I have an Autocord, an Ikoflex, and a YashicaMat. Here are some observations on those three I posted in flickr:
I also have a Bronica S2a, which is needs replacing some foam bumpers on the focus screen and the mirror. This has to be the world's loudest SLR. Horses shy, children cry, grown men tremble at its report. Excellent lenses when you can find them, Nikon made them for early Bronicas, later Bronicas used Zenzanon glass. I understand that repairs are costly. The Bronica S2 has brass gears in its film transport, as opposed to steel in the S2a, more reliable.
Has anyone mentioned the Pentax 645? I have the 645n which handles like a big 35mm SLR. Really intuitive, autofocus with suitable lenses. The autofocus lenses have jumped in price with the introduction of Pentax' digital 645d, etc. Manual focus lenses are very good, proper metal and glass with only a little plastic. The 35mm wide angle is excellent! Minimal distortion and really sharp. The 120 macro goes to 1 to 1 without attachments, and is very good. The 645n has TTL flash with the appropriate units. This is THE way for flash photography; should you need fill flash outdoors there is a leaf shutter lens available.
As noted just below I have a "new" Autocord L. Lovely box! Mine has been thoroughly gone over, new "leather," focusing cleaned and smooth and light, shutter CLA, mirror and focus screen cleaned. The camera looks as if it sat in a showcase as a demo for decades. I also have the original lens cap! The leather case is in bad shape, it needs conditioner and re-sewing.
The meter works and seems accurate. Given its operating instructions I think I'll use a hand-held meter.
This is my third TLR. I also have an Ikoflex B with 3.5 Tessar, a YashicaMat 124G with 3.5 Yashinon, and the AutoCord. Some comparative notes:
The Ikoflex is in a class by itself. Not always a good thing! The film loading is NOT intuitive and really demands practice with just the backing paper. A red window is involved! But it does have automatic film stop. Shutter and aperture settings locations are also not as one would expect. Manual shutter cocking! On the plus side, the Zeiss Tessar is excellent, fit and finish are excellent (my example while working perfectly needs some cosmetic paint touch up, and of course the Zeiss cachet), the viewing screen is good, etc. All in all if you can adapt to the camera it will serve you well.
YashicaMat G. The Yashinon is a Tessar formula lens. Excellent. I like the thumb wheels to adjust shutter and aperture, and the readouts visible from above. Film loading is pretty standard: advance till the arrows on the backing paper align with dots on the film gate, close the back and crank to stop and frame one. Of course the Rolleiflex AutoMat and later are simpler, but the cost! The YashicaMat is a Rolleiflex imitation. I'm told that it isn't as reliable. It seems that switching the shutter from M to X or to V - self timer - will really jam things up; many users glue the selector to X. Like the Rolleis and the Ikoflex the YashicaMat needs moving one's hands to focus, expose, and wind. My Yashica will take either 120 or 220 film - if you can find the latter! Fit and finish are very good, mine is government surplus marred by a accession number on a metal sticker.
Autocord. The Rokkor is a Tessar lens, also excellent. Mine has the meter - working! But not convenient. I really like the focus lever under the lens panel! Focus and shoot with left hand, wind with the right. Shutter and aperture set by sliders - the Yash's thumbwheels probably give better dust sealing, but readout is visible from above as on the YashicaMat. Film loading as with the YashicaMat. About that focus lever: It seems that the alloy for some of it is brittle. If that ancient grease on the focus helix gums up its easy to break the focus lever. Easy does it! The film supply loads on the top of the camera, then after exposure turns 90 degrees to the take up spool, as opposed to the usual reverse path. There has been concern about the film making that 90 degree turn developing a "crease" before exposure; on the Autocord that can't happen.
So far the Autocord is my favorite, followed by the YashicaMat, and then the Ikoflex B. All will produce excellent results, the Autocord makes the process easier. Of course, YMMV.
The meter works and seems accurate. Given its operating instructions I think I'll use a hand-held meter.
This is my third TLR. I also have an Ikoflex B with 3.5 Tessar, a YashicaMat 124G with 3.5 Yashinon, and the AutoCord. Some comparative notes:
The Ikoflex is in a class by itself. Not always a good thing! The film loading is NOT intuitive and really demands practice with just the backing paper. A red window is involved! But it does have automatic film stop. Shutter and aperture settings locations are also not as one would expect. Manual shutter cocking! On the plus side, the Zeiss Tessar is excellent, fit and finish are excellent (my example while working perfectly needs some cosmetic paint touch up, and of course the Zeiss cachet), the viewing screen is good, etc. All in all if you can adapt to the camera it will serve you well.
YashicaMat G. The Yashinon is a Tessar formula lens. Excellent. I like the thumb wheels to adjust shutter and aperture, and the readouts visible from above. Film loading is pretty standard: advance till the arrows on the backing paper align with dots on the film gate, close the back and crank to stop and frame one. Of course the Rolleiflex AutoMat and later are simpler, but the cost! The YashicaMat is a Rolleiflex imitation. I'm told that it isn't as reliable. It seems that switching the shutter from M to X or to V - self timer - will really jam things up; many users glue the selector to X. Like the Rolleis and the Ikoflex the YashicaMat needs moving one's hands to focus, expose, and wind. My Yashica will take either 120 or 220 film - if you can find the latter! Fit and finish are very good, mine is government surplus marred by a accession number on a metal sticker.
Autocord. The Rokkor is a Tessar lens, also excellent. Mine has the meter - working! But not convenient. I really like the focus lever under the lens panel! Focus and shoot with left hand, wind with the right. Shutter and aperture set by sliders - the Yash's thumbwheels probably give better dust sealing, but readout is visible from above as on the YashicaMat. Film loading as with the YashicaMat. About that focus lever: It seems that the alloy for some of it is brittle. If that ancient grease on the focus helix gums up its easy to break the focus lever. Easy does it! The film supply loads on the top of the camera, then after exposure turns 90 degrees to the take up spool, as opposed to the usual reverse path. There has been concern about the film making that 90 degree turn developing a "crease" before exposure; on the Autocord that can't happen.
So far the Autocord is my favorite, followed by the YashicaMat, and then the Ikoflex B. All will produce excellent results, the Autocord makes the process easier. Of course, YMMV.
I also have a Bronica S2a, which is needs replacing some foam bumpers on the focus screen and the mirror. This has to be the world's loudest SLR. Horses shy, children cry, grown men tremble at its report. Excellent lenses when you can find them, Nikon made them for early Bronicas, later Bronicas used Zenzanon glass. I understand that repairs are costly. The Bronica S2 has brass gears in its film transport, as opposed to steel in the S2a, more reliable.
Has anyone mentioned the Pentax 645? I have the 645n which handles like a big 35mm SLR. Really intuitive, autofocus with suitable lenses. The autofocus lenses have jumped in price with the introduction of Pentax' digital 645d, etc. Manual focus lenses are very good, proper metal and glass with only a little plastic. The 35mm wide angle is excellent! Minimal distortion and really sharp. The 120 macro goes to 1 to 1 without attachments, and is very good. The 645n has TTL flash with the appropriate units. This is THE way for flash photography; should you need fill flash outdoors there is a leaf shutter lens available.
