What's your latest new old camera ? (Part 2)

Donald Qualls · Apr 11, 2020

I posted here recently about the new-to-me 1973 vintage Kiev 4M -- I just processed the first roll of film from the camera, and it looks like I got a good deal. Exposures look good, strongly suggesting the shutter is working correctly and the meter is accurate (when there's enough light to operate it). Haven't yet examined the negatives with a loupe for focus, but frame spacing looks (mostly) good -- one pair of frames touch, but don't seem to actually overlap, all the others have good spacing. I think the issue is with the film advance, the shutter cocks when there's still a few degrees of advance knob movement available. If I don't turn it the last little bit, it'll still fire, but it'll short the advance by a fraction of a sprocket hole.

Operated carefully, it'll still be a bargain for the $40 plus shipping I paid.

Donald Qualls · Apr 18, 2020

Donald Qualls said:
a 1973 vintage Kiev 4AM (the 4A with built-in selenium meter, seemingly functional). Came with a Jupiter 8M 50/2 lens, seemingly in very nice condition.

I'm a little slow, finishing a roll, processing that roll, and getting the images in a form I can post, but here's the Very. First. Exposure. from my Kiev 4M (the 4A is the matching non-meter version, which is what the seller had this marked as). Fuji Superia Xtra 400, stored at room temperature for at least twelve years, processed in Cinestill Cs-41. Raw scan, inverted and levels set, no other manipulation (i.e. minimum necessary to show here):

cuthbert · Apr 30, 2020

I finally decided to go AF and bought a Canon EOS600 with EF35-135mm mkI, a relatively rare lens I understand.

lobitar · Apr 30, 2020

Kino said:
An Aries 35-V interchangeable lens rangefinder. Meter is not working, but otherwise fully functional with 3.5cm f3.2 Coral lens.

View attachment 243534 View attachment 243535

Lovely camera! Found myself a specimen 6 months ago here in Cph; my friendly photo dealer insisted the lens wasn't interchangeable whence I got it for abt. $60. Likewise he said the meter didn't work; but insistant nudging with my fingers woke it up to life again.

hartacus · Apr 30, 2020

I picked up a Canon Demi S and a Kodak Retinette in a recent council clean-up on my street. They are in petty tragic cosmetic condition and I've got no idea if they work yet. But hey, free is free. I don't mind a challenge.

Kino · Apr 30, 2020

lobitar said:
Lovely camera! Found myself a specimen 6 months ago here in Cph; my friendly photo dealer insisted the lens wasn't interchangeable whence I got it for abt. $60. Likewise he said the meter didn't work; but insistant nudging with my fingers woke it up to life again.

Yes! Quite lovely! Great buy!

That's about what I paid for mine. Wish I could find the other two lenses for this camera at a reasonable price, but the micro 4/3rds crowd have pushed them up in price.

I took my meter out of the camera, cleaned up the contacts and reinstalled it; nothing. I think my cell is toast, but I am fine without it.

KPtheamateur · May 2, 2020

Here's little puzzle. I've been going through a bag of old cameras my grandpa had that have been passed on to me as the family nerd. Some interesting if mostly knackered old cameras, but here's a working one with no maker's mark. The case it was in says 'Made in Germany' on it, and the lens fit is M42, but apart from that, no clue. Any detectives here?

Disconnekt · May 2, 2020

KPtheamateur said:
Here's little puzzle. I've been going through a bag of old cameras my grandpa had that have been passed on to me as the family nerd. Some interesting if mostly knackered old cameras, but here's a working one with no maker's mark. The case it was in says 'Made in Germany' on it, and the lens fit is M42, but apart from that, no clue. Any detectives here?
View attachment 245155 View attachment 245156 View attachment 245157

It's a Practika, looks like a early model

SilverShutter · May 2, 2020

KPtheamateur said:
Here's little puzzle. I've been going through a bag of old cameras my grandpa had that have been passed on to me as the family nerd. Some interesting if mostly knackered old cameras, but here's a working one with no maker's mark. The case it was in says 'Made in Germany' on it, and the lens fit is M42, but apart from that, no clue. Any detectives here?
View attachment 245155 View attachment 245156 View attachment 245157

It's a Praktica Nova B I believe. Seems the Praktica logo must have worn out from the selenium meter with time.

darkosaric · May 2, 2020

Leica mini zoom. It was 1/3 price than usual, from Leica shop, could not resist. It is 35-70mm P&S as many other zooms, but it has bulb, +2eV, infinity focus lock, nice design, and I am sucker for this red dot .

Pentode · May 2, 2020

At the last 2nd Sunday Camera show in NJ (I hope it wasn't the last ever!) I picked up a Contax lla with a Sonnar 50/2 in very nice, working condition and for a very good price. Figuring it couldn't hurt to have it looked over by a pro, I walked it over to Werner Leudeke's table and left it with him for a CLA. That was right at the beginning of the pandemic and everyone got distracted for a while but I just got it back from him a couple of weeks ago and ran my first roll through it last week.

