November is Medium Format Folding Camera Month!!

Alex Hawley · Oct 17, 2006

From the results of a recent poll ((there was a url link here which no longer exists), November is Medium Format Folding Camera Month.
To participate, all you have to do is shoot some film in a vintage medium format folder, between the dates of November 1 and November 30, then post your best shot in the APUG Gallery. Only one photo per participant please.
Any vintage medium format folding camera is allowed. We are including the Baby Graphics (2-1/2x3-1/4) and the vintage Plaubel Makinas.

Why have a MF Folding Camera Month? The idea is to showcase what can be done with a vintage camera. The MF folders were the most popular family-type snapshooter of the 1940s and 1950s, until 35mm became the rage. There is a wide variety of them. Exposure and focusing is all done manually, often "guessing" on the focusing distance with uncoupled rangefinders. But they can still produce quite good results. I noted that one of the Ilford Postcard winners was shot with an Agfa Isollette.

So, if you have one, please join in. Remember, take your best shot during November and lets see what happens.

Jeremy · Oct 17, 2006

time to load up the iskra!

Nancy · Oct 17, 2006

One photo per participant or one photo per camera?
Alex, what folder did you end up getting?

athanasius80 · Oct 17, 2006

Woo Hoo! Time to dust off the Rexo.

Alex Hawley · Oct 17, 2006

Nancy said:
One photo per participant or one photo per camera?
Alex, what folder did you end up getting?

Good question Nancy. Let's keep it at one photo per participant.

I got a Bessa 1, and the learning curve is somewhat steep!

MattKing · Oct 17, 2006

Alex Hawley said:
The idea is to showcase what can be done with a vintage camera. The MF folders were the most popular family-type snapshooter of the 1940s and 1950s, until 35mm became the rage.

1940s and 1950s - those are babies

I'm hoping to submit something using this camera shown below - it's only been about 39 years since I last used it regularly.

Matt

P.S. - any guesses about how old I was when I did use it regularly?

Stephanie Brim · Oct 17, 2006

My Agfa Billy is ready and raring to go!

I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to scan it, though. :confused:

MattKing · Oct 17, 2006

Stephanie Brim said:
My Agfa Billy is ready and raring to go!

I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to scan it, though. :confused:

Contact print it - then scan the contact print.

That's what I will have to do with the (approx.) 6cm x 12cm negative that my Six-Sixteen Kodak pictured above will produce when slightly adapted for 120 film.

Unless I am willing to try scanning both ends of the negative separately, and then d!g(t@l)y stitching the two together .

Matt

Stephanie Brim · Oct 17, 2006

I think the one hour lab in Fort Dodge would let me scan them there, but the fee is enormous. I'll see what I can do.

MattKing · Oct 18, 2006

Stephanie Brim said:
I think the one hour lab in Fort Dodge would let me scan them there, but the fee is enormous. I'll see what I can do.

Stephanie:

Even a cheap used flatbed scanner will do an acceptable job if you scan prints - at least for gallery postings here. I have a 5 year old scanner at the office that was cheap to start, and outmoded by the time I got it, as surplus, for free, and it does an okay job on prints.

In fact, the document scanners in a lot of modern photocopiers probably will do an okay job - see if there is a print shop near to you that will scan a contact print and give you the jpeg.

You could also use a close-up or macro lens on 35mm to photograph the contact print, then scan the 35mm negative - just be sure to keep the contrast low.

Matt

Stephanie Brim · Oct 18, 2006

Well, I'm thinking of selling my dedicated film scanner for 35mm and getting a flatbed, or even trading for one. Hrm. Perhaps I should put that up in the classifieds...heh.

I'll be watching for a flatbed, though. If I'm going to shoot a lot with the Agfa (and I think I am) I'll want something I can scan the negatives with.

Dug · Oct 18, 2006

Matt,

My 616 folder (with attractive leather case!) will be taking part in the fun. I am using two nickels as spacers with 120 roll film and the original 616 take up spool, and get 4 exposures per roll (expose when 3,6,9,12 show up in the little red window).

Panoramic!

Doug

Kobin · Oct 18, 2006

I'd load up my Zeiss Nettar but I can't post anything in apug.

K.

MattKing · Oct 18, 2006

Dug said:
Matt,

My 616 folder (with attractive leather case!) will be taking part in the fun. I am using two nickels as spacers with 120 roll film and the original 616 take up spool, and get 4 exposures per roll (expose when 3,6,9,12 show up in the little red window).

Panoramic!

Doug

Hi Doug:

I've tried a couple of tricks with the film size challenge. Do you have any problem with light leaks at the edge, when you use the 120 on the 616 take up Spool?

I think I'll be able to get 5 exposures, but the "window" on mine coincides with the 6x4.5 numbers on the roll, so I have to read in 2 1/2 exposure increments (2, 4.5, 7, 9.5, 12, 14.5).

Panoramic indeed, although it's hard to get that sense from those tiny viewfinders!

Matt

Gay Larson · Oct 18, 2006

MattKing said:
1940s and 1950s - those are babies

I'm hoping to submit something using this camera shown below - it's only been about 39 years since I last used it regularly.

Matt

P.S. - any guesses about how old I was when I did use it regularly?

I have one, what film can you use in it, I'd like to participate but I only collected them, didn't think I could use it. Forgive my ignorance.

