6x9 Folding Cameras

Mongo · May 24, 2005

Donald Qualls said:
The Inos II is also very similar -- the focusing mechanism is changed, IIRC, but the rest is essentially like a Bessa I without the rangefinder.

Just a note: the Bessa I doesn't have a rangefinder. It's scale focus or external rangefinder only...the camera only has a viewfinder. The Bessa II added the rangefinder.

medform-norm · May 24, 2005

Tom Hoskinson said:
My current pocket camera solution is an English Ensign Carbine 7 6x9 folder with the rangefinder coupled Ross Xpres lens in Compur shutter. This beauty also has a rising front and front swings.

Now, there you mention an interesting sounding camera that has escaped our 6x9 obsessed attention. I know the Carbines, but not model 7. CRF? Ross Xpress color-corrected or not? Can you show some pics?
I did a Google but just nothing comes up - other than that it is rare.

Cheers,
Norm

Tom Hoskinson · May 24, 2005

The Carbine 7 is rare, unusual, and in my judgment this one consists entirely of the original equipment. There is only a small amount of brassing in one location (one of the film holders).

The Ross Xpres lens is not coated, but it is immaculate. In spite of its lack of coating I expect that it will prove to be well color corrected. I will be taking some color and B&W pictures and we will see.

The Compur shutter is rim set and operates correctly, even at the low speeds.

The coupled rangefinder is working properly.

I prefer the way this camera handles and operates in comparison to my Bessa II.

I will take a few pictures of the camera and post them.

Tom Hoskinson · May 24, 2005

medform-norm said:
Now, there you mention an interesting sounding camera that has escaped our 6x9 obsessed attention...Norm

I am not obsessed with folders!

Now, if you will forgive me, eBay is calling...something about an Ansco Speedex, I think.

Dan Fromm · May 24, 2005

Tom, why do you believe that anti-reflection coating has anything to do with color correction, i.e., designing out chromatic aberrations? I've seen this idea pop up all over the place and it just baffles me.

The one time it sort of made sense was with reference to Boyer Saphir enlarging lenses, for which the claim has been made that a redesign that reduced chromatic aberration occured at the same time Boyer began coating lenses. But in this case coating is an indicator, not the cause.

Cheers,

Dan

You don't need a Speedex, you need a nice Selfix. Take two Selfix, go to bed, and you'll feel better in the morning. Take two Speedex, and you'll wake up with nasty regrets.

Tom Hoskinson · May 24, 2005

Dan Fromm said:
Tom, why do you believe that anti-reflection coating has anything to do with color correction, i.e., designing out chromatic aberrations?

I don't - but as you indicate, it is a pervasive notion.

It may be that I have a Selfix personality...

I just missed one on eBay.

medform-norm · May 24, 2005

Tom Hoskinson said:
The Carbine 7 is rare, unusual, and in my judgment this one consists entirely of the original equipment. There is only a small amount of brassing in one location (one of the film holders).

The Ross Xpres lens is not coated, but it is immaculate. In spite of its lack of coating I expect that it will prove to be well color corrected. I will be taking some color and B&W pictures and we will see.

The Compur shutter is rim set and operates correctly, even at the low speeds.

The coupled rangefinder is working properly.

I prefer the way this camera handles and operates in comparison to my Bessa II.

I will take a few pictures of the camera and post them.

I just can't wait to see them! You're excused to use a digital camera for the mugs shots of the Carbine - if it gets them up here faster, I don't care....

Did you have to bleed a lot to buy it?

medform-norm · May 24, 2005

Tom Hoskinson said:
I am not obsessed with folders!

Now, if you will forgive me, eBay is calling...something about an Ansco Speedex, I think.

perhaps we should start our own little 6x9 folder community? Or are we more speaking self(ix)-help programme?

We have cured ourselves from these by buying 6x9 SLR's instead - and now we're looking for a cure for those too! What d'ya think, is moving up to 4x5 view camera's gonna help?

BTW: everything allright with the Ansco?

Tom Hoskinson · May 24, 2005

medform-norm said:
perhaps we should start our own little 6x9 folder community? Or are we more speaking self(ix)-help programme?

My wife believes that I am a hopeless addict and have been beyond help for years - on the other hand, I know I can give up 6x9s any time I want to!

We have cured ourselves from these by buying 6x9 SLR's instead - and now we're looking for a cure for those too! What d'ya think, is moving up to 4x5 view camera's gonna help?

It certainly could not hurt. In fact 5x7s and 8x10s are even better!

BTW: everything allright with the Ansco?

Yes! My $29.00 opening bid got it!

medform-norm · May 24, 2005

Tom Hoskinson said:
Yes! My $29.00 opening bid got it!

Congratulations!

Of course 8x10 is better, but the hassle with sheet film is withholding us so far - good for us, eh?

Dan Fromm · May 24, 2005

Tom Hoskinson said:
I don't - but as you indicate, it is a pervasive notion.

It may be that I have a Selfix personality...

I just missed one on eBay.

Although three of four doctors recommend Selfix, I'm not passionate about my 820. It does fit in a large pocket, unlike my little Graphics, which require an enormous one, but it doesn't shoot as well as they do or do as much. And, much to my astonishment, it has a short gate. 78 mm, IIRC.

Cheers,

Dan

Donald Qualls · May 25, 2005

medform-norm said:
<re: 6x9 folders>

We have cured ourselves from these by buying 6x9 SLR's instead - and now we're looking for a cure for those too!

Heh. Reminds me of the doctors of the early 20th century, heralding the wonderful new cure for morphine addiction: heroin.

Thanks, I'll stick with my folders. I've got three 6x9 now, a Moskva-5 (w/ 6x6 mask), a Wirgin Auta 6.3 (w/ 6x4.5 mask), and a Voigtlander Rollfilmkamera. Total investment to date for all three: about $120, plus a few hours work overhauling a shutter that was traded, with lens, for one of them. Then of course there are the 6x6 -- a Speedex 4.5 with persistent bellows leaks, and my second Speedex Jr. (the first suffered a broken door latch and seems to have failed to make the move from Seattle to here). And a 35 mm folder, as well, a pre-War Balda Jubilette (currently shelved pending me doing something useful to the film stop, which is currently not very reliable). Oh, and I guess I should count the three (two functional, one with very, very bad bellows) 9x12 cm plate cameras.

No, no heroin, thanks, I've had plenty of morphine already.

titrisol · May 25, 2005

I had a Zeiss-Nettar (515/2) that I got cheap and repaired with help from a lot of people, Donald Qualls among those
The bellows is the hardest part to get in good shpae in those

Gave it away to my father in law.

The lens (novar) was very decent, nice image quality and had that non-coated look that is so cool for portraits. I could only shoot 10 or 12 rolls with it.

trhull · May 27, 2005

I bought a belfoca 6X9 folder, and have had good results. The cost was $100. I cannot distinguish the quality from an Ebony 23S for scenes not needing movements. It requires estimating distances, and close attention to using the "siting device" for framing. It is very compact, and spaces shots on the film better than the Hassy 501 CM I also use.

6x9 Folding Cameras

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