Favourite 6x9?

nosmok · Dec 11, 2017

Have to agree with all the Kodak Monitor 620 love. The three most beautiful words in photography are certainly "Kodak Anastigmat Special". Never seen a lens saying this that wasn't terrific. I will also say nice things about the (old) Plaubel Makina IIs or III-- they are certainly eccentric but they got under my skin, and I'll always keep one around. If you're getting a first 6x9, would recommend the Franka Rolfix with the Rodenstock Trinar-- no RF (neither does the Monitor) but everything you need and nothing you don't, usually under 200 bucks, frequently under 100.

Toyo · Dec 11, 2017

If you are on a budget, the Moskva 4 or 5 is a good buy.
The 5 is the same as the 4 but with a self timer (which often does not work )
Sharp and with rangefinder convenience.
T

polka · Dec 13, 2017

I collect a lot of 6x9 folders (which I usually tried only for a test film) but the two that I like to take with me are a moskva5 (105mm/3.5) and a Moskva2 (a strict copy of the super ikonta ; 105mm/4.5). I own also a mamiya universal with a 6x9 back and a lot of other accessories (a real meccano), but it is indeed a very heavy beast. The moskvas are much more "pocketable" and I find their lenses fair and their telemeter rather precise.

Polka

Punker · Dec 13, 2017

Just get a smaller-than-a-Holga Agfa Clack

John Earley · Dec 17, 2017

I have a Franka Rolfix Jr with a Schneider 105/4.5 Radionar that I use for 6x9. It's a pretty simple range focusing folder but it's very light, small and easy to use for it's relatively large negative size.

Neil Poulsen · Dec 17, 2017

My favorite 6x9 would have to be a view camera that accepts both standard and wide-angle bellows. Film is reasonably priced, and development is more efficient. Cameras are relatively small (compared to LF), and lenses are smaller and less expensive. Yet, the format is large enough to obtain decent results.

DC Lohenstein · Dec 18, 2017

1kgcoffee said:
Thinking about getting a 6x9 camera. What are some of your favourites?

As far as preferences go, the ability to focus without guessing would be nice, not a wide angle and personality of the lens. Does not need to be clinically sharp but should have decent contrast and sharpness.

-1kgcoffee

Intrepid 4x5 (weight) with a Horseman 6x9 back (quality, price).
Crown Century Graphic 6x9 with a Mamiya RB67-Back
Pentacon Six bellows with adapted G-Claron 9/240 and an adapted Horseman rotary back, Mamiya RB67 holder ;-)

EdSawyer · Dec 18, 2017

Pretty sure the 105/4.5 Anaston is a triplet, not a 4-element lens. I have tourists with the 101/4.5 anastar (tessar) and 105/4.5 anaston (triplet) but haven't compared the results from both yet.

I answered my own question re: tourist vs. Monitor - the Tourist is the better choice. (coated lenses, newer, more robust struts, no finicky film counter thing, smaller, etc.)

-Ed

ic-racer said:
have Kodak Tourists with 4-element 105 Anaston f4.5 and Anastigmat lenses. I think the one with the Anastigmat is a hybrid I made from another camera. The 4-element Anaston is the better lens and likely similar to the Anastar, if yours is the 101mm f4.5.

ic-racer · Dec 19, 2017

Kodak Anastigmat f/4.5, 103 mm., 105mm., and 126 mm. These 4-element* Tessar type lenses were used on folding Kodak Six-20, Tourist, and Six-16 cameras. Later lenses were labeled as Anastons. The difference between these lenses and the Kodak Anastigmat Specials/Anastars of the same time frame appears to be in the use of more exotic glass types in the latter lenses. --Camerapedia

*see below #86-#88

Kodak Anastigmat f /6.3, 102 mm., 105mm., and 128 mm. These 3-element Cooke triplet types were also used on folding Kodaks Six-20, Vigilant 620, and Six- 16 cameras. Later lenses were labeled as Anastons. --Camerapedia

John Wiegerink · Dec 19, 2017

Like I said earlier, my Kodak Monitor is my favorite all-a-round 6X9, but I also have and old Kodak Tourist and just dug it out of mothballs. It has the 105mm f4.5 Anaston that is (L) LUMINIZED COATED. I took it apart cleaned the lens and viewfinder and it's ready to roll. I'm going to respool a roll of Acros and take some pictures tomorrow and will post the result, good or bad.

EdSawyer · Dec 20, 2017

Camerpedia is hardly an authoritative source. Check Brian Wallen's bnphoto pages about those lenses, he sources data directly from the kodak lens data books. It says that anaston (105/4.5) is a triplet. Looking at the one I have and have disassembled, the reflections within it confirm that as well.

EdSawyer · Dec 20, 2017

Dead Link Removed

re: Anaston vs. Anastar

EdSawyer · Dec 20, 2017

Further data: Dead Link Removed

ic-racer · Dec 20, 2017

Great resource. Yes, the Anastar f/4.5 - Synchro-Rapid 800 Shutter is the one to seek! Your post reminded me of my almost forgotten path to the Horseman of almost 15 years ago. I now recall the futile search for the Anastar, but wound up with the Topcor 105/Seiko Shutter/Horseman combo.

Favourite 6x9?

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