Plaubel Makiflex Standard.

[Trask]

I really appreciate your keeping this discussion in the forum and not as PM, as this is a great source of information for any future user who might come along. APUG, with your efforts, is helping keep knowledge alive.

 

[Nokton48]

I really appreciate your keeping this discussion in the forum and not as PM, as this is a great source of information for any future user who might come along. APUG, with your efforts, is helping keep knowledge alive.

Thanks Trask!

My hope is that individuals who acquire this wonderful rare camera will add to this thread. I've been all alone here for a very long time, excepting some of the very kind comments from some of the viewers.

I know of a guy in New England who has the Makiflex bug, and he builds beautiful innovative cutom-made metal cameras in his shop. He has a CNC milling machine and makes wonderful amazing custom pieces for his Makiflex. Really it looks as nice or better than the original stuff from the factory. And so retro and innovative! I have invited him to come here and show off his beautiful camera and the accessories he has made for it. I hope he does!

I believe that perhaps about 400 of these cameras were made; It is very very very rare to see a Plaubel Makiflex. All in all, I know of about six or seven individuals that I am aware of that own the Makiflex (not all of those seem to want to use the camera), and that is not many in the entire world! What has happened to all these other 400 cameras? Are the in garages or attics or on mantelpieces or in the landfills? What a pity as they are so much fun to admire and use as working professional quality photographic tools. I think of the 1960's as the "Golden Age" of Photography. I agree it's important to keep this "bubble" of photographic history alive, and to add to the knowledge that's here.

Any other Makiflex owners out there? Please add to this thread. Please photograph your cameras and post them here. Photograph with your cameras and post the results here. Any and all comments are welcome.

 

[Nokton48]

Instructions of loading the Plaubel Makina film Back

http://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/plaubel/page2.html

 

[mfuser]

Thanks for getting me started with my Makiflex! I placed a roll of 120 film in my back and took some random test shots. I just got the roll back today and I'm really pleased with the results. The pictures were very sharp..

 

[Nokton48]

Thanks for getting me started with my Makiflex! I placed a roll of 120 film in my back and took some random test shots. I just got the roll back today and I'm really pleased with the results. The pictures were very sharp..

Mfuser,

Glad to be of help!
Hope you get lots of use and have a lot of fun with your "new" acquisition.
I have found the 150mm Schneider Xenar to be sharp as a pin. I have it in the automatic and non-automatic mounts.

The Schneider Symmar, Xenar, Tele-Xenar, Tele-Arton, Rodenstock Imagon, and the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar were all original Makiflex lenses.

Plaubel lensboards that are 120mmx120mm fit the Makiflexes. Any lens of sufficent covering power (from 125mm to 360mm) will work on the cameras.

 

[Nokton48]

Here is my (new to me) Makiflex Sheet Film Back. On the left, are six Linhof 4x5" Sheet Film Holders, and on the right, are six Linhof 9x12cm Sheet Film Holders. These are great holders, they have a built-in pressure plate, which "presses" the film tightly against the fim plane and allows for super-sharp results. Why do I have 9x12cm as well as 4x5" film holders? Well, I have a lot in my deep freeze of both sizes of film. I just ordered 300 sheets of FOMA Retro Soft 320 9x12cm (from a shop in Germany) so I glad I have both sizes of holders!

This Makiflex Back is interesting. On the top and bottom, it has "flip latches" which you undo, and squeeze the holder into it's smaller configuration, and the re-do the latches. Then it fits 4x5" Graphic/Riteway/Lisco holders, which are much thinner than the Linhofs. All of these holders produce an 82mmx90cm image on the sheets films. Pretty cool stuff.

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

We have a three-day weekend ahead, and my wife and I are looking forward to going out and taking some photographs together. Here is the Makiflex stuff I am planning to use: the 240mm F5.6 Schneider Xenar, The 240mm Schneider Symmar-S, the 240mm F5.6 Schneider Componon, and (on the camera) the 250mm H5.5 Rodenstock Imagon. All three of the Schneider lenses screw into one set of tubes, to keep things simple. Film will be 6x9 120 Ilford FP4+, and 120 Foma Classic 200. I also have some 6x9cm sheets loaded, in Efke PL100, and Ilford FP4+, which I want to use up, so can run my first 6x9 sheets in my JOBO. So, a sort of "240mm-ish shootout". Just hoping the weather cooperates for us.

