Gifted a Voightlander AVUS 9x12! Whooo!

[Kino]

A colleague at work grabbed me in the hall and said he waned to give me something to help him clear out his basement. I was quite happy when he handed me a very nice Voightlander AVUS 9x12 in its original case, cable release and 3 x 12 exposure packs of Kodak Super XX (expired in 1954)!

I later discovered that the film magazine had an additional 12 unused exposures of Super XX in it as well. Who knows if any of the film is good, especially the loaded magazine, but at least the 3 boxes of film are still sealed.

I, of course, will be looking for (at a minimum) both single film holders, plate holders and a ground glass to make the camera more fully functional and am piling back through past posts here to get some information.

There are some problems: the front lens element appears to have some fungus or separation and the shutter doesn't appear to have correct speeds below 1/50th a second.

I cannot tell if the front element is cemented or will come apart; looks cemented, so I might have to live with a diffusion filter built in until I can locate a replacement shutter/lens combo.

Really would like to find a ground glass for this camera and try out the limited rise and slide functions of the front standard.

Maybe I'll make it a point of detouring around closer to this person's desk each day, just in case he finds a Hassleblad or a Deardorf that is crowding his basement shelving...

BTW: Has anyone ever tried reloading a used Kodak Film Pack or are they destroyed in the process of shooting?

 

[Kino]

A search of the Camera Wiki.org site on Compur shutter serial numbers places this camera built in 1925!

 

[Kino]

Got the shutter sorted out with the help of this URL: https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/dial-set-compur-cla.154324/

Not too sure about the 1/5th to 1/25th speeds, but they seem to be improving the more I exercise the shutter, so it might just need to be used to break in again.

Now if I could just get the front lens element apart and clean it...

 

[bunip]

The skopar lens has the illustrated

design so you should be able to unscrew the two cemented front lenses, clean the middle lens both parts unscrewing also the rear elements. That is a great lens and great pocket LF camera. I converted the film pack holder to a groundglass holder, then you can buy some plate holders and go with regular film in front of the glass plate or buy some newly coated glassplate. And, if you're going to use it is better to find a lens shade.
kind regards,
paolo

 

[Kino]

Thank you! I have some internal problems with the front two cells. I don't think they will come apart.

 

[JPD]

You can make a simple groundglass by taping strips of matte scotch tape on a piece of plexi glass that's been cut to fit in the filmpack holder.

It took me a while to find the Voigtländer plate holders and 9x12 film sheaths, but it was worth it. The Voigtländer plate cameras are of high quality and fun to use. The lens takes the common 37mm slip-on filters and hood.

 

[Kino]

JPD,

Thanks. I have several 8x10 sheets of ground glass I found at an estate sale, but have been hesitant to attempt to cut them, so maybe I will try that instead.

The plate holders and film sheaths are certainly more problematic. There are some pretty rough examples going for hefty prices on Fleabay. I am going over in my mind the number of times I passed on these cameras in the past, often with complete sets of accessories, and kicking myself. They used to be very easy to pick up for a song, but no longer.

I think I will like using this camera; kinda like a mini view camera without the bulk.

I tried 4x5 and 5x7 but couldn't get past the fiddly nature of shooting. This seems a rational alternative way to a large negative.

 

[bunip]

You can e xperiment with paper negatives to see if you like the kind of photography

 

[JPD]

I think I will like using this camera; kinda like a mini view camera without the bulk.

I tried 4x5 and 5x7 but couldn't get past the fiddly nature of shooting. This seems a rational alternative way to a large negative.

That's what I like about these cameras. They are classics, easy to use and have the basic movements when you need them. One of my Avus came with the slow Voigtar lens, and I replaced it with a Goerz Dogmar 6,3/135 which is extremely sharp. I put a 4,5/135 Dogmar on another, and a Rietzschel Linear on yet another Avus, but I still have to try them. I also have a Bergheil with Heliar, and it takes the same holders.

 

[Kino]

That's what I like about these cameras. They are classics, easy to use and have the basic movements when you need them. One of my Avus came with the slow Voigtar lens, and I replaced it with a Goerz Dogmar 6,3/135 which is extremely sharp. I put a 4,5/135 Dogmar on another, and a Rietzschel Linear on yet another Avus, but I still have to try them. I also have a Bergheil with Heliar, and it takes the same holders.

