Jutland Gun

Wow - did you ever deliver the tone & texture. Beautifully done, Svenedin.

Thank you HiHo. I walk past that gun every work day. I've never once stopped to look at it......until now. The elderly Tessar works his magic.

I was looking at this same model at a local camera shop this weekend. The manager was too busy to make a quote, but I will be going back this week. This gorgeous shot only makes the pull of GAS so much harder to resist.

Well.......they are nice cameras. The Tessar does have a certain look, I'd call it a sparkle. This is an uncoated one but they started coating them before the war. When I first looked at photos taken with this Tessar it immediately reminded me of the plates from old books which must have been taken on similar lenses. This model is very compact so you can carry it around with you everywhere if you want. This example has an Albada finder, some have just a frame without glass. It is only a guide to your shot so you may have to crop on the enlarger. The rangefinder patch is small and dim but perfectly usable.

There were a range of lens options, the Tessar being the most expensive option. Also a range of shutters with the more expensive lenses having better shutters. This one is a Compur up to 1/500s (but not marked as Compur Rapid).

They do turn up on the auction site but in variable condition and sometimes asking far too much. In the UK there are people who can overhaul the shutters for not that much money.

Of course, it isn't exactly an ergonomic camera to use but it is a lovely thing. I have two A530 cameras, a postwar A531 and an SI IV (the last of the line). The A530 gets used the most because it is tiny and the the least valuable so I am not afraid to carry it around.

I'm guessing you already know the things to look for with an old camera like this but if not I'd be happy to post some tips.

Best Wishes,

Stephen

Svenedin - I currently have a really excellent 523/16 and had a 521/16 (gave it to my son-in-law), both with zone-focusing Novars. The one under consideration is like yours, with the 1/500s shutter and no sync. It is in extremely good cosmetic condition inside and out, the shutter sounds to be accurate and the rangefinder, too; the bellows soft and no fraying at the corners. However, there is some kind of gunk around the edge of one of the lens elements, and I think there might be fungus in the albada viewfinder. Both of these issues will need more examination. They have a good repairman who has done work for me in the past (he has one of my tlr bodies right now) so I may try to work out a deal to include a CLA.

I'd be glad to hear any tips you might have. I have made some bad purchases, thinking myself smarter than is the case. The tlr body, for example.

I don't have much to add. The Albada finder is mirrored and this tends to deteriorate. Zeiss cameras are prone to corrosion where the body is riveted with dissimilar metals. This causes "Zeiss bumps" under the leather. The rear group of a Tessar is 2 lenses cemented together. Maybe the gunk is seperation or just dirt.