Presentation and question about a Luxa Six camera

robert1980 · Feb 19, 2022

Hi everyone.

I´m Robert, from Spain. I´m still learning english, so excuse me if I make mistakes.

I got this camerea and I have repareid it (The shutter didn´t work) and Id like to use it. If I´m right it needs 120 film.

I´m thinking in black and white film. The question is that I don´t know wich it would be the best ISO to take pictures outside. Like landscapes, houses and that kind of things. Can you help me?

Thank you

Best regards

MattKing · Feb 19, 2022

Welcome to Photrio Robert.
Based on the shutter speeds and aperture settings available to you, and your desire to take pictures outside (in daytime, I assume), I would recommend something in the ISO 100 - 125 range.

AgX · Feb 19, 2022

This is a double-presentation: You, but also a camera so rare likely only few of us ever heard of it or its manufacturer.

Seen the few possible settings, you might use a special film with extreme latitude, Ilford XP2. So that you may get goods results even with not apt settings. However this film needs processing in a colour process, though standard.

Mick Fagan · Feb 19, 2022

Robert, welcome to Photrio.

Your camera is a very interesting one, it may be that there were many of these sold in Spain as I have seen one of these in Sevilla in a camera store where I was buying film. It has a very unique way of getting settings correct, one viewing window is for f8 the other window for f16.

It takes 120 film and 100 or 125 ASA speed film is appropriate. I know that Ilford is available in 120 format in Spain, so their film, Ilford FP4+ may be the easiest for you to get.

If the camera does not have a spare film spool sitting inside, then ask at the camera shop if they have a spare spool.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=120+film+...e/7395-large_default/empty-120-film-spool.jpg

This is another version or brand of the same camera with a brief description.

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Luxa_Six]

Mick.

robert1980 · Feb 20, 2022

Thanks for all your answers!!

Yes, the camera has a spare spool. And I´m from seville, what coincidence.

And another question. How mucht turns I have to make in the spool after each picture?

Thank you

Mick Fagan · Feb 20, 2022

Yes it is small world, I wonder if you have the camera I saw in the shop?

We were staying on the edge of Setas de Sevilla and it was approximately a 5 minute walk to the shop where I bought all of the shops Kentmere 400 film, which I had never seen before. There was an older gentleman who was referred to me as I wished for film and he apparently was the only person who knew about film... He was enthusiastic about various film cameras and pulled the camera in question from what looked like an historical display behind the counter. He mentioned that all of the display cameras worked, not as good as when new, but good enough.

This was 8 years ago.

robert1980 · Feb 22, 2022

Mick Fagan said:
Yes it is small world, I wonder if you have the camera I saw in the shop?

We were staying on the edge of Setas de Sevilla and it was approximately a 5 minute walk to the shop where I bought all of the shops Kentmere 400 film, which I had never seen before. There was an older gentleman who was referred to me as I wished for film and he apparently was the only person who knew about film... He was enthusiastic about various film cameras and pulled the camera in question from what looked like an historical display behind the counter. He mentioned that all of the display cameras worked, not as good as when new, but good enough.

This was 8 years ago.

Veeery small world. This shop was probably FOTO AGUILA in Aguilas street. (Eagle in spanish) and in that shop I bough a Zenit 122k to make astrophotography.

But this camera was of my grandparents. I remember when I was a kid playing whit it. Thanks god I didn´t break it!!

And about turning the left knob after each picture, do you know haw many turns I have to do?

Thank you

gone · Feb 23, 2022

I looked for a manual, but had no luck. It seems to be a rare camera. As to the film winding, if it doesn't have a red window on the back to see the film numbers through, then it should automatically stop after each frame when you advance the film. Here's a little information.
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Luxa_Six

Dan Daniel · Feb 23, 2022

A photo of the interior might show what is going with the film counter and spacing. Often there needs to be film in the camera for the counter roller to be activated.

robert1980 · Feb 23, 2022

Thanks for all your help!

MattKing · Feb 23, 2022

Looks like it uses the red window and the numbers printed on the film backing paper to control frame advance.
The oldest and simplest system.
The numbers on the backing paper can be a bit challenging to see.

henryvk · Feb 24, 2022

momus said:
I looked for a manual, but had no luck. It seems to be a rare camera. As to the film winding, if it doesn't have a red window on the back to see the film numbers through, then it should automatically stop after each frame when you advance the film. Here's a little information.
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Luxa_Six

This is very cool. From the link:

camera-wiki.org said:
The interesting thing about this camera is that it has an "optical" exposure meter. Two small finders on the right and left of the viewfinder. Right finder is for F16 and left for F8. You must hold the camera 30cm in front of you and the number you still can read in the viewfinder is the (not exact) exposure time.

Dan Daniel · Feb 24, 2022

Hmmm... If I am seeing that interior shot correctly, that must be the bellows extension system, the metal work along side of the lens. It'd be interesting to see what they were doing there. Folders with doors that hinge down are often so unstable and go out of alignment. I wonder if a mechanism that pushes all four corners like in this camera is more stable and maintains position better over time.

MattKing · Feb 24, 2022

I've updated your thread title, to increase the likelihood that someone with knowledge contributes to the thread.

robert1980 · Feb 25, 2022

Ahh, I thought that red window was to check if there is a film inside. Thank you

If you have curiosity, I toook this pictures from the exposure meters

I have no idea about the aligment of the mechanism, but I´ll put here the pictures I took.

Thank for all your help

AgX · Feb 25, 2022

For telling whether there is film loaded, it should be sufficient to turn the right knob a bit anti-clockwise and watch whether the left knob follows that movement.

In contras to cameras that use 35mm perforated film or even more advanced rollfilm cameras, those numbers on the back of the paper and that red-window peeping hole form the poor-man's-version of film transport control.
But nonetheless with respective films still offered today...

robert1980 · Mar 3, 2022

yes yes, i thought I would see the numbers worse, but it is very easy to see them

Presentation and question about a Luxa Six camera

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Presentation and question about a Luxa Six camera

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