Cameras that are better than they should be

Cholentpot · Sep 19, 2017

BrianVS said:
The Argus Cintar from the C3 is very good- up there with a Tessar. Had a broken C3, converted the lens to Nikon S-Mount using the mount of a 5cm F1.5 Sonnar. Worked well.

Well if we're talking C3's

The C3 should by all purposes be a lunk only good for a doorstop. I think it's 8 or ten steps to take a photo with the thing. It's heavy and has no straps to lug it around. It has a weird proprietary flash that is impossible to find because of Startracks fans. The lens is decent but don't point it at the sun.

That being said, I have two of these things. The just work. It might look and feel like a brick but it takes darn good photos that have character. It also has an ugly but timeless look. Yes it might take a dozen steps to take a photo and a third of them on the roll end up double exposed but that's the fun in using a camera over twice my age.

I love the thing and I'll probably be handing it down to a grand kid some day. I can also hold off the hordes at the door with it when the power goes out.

Les Sarile · Sep 19, 2017

Cholentpot said:
Well if we're talking C3's

Was there ever another camera that offered a lifetime warranty?

TheRook · Sep 19, 2017

The Argus C3 isn't a particularly comfortable camera to use, but I agree, its lens is capable of surprisingly good results.

AgX · Sep 20, 2017

Cholentpot said:
It's heavy and has no straps to lug it around.

As long a camera has a tripod thread one still can attach a neck strap to that. I made several straps for this purpose.
With heavier cameras there should be a twisting device at the screw to give more safety against the screw becoming loose.

Theo Sulphate · Sep 20, 2017

Some cameras, such as the Voigtländer Bessamatic, have no strap lugs on the body. Instead, the lugs and strap are on the case which attaches via tripod socket. For convenience, the top part of the case (which covers pentaprism and lens) can be removed and the bottom half is sufficient for comfortable carrying and protection.

macfred · Sep 20, 2017

My Konica IIIMFX - Rangefinder with Hexanon 48mm f/2 (1956) often surprises me - viewfinder is large and bright, rangefinder spot good visible and the Hexanon lens is just fine. I bought it cla'd for about 125 $.

Konica IIIMFX - Rangefinder 1956 by Andreas, on Flickr

fly fishing - no.2 by Andreas, on Flickr

untitled (re-uploaded = for the sake of completeness) by Andreas, on Flickr

ropes by Andreas, on Flickr

Cholentpot · Sep 20, 2017

AgX said:
As long a camera has a tripod thread one still can attach a neck strap to that. I made several straps for this purpose.
With heavier cameras there should be a twisting device at the screw to give more safety against the screw becoming loose.

I've done this with a 'rapid' style strap.

Theo Sulphate said:
Some cameras, such as the Voigtländer Bessamatic, have no strap lugs on the body. Instead, the lugs and strap are on the case which attaches via tripod socket. For convenience, the top part of the case (which covers pentaprism and lens) can be removed and the bottom half is sufficient for comfortable carrying and protection.

I got the cases but ya know, I don't really trust the 60 year old leather to hold up. My Vito III has the same deal. Lucky enough that camera folds down really small.

Les Sarile said:
Was there ever another camera that offered a lifetime warranty?

I can still get my C3 serviced?

Paul Howell · Sep 20, 2017

C3s are so cheap, if you want lug straps, buy one, take the front plate off so you see where not to drill the Bakelite shell and then epoxy in a strap lug, just be careful how far to drill so as not to interfere with any of the inner workings. I had my C3 cleaned and adjusted by Tempe Camera, I think he charged me $40.00.

darkroommike · Sep 20, 2017

Can I nominate the Kodak Signet 35, so good that the Army Signal Corps and the Air Force both had special editions made? Subsequent models not so much.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 20, 2017

OlyMan said:
What cameras have you owned/used/seen which have a performance better than you would expect considering the intended market when new? Thinking maybe some cheaper Russian/Eastern cameras might fall into that category, though I have no experience. However for my part I'd like to nominate the Olympus Trip 35.

Aimed at holidaying consumers who in time would all too frequently 'upgrade' to cheap compacts with more features but worse photos, Olympus gave the Trip everything it needed and nothing it didn't. This mainly comprised of a rugged metal build, a sharp Tessar-style 42mm F/2.8 lens, zone focussing, and a solar-powered 'program' exposure system that was entirely non-dependent on batteries. Although the camera only had two shutter speeds of 1/40th and 1/200th, the program curve - achieved with clever mechanics - favored small apertures over the faster shutter speed when possible, in order to maximize DOF and so minimize focussing errors from the zone-focus lens.

Definitely a camera where the whole was considerably more than the sum of the parts.

every camera I ever owned was a better camera than I am a photographer.

Eric Rose · Sep 20, 2017

My vote goes to the venerable Minolta HiMatic 7s. I shot one for years as a young man and was and am still amazed at the sharpness, contrast and look the attached lens provided. It was fast to focus, easy to adjust and allowed you to go either automatic or manual. Beyond that it was extremely quite. Much quieter than any Leica I have owned lol. In fact I would put the Minolta lens up against any Leica lens in similar or near focal length.

I understand there is a HiMatic 7s for sale in the classifieds right now. Pick it up, you won't be disappointed. And no I'm not a shill for the seller

BAC1967 · Sep 20, 2017

darkroommike said:
Can I nominate the Kodak Signet 35, so good that the Army Signal Corps and the Air Force both had special editions made? Subsequent models not so much.

I'll second that, great little rangefinder. I just replaced the beam splitter with one from a Minolta Hi-Matic F which is a perfect fit. It made for a very bright rangefinder patch, it's a real pleasure to use now. By the way, the Hi-Matic cameras are also nice little rangefinders so don't destroy a good working one.

Cholentpot · Sep 20, 2017

darkroommike said:
Can I nominate the Kodak Signet 35, so good that the Army Signal Corps and the Air Force both had special editions made? Subsequent models not so much.

I have the 50 and it's pretty good for a guess camera. I was thinking of picking up a 35. What should I be looking for and around what price point?

Paul Howell said:
C3s are so cheap, if you want lug straps, buy one, take the front plate off so you see where not to drill the Bakelite shell and then epoxy in a strap lug, just be careful how far to drill so as not to interfere with any of the inner workings. I had my C3 cleaned and adjusted by Tempe Camera, I think he charged me $40.00.

That's pretty good for a CLA. I wonder what he would charge to get my K1000 running again...

Paul Howell · Sep 20, 2017

You can give Tempe Camera a call, they have a web site.

Alan Gales · Sep 20, 2017

RalphLambrecht said:
every camera I ever owned was a better camera than I am a photographer.

I'll agree with that!

Oh, and Ralph, I'll add that every camera that I ever owned was a better camera than I am a photographer too! It's funny how so many say, "If I only had a better camera!" when they should be saying, "I need to work harder to improve my photography!".

Theo Sulphate · Sep 20, 2017

macfred said:
My Konica IIIMFX - Rangefinder with Hexanon 48mm f/2 (1956) ...

Really nice photos - thank you for posting them.

Alan Gales said:
I'll agree with that!

I'll agree with that as well. I've never felt limited by my camera.

BAC1967 · Sep 20, 2017

Cholentpot said:
I have the 50 and it's pretty good for a guess camera. I was thinking of picking up a 35. What should I be looking for and around what price point?

The most common problems with the Signet 35 are the shutter and the beam splitter for the rangefinder. As I said above the Hi-Matic F has the exact same size beam splitter if you need to replace it. Servicing the shutter is easy, there's a good tutorial on this site: http://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php?page=signet35

railwayman3 · Sep 20, 2017

E. von Hoegh said:
Yes, I forgot that one. Was given two 35GLs a bit over a year ago, both had dead shutters but there's an easy fix for that. I use a stack of four 675 air cells in a paper sleeve.

I love the tiny size and the design of that series.

I've got a GL where the shutter fires intermittently.....can you point me to any info on fixing this ? Thanks.

railwayman3 · Sep 20, 2017

Have an ancient and battered Fed with Jupiter standard lens. Creaks and groans like an old door, the noise of the shutter frightens small children and animals, but the pictures are well exposed, and pin-sharp, up there with my Pentax lenses.

Jeff Bradford · Sep 20, 2017

Imperial Mark XII. I had no idea it could actually be used as a real camera, but it is better than the Brownie Hawkeye.

MattKing · Sep 20, 2017

A Retina S1 - my first sort of new 35mm camera.
It served me well for years.
I think it must be the flash cube option .

albada · Sep 21, 2017

BAC1967 said:
I'll second that, great little rangefinder. I just replaced the beam splitter with one from a Minolta Hi-Matic F which is a perfect fit. It made for a very bright rangefinder patch, it's a real pleasure to use now.

Regarding replacing the oft-dim beam-splitter mirror in the Signet 35: The mirror from a Kodak Automatic 35 or Kodak Motormatic 35 is a good fit as well. Note that I am *not* referring to the Kodak Retina automatic I/II/III.

Mark Overton

Les Sarile · Sep 21, 2017

Cholentpot said:
I can still get my C3 serviced?

It's only 2017 and your C3 already needs service . . .

John Wiegerink · Sep 21, 2017

railwayman3 said:
I've got a GL where the shutter fires intermittently.....can you point me to any info on fixing this ? Thanks.

Just do a google search and you'll come away with several sites/blogs that will walk you through the steps. I keep several Minox 35mm cameras and have never been disappointed in their image quality. Shutter issues? Yes, but they are usually fixable if you have a little patients and skill. I think the absolute worst thing about the Minox 35's shutter issue is that you never know there is an issue until you process your film. The shutter click sounds the same regardless of whether the shutter is working or not due to it being a electro-magnetic shutter. The absolute best thing about the Minox 35's is their weight and size. Oh, and did I say how good the image quality was? If you are not handy or mechanically inclined I'd suggest you stay away from the early models. If you fall into that category then go for the later ML, MB, GT-X or Touring. These seem to have much, much less shutter issues and use a still in production battery. The image quality(sharpness and contrast) are as good as any 35mm camera I have used and I have used more than a few.

aparat · Sep 21, 2017

Smena 8M, my first camera, a very generous gift for my 7th birthday in 1977. My uncle gave up his "appliance" ration at an exclusive coalminers' shop so I could take pictures. It's one of the most cleverly designed camera ever made. It can be a fantastic learning tool for an aspiring young photograher, but it can also be used by an advanced shooter, with full control of composition and exposure. The accessory rangefinder turns this little gem into a full-featured camera. The lens is awesome, with nice character to it, slight vignetting, and a sort of 3D look, thanks to its imperfections. I still have mine, and love it.

Cameras that are better than they should be

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