Avoiding camera shake with circa 1935 Voigtländer Bessa

loccdor

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 12, 2024
Messages
1,502
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
There was a roll of partially exposed Kodak Verichrome Pan film in this camera. I developed it and here is the best out of three images:

That's precious! Great find! I have the feeling the camera was set on a table or chair for that. If it's on a steady object in portrait mode, and you use one hand to gently press down on the body to give it some weight for when you trigger the shutter, it shouldn't get shake.

To me that sounds impossible.

I did my best to brace against the railing, it was not enough. But the scene was of a beautiful remote Greek village at sunset, so I had to try.
 

loccdor

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 12, 2024
Messages
1,502
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
Thank you for the tip.

This was taken at 1/25, with left elbow braced against a stone wall, camera firmly (but not too firmly) pressed up against face, ring finger trigger - I can see what might be just the tiniest bit of shake if I zoom very far in, but it could be printed pretty big. I do tend to take 2-3 similar shots when speeds are so slow as insurance, if the shot is important to me. I look at how much the edge of the viewfinder is moving against the scene as a guide to how much shake I will get, hold my breath and try to release when I am seeing the least amount of movement. This is the f/4.5 triplet lens at f/11, on a hazy day where the sun has dipped below the hill behind me, on expired (and mottled) HP5+rated at 400.

 
OP
OP

Romanko

Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Messages
889
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
Medium Format
Nice image. The light is beautiful. What was the time of the day? You obviously did not have a lot of light if you shot 1/25s, f11 at EI400.
 

loccdor

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 12, 2024
Messages
1,502
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
Nice image. The light is beautiful. What was the time of the day? You obviously did not have a lot of light if you shot 1/25s, f11 at EI400.

Thank you. Around 8 pm. The sun was low and the mountain behind me was blocking it from reaching the landscape.
 
OP
OP

Romanko

Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Messages
889
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
Medium Format
Can you give data about how and with what you developed? I have a thread going on in the darkroom group about developing the decade old latent image.

Kodak Verichrome Pan developed in HC-110 dilution B for 8 minutes 15 seconds at 14 degrees Celsius. The plan was to develop at 18 degrees for 6 minutes as per Kodak data sheet, but the day was hot and I cooled the chemistry too much so ended up adjusting the time using the equation: T = T0 * exp(-0.081(t - t0)); where T0 and t0 are development time and temperature known from the data sheet (6 min and 18 degrees); T is development time at temperature t.

Could you please post a link to your thread?
 
OP
OP

Romanko

Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Messages
889
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
Medium Format
I guess it was cheaper for Voigtländer to supply the short and bent shape cable

I saw pictures from old Voigtländer catalogues and it looks like the cable was meant to be left in the camera. I doubt that I can do this with my Bessa though. I will need to rotate the shutter first, attach the cable and rotate the shutter back hoping that the cable does not break and remains functional.
 
Joined
Jun 11, 2009
Messages
310
Location
Co. Antrim, Ireland
Format
35mm RF

You clearly haven't looked at the OP's photos in post no. 8. His cable release fitting is nothing like the one you reference.
 

Besk

Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2005
Messages
580
Location
Southern USA
Format
Multi Format
The metal tip of my newer cable release is longer that the metal tip end of some older cable releases.
The shorter tip end allows the cable release to fit in tighter places.
 
OP
OP

Romanko

Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Messages
889
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
Medium Format
I guarantee you can screw in the cable, it needs a bit of fiddling indeed.
I sacrificed a half-broken cable release to clarify the matter.
Attaching the cable to a partially folded camera was indeed straightforward. To fully erect the camera I had to bend the cable at a very sharp angle resulting in breakage of thereof (or it would have it was not already broken). The cable was not functional when attached to the shutter which is hardly surprising.



 
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
800
Location
Torino, Italy
Format
Large Format
Old books about photography often suggested to use two parts of the hand as pliers, in order to avoid shakes while the shutter is triggered. The most frequent suggestion was to use thumb and index in opposition.

This may sound obvious to some degree, but the only way to truly understand how effective it is in balancing the forces applied to the camera and avoid shaking/tilting is to try it out yourself. Simple but tremendously effective.

I use this trick all of the times with 6x9 Super Ikontas, which have a pretty stiff shutter release button, which also happens to be placed on the left side of the camera body (contrary to today standards).
 

JensH

Member
Joined
May 30, 2017
Messages
500
Location
Schaumburg, Germany
Format
Multi Format

Thanks Marco,

good point, the method seems to help with my Super Ikonta.

Jens
 
OP
OP

Romanko

Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Messages
889
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
Medium Format
I found some photos of the next version of Bessa with the same shutter. The socket ("Nipple") for the shutter release cable had been relocated to face the top of the camera (when held in the portrait orientation). I am starting to believe that it was indeed a glitch in the design of the earlier shutter.





I shot a test roll in my Bessa and will develop it shortly. I have two older Voigtländer folders (Rollfilmkamera and Inos II) and they are much more user-friendly. I doubt that I am going to keep this Bessa. It is a collectors' item not a user camera.
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,266
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
It is a collectors' item not a user camera.

Seems that way. I'm sure it can be used without shake with the right technique, but it may take a few rolls to verify you've gotten it, and if you have others that work well for you it may not be worth the effort.
 
OP
OP

Romanko

Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Messages
889
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
Medium Format
I developed the test roll. The results are much better than I expected. All images came out pretty sharp. I was hand-holding the camera and shot in bright daylight at 1/75 s around f11 and f16. Here is an example:



and 100% crop



The film is Ilford Delta 100 rated at about IE80 and developed in Rodinal 1:50 for 12 minutes at 20 degrees Celsius.
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,266
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
Looks like you're steadier than you thought.
 

Nicholas Lindan

Advertiser
Advertiser
Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Messages
4,234
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Format
Multi Format
I found camera shake can be reduced by using a camera's self-timer. I wind the ST part way so it only gives a second or so of delay, then release as usual. Since the S.T. releases the shutter there is no shake from me pressing the shutter release. I sometimes also use the release on the shutter barrel (if accessible) rather than the body release.

YMWV and all that.
 

Donald Qualls

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 19, 2005
Messages
12,266
Location
North Carolina
Format
Multi Format
Of course, the self timer is the one part of an otherwise perfectly working shutter that will lock up and require disassembly. Also, the two-speed shutter on this example probably doesn't have one.
 

Nicholas Lindan

Advertiser
Advertiser
Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Messages
4,234
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Format
Multi Format
Of course, the self timer is the one part of an otherwise perfectly working shutter that will lock up and require disassembly.

Oh, ye of little faith. True, they do usually gum up before the shutter gums up.

Also, the two-speed shutter on this example probably doesn't have one [self timer].

That's my just deserts from not reading the OP's P.
 
OP
OP

Romanko

Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2021
Messages
889
Location
Sydney, Australia
Format
Medium Format
I found camera shake can be reduced by using a camera's self-timer.
Great tip. I prefer to use a cable release but the self-timer would work equally well when you forget to take one.

Self-timers are usually found on more expensive shutters (Compurs). About half of my folders are cheaper models with a triplet lens in simple shutters. They are surprisingly capable and I rarely need a better camera.

Looks like you're steadier than you thought.
Thank you Donald. I was just lucky.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…