Things to look out for with Koni-omega's

[hoffy]

Howdy,

This MF stuff has got me a bit intrigued. I have been thinking of a rangefinder as a good start, but don't want to overspend.

I have noticed that there are a few Koni-Omegas floating around (after reading one of the threads here, thought that this might be the best starting point).

So, is there anything to look out for with these camera's? If there are issues, are they hard to get repaired (especially in Aust?).

Cheers and thanks

 

[mgb74]

Many/most were used hard and certainly not babied. Most saw a lot of use by news and wedding photographers. But an excellent camera. Greg Weber (http://www.webercamera.com/) is the "go to" guy for repair in the US; don't know about Australia. I used one about 25 years ago for aerial photography.

90mm lens was standard. 180mm lenses relatively easy to find. 58mm and 60mm wide angles around but expensive (you also need the accessory finder that came with it). 135mm lens more difficult to find. Very sharp lenses.

Some models had backs that could be changed in mid roll and others not. If there is a small darkslide immediately behind the lens (when looking at the front of the camera), it's one of those models. Of course, the darkslide may be missing so look for the slot.

From my experience, 2 main things to watch out for:

Frames may overlap, especially toward the end of the roll. The push-pull advance, for all it's benefits, was prone to wear from overly enthusiastic use. This is a function of the interchangeable film back, not the camera body itself. I've heard mixed comments as to whether it's repairable.

Lenses use a Seikosha leaf shutter. Like any leaf shutter, it may "gum up" with lack of use and require a CLA. Parts, if needed, are no longer available and may require a "donor" shutter. These are, btw, the same shutter in the earlier chrome Mamiya TLR lenses and IIRC, parts are interchangeable.


I would also look at the Mamiya MF rangefinders (23 Standard, Super 23, Universal). Advantages include:
Ability to go 6x9
Availability of lenses with Seiko (as opposed to Seikosha) shutters, although earlier lenses did use the Seikosha shutter

 

[Konical]

Good Afternoon,

MGB74 has given you lots of good info. The Rapid M and the 200 have the interchangeable magazines which can be switched mid-roll. The Koni-Omegaflex takes the same magazines. Even though they may be over thirty years old, the lenses still match up very well against other MF glass (my relatively new Fuji 6 x 7 has a lens which is sharper, but barely). I have noticed lately that, contrary to some other prices for used equipment, the KO stuff on E-Bay is often priced (buy-it-now) at significantly higher levels than it was a few years ago. For example, I have a perfectly functional Koni-Omegaflex which I bought (E-Bay) about three years ago for around $130; sellers are routinely asking several times that amount now. The accessory WA finder is sometimes priced at almost the amount I paid for a 58mm lens WITH the finder. Overall, the KO system is great, but condition is critical, and prices right now aren't particularly favorable for buyers.

Konical

 

[Chazzy]

I love my Koni-Omega M. It also takes magazines which are interchangeable in mid-roll.

The most common complaint with the Koni-Omegas is that the backs do need a CLA from time to time, to cure frame spacing problems. But the film advance system in the Koni-Omegas is quite fast and ingenious. The pressure plate loosens when the film is advanced and then presses the film against the rails at the end of the stroke, for better film flatness.

Koni-Omegas are excellent value for money, but factor a CLA for the back into the price. If a test roll reveals that the frame spacing is okay, so much the better.