Voigtlander Bergheil newcomer

geojoe

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Hello!

This is my first post in this forum. I have been using digital equipment for years, but recently purchased a Voigtlander Bergheil 9x12 plate camera with a 13.5cm f4.5 Heliar lens that I found at a sale.

The camera was very dirty so I began cleaning and it seems to be in surprisingly good condition. Now I want to try using it, but I don't really know where to start. I have one plate holder with the camera. I thought initially that maybe I should try to get a roll film back so I can shoot 120 film. After reading a couple discussions here, I am not so sure.

Can any of you give recommendations to a total newbie? Please do not hesitate to over-explain details -- I am an old dog trying to learn new tricks!

Oh--I am in central New York state, USA.

Many thanks for any information.
Joe
 

Ian Grant

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Hi Joe, welcome.

You can buy 9x12 film fairly easily. You'll probably need to get film inserts as you'll have a plate holder. Check the Plate camera sub Forum as there's details of the different edge types as these German plate holders weren't standardised. I have a Yankee developing tank as it will adjust for 5x4", 9x12 and 6.5x9 sheet film.

Ian
 

AgX

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The name implies alpine use, I wonder what that means...
 

JPD

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AgX said:
The name implies alpine use, I wonder what that means...
Click to expand...

So does the Voigtländer Alpin camera. The Bergheil was called "Tourist" in the United States, at least in catalogs. What's meant could be these cameras are easy to carry with you.
 
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geojoe

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Thank you Ian--your response is helpful.
It seems like a relatively low-cost way of getting started and I may give that a try. If I ever come across a Rada 9x12 roll film back, I may also try that method. I have seen some wonderful examples of photographs this camera is capable of producing (in the right hands) and am wondering if this kind of photography will be to my liking.
Thanks again,
Joe
 

Ian Grant

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Joe, the Rollex backs are much more common, be aware that they were made for 120 and 620. Obviously I mean the pre-WWII Rollex backs rather than the later Linhof Rollex International fit Graflok backs.

Looking on Ebay prices are quite high compared to what I usually pay for them < $15, I have quite a few, maybe a dozen, mostly with cameras.

Ian
 

Kodachromeguy

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The term "alpine" in the past implied a light weight version of the company's camera, one that they said was suited for field use (i.e., not in a studio). Your Bergheil should be really nice. Good luck!!
 
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geojoe

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Thank you, Ian. This is helpful. I tried to contact you via your website--hopefully you received my message.
Thanks again,
Joe
 
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geojoe

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Kodachromeguy said:
The term "alpine" in the past implied a light weight version of the company's camera, one that they said was suited for field use (i.e., not in a studio). Your Bergheil should be really nice. Good luck!!
Click to expand...

Many thanks! If I have any success with it, I will try to post something.
 
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geojoe

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AgX said:
A summit photo would be great...
Click to expand...

I will keep that in mind. The Adirondack Mountains are not too far away--though by Alpine standards the summits are pretty low.
 
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geojoe

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Nearly 3.5 years later, I finally have some progress to report. I found a Rada film back that fits my camera and I took it outside on a recent cold, snowy morning and tested it with an old roll of 120 film I had given to me about 15 years ago--and it might have been several years old at the time it was given to me.

I am sure I did many things incorrectly, but I did get some results that I can share.

Since I am used to taking photographs digitally with a mega-zoom lens, I will have to learn a whole new way of taking photos. It will be challenging, but I am welcoming the chance to slow down and learn things that I should have learned long ago.

Now to decide whether or not I should try to learn how to do my own developing. In my upper 60s now, it is an old dog learning new tricks! I will try to attach some examples.
Joe
 

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albada

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Your pictures show that you're off to a good start.
The pictures appear to have some flare. With the aperture wide open, you might open the shutter on B and look through the lens to see whether it's hazy.
Have fun!

Mark
 
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geojoe

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albada said:
Your pictures show that you're off to a good start.
The pictures appear to have some flare. With the aperture wide open, you might open the shutter on B and look through the lens to see whether it's hazy.
Have fun!

Mark
Click to expand...

Thank you, Mark. I will do what you suggest. Part of the what you see could be improper Photoshop post-processing on my part since I scanned the negatives and did some adjustments.
Joe
 

Donald Qualls

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geojoe said:
whether or not I should try to learn how to do my own developing. In my upper 60s now, it is an old dog learning new tricks!
Click to expand...

Processing your own film isn't difficult. Simplest case, you need a changing bag, developing tank (that fits your film -- a "two reel" size Paterson Super System IV would be my recommendation, all over eBay and also still available new), and a jug of Cinestill Df96 monobath. Plus a sacrificial roll of film to use to practice loading the film into the reel.

Load the film into the reel in the dark bag, lock it into the tank, and then on any convenient surface you just pour in the monobath, agitate appropriately for three or so minutes (when new, a little longer each time you reuse the solution), wash the film, and hang it to dry before cutting and sleeving.

It's easy enough that I did it without adult supervision at the age of 10, having done it once with supervision the previous year at summer camp. And that was with the traditional three solutions; monobath wasn't something I knew about in 1970.
 
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geojoe

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This is VERY helpful information. I really appreciate this!
Joe
 

MattKing

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What Donald said.
And if you have a room like a windowless bathroom or laundry room or big closet that you can make totally dark, you can do without the dreaded changing bag as well.
Note: many get along well with changing bags. I and changing bags don't get along well!
I've been enjoying developing film since I was 11, but there is nothing particularly difficult about it that should scare away people who are as old as we are!
 
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geojoe

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Thank you, Matt. I appreciate the suggestions you and Donald provided. Should I consider developing both b/w and color film, or should I begin with only b/w?
Again, many thanks,
Joe
 

MattKing

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Best to start with Black and White. Much of what you use for that can later be used for colour.
 
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geojoe

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Thank you, Mark.

I think I have a changing bag somewhere that a friend gave me a few years ago, that I can use for my first few attempts.

Eventually I may switch to what you suggest since I am limited regarding space. I think a small "changing room" (box) will be more positively viewed by my spouse than my using a bathroom or closet as a dark room.

Joe
 
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