictured) to be fitted to both enlargers tomorrow. I will finally have control of exposure times when wet printing in the shed darkroom.

Never heard of Haupt as a manufacturer. Internet search no help - it seems Haupt is a fairly a common surname. Says made in Germany so I'm assuming made post- reunification as it would say made in GDR or West Germany.

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

Auction site bundle (from a registered charity) purchase has arrived



Mainly purchased for the safelight (unused and shop priced £27.41, supplied bulb makes it work) the 10x12 trays, also unused and with the bonus of some sealed MG III RC De Luxe (8x10, 25 sheets)





The Durst tank and single 35mm spiral didn't seal the deal but I'm sure I'll use it. The full boxed set of unused Ilford MG filters wasn't even on the listing so will be cut down to fit the Axomat 3.

What intrigues me, but again not the main reason for purchase, is this described as a "Durst 35mm Roll Film Reel Loader"


Never heard of it before, not a clue of how it works!

Edit for spelling and grammar.

 

[john.margetts]

So what sort of camera is this in its nice red Leitz box and only costing £8.00?

Well, not any sort of camera. It is one of these : a Leitz ELDIA 17900W


Which is a device to turn b&w negatives into b&w positives for projection. It is not of any use to me but us interesting to have in my collection.

 

[antonroland]

Trying to upload…

 

[PeterSpencer]

Just couldn't resist this...

Kodak Specialist Camera Model 2 Police Camera Assembly, almost complete set in case.

Camera, 203mm Ektar, camera stand, extension bed, auxiliary base (so you can move the camera backwards and forwards without moving the tripod), half plate back, quarter plate back, quarter plate repeating back (for two shots on a single plate or film sheet), two lens hoods, remains of the flash lead. Just missing plate or film holders, cable release and dark cloth, all of which can be separately sourced.

Here shown alongside my Brand 5x4.





I'm led to believe that it will take 5x7 as well as half plate film holders so I'm going along that route for now.

First there is a matter of tidying it up, especially the tripod which has quite a bit of corrosion. The focussing rack is very stiff so I guess it needs cleaning and regreasing.The lens also needs a service as it only works on B and T.

 

[PeterSpencer]

Fixed the tripod as well as I can.





Wire wool, emery paper and lots of elbow grease. Finished off with machine wax on the vulnerable parts and a tiny bit of silicone grease here and there.

Everything works fine now.

Moving on to the camera itself tomorrow.

 

[PeterSpencer]

I took the socket head cap screws out to see if the head would come off, the screws came out easily but I didn't manage to get the head off. So that's how it is. I would have liked to take the cover off the gearbox to check the lubrication but didn't want to risk breaking owt, the cover screws are quite badly corroded. I think the tripod must have been stored in a garage or loft for some time, considering the condition. Not so the camera I believe (hope!).

I like the tripod a lot, it is even more over engineered than my Manfrotto 074, which is steel masterpiece.

 

[Peter B]

Just couldn't resist this...

Kodak Specialist Camera Model 2 Police Camera Assembly, almost complete set in case.

Camera, 203mm Ektar, camera stand, extension bed, auxiliary base (so you can move the camera backwards and forwards without moving the tripod), half plate back, quarter plate back, quarter plate repeating back (for two shots on a single plate or film sheet), two lens hoods, remains of the flash lead. Just missing plate or film holders, cable release and dark cloth, all of which can be separately sourced.

I'm led to believe that it will take 5x7 as well as half plate film holders so I'm going along that route for now.

I've got a wholeplate version of the Model B Peter, and it came with a halfplate back as well. I can confirm that both 5x7 and 13x18 filmholders will fit the halfplate back, but the films themselves are NOT interchangeable and the filmholders are often wrongly described on the auction site and elsewhere, so caution required. I think Fomapan are cheapest for 5x7 film, but I've never bought any as I've used old OOD film so far. In the meantime, you could try cutting darkrrom paper to size and shoot paper negatives to get a feel for using the camera. Some more info in the attachment.

 

[Asha]

Fixed the tripod as well as I can.

