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

[Theo Sulphate]

I bought this Voigtländer Bessamatic CS ...

Wonderful! I see that on the front of the prism there is an optical path for observing the lens' shutter speed and aperture through the viewfinder,. But I also see that there is a metal cover for the selenium meter (at least that's where the meter is on my Bessamatic). If you raise the metal cover, does that not block the ability to view the lens settings through the viewfinder?

Regardless, that is a beautiful and somewhat rare camera!

 

[hartacus]

Wonderful! I see that on the front of the prism there is an optical path for observing the lens' shutter speed and aperture through the viewfinder,. But I also see that there is a metal cover for the selenium meter (at least that's where the meter is on my Bessamatic). If you raise the metal cover, does that not block the ability to view the lens settings through the viewfinder?

Regardless, that is a beautiful and somewhat rare camera!

It is beautiful, isn't it! One of those cameras that stand out in a crowd.
The metal cover houses a battery and an adjustment screw (the function of which I haven't figured out yet, and the only manual I've found online for this camera is in German, which I can't read). I've read that the CS has a TTL battery-powered meter mounted in the same place as the selenium meter in the other models, so the door doesn't need to be open during metering.
I love the optical path for the shutter speed and aperture. It's only the second (working) camera I have that displays both in the viewfinder, and its considerably older than the other one. I think it's a rather elegant device.

 

[John Earley]

Kodak 33 9x12 Camera by JOHN EARLEY, on Flickr

 

[MontanaJay]

I finally found a clean Argus C4, the camera my Dad bought when I was born in 1952. It recorded much of my childhood in crisp black-and-whites and glorious Kodachromes, which I have retained.
Found it in a thrift store in a pile of unwanted film cameras, and after checking that the shutter was OK, grabbed it for $5.
Can't wait to run some film through it.

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

What happened to yout dad's original camera?

 

[MontanaJay]

What happened to yout dad's original camera?

Don't really know, but it wasn't among the items in his estate.
I used his C4 a lot, but when I became a high school photographer I needed a longer lens for shooting sports. Dad bought me an Exacta, which I used until I saved enough to buy a Nikon F from a returned Vietnam vet.

 

[Pentode]

On Friday I picked up a Voigtlander Prominent I. Both the camera and the matching Ultron 50mm f/2 lens are in really great shape.

I’ve wanted one of these for a few years but this was the first one I’ve seen that didn’t look like it was dragged behind a bus or wasn’t completely jammed.

The guy who sold it to me says he’s got a few other things he wants me to see. Well, I guess if I have to!!

 

[4season]

I've actually had this Pen-FT since last year, but this time I've photographed it on film! Shot with Bronica ETRSi and Lomography 400 color negative film.

 

[joelbolden]

Pentax (P)Z-1(P). I already was using a PZ-1, so the learning curve isn't bad. They're both amazing cameras.

 

[campy51]

I have always loved the look of this camera so I bought one at auction but without a lens. Hopefully I will be able to find one at a decent price since it will rarely get used and is most likely going to be in my collection.

 

[Nokton48]

My New Plaubel Makina II Outfit by Nokton48, on Flickr

I picked this Makina II outfit up on German Ebay for 200 Euros. It needed cleaning so I sent it to Wizcam in NYC. Now it's back and good as new. I have always wanted a Makina II I think the black finish is really beautiful.

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

I have always loved the look of this camera so I bought one at auction but without a lens. Hopefully I will be able to find one at a decent price since it will rarely get used and is most likely going to be in my collection.

What a great great camera. I suppose it looks awkward to those accustomed to standard japanese reflexes, but who didn't own Zeiss Ikon Contarexes and alike don't know what beautiful chroming and quality in general means. It would be a sin to let it sit in a shrine, it really calls for being taken out and take photographs; I politely press you to purchase a pair of good lenses and use it on the field!

 

[campy51]

What a great great camera. I suppose it looks awkward to those accustomed to standard japanese reflexes, but who didn't own Zeiss Ikon Contarexes and alike don't know what beautiful chroming and quality in general means. It would be a sin to let it sit in a shrine, it really calls for being taken out and take photographs; I politely press you to purchase a pair of good lenses and use it on the field!

I have a Rollei SL66 and a 500C/M that are occupying my time right now. I don't do a lot of film so I will buy a lens when I can get a good deal on one.

 

[Eric Rose]

Just bought a new to me 500C/M body from KEH. Late model in Ex+ condition. I will keep my old 1974 500C/M as a backup body. When I bought this body it was only one year old and that baby has seen a lot of film go through it over the years. It also has lots of frequent flyer miles too lol. And a few good stories Ahhh, those were the days .....

 

[Kodachromeguy]

I have a Rollei SL66 and a 500C/M that are occupying my time right now. I don't do a lot of film so I will buy a lens when I can get a good deal on one.

