Zeiss Box Tengor Users?

Shawn Rahman

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Just recently acquired one of the latest versions of a Zeiss Box Tengor. Very cool thing - I love it that it takes 6x9! It is in pretty decent condition, and the shutter appears to be working fine.

Has anyone here used one of these recently? It looks like the shutter options are 1/2 second and bulb, and we have to scale focus. Not expecting much from it, but it seems a little fun to use.

Any tips on usage? I am trying it out for the first time this weekend and will try to post results.

Thanks & regards.
 
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elekm

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The shutter is about 1/25. 1/2 a second would be much too slow for a handheld camera.

Is this the postwar version with the powder chrome trim? If so, this is a very nice and usable box camera.

I use mine with a 400 speed film and usually close it down to f/16. There are three distance settings.

Make sure that you hold the camera steady when you release the shutter. Most have the side mounted shutter release, although there was one model with a top-mounted release, which I prefer.
 
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Shawn Rahman

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Thank you! Yes - it is the post war powder chrome trim version. I opened it up last night to clean the viewfinders and the lens, and they are just sparkling. Removing those tiny screws off a 70 year old camera was not fun at all. But the camera looks almost new now, and everything appears to be working perfectly!

It is loaded with some Tri-X, and I am hoping get in some shooting down near the Brooklyn Bridge this afternoon. With Tri-X, I'll stop all the way down as the shutter is indeed 1/30 as listed in the manual. probably more like 1/25 by now, as you stated.

This thing has a standard threaded cable release, which is a pleasant surprise. I don't have a tripod with me today, so will hold everything as steady as possible.

Thanks again for the advice!
 

elekm

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This is a postwar camera. I think it's from the 1950s, as I recall. It's very well made. I've had a number of these -- sold several, traded one, gave one as a birthday gift to a friend, too.

I think the lens on the postwar camera is sharper than the lenses on the prewar versions. Of course, you're not going to get Tessar sharpness, but for a box camera, it's a nice piece to use.
 

mablo

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I shot a roll of Rollei 25 with mine recently. Basically I just waited until the light was suitable for 1/30s and f/16. All shots I took handheld were more or less blurry. The shutter button in mine is not too easy to operate. On a tripod the Box Tengor cranks out lovely photos.

Here is one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mblomqvist/5605651545/sizes/l/in/photostream/

I need to take another roll with it some day.
 

P C Headland

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I've got one of the post war versions, and it's certainly quite nice for a nice box camera. I've tended to use either ISO 25 or 100 films.

I cradle mine somewhat like you would a TLR, braced agains my body, and gentle squeeze down the shutter release with my thumb.

Here's a shot using Delta 100.


It's Dead Jim
 
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