Another Leica M-3:
Your most recent RF purchase
-
A
- Thread starter elekm
- Start date
Recent Classifieds
-
Want to Buy Omega D5500 with Dichroic Head, Australia
- Started by andrewherrick
-
For Sale Two Graflex 6x9 film backs for Graflex RB 6x9 (2x3)
- Started by Alex Varas
-
For Sale Nokton 40mm f/.14 SC for Leica M cameras.
- Started by Alex Varas
-
Under Offer Nikon F2AS + Nikkon 50mm f/1.8 Ai - CLA'd in July 2025.
- Started by Alex Varas
Forum statistics
Konica Auto s2 and an Olympus Auto Eye II. Both are swell. I would really love a Canon 7 or a Voigtlander Bessa.
Another Konica C35:
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
- Messages
- 299
- Format
- Med. Format RF
another
Rollei 35S, but getting the "why don't you ever sell any of these" from the wife
David;-)
Rollei 35S, but getting the "why don't you ever sell any of these" from the wife
David;-)
I've picked up 2 Voigtlander Vitessa T cameras recently.
Just bought a Leica M6 and I have not had a chance to try it out.
My First Zeiss camera, a Contessa 35
The Contessa has arrived, I'm waiting for the film from the freezer to warm up enough to load. KEH had rated the camera as EX, but the use it had received since the early '50s looks minimal. I'd guess it had been kept in an everready case based on the marks in the wind knob where the case's rewind knob would engage. A few tiny paint chips, essentially no chrome damage, the leather is undamaged, even the "Contessa" on the door is intact. Amazingly the tripod socket cover is still there. I'd have expected that to have disappeared.
If it had the original packaging, etc, I could imagine it as having been used for store demonstrations.
Viewfinder/rangefinder is clear and bright, the lens is spotless, the shutter sounds about right at 1 sec, so the other speeds should be about right. Mirabile dictu, the exposure meter responds, although I think its lost some sensitivity.
The feeling of quality of the Contessa is impressive. Better than my Retina IIIc, comparable to the Vitessa L. I wonder what new cameras are made to this standard of fit and finish. Leica?
In any case I almost feel that I am now a curator of a piece of history and have a responsibility to use it wisely.
The Contessa has arrived, I'm waiting for the film from the freezer to warm up enough to load. KEH had rated the camera as EX, but the use it had received since the early '50s looks minimal. I'd guess it had been kept in an everready case based on the marks in the wind knob where the case's rewind knob would engage. A few tiny paint chips, essentially no chrome damage, the leather is undamaged, even the "Contessa" on the door is intact. Amazingly the tripod socket cover is still there. I'd have expected that to have disappeared.
If it had the original packaging, etc, I could imagine it as having been used for store demonstrations.
Viewfinder/rangefinder is clear and bright, the lens is spotless, the shutter sounds about right at 1 sec, so the other speeds should be about right. Mirabile dictu, the exposure meter responds, although I think its lost some sensitivity.
The feeling of quality of the Contessa is impressive. Better than my Retina IIIc, comparable to the Vitessa L. I wonder what new cameras are made to this standard of fit and finish. Leica?
In any case I almost feel that I am now a curator of a piece of history and have a responsibility to use it wisely.
Thursday postman delivered a Samoca 35 LE with working meter. Have already started a roll of film through it. The double stroke film advance will take some getting use to, viewfinder seems bright enough and focus patch will work. Was not able to find a lot of information on the web, and a few comments about its so so lens to it has a great lens. Anyone ever use one, would be interested in your take on the camera?
David
David
French manufactured Lumiere
Prior to visiting France, found this 1937 vintage 6X9 folder on e-bay-france and had it shipped to a friend in France. I arrived in France Aug 21 and picked up the camera at my friend's house. The camera was a family heirloom that from my inspection is in pristine condition. Bellows looks to be light tight, apperture adjusts smoothely, and limited shutter speeds (100, 50, 25) seem right. There is a funny characteristic in the focus; after 8 meters there is a red dot. When adjusting past the red dot, there is a light resistance to advance to infinity. Anybody got a clue what that tactile feed back might indicate? There is another unique feature to this camera; nestled in the bellows chamber there is a shutter release plunger in a spring loaded keeper.