Campy, I agree with Marco above; it does call for being taken out and take photographs. The Zeiss lenses for the Contarex were reputed to be the finest lenses ever made for 35mm. Sadly, the high cost of the bodies and lenses (when significantly cheaper SLRs were available from the Japanese camera companies), costly manufacturing in Germany, and the high number of warranty repairs almost bankrupted Zeiss. It would be nice to see if that reputation of those lenses still holds. However, do you know if your bullseye camera is functional? The selenium meter may be a troublesome.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

It is beautiful, isn't it! One of those cameras that stand out in a crowd.
The metal cover houses a battery and an adjustment screw (the function of which I haven't figured out yet, and the only manual I've found online for this camera is in German, which I can't read). I've read that the CS has a TTL battery-powered meter mounted in the same place as the selenium meter in the other models, so the door doesn't need to be open during metering.
I love the optical path for the shutter speed and aperture. It's only the second (working) camera I have that displays both in the viewfinder, and its considerably older than the other one. I think it's a rather elegant device.

Nice Bessamatic!! Have you developed film yet? If so, how did the Color-Skopar perform? Did you need to find a mercury battery or hearing aide 1.35 volt battery for the meter? Cheers,

 

[Gimenosaiz]

Hi!!

Leica M6 + Cron 35/2 v.4





I'm really happy ;-)

Cheers!
Antonio

 

[Gimenosaiz]

Kodak 33 9x12 Camera by JOHN EARLEY, on Flickr

Hello!!!

Wonderful!!

I love it!

Cheers

 

[campy51]

Campy, I agree with Marco above; it does call for being taken out and take photographs. The Zeiss lenses for the Contarex were reputed to be the finest lenses ever made for 35mm. Sadly, the high cost of the bodies and lenses (when significantly cheaper SLRs were available from the Japanese camera companies), costly manufacturing in Germany, and the high number of warranty repairs almost bankrupted Zeiss. It would be nice to see if that reputation of those lenses still holds. However, do you know if your bullseye camera is functional? The selenium meter may be a troublesome.

Everything seems to be functioning. I even ran a roll of expired film through and other than a few squeaks it went through fine.

 

[Pentode]

On Friday I picked up a Voigtlander Prominent I.

Not being one to quit while I'm ahead, I picked up a 35 and a 100 for the Prominent and then a Minolta SRT-102 for good measure.
Now I'm further ahead!

 

[hartacus]

Nice Bessamatic!! Have you developed film yet? If so, how did the Color-Skopar perform? Did you need to find a mercury battery or hearing aide 1.35 volt battery for the meter? Cheers,

Thanks! I have, but the results were... inconclusive? The shots I took to test focus showed that distance accuracy was fine, but some of the shots - even landscapes of houses where nothing was moving - showed motion blur. It could just be technique, needing to keep the camera still for longer since the leaf shutter has to close then open then close, and as I'm used to focal plane SLRs I need to adjust to that. Or, the shutter and mirror mechanisms might need a CLA to smooth things out and reduce shutters shock - it makes a fairly solid ka-thwack, rather than a satisfyingly mechanical ka-swish, so that wouldn't surprise me. Either way, the images weren't nearly as sharp as the images I'd recently taken through another Color-Skopar on a Vito CLR, which was a little disappointing. Might need some work.
It came with a fresh 1.5v 625-type alkaline cell in it. I tested with a 386 silver oxide cell in a MR-9 adapter I'd bought previously for my Canon FT QL and found that the 1.5v cell overcooked it by about one stop, so I adjusted exposure on the fly, and that seemed to work just fine. It is a strange meter though - upside down compared to most!

 

[StanMac]

I finally found a clean Argus C4, the camera my Dad bought when I was born in 1952. It recorded much of my childhood in crisp black-and-whites and glorious Kodachromes, which I have retained.
Found it in a thrift store in a pile of unwanted film cameras, and after checking that the shutter was OK, grabbed it for $5.
Can't wait to run some film through it.

That is a really nice example for a thrift store find! I acquired three of these from online auctions trying to find one without so much corrosion on that aluminum lens barrel! Luckily the cleanest one is fully functional, if a bit stiff in the focusing. First time I fired the shutter on it I flinched! A pretty pronounced clunk! I plan to try some simichrome on the lens barrel to clean up those blemishes.

Stan

 

[Kino]

That is a really nice example for a thrift store find! I acquired three of these from online auctions trying to find one without so much corrosion on that aluminum lens barrel! Luckily the cleanest one is fully functional, if a bit stiff in the focusing. First time I fired the shutter on it I flinched! A pretty pronounced clunk! I plan to try some simichrome on the lens barrel to clean up those blemishes.
Stan

You know when you've been photographed by an Argus C4 or C44! Ker-whack!

But I do like these cameras! Now, the brick... not so much...

 

[MontanaJay]

That is a really nice example for a thrift store find! I acquired three of these from online auctions trying to find one without so much corrosion on that aluminum lens barrel! Luckily the cleanest one is fully functional, if a bit stiff in the focusing. First time I fired the shutter on it I flinched! A pretty pronounced clunk! I plan to try some simichrome on the lens barrel to clean up those blemishes.

Stan

My theory on the good condition is that I live in a dry climate at over a mile elevation in Montana with little air pollution, which kept the aluminum corrosion down. Lens fungus is also not a problem here. I've noticed that older collectables seem to survive the decades in better shape in this environment compared to samples from the more humid East Coast where I used to live.
The C4's leather case was also in great condition, although I'm working on re-moisturizing that.

 

[rbguff]

Nikon F2 from 75', w 50mm F2 non ai, as BradS said, felt like home 1st time I picked it up