eBay find

[BobD]

Just received this little gem.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200487192195

It's in marvelous condition with everything working, sound bellows and clean
glass. A nicely built little 645 folder with 4-glass lens.

 

[2F/2F]

Purdy!

Have you shot a roll yet?

 

[BobD]

^ Nope. Will do soon.

 

[Simplicius]

how good are the lens on these compared to Zeiss and Agfa folders of same era?

 

[bblhed]

I envy you, and I have a lot of cool cameras so that is saying a lot. Did it come with that film in it, and if so do you plan to see if you can process it? It looks like C-22 film, but I believe you can cross process that can't you?

That looks like it will make a great "pocket" camera for vacation shooting, enjoy it.

 

[BobD]

I envy you, and I have a lot of cool cameras so that is saying a lot. Did it come with that film in it, and if so do you plan to see if you can process it? It looks like C-22 film, but I believe you can cross process that can't you?

That looks like it will make a great "pocket" camera for vacation shooting, enjoy it.

Yes, it's C-22 film. Not sure what I'll do with it. I may play with color cross
processing at some point but I mostly just do B&W so I don't have the color
chemistry on hand.

 

[BobD]

how good are the lens on these compared to Zeiss and Agfa folders of same era?

I'll try to get a roll shot in the next few days and post my results. I am
expecting it to be comparable to a Tessar but we'll see.

There is one oddity -- the shutter release is on the left side but in playing with it
that doesn't really seem like much of an issue. I would probably shoot it in
landscape orientation mostly anyway which requires turning the camera on its end
so that shouldn't make much difference.

I also dug up a Rondo rangefinder I had which seems to fit it perfectly:

 

[bblhed]

You are really making me want one of these, my wife is a lefty, and a left handed camera would have huge WAF because she would not have to fight with it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

There is one oddity -- the shutter release is on the left side but in playing with it that doesn't really seem like much of an issue.

The shutter is on the correct side. Just like the Hasselblad V series is held in the left hand, adjusted and focused with the right. The Exacta had the same proper setup. At least three companies knew how to design a camera properly. Remember that only left handed people are in their right mind.

Steve

 

[BobD]

^ Ah, thanks for setting me straight on that.

 

[Brian Legge]

I picked up a Zenobia a few weeks ago and love it. Mine was $60 and had the lesser Hesper lens - you did well! I almost bid on that camera just to see how a Neo Hesper lens performed.

Pictures from my first roll with it here: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=zenobia&w=59657594@N00

I don't know how it compares to other folders, but I'm definitely happy with the results. If anyone is curious about the sharpness of one with a lens worse than BobDs, check out the larger sizes of some of these pictures.

 

[Brian Legge]

My favorite thing about the camera is how people react to it. The Moskva 5 generates curiosity and a little intimidation. People don't seem to even notice the Zenobia for some reason.

 

[BobD]

^ Nice pics, thanks!

 

[darxmurf]

if you need a flash with it
http://cgi.ebay.com/ZENOBIA-SYNCHRO-FLASH-GUN-/330425016253

 

[tac]

Thanks!

I picked up a Zenobia a few weeks ago and love it. Mine was $60 and had the lesser Hesper lens - you did well! I almost bid on that camera just to see how a Neo Hesper lens performed.

Pictures from my first roll with it here: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=zenobia&w=59657594@N00

I don't know how it compares to other folders, but I'm definitely happy with the results. If anyone is curious about the sharpness of one with a lens worse than BobDs, check out the larger sizes of some of these pictures.

Really nice photographs! Thank you so much for sharing! -Tyler

 

[Simplicius]

I picked up a Zenobia a few weeks ago and love it. Mine was $60 and had the lesser Hesper lens - you did well! I almost bid on that camera just to see how a Neo Hesper lens performed.

Pictures from my first roll with it here: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=zenobia&w=59657594@N00

.

very nice work, seems equal to any tessar clone ... nice buy at the price $60!! considering the results.

 

[BobD]

Finally got a chance to run a roll through my Zenobia:

FP4+ in Rodinal 1+50
All shot at f/4

It's a fun little camera.

 

[2F/2F]

Thanks for sharing the neat pix. They look good. Must be a fun camera to use.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hmmm ... looks like the Santa Monica Pier.

Steve