002 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[sneebot]

Thanks Trask!

My hope is that individuals who acquire this wonderful rare camera will add to this thread. I've been all alone here for a very long time, excepting some of the very kind comments from some of the viewers.

I know of a guy in New England who has the Makiflex bug, and he builds beautiful innovative cutom-made metal cameras in his shop. He has a CNC milling machine and makes wonderful amazing custom pieces for his Makiflex. Really it looks as nice or better than the original stuff from the factory. And so retro and innovative! I have invited him to come here and show off his beautiful camera and the accessories he has made for it. I hope he does!

I believe that perhaps about 400 of these cameras were made; It is very very very rare to see a Plaubel Makiflex. All in all, I know of about six or seven individuals that I am aware of that own the Makiflex (not all of those seem to want to use the camera), and that is not many in the entire world! What has happened to all these other 400 cameras? Are the in garages or attics or on mantelpieces or in the landfills? What a pity as they are so much fun to admire and use as working professional quality photographic tools. I think of the 1960's as the "Golden Age" of Photography. I agree it's important to keep this "bubble" of photographic history alive, and to add to the knowledge that's here.

Any other Makiflex owners out there? Please add to this thread. Please photograph your cameras and post them here. Photograph with your cameras and post the results here. Any and all comments are welcome.

It's on my list of things to do... I will put up some pictures soon.

 

[Nokton48]

This just arrived on my doorstep today from Germany.
300 sheets of Foma Retropan Soft 320.
Will fit in above ^^ 9x12cm Linhof Film Holders and others I have.

002 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Peter Schrager]

I'd love to hear and see some results from using that film...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[Nokton48]

Eighteen sheets of 6x9cm Foma, Ilford FP4+, and Efke PL100, processed in my new Jobo 2500 in one run, and hanging to dry. I would say a success! Images shot with Plaubel Makiflex, Plaubel Makina, and one 6x6cm Hasselblad.

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[sneebot]

Here are a couple of images of my Makiflex. I usually use it with a 210 or 240mm Heliar. I find it a very easy camera to use. The basic camera is very robust with a very nice focusing rack. I've acquired a couple Makiflex odds and ends over the last few years, I'll try to post some additional images of those.

The adapter below allows use of Linhof lens boards to be mounted on the camera. For the back I made an adapter for accepting 4x5 accessories-- the back mounted on the camera is a Linhof 6x9 Super Rollex.

 

[Nokton48]

Thanks for posting, Sneebot! Great stuff. Here is one more (from Flikr) Beautiful metalworking! Hope you don't mind my posting....... Looks like 360mm Schneider Tele-Xenar, one of the original Makiflex lenses in the catalog.

Plaubel Makiflex with Custom Back by Matt Abelson, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

Ye Olde Mille in cold winter light Utica Ohio USA

Plaubel Makiflex Standard on tripod 150mm Schneider Symmar-S Efke PL100 cut film 6.5cmx9cm Microdol-X straight (replenished) Epson 4490

Makiflex PL100 cut film 6x9 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

Here's a 2x3" Linhof holder I picked up for a good price. This fits in the 2x3" Makiflex Back, shown with the bail open. The extra-thick Linhof -just- barely goes in, with not much room to spare. But it fits. I would like to get some more of these, but they tend to be expensive. I also have Rigteway and Lisco 2x3 holders that fit this back.

004 by Nokton48, on Flickr

003 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

This is from earlier this summer, but I picked out a nice Makina III, which I have wanted for many years.
All the Makina roll holders and 6.5cmx9cm Makina sheet holders fit both cameras.
The Makina is great fun to use and is perfect for discreet shooting Heavy but fits in Swedish Medical Bag. So I will be finishing roll holders and plates much more quickly now that I have both cameras

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

And Here is a very nice writeup on the Plaubel Makiflex,
from when the camera was first introduced in 1965.
And Yes, I bought a copy for my files:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Plaubel-Maki...792386?hash=item542721ff82:g:Ne8AAOSw~gRVyRVN

 

[Nokton48]

Victorian Baby Elephants Fountain, Goodale Park, Columbus Ohio.

9x12cm Foma Retro 320 cut film, exposed at EI 125. Very soft overcast day, Plaubel Makiflex Standard camera body, Kern-Arau 360mm F11 Repro Process lens, exposure 1/15 sec at F22, Developed in straight Microdol-X developer, 30 minutes development at 18C, in a JOBO Multitank 5. Scanned on Epson 4490 scanner.