I cleaned the front and rear outer lens surfaces, but I can still see some little dirt spots which I guess are on the inner surfaces. They will stay and contribute whatever character they add to the image.
I shall attempt to capture some iconic French landmarks with this vintage French camera. Then, . . . . . . ?
Prior to visiting France, found this 1937 vintage 6X9 folder on e-bay-france and had it shipped to a friend in France. I arrived in France Aug 21 and picked up the camera at my friend's house. The camera was a family heirloom that from my inspection is in pristine condition. Bellows looks to be light tight, apperture adjusts smoothely, and limited shutter speeds (100, 50, 25) seem right. There is a funny characteristic in the focus; after 8 meters there is a red dot. When adjusting past the red dot, there is a light resistance to advance to infinity. Anybody got a clue what that tactile feed back might indicate? There is another unique feature to this camera; nestled in the bellows chamber there is a shutter release plunger in a spring loaded keeper.
I cleaned the front and rear outer lens surfaces, but I can still see some little dirt spots which I guess are on the inner surfaces. They will stay and contribute whatever character they add to the image.
I shall attempt to capture some iconic French landmarks with this vintage French camera. Then, . . . . . . ?
Last edited by a moderator:
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2008
- Messages
- 299
- Format
- Med. Format RF
Graphic scenes
So I purchased a 1949 Speed Graphic at a reasonable price and was quite content: I have a collecting "theme" based on the 1949 Montgomery Ward photography catalog. The hardest cameras to find that are in there are the Bell and Howell Foton and the civilian Kardon. I have a Foton, the Speed Graphic, and then the seller said he had two more... a 49 crown and a 63 top rangefinder crown..... well I have 3 graphics now... looking for a bargain Kardon....... might swap the 64 crown for a 3.25x 4.25 Kalart.
Oh dear... too many cameras
David
So I purchased a 1949 Speed Graphic at a reasonable price and was quite content: I have a collecting "theme" based on the 1949 Montgomery Ward photography catalog. The hardest cameras to find that are in there are the Bell and Howell Foton and the civilian Kardon. I have a Foton, the Speed Graphic, and then the seller said he had two more... a 49 crown and a 63 top rangefinder crown..... well I have 3 graphics now... looking for a bargain Kardon....... might swap the 64 crown for a 3.25x 4.25 Kalart.
Oh dear... too many cameras
David
This is not a "pure" RF camera as it requires using zone focusing, but my latest acquisition (a birthday gift from my wife) was a near mint black Rollei 35 SE. Great little camera - outstanding wife. 
Does Ziess Ikon Contessa LX qualify?
Camera up date on my good looking and working Samoca 35 LE, shutter quit working on 2nd frame of first roll. I have added it to the try to fix pile.
David
David
Waiting for my lauest, a Werra 5, should be here today,
Richard
Richard
LinDorM3 welcome to APUG
Tried out my new old werra 5 today, even the meter is still acurate
Richard
Richard
Just purchased a "user" Leica M4-2 to complement my "user" M6. I found out through experience I was changing lenses an awful lot, so much so, I thought why not have two bodies, with the same film and its own lens? And I can use the M6 to meter for both. I wouldn't have been able to do it without the lower price of the M4-2. I got a GREAT deal and it's proving to be an excellent camera!
Fuji GA645S..
-
- verian
- Deleted
fed 4
Lumiere w/Fidor lens.
Acquired this on E-bay France from a family near Avingon France. It had been in the family since new in 1937. I used it straight out of the shipping box on a recent trip to France and it works great. I'll post a link to the Flickr album when I get the the DVD from TheDarkRoom. This camera is a 6X9 cm 120 medium format.
Acquired this on E-bay France from a family near Avingon France. It had been in the family since new in 1937. I used it straight out of the shipping box on a recent trip to France and it works great. I'll post a link to the Flickr album when I get the the DVD from TheDarkRoom. This camera is a 6X9 cm 120 medium format.
| Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here. |
PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:  |