View attachment 376176

View attachment 376177

Wire wool, emery paper and lots of elbow grease. Finished off with machine wax on the vulnerable parts and a tiny bit of silicone grease here and there.

Everything works fine now.

Moving on to the camera itself tomorrow.

Bravo!
It looks well Peter….

With its refurbished camera attached, it’ll be a real eye catching piece .

 

[PeterSpencer]

Thanks, now I have a 5x7 film holder and some film I'm hoping it won't just be a decorative piece.

5x7 holders seem to be quite expensive, or do I mean very expensive? And some sellers don't seem to know the difference between 5x7 and half plate.

So, I'm good to go. Just need a few criminals to photograph on police front/side view. Although I have four quarter plate negative carriers I don't have any quarter plate film, I'll have to stick to 5x7, it's cheaper (by a mile)!

 

[StephenM]

5x7 holders ARE expensive. Fidelity no longer make them, so you have to buy either second hand or expensive wooden ones.

As far as buying second hand, one pitfall is that as Peter said, 5x7 and 13x18 films are not interchangeable. Some holders apparently can accommodate both sizes without the 5x7 falling out, but it's hit and miss. What is even more hit and miss is that at least some holders have "5x7" embossed in large type, and have "13x18" in much smaller type hidden away. I once bought some clearly embossed 5x7 holders, and then found that the price sticker was over the "13x18" marking. I didn't mind as I prefer 13x18 (marginally) to 5x7 anyway, and I have enough holders in all three of the "approx 5x7" size.

PS. I also have a Kodak Specialist 2, painted in a tasteful (you must be joking!) battleship grey.

 

[Asha]

Thanks, now I have a 5x7 film holder and some film I'm hoping it won't just be a decorative piece.

5x7 holders seem to be quite expensive, or do I mean very expensive? And some sellers don't seem to know the difference between 5x7 and half plate.

So, I'm good to go. Just need a few criminals to photograph on police front/side view. Although I have four quarter plate negative carriers I don't have any quarter plate film, I'll have to stick to 5x7, it's cheaper (by a mile)!

Add the Continental metric 13x18cm holders into that equation and it leaves many people confused!

The actual holders are the same size externally but they won’t support 5x7 film.

Interestingly out here the 5x4 and 10x8 imperial formats of film are readily available, more so than the metric equivalents of 9x12 and 20x25cm, yet it is nigh on impossible to obtain 5x7 inch film , not that I need it.

I appreciate that the 54 and 108 are pretty much ´universal’ , nonetheless it remains strange that the metric isn’t more prominent in a decimalised country.

Saying that , if I understand correctly the uk is still using both pounds and kilos even though the school curriculum only covers metric so seems that the idea is to make it a headache for all of us

 

[Asha]

I prefer 13x18 (marginally) to 5x7 anyway,

and you gain a fraction in neg size too

 

[StephenM]

Well, size matters

When I were young, I wasn't aware of metric sizes. In fact, it was paper sizes not sheet film sizes that I was familiar with, and what I picked up was that here in the UK we had quarter plate, half plate and whole plate, whereas in the USA they substituted 5x7" for half plate, and I concluded that 5x7 was an American size, not a UK one.

 

[PeterSpencer]

I cleaned the camera and accessories up yesterday, picture to follow. The film I've got is 5x7 FP4, a box of 22 from a guy who tried three sheets in half plate holders assuming that they were the same as 5x7 or maybe he just had the wrong holders. It's in date and was about half the price of new, AG Photographic stock it at £85/box of 25. Fomapan 100 is £92 per box of 50, so about half the price of FP4 and reasonably priced compared to the 5x4 version given the 1.75x negative size advantage.

After what Asha has said I'm praying the film holder I have is actually 5x7. I'll find out later today when I attempt to load it up.

5x7 holders on eBay seem to be about £65 to £75 each, although I'm pretty sure I saw an advert for five for about £150 the other day. Anyway they are gone!

I should be able to process the film in my Paterson Orbital I think.

