What's Your Favorite Sleeper Vintage Camera?

[Cholentpot]

Until its shutter explodes, which they all do eventually. I got about a year out of mine before the shutter self-destructed. They are notorious for this.

My Lubitel 2 was my first real camera. The shutter dismantled itself mid roll.

 

[mshchem]

4x5 Crown Graphic

 

[gordrob]

I just lugged my Universal with the same kit of lenses all around Nova Scotia

I hope you enjoyed Nova Scotia. I would imagine there was a lot of opportunities for you to use it. The east coast of Canada is on my bucket list but it is a long drive. I don't trust air travel with my gear or film.

 

[GregY]

The light & tiny Voigtlander Perkeo ll (120) with Color-Skopar lens

 

[aconbere]

I just lugged my Universal with the same kit of lenses all around Nova Scotia

Mine just spent a couple weeks in iceland.

 

[Vaughn]

Rolliecords. Same quality build as the 'Flexes without the weight. Very praise worthy.

My 'cord in the wilds of Scotland...

 

[Cholentpot]

Rolliecords. Same quality build as the 'Flexes without the weight. Very praise worthy.

My 'cord in the wilds of Scotland...

Sadly my copy's lens is softer than a week old banana. Lens hood helps a bit but not much.

 

[Terrence Brennan]

Rolliecords. Same quality build as the 'Flexes without the weight. Very praise worthy.

My 'cord in the wilds of Scotland...

I second that! I was gifted a used Rolleicord in 1999. It is one of the models with a Ziess Triotar lens.

One of my many (as yet unrealized) techie projects is to test the lens for sharpness. Unfortunately, far too many other things to do (especially a household move).

I’ll get there; I just know I will!

 

[Vaughn]

Sadly my copy's lens is softer than a week old banana. Lens hood helps a bit but not much.

I ended up with a barely-working copy that someone had totally mis-adjusted the lenses. I had the lenses moved to a working camera with abused lenses.

I now mostly contact print (platinum/palladium or carbon), so if the neg looks sharp on the light table with a loupe, I'm good to go. My present Rolleicord has the Xenar 75mm/3.5.

I did discover a weakness in the design on my last trip to Japan...but more of an operator-error reveled flaw. I was carrying the Rolliecord around on the tripod too much -- and that flexes the back of the camera causing small light leaks. I have a Rolliefix which addresses this issue, but it does not fit the older Rolliecords.

I can't remember if this was with my Flex (Planar 80mm/2.8) or the Cord...taken around 20 years ago...Platinum/palladium print

 

[Cholentpot]

I ended up with a barely-working copy that someone had totally mis-adjusted the lenses. I had the lenses moved to a working camera with abused lenses.

I now mostly contact print (platinum/palladium or carbon), so if the neg looks sharp on the light table with a loupe, I'm good to go. My present Rolleicord has the Xenar 75mm/3.5.

I did discover a weakness in the design on my last trip to Japan...but more of an operator-error reveled flaw. I was carrying the Rolliecord around on the tripod too much -- and that flexes the back of the camera causing small light leaks. I have a Rolliefix which addresses this issue, but it does not fit the older Rolliecords.

I can't remember if this was with my Flex (Planar 80mm/2.8) or the Cord...taken around 20 years ago...Platinum/palladium print

I think I just need a solid lens hood. The 3D printed one didn't hold up too well. Either way it sits on a shelf these days gathering dust.