Other than the vertical alignment of the RF being a little off (an annoying repair that would have cost a lot more) it's working beautifully. The price was good even with the CLA and it looks nice next to my llla. More pleasant to shoot with, too!

jwd722 · May 5, 2020

An Agfa Isolette ll with the Apotar lens and the Compur-Rapid shutter B to 1/500 w/a T setting. Love the small size!
Front element was "stuck", a common problem, and haze between elements 1 and 2. An overnight soak in alcohol (after removing 1,2 elements from shutter) and a little muscle, and voila, separation! Haze cleaned up nicely and lens is crystal clear, Shutter works fine and sounds accurate.
Also got a Prazisa rangefinder for more accurate focusing since the camera is a guesstimate focus.
Wonderfully pocket size and weighing about 1lb and a few ounces. Combined with my Sony RX100 or Ricoh GR(V) for use as a light meter, it is a perfect small lightweight walk-around combo.

pbromaghin · May 5, 2020

Just arrived last night, along with a surprise roll of Acros. Purchased from apugger Darinwc.

Donald Qualls · May 5, 2020

pbromaghin said:
Just arrived last night, along with a surprise roll of Acros. Purchased from apugger Darinwc.

Looks like this might be one of those 6x9 folders where you have to check that the lens has locked out correctly. It looks a little cockeyed in that shot. I've got at least one 6x9, plus a 6x4.5, a 3x4 on 127, and a 35 mm folder that I have to watch that way.

KPtheamateur · May 5, 2020

SilverShutter said:
It's a Praktica Nova B I believe. Seems the Praktica logo must have worn out from the selenium meter with time.

Ta very much! Turns out not to be much of a puzzle for some then

pbromaghin · May 5, 2020

Donald Qualls said:
Looks like this might be one of those 6x9 folders where you have to check that the lens has locked out correctly. It looks a little cockeyed in that shot. I've got at least one 6x9, plus a 6x4.5, a 3x4 on 127, and a 35 mm folder that I have to watch that way.

Right, you have to make sure extension mechanism clicks into place on both sides of the door. Clicking it out of place the first step in closing it back up. Good eye to catch that.

Donald Qualls · May 5, 2020

Actually, the cameras I mentioned are the ones that I have to verify that the lens is parallel to the film even after the bed/door is fully locked out. My Daiichi Zenobia and Balda Jubilette are the worst for this.

Main_Cogg · May 6, 2020

Here's my latest, a 5 x7 Keith Portrait camera. Truth be told I've had it a few years now, I'd had forgotten about it. I came across it while looking for something else. Seems to be all there, so I cleaned it up and I'll try some paper negatives with it. Can't find much info on them, this one was used for passport photos and has a sliding divided back.

cooltouch · May 6, 2020

Did that lens come with the camera? What can you tell us about it?

Pentode · May 6, 2020

Donald Qualls said:
Actually, the cameras I mentioned are the ones that I have to verify that the lens is parallel to the film even after the bed/door is fully locked out. My Daiichi Zenobia and Balda Jubilette are the worst for this.

I have a Seagull that, left to its own devices, wants to take pictures around corners! I actually have to hold the lens/shutter assembly when I open it or it racks at a 30deg angle. It works great as long as I keep an eye on it, though.

Main_Cogg · May 6, 2020

cooltouch said:
Did that lens come with the camera? What can you tell us about it?

Yes, that's the lens that came with it. It's a Wollensak Velostigmat Series II, 9 1/2 inch f4.5. Overall it's in pretty decent shape, especially considering it's age. I need to make a cap for it and come up with a shade.

Grim Tuesday · May 7, 2020

I just snagged a Retina IIa for $40...I don't shoot much 35mm but man oh man have I been looking for a pocketable camera and my XA jammed last time I took it out. It is remarkable that the price on the Retinas are so low: there are film tested ones on ebay for $50 and they have 6 element Schneider double gauss lenses! And they fold to fit in a jeans pocket! This is something that no SLR can do. The suddenly-expensive 1970 fixed lens rangefinders from Japan are also outmatched in lens quality and portability. I truly think this is the last camera left that youtubers haven't found out about yet.

awty · May 7, 2020

pbromaghin said:
Just arrived last night, along with a surprise roll of Acros. Purchased from apugger Darinwc.

View attachment 245435

I like my Bessa 1, hope you enjoy yours

awty · May 7, 2020

Black f2 to go with the black f.

pbromaghin · May 7, 2020

awty said:
I like my Bessa 1, hope you enjoy yours

Thanks a bunch!

What's your latest new old camera ? (Part 2)

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency