Contessa Nettel Onito

[Whiteymorange]

I just bought an Onito on the 'bay, primarily for the Rollex film back that came with it. It's a sweet-looking little 9x12: decent bellows with a Nettar 135 that is clean and clear in an Ibsor shutter that seems to be quite good. I want to try it out. Only problem: The front standard will not move out along the track, but stops with a bang just about 1 cm into it's travel. I found that the brass slides on the standard were a bit bent and straightened them out but no go. There appears to be a small post under the standard that may be catching on something -- don't know, but I can't reach it. The solidity of the catch when it stops seems to indicate that it is either entirely broken or I'm missing something...

Any experience out there with this thing?

 

[Whiteymorange]

Sooo... I guess I have a strange one, huh? Anyone have any experience with a stuck front standard?

 

[Jerevan]

I don't have one of these, so it's pot shots in the dark here... But looking at the only picture I have found on Pacific Rims photographica page - what is the button-like thing on the left? Is it a spirit level? And do you unscrew both of the screws enough for the front standard to go free? Looks like a nice camera, however.

 

[Jerevan]

For the record, it seems like the camera is focused with the help of the righthand lever (left side in the picture link in the OP, but this example is missing the scale which shows the actual focus range). Nifty feature.

 

[Whiteymorange]

For the record, it seems like the camera is focused with the help of the righthand lever (left side in the picture link in the OP, but this example is missing the scale which shows the actual focus range). Nifty feature.

Yes, the focusing is accomplished with a lever on the right side which seems to have positive stops at certain distances set in meters. I don't yet have a way of getting setting the front standard at infinity, however, so I don't know how well it works. The slide is really frustrating. I worked on it today for about 30 minutes, looking for a way to free the standard from the track. The knurled knobs in the front turn (with some force) but do not loosen up or come free. They simply revolve around a center post - no effect at all on the movement of the camera as far as I can see.

This isn't a fancy camera, and I have better lenses, even in the 9x12 format, but I guess I'm frustrated as a matter of pride (stupid emotion, that.) I keep thinking I should be able to figure this thing out!

One good thing -- the Rollex back does fit my Rietzschel Clack! I'll try to get some shots in this week but time is tight.

 

[jon koss]

Just a sanity check - are you pinching the two knurled knobs together to release the sliding mechanism?

J

I just bought an Onito Only problem: The front standard will not move.. The solidity of the catch when it stops seems to indicate that it is either entirely broken or I'm missing something...

Any experience out there with this thing?

 

[Whiteymorange]

Actually the knurled knobs are not for pinching (there's a joke in there somewhere but I think it's better not to find it) They are simply handles for pulling.
The good news is that, thanks to a large and strong gentleman at the PHSNE show here in Boston, I got the thing to work. Just needed some "persuasion." I took a roll with the Rolex back- half with this Onito and half with the Rietzschel Clack that I have. I have yet to print the results, but the Onito seems to be quite nice. The next step is to try some sheet film in it. Good buy, I think, for $37.50.