MattKing · Oct 18, 2006

Gay Larson said:
I have one, what film can you use in it, I'd like to participate but I only collected them, didn't think I could use it. Forgive my ignorance.

Gay:

The Six Sixteen Kodak takes, not surprisingly, 616 film .

You can't buy 616 film anymore, at least not with the proper paper backing. The film itself is the same size as 70mm film (2.5" wide) but it is on a 616 spool, and has 616 paper backing.

I don't know whether there was any variation in the length of the negatives produced by these cameras - mine produces a 4.5" long negative.

There are also 116 cameras - same size film, just different (diameter) spool.

There are a few tricks you can use that will permit you to use 120 film in many of these cameras, but it is certainly much easier if you have a 616 take up spool.

If you would like, I can look on my computer at home for some links to sites where people have posted the tips and tricks they have used to adapt 120 film for use in these cameras. I also have an e-mail address for someone who, for $45 US, will send you an adapter he makes.

I think most of these cameras list the film size used inside, when you open the back. You should probably check yours first before I go further.

If you have any extra 616 spools you feel like parting with, lets talk .

Matt

colrehogan · Oct 19, 2006

MattKing said:
Gay:

The Six Sixteen Kodak takes, not surprisingly, 616 film .

You can't buy 616 film anymore, at least not with the proper paper backing. The film itself is the same size as 70mm film (2.5" wide) but it is on a 616 spool, and has 616 paper backing.

I don't know whether there was any variation in the length of the negatives produced by these cameras - mine produces a 4.5" long negative.

There are also 116 cameras - same size film, just different (diameter) spool.

There are a few tricks you can use that will permit you to use 120 film in many of these cameras, but it is certainly much easier if you have a 616 take up spool.

If you would like, I can look on my computer at home for some links to sites where people have posted the tips and tricks they have used to adapt 120 film for use in these cameras. I also have an e-mail address for someone who, for $45 US, will send you an adapter he makes.

I think most of these cameras list the film size used inside, when you open the back. You should probably check yours first before I go further.

If you have any extra 616 spools you feel like parting with, lets talk .

Matt

Okay, you can buy 616 film and many of the odd sized films from Film For Classics. http://www.filmforclassics.com/

You have to scroll down on their Order form page to see the table of films they have and their cost. Not always cheap, but if you wanted to try an old camera, maybe it's worth it. I have bought 122 film (among other sizes) from them in the past.

DBP · Oct 19, 2006

colrehogan said:
Okay, you can buy 616 film and many of the odd sized films from Film For Classics. http://www.filmforclassics.com/

You have to scroll down on their Order form page to see the table of films they have and their cost. Not always cheap, but if you wanted to try an old camera, maybe it's worth it. I have bought 122 film (among other sizes) from them in the past.

JandC had a note on their website a while back (~2004) that they were working on either 116 or 616 film (I forget which). Does anyone know what happened to that project?

mgb74 · Oct 19, 2006

Looks like it's time to reroll some 120 on to 620 spools.

MattCarey · Oct 19, 2006

Dug said:
Matt,

My 616 folder (with attractive leather case!) will be taking part in the fun. I am using two nickels as spacers with 120 roll film and the original 616 take up spool, and get 4 exposures per roll (expose when 3,6,9,12 show up in the little red window).

Panoramic!

Doug

Nice,

makes me want to give my 116 camera a try. I have 4 old Verichrome rolls for the 116. The camera isn't in near as nice condition as yours, but I should give it a try.

Matt

Ole · Oct 19, 2006

The Zeiss Ikon is ready.

So is the Daiichi Zenobia, the Voigtländer Perkeo, and the Balda Belfoca. And just maybe my travelling Bessa-I will come home in November?

Ole · Oct 19, 2006

Alex Hawley said:
Only one photo per participant please.
Any vintage medium format folding camera is allowed. We are including the Baby Graphics (2-1/2x3-1/4) and the vintage Plaubel Makinas.

Two questions:

1: is a "participant" a person or a camera?

2: Should rollfilm backs be used on those cameras originally made for sheet film? I have a cute little Voigtländer Bergheil 6.5x9cm too - and a rollfilm back for it.

Steve Smith · Oct 19, 2006

Ole said:
The Zeiss Ikon is ready.

So is mine!

Steve.

doitashimashite · Oct 19, 2006

Yoooo-hooo! Count me in! I'll be there, with my Agfa Isolette.

Alex Hawley · Oct 19, 2006

Ole said:
Two questions:

1: is a "participant" a person or a camera?[?QUOTE]
The idea was one shot per person that applies to the MF Folder Month, the best one you get from how many or how few cameras you may have. However, there sure ain't nothing that says you can't post any other shot on APUG that you desire.

Ole said:

2: Should rollfilm backs be used on those cameras originally made for sheet film? I have a cute little Voigtländer Bergheil 6.5x9cm too - and a rollfilm back for it.

Click to expand...

No restriction on that either. That was one reason why I posed the question about the Baby Graphics because they used a 6x9 sheet film, and also had the 120 roll film backs. Some of the old Kodak folders also had glass plate adapters. Wonder if anyone will have one of those?

Ole, can we make this thread a sticky?

November is Medium Format Folding Camera Month!!

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