Did you replace the entire shutter assembly or just the lens cells? I would assume you have to replace the entire shutter, but then again if they use the same shutter...

 

[Ian Grant]

I've made Ground glass screen holders from film pack holders a few times where the original GG screen holder has been lost, I have a box of 4.5x9 and 9x12 film pack holders but what fit I've not checked. I sold my only spare GG screen holder here a few weeks ago

I have a 135mm Voigtlander Avus lens (can't remember if f6.3 or 6.8) it's a sort of Tessar like but not quite to get around the Patent, reference to the Patent, I've seen the Voigtlander Patent and it is different. I lent my lens to someone on another Forum who made some excellent images with it. As soon as the Tessar Patent and extensions expired Voigtlander switched to the Skopar a Tessar design.

Ian

 

[JPD]

Did you replace the entire shutter assembly or just the lens cells? I would assume you have to replace the entire shutter, but then again if they use the same shutter...

I replaced the whole shutter/lens assembly. For the smaller Rietzschel Linear I made a black plastic washer to fit inside the hole to keep the shutter secure in place.

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/rietzschel-linear-120mm-best-for.161432/

 

[Kino]

Nice!

 

[Jojje]

I can recommend these film sheaths: http://alternativephotographicsupplies.com/wkladka-negatywowa-9x12-cm

 

[Kino]

Thank you, Jojjie! This will certainly help!

 

[JPD]

I can recommend these film sheaths: http://alternativephotographicsupplies.com/wkladka-negatywowa-9x12-cm

I have seen those, but I think that some of the folded parts would have to be cut off with a Dremel for them to work in the plate holders or the focus will be off.

 

[Kino]

Well, I just bought some plate holders on Ebay. I hope I bought the right ones...

They look thin enough for the AVUS. We shall see...

 

[Kino]

I have seen those, but I think that some of the folded parts would have to be cut off with a Dremel for them to work in the plate holders or the focus will be off.

The inserts look so simple. Seems you could make them yourself with a small sheet metal handbrake, thin sheet metal stock and some black paint.

 

[Nodda Duma]

I have a variety of 9x12 plate holders here. 3 of them *might* be for Voigtlanders. If it helps I can check. They all test out ...I’ve shot a handful of plates with them.

Of course, if you want to shoot plates I can help with that, too.

 

[Kino]

I have a variety of 9x12 plate holders here. 3 of them *might* be for Voigtlanders. If it helps I can check. They all test out ...I’ve shot a handful of plates with them.

Of course, if you want to shoot plates I can help with that, too.

Nodda Duma,

Thank you. Let me get these holders in and we can go from there. I'd certainly be interested in some plates when I eventually get the camera properly configured.

 

[Jojje]

I have seen those, but I think that some of the folded parts would have to be cut off with a Dremel for them to work in the plate holders or the focus will be off.

"Seen" is not "used".

 

[Ian Grant]

I have seen those, but I think that some of the folded parts would have to be cut off with a Dremel for them to work in the plate holders or the focus will be off.

Even the Kodak film inserts would be the same. I have numerous film inserts and all shift the film plane slightly but it's probably not enough to make a difference in practice. The ASA/BS standard has a reasonable margin on T distance. No-one comments about the differences between the old T distances used for 5x4, 7x5 and 10x8 and today's DDS Film holders.

Ian

 

[JPD]

Even the Kodak film inserts would be the same. I have numerous film inserts and all shift the film plane slightly but it's probably not enough to make a difference in practice. The ASA/BS standard has a reasonable margin on T distance. No-one comments about the differences between the old T distances used for 5x4, 7x5 and 10x8 and today's DDS Film holders.

Ian

I tried holders that had a frame and pressure plate so they could be used with both plates and sheet film on a 6,5x9 camera, but they were practically unusable because they had this problem of a slanted focus plane. I think they were Kodak holders. The focus was off by decimeters when you compare the top to the bottom of the frame.

 

[Jojje]

this problem of a slanted focus plane.

If put wrong way around this will happen with sheaths/inserts also.

 

[Nokton48]

J Lane offers dry glass plates in 9x12cm. The ASA is 2.
I just bought 30 of them in 6.5x9cm for my Plaubel Makinas.

Dry plate will be fun.

Super XX is usuable even when heavily fogged. What an amazing stash.