The negative is cropped somewhat (about 6.5cmx9cm) for easy scanning. Observations: Even at 30 minutes development, the negatives are quite low contrast. Also, there is a dark blue antihalation dye on the back of the film, which turned my Microdol-X BLUE! And it even turned my Kodak Rapid Fixer BLUE! After thirty minutes washing, all traces of the dye was completely rinsed away.

I LIKE THIS FILM! I am so glad I have it. Of course, I am NOT following the FOMA instructions, just going by my own intuition.
Since this film is not available in 120 size, this is a good alternative for me.

Makiflex Retro 320 - 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

Another Foma Retro 320 film test. This one was made in full key-day sun. 9x12cm Retro 320, Plaubel Makiflex Standard camera body, 360mm F11 Kern-Arau process lens at F22, 1/60th on tripod. Developed in straight replenished Microdol-X 30 minutes at 18C, scanned on Epson 4490 scanner. The full frame 82mmx90mm image on the negative was cropped to approx 6.5cmx9cm, for easy scanning.

Makiflex Retro 320 - 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

Graflex 2x3 Knob-Wind Film Holder on the Automatic Makiflex.
Eight exposures on a roll of 120.
Will be testing this setup soon.

2015-12-16 18.19.04 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

Regarding the 2"x3" MX1/526 Film Back, it never occurred to me, until now, that it should also fit 6x9cm Holders. I bought a 6x9cm Linhof holder and it fits perfectly, and also, appears to cover the entire field of the ground glass (the 2x3 holders crop in somewhat as the sheets are smaller). So I have three more each of these Linhof holders coming. Again I am glad to have all this stuff to figure out and work with.

2x3 & 6x9 Holders Makiflex by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[sneebot]

Thanks for posting, Sneebot! Great stuff. Here is one more (from Flikr) Beautiful metalworking! Hope you don't mind my posting....... Looks like 360mm Schneider Tele-Xenar, one of the original Makiflex lenses in the catalog.

Almost-- 360mm Voigtlander Telomar...

 

[Nokton48]

Almost-- 360mm Voigtlander Telomar...

Nice! I'm intrigued by the Voigtlander LF lenses.
Why are they so much more than the Schneiders?
Although recently, I had a chance to get a nice looking 150mm F4.5 Heliar for about $150. Well, almost....
Which is a lot less than most I have seen. Is seperation a big problem with Voigtlanders?
I've been warned about the Apo Lanthar made for the Makiflex. Ken Ruth got one is his repair shop,
and he could not make it usuable.

In all my years of searching, I found -one- Makiflex 150mm Automatic Heliar on German Ebay (years ago).
So they did exist through the Plaubel factory.

 

[sneebot]

Not sure why they are so much more, generally they are slightly faster (4.5 vs 5.6). I really like the results from the Heliars (I have a 210 & 240). The Telomar I have not used as much. Very late model Voigtlander lenses were, I believe, made by Zeiss which may contribute to their desirability.

I don't know that separation is any more common than Schneider lenses-- I just don't have a big enough sample set to reference. The 240mm Heliar (early 60s) had some front separation that I had fixed at the same time as a more modern Schneider lens (~1984). Some downsides (of some) of the Voigtlander lenses would be: Can have odd filter threads, rarely in modern shutters- not an issue with the Makiflex, in fact the Makiflex gives a much wider shutter speed range than the Compound, lens cells often do not have notches for spanners so if you want to take the lens (glass) apart it can be more difficult.

 

[Nokton48]

Early sixties is the perfect match in vintage to the Makiflex. I do try to do that, but I have few a few modern barrel lenses, as well. I figure I might as well play the field.

I have a 180mm CZJ Zeiss Jena 180mm F2.8 Zebra Sonnar coming from KEH that I am going to try to adapt to the Makiflex. That will be interesting, especially if the lens covers 82mm x 90mm and I suspect it prolly will reasonably do so. I may need to mount it in a Peco Jr recessed board to increase the focus range towards infinity. What a great lens, too bad the P6 bodies that fit it are so questionable. Not so the Makiflexes. And I can even shoot 6x6, I three Makina backs in that size. Weight may be an issue, stay tuned.