Hi my name is Gary. I recently bought a 1946 Ist Edition Houghton Ensign Commando. Do any of you know where I could buy a lens hood for the camera?Also, is there a source for a hot shoe light meter to fit the camera. The Weston Metradot that I have does not fit. I haven’t shot any film yet, but what speed film would you recommend and also what f stop is ideal for the lens in terms of sharpness?
Houghto Ensign Commando
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- Thread starter Gary Prager
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Nicholas Lindan
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Measure the outside of the front ring of the lens. Then look for a "slip on adapter," that fits that measurement. There may be a 0.5mm discrepancy between the lens diameter and the slip on adapter size; don't worry about it. The adapter will be for "Series xxx" filter/hoods - now you just need a "Series xxx" hood. Ebay will be the best bet.
There are at least three small light meters on the market. Google "shoe mount light meter"
As for film, well around here that's a discussion that brings about fisticuffs, good thing this is all done in a virtual setting. My druthers would be Portra 400 for color prints and T-Max 400 (aka TMY) for black and white.
I'm guessing the lens is a front focusing f3.5 triplet. It will usually perform quite well in the range f5.6 to f22; it may be a bit soft wide open but the results will be acceptable.
There are at least three small light meters on the market. Google "shoe mount light meter"
As for film, well around here that's a discussion that brings about fisticuffs, good thing this is all done in a virtual setting. My druthers would be Portra 400 for color prints and T-Max 400 (aka TMY) for black and white.
I'm guessing the lens is a front focusing f3.5 triplet. It will usually perform quite well in the range f5.6 to f22; it may be a bit soft wide open but the results will be acceptable.
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Lens hood as above, as far as light meter, maybe best to use a hand held with these old commando's, I use a weston, easier to see and use, as far as the lens, all had the Ensar lens, uncoated, and made for Ensign by Ross, who later took over Ensign, and some were triplets, but some were early versions of ross lens which later was the Ross xpress, a 4 element lens, and one of the best of it's type around, I have found, over years of using Commando's I have 2, that they perform best at 8 to 11, and I always used Fomapan 400, be very careful with the Epislon shutter, they can be delicate, and whatever you do never change from slow (10th) to fast speed with the shutter cocked, you can ruin the shutter, but treated carefully they are not bad, I have 6 or 7 Ensign's and used with care they are fine cameras
The later 820 Selfix Special used a similar focus system.
The first cameras to carry the Ensign name were sold by Houghtons in 1904 and were re-named cameras formerly made by the Alliance Roll-film Camera Co Ltd, Houghtons had been one of the partner companies. They merged a number of companies together in 1904.
Ian
My mistake it's the last AutoRange version not the Special. The Special had an uncoupled rangefinder.
Ian
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