Voigtlander Perkeo 1

[gillwww]

Clearing my mum's house over the weekend came across an old camera case and other small box. Decided to 'save' them for a closer look. I'm absolutely delighted to find that what I have is a Voigtlander Perkeo 1 and it seems in good condition ( it also has the instruction booklet with it). What I have been surprised to find, is that it is actually a medium format camera so am determined to get to grips with taking 'real' photos again.

Now this is where I need some help - can anyone please recommend film and a supplier. Also is it still possible to get 120 film developed.

 

[Steve Smith]

Good news.... 120 film is still being made and processed around the world. I would suggest that once you have determined that the shutter is working, get a roll of ISO 100 film, either colour or black and white and take some pictures.

Depending on your location, you will either be able to find a local lab or you will have to post it somewhere.

If you let us know where you are, we can help further with film suppliers and processors.


Steve.

 

[DWThomas]

Assuming sitting around unused hasn't gunked up the shutter, you have the chance to have some fun. I have the II model which mostly adds double exposure prevention, but the basic beast is the same. I'm using it quite a bit -- how else to get 6x6 cm negatives with something that tucks in a jacket pocket!

Enjoy!

DaveT

 

[gillwww]

Thanks Steve

Pleased to report that the shutter does work. I'm on the Welsh/English border not too far from Shrewsbury but also used to using internet for shopping etc.

I know this sounds rather basic but hopefully will save me wasting lots of film -what proportion of what I can see through the viewfinder will be replicated on the negative??

 

[gillwww]

The fact that something so compact is actually a medium format camera is what really excited me. Thankfully the shutter does work so looking forward to getting some film and getting out with it. Thanks for posting the link to your shots - they're certainly an inspiration.

 

[Ian Grant]

Viewfinders generally show about 90-95% of what will be on the negative, depends on the camera though and whether it has correction for close ups. The Perkeo 1 wasn't the top model but it's still a nice camera & capable of good results, fun to use too.

Ian

 

[DWThomas]

I find the lower right side of the view may be obscured a bit, especially if I'm using a lens hood. On my good days, I can mentally project from the upper right and lower left pretty successfully. The Perkeo does not have parallax correction for closeups. For overall view, Ian's estimate sounds about right. I think the design theory is if in doubt, better to crop a little later than to clip off the top of Aunt Martha's head!

DaveT

 

[Steve Smith]

I think the design theory is if in doubt, better to crop a little later than to clip off the top of Aunt Martha's head!

Reminds me of the wedding photos I took at my Aunt's wedding when I was ten. Taken with an Agfa Isolette, every picture was a perfectly exposed and perfectly focused image of wedding guests minus their heads.

Strangely, I was the only one there with a camera - despite my father being an actual wedding photographer at the time.


Steve.

 

[steven_e007]

Hi,

I recently won a Perkeo I on Ebargum and I was out taking pictures with it last week around Shropshire, so you are not alone

I already owned a Zeiss Nettax, Nettar and Ikonta - all 6 X 6 folders, and have now added the Perkeo and an Agfa Isollette II. I am staying in Torquay tonight and have just enjoyed a walk along the seafront taking pictures with the Isolette on FP4+

I also live near Shrewsbury and can tell you that you can buy 120 roll film in Jessops either in Shrewsbury or Telford - although the range is pretty poor. The bigger branches of Boots in Shrewsbury or Telford (or any other biggish town) will stock HP5+ and XP2 and maybe a colour film or two in 120. Smaller branches only do 35mm. It is very easy to buy roll film on the net, though, as I'm sure you've found.

There is a shop in Walker Street in Wellington, called unremarkably 'The Camera Shop' - which still runs a mini-lab. The guy who runs it is a keen photographer and knows his stuff and in the past has processed 120 roll films for me. These will be colour, but XP2 is a colour technology Black and White film. On colour paper it usually gives sepia prints, which can look very nice. Alternatively you can shoot XP2 and send it off to Ilford, check their website. XP2 isn't a bad choice if you want black and white and intend to get the pics printed by someone. Less useful for home processing. For colour I think you can sometimes find Kodak Portra 160VC or 400VC in Boots / Jessops and Fuji Pro 160 or 400. You'd could send these to somewhere like Lab 35:

http://www.lab35imaging.com/120_medium_format.html

As for the viewfinder, very few folders (none of the ones I own) have any sort of distance correction or compensation so as already mentioned beheading is a possibility for close-ups, but these are perfect landscape (city scape, industrial scape etc) cameras. Keep the subject big and well away from the lens and it isn't a problem at all.

 

[Ross Chambers]

My most useful discovery with a Perkeo 1 was the 2 symbols on the focus ring:

"Snapshots at f/8

These are easy even without the rangefinder. Simply use the two point settings on the focusing knob.

Set to (triangle) = 11 feet and everything between 8 1/4 ft. and 16 1/2 ft will be sharp.

Set to (circle) = 33 feet and everything will be sharp from 16 1/2 ft to infinity."

Of course you have to estimate distances, but that comes fairly quickly.

Good luck - Ross

 

[Mark Antony]

By chance I just got a Bessa I which is a little larger than the Perkeo (although 6x9) mine has the Vaskar lens which is quite sharp in the centre at F8-11 a little less so at the edge but still nice.
Thanks Ross for the tip about the circle and triangle I wondered what their purpose was, luckily mine has a nifty rangefinder that clips in the top.
These little folders are great low cost users and pretty small for negative area, I think I can feel a Zeiss Ikonta coming into my future....

 

[DWThomas]

... I think I can feel a Zeiss Ikonta coming into my future....

Yeah, I keep tracking some 6x9 folders on ePrey, but currently I've reined in the GAS attack with the idea I should be doing more with what I have before I add to the pile!

Part of my problem is that I want to get a pretty decent one if I do it, which will up the price, plus a roll of 120 doesn't go very far at 6x9!

DaveT

 

[gillwww]

Thanks to everyone for all your help and advice - it's much appreciated. Hopefully will get up to North Wales over the weekend so an ideal oppurtunity to have a play with the Perkeo (weather permitting).

Steve - will dash into Shrewsbury and pick up some film and thanks for the info on the guy in Wellington (can sometimes get over there with work) and the on-line link for developing.

Ian - love your prints of Bottalock - it's one of our favourite places.

 

[Ian Grant]

Thanks Gill

While I think Bottalak's a wonderful place I haven't yet got the images I'm really after so a few more visits are in order

My favourite place is Notion, a long lost Greek City . . . . . . . . It's all in the mind.

Ian