Plaubel Makiflex Standard.

Nokton48 · Nov 23, 2012

Makiflex Graphic 2x3 Back Now Fully Operational.

Got a piece of 4x5 groundglass for $4.00 at Midwest Photo today (went down into the basement), and had it cut down at the local hardware store to fit the Makiflex back. Luckily it didn't crack, and I did final finishing with a Dremel Emory Wheel on my Mini Drill Press. So I had some fun today and learned something - I didn't know you can sand and reshape sheet glass.

Now I need a bunch of 2x3 filmholders, maybe a couple of 2x3 Graphmatics, and 2x3 sheet film. Freestyle will have in stock Aristo EDU 100 and 400 in 2x3 Jan 1st.

This is fun. The new back has perfect groundglass focus, as do all my other backs. My Makiflex Standard is now packed into a Domke F2 Bag, along with two lenses, two Plaubel Makina 6x9cm 120 backs(one loaded with B&W, one color neg) and 6x9 sheet film septums loaded with B&W. So I will start seriously shooting with it.

papagene · Nov 24, 2012

You are just having way tooooooo much fun!
Enjoy the camera and post some results.

Nokton48 · Nov 26, 2012

Makiflex Automatic w/240 Tele-Arton and Graphic 2x3 Holder.

2.25"x3.25" Graphic Filmholders do fit just fine in my new Makiflex Back.
Now I need a few more and some 2x3 cutfilm from Freestyle.
I do have an old Nikor Developing Tank that takes 2x3 sheets.
So I am just about set.

nonuniform · Nov 28, 2012

I've just discovered the Makiflex while looking for a better option for my 150mm Xenotar f/2.8. Interesting camera!

Nokton48 · Dec 1, 2012

nonuniform said:
I've just discovered the Makiflex while looking for a better option for my 150mm Xenotar f/2.8. Interesting camera!

I have a Schneider 150mm F2.8 Xenotar, which -was- one of the original lenses offered by Plaubel for the Makiflexes. Mine came from that Guy with the Ballistics Company that was selling stuff on Ebay for months on end. Plaubel offered it in a spring-loaded auto-iris version to fit the "Makiflex Automatic". This was the model with the auto-aperture controls, like an Auto Graflex.

Mine is the straight version, I mounted it in a "Plaubel Peco Junior" recessed lensboard, which will fit my Makiflex Standard (no iris control) but -not- my Makiflex Auto's. It will focus to infinity with the recessed board, but the camera will not fire, the rear cell of the Xenotar keeps the mirror from flipping up. But it is GREAT for medium length to close-up use. Sure is easy to focus at F2.8. Lens speed was a requirement of the Makiflex designers, I'm certain. I may remount this lens in the future, into a different board (maybe just -slightly- recessed). I will have to do some more thinking about that

Igor (from Igor's Cameras) up in Cleveland had a Makiflex Automatic, but I think he sold all his Makiflex stuff. He told me he had a copy of the 150mm F2.8 Xenotar in Auto-Iris Mount, but the cells were badly scratched, and not usuable. He was looking for Xenotar cells at the time, to swap out

These -are- interesting- cameras. I'm enjoying my three cameras. The 2x3 Graphmatic does not fit my new 2x3 Makiflex back, the Graphmatic is too thick to fit in the back.

The strap on this camera body is homemade, using Nylon Webbing, and some Black Velvet sewn-in, for comfort. I need to make straps for my two other Makiflex bodies, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I also had a friend drill-and-tap some metric machine bolts, which fit the cable release sockets on these cameras. I can then screw-in Sinar Norma Cable Releases, and it works very well for tipping the cameras. I cut the machine bolt length to fit the camera's socket, using a hack saw.

I have hiked for miles with this camera, looking for landscapes, and not too surprisingly, it is very portable and easy to use handheld. It is bulky but not excessively heavy, in my experience. Not too bad with a wide strap for carrying.

Nokton48 · Jan 11, 2013

Makiflex Automatic with two Automatic lenses.

Took this to the holiday meeting of the Ohio Camera Collecting Society. Everybody agrees it is cool

The Makiflex Automatic (because it has an auto-iris mechanism in the lens).

I have the Plaubel 180mm Auto Schneider Xenar, and the Plaubel 240mm Auto Xenar. Other lenses that were notable, and available in Auto, were the 150mm F2.8 Xenotar, the 360mm Schneider Tele-Xenar, and the Schneider 240mm Tele-Arton.

Nokton48 · Feb 9, 2013

Makiflex Update.