I got four wooden quarter plate film holders, Agfa Ansco brand, just in case I manage to get some film at a decent price one day. Trouble is they don't fit either of the quarter plate backs, They are the correct size internally but when the rib across the holder engages with the slot in the film backs the DDS doesn't line up with the aperture in the film back. A bit of a mystery!

 

[Asha]

I cleaned the camera and accessories up yesterday, picture to follow. The film I've got is 5x7 FP4, a box of 22 from a guy who tried three sheets in half plate holders assuming that they were the same as 5x7 or maybe he just had the wrong holders. It's in date and was about half the price of new, AG Photographic stock it at £85/box of 25. Fomapan 100 is £92 per box of 50, so about half the price of FP4 and reasonably priced compared to the 5x4 version given the 1.75x negative size advantage.

After what Asha has said I'm praying the film holder I have is actually 5x7. I'll find out later today when I attempt to load it up.

5x7 holders on eBay seem to be about £65 to £75 each, although I'm pretty sure I saw an advert for five for about £150 the other day. Anyway they are gone!

I should be able to process the film in my Paterson Orbital I think.

I got four wooden quarter plate film holders, Agfa Ansco brand, just in case I manage to get some film at a decent price one day. Trouble is they don't fit either of the quarter plate backs, They are the correct size internally but when the rib across the holder engages with the slot in the film backs the DDS doesn't line up with the aperture in the film back. A bit of a mystery!

Yes Peter, you will be able to soup the 5x7 in the orbital….. two sheets at a time if you wish using the pegs to seperate them.

 

[zx9]

What intrigues me, but again not the main reason for purchase, is this described as a "Durst 35mm Roll Film Reel Loader"

View attachment 374465
Never heard of it before, not a clue of how it works!

Edit for spelling and grammar.

It is to help getting the film on to a centre loading spiral, not essential but I suppose it would be easier for a beginner with metal spirals. Easy to just nip the sides of 35mm slightly together between thumb and first finger, 120 roll film not so easy.

Just wondering does the plastic Durst tank have a plastic centre load spiral? They are usually metal.

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

It is to help getting the film on to a centre loading spiral, not essential but I suppose it would be easier for a beginner with metal spirals. Easy to just nip the sides of 35mm slightly together between thumb and first finger, 120 roll film not so easy.

Just wondering does the plastic Durst tank have a plastic centre load spiral? They are usually metal.

Thanks @zx9 . I can only think that the spiral is not the original. The bundle was purchased via a charity shop on eBay - maybe they just scooped up random bits and pieces or the original owner changed it for some reason. But I guess we'll never know...

 

[PeterSpencer]

I've measured the quarter plate backs. Does anyone have a 'universal' quarter plate back they can measure to confirm the dimensions in the photograph?

 

[Asha]

Does anyone have a 'universal' quarter plate back they can measure to confirm the dimensions in the photograph?

9 years too late Peter….. I used to have a dozen or more .

Sorry I can’t help out.

. I suspect someone will have one knocking about, someone like @StephenM perhaps.

 

[StephenM]

I'll take a look. My Kodak Specialist 2 came with some small wooden film/plate holders that I've never investigated, I have assumed that they are quarter plate, but I never measured them. I also have quite a lot of quarter plate prints from the 1960s (I printed 35mm to that size) which I could also use to confirm.

 

[Petrochemist]

Today I collected a pair of Thorton Pickard shutters to enable me to mount & use barrel lenses on my 5x4.
One will fit in front of lenses up to ~80mm in front diameter (with appropriate shims) while the other will go on a lens board & take lenses up to about 40mm diameter (once I make appropriate lens boards).
Neither will work at full aperture with my biggest 5x4 lenses (4" & 5" respectively) but they should allow around 15 of my lenses to make big photos

 

[moggi1964]

Don't think I posted this yet. Picked it up 6 weeks ago from a lovely chap who has helped and continues to help me in my film journey.

MPP Mk VII

 

[Asha]

Today I collected a pair of Thorton Pickard shutters to enable me to mount & use barrel lenses on my 5x4.
One will fit in front of lenses up to ~80mm in front diameter (with appropriate shims) while the other will go on a lens board & take lenses up to about 40mm diameter (once I make appropriate lens boards).
Neither will work at full aperture with my biggest 5x4 lenses (4" & 5" respectively) but they should allow around 15 of my lenses to make big photos

Don't think I posted this yet. Picked it up 6 weeks ago from a lovely chap who has helped and continues to help me in my film journey.

