Buying in the US from CameraMate?

[ntenny]

Have any of our USAn members done business with CameraMate in the Czech Republic? It looks like they will ship to the US, and they have a pretty interesting selection of older European-made lenses, but I don't recognize them as a name that gets much discussion here. Does anyone have any insight as to transit times, how to interpret their grading as compared to familiar sources like KEH, etc.?

Thanks in advance

-NT

 

[tony lockerbie]

Never bought there, but I perused the site, and oh my, the prices...some of that faster exotic German lenses...scary!

 

[ntenny]

Yeah, their high-dollar stuff is VERY high-dollar and it's not clear to me if those prices are realistic (for a collectors' market, obviously) or sort of a fishing expedition. But the prices on the more pedestrian stuff seem reasonable. If no one turns up with relevant experience, I'll probably take a flyer on a smallish purchase and see how it goes.

-NT

 

[ntenny]

I went ahead and ordered a cute little Perigraphe, which is currently on the way across from Prague (per the tracking information from Ceska Posta). No complaints with the ordering and payment process; I'd describe their communications as terse but professional. I'll update when I have the order in hand, but since customs can take an unpredictably long time, I thought I'd update the thread now rather than risk forgetting it later.

Barring any unforeseen issues with the actual item, this has been a good trouble-free process. That's not necessarily good news, as I could get myself into a LOT of trouble feeding my nascent brass addiction this way!

-NT

 

[Dan Fromm]

Nathan, which Perigraphe did you buy from them? And, when you have, how did you shutter it and how do you like the way it shoots?

 

[ntenny]

Nathan, which Perigraphe did you buy from them? And, when you have, how did you shutter it and how do you like the way it shoots?

It's the #3 f/14, which should just about cover 8x10 as a superwide (Berthiot seem to have recommended it for 18x24 cm). I'm not sure what to do about mounting or a shutter; I may end up using it on a Speed Graphic, and/or using a lens cap shutter. I guess eventually I need a Packard.

-NT

 

[Dan Fromm]

It's the #3 f/14, which should just about cover 8x10 as a superwide (Berthiot seem to have recommended it for 18x24 cm). I'm not sure what to do about mounting or a shutter; I may end up using it on a Speed Graphic, and/or using a lens cap shutter. I guess eventually I need a Packard.

-NT

Nathan, thanks for the reply.

I believe -- could be mistaken -- that the #3 f/14 Perigraphe is in the same barrel as the #1 and #2. I have #1 (60 mm) and #3 (90), their barrels are slightly loose fits in an Ilex #3, slightly looser fits in an Alphax #3. A bit of darkroom tape on the shutter's threads makes the fits more secure.

My #1 is stuffed into the front of a truncated Ilex #3, you can read about it and see pictures at http://www.galerie-photo.com/telechargement/dan-fromm-6x9-lenses-v2-2011-03-29.pdf , where there is also a discussion of changes over time in Berthiot's coverage claims. That shutter's rear tube was shortened to reduce vignetting. Your 120 shouldn't have vignetting problems if stuffed into the front of an unmutilated Ilex #3.

About coverage claims. The latest for f/14 Perigraphes is 100 degrees, in which case (a) no movements on 8x10 and (b) softness in the outer 7 mm or so of the corners.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

I bought an LOMO Smena with case from them and special roll was broken. But everything was like new and price was 20 dollars or so. I bought from their Polish address but I received the camera from Ukraine. If you would buy cheap stuff it Works and postage was fast but package was only a thick paper.

 

[ntenny]

Thanks very much for the suggestion, Dan! The Ilex shutter seems like a very accessible approach; maybe I'll see if I can find one without aperture blades for cheap (once the lens arrives and I have a chance to measure, of course).

I'm not too worried about the prospective coverage limitations---if it vignettes on 8x10, I'll either use the vignetting as a force for good or put it in my 5x7 kit. I've got a Gundlach Radar Ext. WA in a similar focal length and it'll be interesting to compare the two: a poor man's Dagor-vs.-Protar comparison, I guess!

-NT

 

[Dan Fromm]

Nathan, I checked.

I made a typo. My 90/14 is a #2. Your #3 should be 120/14.

And I didn't read this http://www.collection-appareils.fr/...ue&PHPSESSID=333965b3c0b5e4652c9d3802b532215d Perigraphe's page closely enough. According to it, # 1, 1b, 2, 3b and 4 f/14 Perigraphes are all in # 3b barrels.

Re aperture blades, Ilex #3s with are much more common than #3s without. I shoot a number of lenses hung in front of the same cock-and-shoot Copal #1. The shutter is complete, has its diaphragm; I've taped the diaphragm lever to "wide open" and am happy with it. Some Ilex 3s made for tachistoscopes (the common brand is Speed-i-o-scope) have open shutter levers. Note that Speed-i-o-scopes also used Alphax #3s.

However, if you're handy enough to dismantle an Ilex, remove the diaphragm and associated parts, and reassemble the shutter, an ex-oscilloscope camera Ilex #3 may be what you need. These shutters have two drawbacks. Their rear tubes aren't threaded externally and their diaphragms don't open to the full 35 mm. I'm not sure the smaller diaphragm opening (~ 28 mm) will be a problem for a 120 on 8x10.

Re 8x10, David Goldfarb, who sometimes posts on APUG (used to, may still, be a moderator) shoots a 120/14 Perigraphe on 8x10 and has expressed satisfaction with it.

 

[ntenny]

Hey, that was quick! Customs got the lens through in record time and I have it in hand. Its condition is quite clean for an old brass lens, the aperture wheel works, and at a quick look the glass appears good. So I'm entirely happy with my experimental order.

The mounting threads are 44mm, as near as I can tell, which seems like a plausible "tape-to-fit" job for the Ilex #3 (44.98mm, says http://www.suaudeau.eu/memo/pratique/Les_obturateurs_centraux.html), Alphax #3 (45mm or 1 51/64"), Betax #3 (1 25/32"), or with a little more tape, most versions of the Compur #2 (45.66 or 45.8mm). I should have a Voigtlaender Avus around here somewhere that just might have a #2 shutter, but I can't find it---otherwise I need to find someone selling a junk lens in a working shutter, which I bet is a much cheaper way to go than buying the working shutter by itself would be.

-NT