Plaubel Makina II. Act I.

[Alex Varas]

Hi all,

Thank you Nokton48 for your help and all your information about the camera, I'm sure you will enjoy this.

This time a Plaubel Makina II from 1934, German, it's all said.
This II version can accept more than 10cm Anticomar, but all the II I saw they have not the aperture and distance scale for the Wide Orthar 6.8 that this has, probably I didn't take a look deeply.

So the problem of this camera is the rangefinder, both mirror and beam splitter need to be changed, not far beyond to be cleaned. Luckily Martin Seelig can provides the mirror and he will cut the beam splitter with the original dimension that both need, I guess in one month I can haven them here.
Also maybe the back seals have to be replaced and but apart from a general cleaning all is fine, bellows and lenses as perfect.

Some photos from my day, all the rest at flicker.

Overture.


Front out.


Front from behind.


Speed ring connection.


Big and dirty Compur.


Aperture inside, shutter blades.


All cleaned.


Back to normal.


All together again.


End of Act I.

What can I say, the engineering is beautiful, top notch as Zeiss or Voigtlander, everything very straight with easy solutions but great quality and absolute not margin for mistakes.
Probably I will shoot something with the ground glass (btw its broken and I need a new one) and tripod.

Thank you for watching.
Alex

 

[Nokton48]

The Maki II is back to life. Man you are talented to CLA this thing. NICE

Get yourself a good WIDE neckstrap, this thing is heavy. And carry it around with you. It was meant to be carried. And used.

Amazing how it cleans up right? Quality materials and design

 

[rknewcomb]

Hi,
That is a high skill level you have to clean that shutter and add the parts needed to the rangefinder. Well done!
Along with my model lllR, I also have a black model ll like your. There is something very nice about the ll. It is lighter in weight, a little better balance because the fixed lens is seems smaller and simpler, Just a nice mobile camera. Plus they are very lovely.
Congrats on your camera.
Robert

 

[Nokton48]

Makina II by Nokton48, on Flickr


DSC01463 (3) by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Alex Varas]

Thank you Nokton48 and Robert.
About the wide neckstrap, it's going to be difficult, it should be made from leather and black.
Robert, has your II model the aperture ring for the Wide Orthar f6.8?

 

[rknewcomb]

My ll has no provision for the Wide Orthar lens, No way to stop the struts at that shorter position for the shorter/wide lens and no distance scale for it.
I still kind of like my model ll best but don't tell my lllR that.
Robert

 

[Nokton48]

has your II model the aperture ring for the Wide Orthar f6.8?

Aperture ring. by Alex B/N, on Flickr


Here you can clearly see the aperture ring for the 73mm Orthar at 11:00 to 12:00. So it would be a solid glass dagor type lens with no iris mechanism I am guessing? These odd bits do turn up from time to time.

I agree the favorite Makiina lens is the 100mm F2.9, which you have in good condition.

 

[Nokton48]

I think it is a IIS if it has interchangeable focal length lenses...……….

https://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/plaubel/plaubel/plaubel IIs.html



Makina II took either F4.2 or F2.9 lens. F4.2 very sharp, F2.9 soft corners. Have both, prefer F2.9

https://lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/plaubel/plaubel/plaubel II.html

 

[Alex Varas]

When the owner of a Medalist II with loads of accessories meet Makina II.
Three unit extensions plus groung glass with Rada 6x9 roll film holder and Series VI adapter as push-in in the front lens, I wonder how is going to be with the Telek lenses

 

[rknewcomb]

Hi,
Did the Medalist spacers just slide right in on the Makina back? Makina holders have a "Makina Groove" down the sides. Its actually just a flat lip that sticks out a little bit, so I would not have thought that smooth flat sided Medalist holders would fit?
Robert

 

[Alex Varas]

Well I cheated to make them fit, the Makina II has two small screws at the left part of the rails where the film holder and ground grass should go.
That's why Makina holders fit and I guess others they don't. These two screws can be taken out a bit to let the Medalist spacers to fit in completely.
The lower screw is easy to access but the upper you need to remove the rangefinder cover to access it easly.
Once you adjust the Medalist spacer then you adjust the two screws back to the new position to help the apacer to fit well.

I hope that I understood your question and it's answered, later I will try to make a photo and upload it.

 

[rknewcomb]

Thanks, I think I understand. Those rails would then have to be adjusted back to the starting position if you later want to use Makina holders right?
Robert

 

[Alex Varas]

Yes I think so, good for me I have only the Rada roll film holder and the Medalist extension backs.
I'm still waiting the mirror and beam splitter before shooting, I hope before Xmas.

 

[Chuck1]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but
Just got a makina ii, love it.
Rada and makina roll backs are not the same(interchangeable)
I don't have a back yet...

 

[Alex Varas]

I have use them both, more comfortable is the Makina one because of the automatic stop when winding.