MPP Mk VII

View attachment 376612

I personally find it really cool that there has been in fairly recent times, an increase in LF related posts and interest in the format from several members including , but not restricted to @FishyFish @PeterSpencer , @Petrochemist and @moggi1964

Long live LF

(Ok Ok, ( to avoid being leached ), long live all film formats even that subminiature 35mm )

 

[excalibur2]

It must be in the LF people's blood, I've tried to get an interest in LF for donkeys years but it's not in me.

 

[PeterSpencer]

I'll take a look. My Kodak Specialist 2 came with some small wooden film/plate holders that I've never investigated, I have assumed that they are quarter plate, but I never measured them. I also have quite a lot of quarter plate prints from the 1960s (I printed 35mm to that size) which I could also use to confirm.

Thanks very much. Does you specialist have a quarter plate back? If not I could make you an offer for the small DDS's, assuming they look likely to fit. Are they plate or film holders?

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

I got a Canon Sure Shot around 1990 as a present. I've since bought a few more over the years. In the 90's I really wanted a "modern" SLR but couldn't afford one - 25-30 years later I've bought one . In fully automatic mode it's the ultimate Sure Shot

 

[excalibur2]

I got a Canon Sure Shot around 1990 as a present. I've since bought a few more over the years. In the 90's I really wanted a "modern" SLR but couldn't afford one - 25-30 years later I've bought one . In fully automatic mode it's the ultimate Sure Shot

View attachment 376621

Well IMO the EOS 300 range was a hiddem gem in that at the bootie were going for £2 or £3 without lenses, anyway bought the 300 and 300v to try them out h'mm but had to hunt around for lenses for peanuts though.......anyway was amazed by the light weight and what it could do in use.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

It must be in the LF people's blood, I've tried to get an interest in LF for donkeys years but it's not in me.

I exposed my last sheet of 5x4 in 1972. That was when I discovered 6x9 rollfilm backs and small technical/press cameras!

 

[Asha]

I exposed my last sheet of 5x4 in 1972. That was when I discovered 6x9 rollfilm backs and small technical/press cameras!

View attachment 376631

…and it’s been downhill ever since

Seriously though those 6x9 offerings are/ were quite smart and very capable.

Not that I want one………[goes off google searching! ]

 

[StephenM]

The small technical cameras are very attractive. I fancied them ever since seeing a press photographer (uncle of a schoolfriend) using one in the 1960s. Never owned one though; I went from 6x7 to 5x4.

 

[Asha]

It must be in the LF people's blood, I've tried to get an interest in LF for donkeys years but it's not in me.

One has to be talented Bri

Questions why I’m doing it tbh

 

[StephenM]

It must be in the LF people's blood, I've tried to get an interest in LF for donkeys years but it's not in me.

You just need to be able to see the world upside down and back to front, and have the self confidence to do this when you have your head stuck in the sand dark cloth. Putting it simply - anti-social with warped vision.

More seriously, the things that made me pause and think hard about what I might be letting myself in for were the upside down view (lateral reversal wasn't a problem, because I used waist level finders all the time) and the practical problems I could see in processing as at the time I didn't know of any alternative to tray developing in the dark. Once you get acclimatised to the view and know that processing is no more difficult then 35mm and roll film, it becomes just like any other camera type.

If anything was "in my blood" it was the long felt disappointment at the quality loss I got in enlarging 35mm that made me want to avoid enlarging as much as possible.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

You just need to be able to see the world upside down and back to front, and have the self confidence to do this when you have your head stuck in the sand dark cloth. Putting it simply - anti-social with warped vision.

The Mamiya Super 23 solved all my problems. 6x9 back, swapped for a bright ground glass when on a tripod but most of the time I used the big bright frame lines in the coupled viewfinder/rangefinder. Only one print seems to have survived from those days