I now have received thirteen Lisco, Fidelity, Graphic, and Fotac 2.25"x3.25" Film Holders, to go with my new Plaubel Makiflex 2.25"x3.25" Film Back. Enough to do twenty-six shots without stopping. And also, I just received 100 sheets of 2.25"x3.25" Aristo.Edu 400 Ei film, from Freestyle Photo.

This has taken awhile to get together, but now I am ready for Spring shooting, with all this new stuff. I can process twelve sheets at a time, in a Honeywell Nikor 2.25"x3.25" film rack, which neatly fits into a two-reel Honeywell Nikor film tank.

Nokton48 · Jun 21, 2013

A trio of Plaubel Makiflexes.

The final Swan Song of the Plaubel Camera Company, (in the early 1960's) was the reflex-SLR version Plaubel Makiflex. Here is my collection of Makiflexes, the two on the left, are the Automatic "Makiflex". Very similar to a European Auto Graflex, with automatic diaphragm mechanism. You cock the lens, and it stops down the lens right before exposure (hence "Automatic"). The Plaubel original lenses are the 180mm Schneider Xenar, and the 210mm F4.5 Schneider Xenar. On the right, is the "Makiflex Standard" with 150mm F2.8 Schneider Xenotar. This model has a more restricted range of shutter speeds, and no auto-iris provision.

These cameras are from what I call "The Golden Age of Photography".

Nokton48 · Jun 21, 2013

My Collection of Makiflex Lenses.

From the upper left:

120mm H5.8 Rodenstock Imagon (mounted on a Durst Enlarger recessed lencone on a flat Plaubel lensboard). I also have the 150mm Imagon cell set which interchanges on this lensboard. 270mm F5.5 Schneider Tele-Xenar in regular barrel, 360mm F5.5 Tele-Xenar in regular barrel (Sinar Norma extension cone bolted to a Peco Jr flat lensboard), 150mm f4.5 Schneider Xenar in barrel, and Schneider 240mm f5.5 Tele-Arton (Durst Enlarger recessed lenscone mounted on a flat lensboard).

A hoot to work with and use.

Barry S · Jun 21, 2013

Those are gorgeous cameras--it looks like you've built up quite the system.

Nokton48 · Jun 21, 2013

New Makiflex Lens.

The barrel-mounted 135mm f4.5 Schneider Xenar. Mounted into a Durst IXTUB recessed enlarger board, and then mounted to a restored Plaubel Peco Junior slightly-recessed lensboard. Just finished putting this together last weekend.

Focuses on my Makiflex Automatics from infinity to several inches, and does not block the mirror when the shutter fires (Yay!). And I can just reach my fingers inside the IXTUB to change the f/stops.

Very useful addition to my Makiflex collection.

Nokton48 · Jun 21, 2013

Thank You. It's a lot of fun, actually

Nokton48 · Oct 25, 2013

New Makiflex Lens. Schneider 240mm F5.5 Tele-Arton

New Makiflex Lens arrived this week. A barrel-mounted Schneider 240mm F5.5 Tele-Arton (one of the original Makiflex lenses). Mounted onto a slighty-recessed Peco Jr board, now ready to use!

Covers 4x5, unlike my smaller 240mm f5.5 Tele-Arton, which would barely cover 6x6cm.

AgX · Oct 25, 2013

Very informative report so far!

Now I'm curious when you show us your metering penta-prism... Well, with that size a penta-mirror will do also.

Nokton48 · Oct 28, 2013

AgX said:
Very informative report so far!

Now I'm curious when you show us your metering penta-prism... Well, with that size a penta-mirror will do also.

Well, I haven't found the original one (so far!) A 45 degree finder I would like to have.

Plaubel did not make a Metering Prism for the Makiflexes, but they did make a "Porrofinder" of sorts with first-surface mirrors inside the prism box.

Igor in Cleveland had one for sale (years ago, long gone!). It has SS#'s scratched across the front of it. Should have been quicker, it's the only time I have seen one for sale by itself. I have seen the Plaubel Makiflex 45 degree finders offered with Makiflex camera outfits on German Ebay.

AgX · Oct 28, 2013

This was intended as a joke. Now I'm surprised that Plaubel indeed made such device...

I guess we shall learn about your further Makiflex endeavours. Enjoy it!

Nokton48 · Oct 28, 2013

Plaubel MX 1/551

Here's an old picture of the item. Funky looking, isn't it? Catalog MX 1/551. I'm sure it would scratch my eyeglasses. Not listed in my US catalog.

Thanks for your kind words I was out testing my new Tele Arton this morning. It is surprising how comfortable the Makiflex is to shoot with. I really like using it.

AgX · Oct 28, 2013

Seemingly I'm quite ignorant on that camera: does the mirror return automatically?
(When I came across that camera once I should have played a bit with it. Or better bought immediately...)

