Alpa Reflex Mod. 6

[Luseboy]

Hello,
So i received a box full of darkroom equipment from a friend a few days ago, and among the box was an Alpa Reflex Mod. 6 camera. I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about these cameras. I just looked on ebay, and one was selling for about a grand, all scratched and marred up. Mine is in excellent condition, not more than a small scratch to be seen, Everything works perfectly, and i got two lenses for it! So who knows about these? I read on Photo.net (please don't try and strangle me for saying this ) that some people prefer these to leica's and consider the optics better! Although i'd doubt this, as leica's are the legendary standard for quality, how nice exactly is this camera? It does not have a light meter, which tells me it must be from the 50's. Who knows about these things? I feel like i just fell apon a gold mine, even more so than when I was given a nikon f2 for free...
All opinions/answers/experience apprieciated
-Austin

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Alpa 35mm reflex cameras were very expensive and very desirable in their day, and the optics were made by companies like Angenieux, that make some of the best high end cine lenses. Take care of it!

 

[Jesper]

There seems to be more people collecting them than using them today (hence the price).
Good luck with it and congratulations on your find.

 

[Luseboy]

well i ran a roll through it today, pretty nice camera to use, wierd to load though. I accidentally had the shutter half-open the whole time for rewinding, but the lens has a very tight lens cap on it, so i think it's probably ok. Plus i did rewind it indoors. I'll process the roll sometime this week, i'm excited to see the results, it is a very fine optic lens. I read a photo.net post saying that some people have retrofitted lenses from the alpa's to their leica body's. People on photo.net just said that they prefer the ergonomics of the leica, but that they are of equal qaulity. The alpa's are a swiss made camera, and obviously, the leica are german. However the glass in both the lenses i have is german glass. I'm ecstatic on my find! I'm super excited to have a RF. The only problem i have is a bunch of dust in the viewfinder. I'm wondering if it'd be a bad idea to try and get in there and clean out the dust. I'm a bit gun shy to, considering the cost of these cameras... and if i were to screw something up, i'd doubt i could find someone to fix it, let alone parts!

 

[Diapositivo]

The only problem i have is a bunch of dust in the viewfinder. I'm wondering if it'd be a bad idea to try and get in there and clean out the dust. I'm a bit gun shy to, considering the cost of these cameras... and if i were to screw something up, i'd doubt i could find someone to fix it, let alone parts!

Man, that Alpa is basically a jewel, you received it for free, you want to use it, well, if I were you I would think a good CLA by a competent technician is the least I can do to show Miss Fortune that I don't disregard her gifts

Fabrizio

 

[Mark Layne]

Hello,
So i received a box full of darkroom equipment from a friend a few days ago, and among the box was an Alpa Reflex Mod. 6 camera. I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about these cameras. I just looked on ebay, and one was selling for about a grand, all scratched and marred up. Mine is in excellent condition, not more than a small scratch to be seen, Everything works perfectly, and i got two lenses for it! So who knows about these? I read on Photo.net (please don't try and strangle me for saying this ) that some people prefer these to leica's and consider the optics better! Although i'd doubt this, as leica's are the legendary standard for quality, how nice exactly is this camera? It does not have a light meter, which tells me it must be from the 50's. Who knows about these things? I feel like i just fell apon a gold mine, even more so than when I was given a nikon f2 for free...
All opinions/answers/experience apprieciated
-Austin

Alpa shutters which have not been used for a while tend to taper. Check if your exposures are even side to side. In any case have it lubed in order to save it from more serious problems
Mark

 

[holmburgers]

What lens came with it, can you include a shot of it?

Total dream find....

 

[Luseboy]

I'll process the roll tonight and see how it looks! and where do i lube/what kind of lube should i use? I want to keep this camera cherry, but i's like to use it as well! And yes i am very happy with what was given to me! i can't believe it, first im given an f2 in mint condition, now this?! Very happy with that . I guess there is something good about being 17... lol. It came with a 50mm f 1.8 kern-switar, and a 300mm f 5.6 Heinz Kilfitt Munchen.

 

[holmburgers]

I would seriously recommend that you not lube it yourself! You might destroy/harm a very valuable camera. Very bad idea me thinks...

The 50mm f/1.8 Kern-Switar; I have seen this lens described as perhaps the best prime lens ever. I'm sure the 300mm is no slouch either... you got quite a setup here

 

[M.A.Longmore]

.
Hey Luseboy,

Enjoy being 17 as much as possible !!!
You'll certainly have some great stories,
and some excellent cameras to share with your children,
and grandchildren !

Easy with the grease gun, contact Essex Camera Repair instead.

Ron
.

 

[Luseboy]

Ok, ok. I won't do it myself. The shutter seems to function well though. I compared the times (approximatley) to my f2, and they seem spot on. the glass is amazingly clear, it's insane, just such a clear image. it's a treat of a lens to work with, so sharp and easy to focus. the only thing about the body, and i can see why more people chose leica's, is that its a bit un-ergonomic. That said, it's still a treat of a camera to use. I didn't get any shots done with the 300mm, just the 50. But the 300 seems like a very nice lens as well, I believe it's a more common screw mount lens attached to an alpa adapter tube, which has tripod mounts on it (one for vertical shooting, one for horizontal) and it focuses very smooth and very nice. It says west germany on the side of the screw mount.

Yes i will call essex and see what they say. I'm not so sure i will be able to send it to them though, i'd be too scared of it breaking!

 

[holmburgers]

It's also funny to think about getting a camera for free, and yet the expense of repairing it might be high.

For instance, I got a Rollei 35SE Sonnar f2.8 for $10 at a garage sale! (a good day) The shutter is sticky and a repair might cost me $100 or more.. so for the time being I live with it.

 

[Luseboy]

It's also funny to think about getting a camera for free, and yet the expense of repairing it might be high.

For instance, I got a Rollei 35SE Sonnar f2.8 for $10 at a garage sale! (a good day) The shutter is sticky and a repair might cost me $100 or more.. so for the time being I live with it.

haha ya i'm sure that happens to a lot of people. I'm thinking that this one is totally fine though, the shutter fires smooth, it all advances smooth, rewinds smooth. Everything about it is way smooth and nice. the only reason the shutter was half-open when i was rewinding was because i had half-cocked it when i got to the end of the roll, and then accidentaly hit the shutter release which apparently half-opens the shutter, and leaves it open until you cock the camera all the way again and press the shutter release again. I think i'm just gonna use the camera as is for now. The main bothering thing is the dust in the prism.

 

[holmburgers]

Just think.... that dust is probably 60 years old... Luckily it won't affect the pictures.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

the only thing about the body, and i can see why more people chose leica's, is that its a bit un-ergonomic.

An old quip goes:

Alpa Engineer: "Our cameras are built like watches!"
Photographer: "But why don't you build them like cameras?!"

That said, I'd love to put one through its paces....

 

[Ronald Moravec]

Not like greasing a car or changing its oil. Farm it out.