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Sold Minoltaflex v1 "upgraded"

Trader history for Alex Varas (5)

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Alex Varas

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Mar 24, 2018
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885
Location
Bilbao
Format
Medium Format
For selling this first version of the Minolta TLR camera.

There was one student who bought this camera without noticing the front element was missing and the camera needed full service so he brought it to me and I gave him the bad news about the front lens, not being able to return the camera we decided to change his Minoltaflex for my Kowaflex with a not perfect lens.

I had the hope that the lens from one Autocord for donor I have could fit the camera so that was the first thing I tried and after just one try I collimated both taking and viewing lens, it seems that Minolta kept very close focal lengths for all their TLRs (or I just was lucky).
I did the full service (link bellow) and the camera turned out to be a real shooter with the Rokkor 75mm f/3.5, really sharp and contrasty lens.


The camera is a mix between a Rolleicod II-III with an Ikoflex head, it has a Fresnel screen (homemade) so it's no dark and dim as a Rolleicord II or III, also a double shutter release system with a very odd double exposure mechanism that can be fooled (and abused if not done properly).

The link above has photos made with this camera and even at f/4 delivers very well.

I would say it's the perfect entry for TLR or medium format with an excellent lens not shown in this kind of 'consumer' cameras.

125 euros shipped and Paypal'ed within European Union, a leather carry case (original) is included.

Thank you for looking,
Alex
 

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Oh man, those photos! I looked at the sample pics before reading your post, and as soon as I saw them I thought, "that looks like photos from the Autocords I used to own". The lens on this camera is very, very good. You did a great job, and the woman and kids are beautiful.
 
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Thank you!

Yes, it’s a nice lens, I bought the Autocord from a friend and it needed service on the focusing system, I read the focusing lever was soft metal but I didn’t expect it was butter metal so I broke it and I have been using that Autocord as donor, that thought me a lesson about soft metals
Good thing I could use the lens in the Minoltaflex, it’s a good match.
 
(1936) This was the first TLR made in Japan to have a double-exposure prevention mechanism.
 
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