Nokton48 · Oct 28, 2013

No, unfortunately no instant return mirror, but no doubt that would complicate the mechanism quite a bit. You raise the mirror when you depress the shutter lever (or you can drop it back down if you let up on it), then the focal plane fires when you go all the way to the lever's end travel.....

Quite dependable. One of my bodies has been fired 37,674 times (it has a counter) and still works perfectly. That one was portrait camera used for many many years on the streets of Stuttgart. The owner would take your photo then return with the print.

Nokton48 · Dec 7, 2013

More Aquisitions For My Plaubel Makiflexes.

I recieved in the mail (from the UK) a European (1964 vintage) catalog from the Plaubel Camera Company, designating the items available for the Makiflex cameras of the time. For many years I have had a USA catalog, which lists different items and catalog numbers, from what was available in Europe at the time.

From that info, I have confirmed that additional original lenses for the Makiflex included: The 150mm f5.6 Schneider Symmar, the 180mm f5.6 Schneider Symmar, and the 210mm f5.6 Schneider Symmar.

Last year I picked up a Sinar Norma 180mm f5.6 Symmar at a great price. I already had one with spring-loaded aperture and Compur shutter, so I wondered what I would do with this. So yesterday I removed the lens from the Norma board, and remounted it onto a Plaubel Peco Jr. flat board. It works great, and focuses from about three feet to infinity without problems.

Also in the new catalog is the Linhof 56x72mm Cine Rollex Film Holder, which takes 70mm Type II Perfed film. I have one of those as well, so I attached it to a Plaubel Makiflex Adapter Back, so now I can shoot 70mm long roll film in my Plaubel Makiflexes.

Shown below is my new 180mm f5.6 Schneider Symmar, and the Linhof Cine Rollex 56x72, mounted on my Makiflex Standard Body. The Cine Rollex is presently loaded with some Plus-X 70mm film (expired 1981) that I am about to test develop (24 exposure roll loaded).

Nokton48 · Dec 27, 2013

Schneider 360mm F5.5 Tele-Arton in barrel on Makiflex Automatic.

Here is yet another Makiflex lens for my collection. This one is the Schneider 360mm F5.5 Tele-Arton in barrel mount.
Lucky for me, it interchanges onto a lensboard I made for my 360mm F5.5 Schneider Tele-Xenar.
This lens is not that heavy, but it is humungeous! I have a 95mm UV filter and rubber lenshade that will fit it

Casts an amazing image onto the 9x9cm Makiflex groundglass.

AgX · Dec 27, 2013

This is likely a never ending story. I like it.

("humungeous", had to look it up: "Used to describe the body parts of self and or others.
!!!Caution; use with discretion!!!")

Nokton48 · Jan 18, 2014

The Collection Continues to Grow.....

Two more lenses arrive for my three Makiflexes.

First, the 210mm F5.6 Schneider Barrel-mount Symmar. For some reason the front of the lens was painted with grey enamel. I think I can remove it. Focuses from infinity to about ten feet on a flat Peco Jr. lensboard. I may move it to a board with a small lens cone. That I would have to build.

Second, the Schneider 240mm F5.5 barrel-mount Tele-Xenar. The little brother of the 270mm F5.5 I already have. This lens focuses precisely at infinity with the bellows fully retracted, on a flat Peco Jr. board, and covers 6x9cm according to my old literature. And focuses to several feet at close-up minimum. The Makiflex has a pretty long bellows.

Nokton48 · Jan 18, 2014

9x12cm Film to Shoot 9x9cm Images on Makiflexes.

9x12cm Film to shoot 9x9cm images on my Makiflexes.
On the left, 100 sheets of 9x12cm Efke PL100, and some 9x12cm Svema film from the Ukraine. The owner claims it works OK at an ASA of about 6.

On the right, 200 sheets of 9x12 FOMA 100 sheet film. Enough to do some serious work

Dan Fromm · Jan 18, 2014

I understand why the back of the Makiflex body has to be 9x9, whatever 9 means, also why back of the Mamiya RB/RZ also has to be 9x9 or so, whatever 9 means.

What I don't understand is why lenses made for the Makiflex or RB/RZ have to cover 9x9, whatever 9 means. This because the Makiflex gate is 6x9, whatever 6x9 means, and the RB/RZ gate is 56 x 68.4 mm. Surely lenses for these cameras can be counted on to cover the camera's (or is it roll holders'?) gates, but I don't see why one can count on greater coverage. The claim that RB/RZ lenses in fact cover 9x9, whatever 9 means, was recently made in a for sale listing on this site (or was it on the LF forum?).

Will wiser more experienced folks please clear this up for me?

Plaubel Makiflex Standard.

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