Zeiss Maximar 9x12

Another one of those too-fast internet romances. Went straight to

infatuation, bypassed getting to know each other. Not even that

great to look at, but kind of exotic.... and the next thing you

know, I've asked her to move in. But I don't know anything about

her, what makes her tic, how to make her happy. She just sits there

looking moody ... <br>

 

<p>But who could pass up a Zeiss Maximar B 9x12 folder on ebay for

under $20? I'm figuring some of it out, but not all -- can't find

any manuals or dedicated websites for my questions. Anybody out

there able to help?<br>

<p>

- how do I keep the shutter open so I can focus on the ground glass?

<br>

- is the ground glass supposed to be this dim?<br>

- how the hell do I focus? <br>

- 9x12 sheet film? Film holders? How would I know if I found the

right size of film holder? Or give up on the sheet film and look

for a Rada 6x9 back?<br>

<p>

Any and all help appreciated.

<b>- how do I keep the shutter open so I can focus on the ground glass?</b><br>

There should be a "T" setting. Depending on the shutter, you might not need to pre-tension the shutter. Press the release once to open and again to close.<p>

 

<b>- is the ground glass supposed to be this dim?</b><br>

Yes, welcome to the world of the plate photographer. Now you know why they used focusing hoods and the black cloth over the head.<p>

 

<b>- how the hell do I focus?</b><br>

There should be a small knurled knob on the right. Often, you must depress a small catch that is located near the distance scale on the left.<p>

 

<b>- 9x12 sheet film? Film holders? How would I know if I found the right size of film holder? Or give up on the sheet film and look for a Rada 6x9 back?</b><br>

These show up on eBay fairly often. Good luck.

Older Compur shutters have a separate wheel labeled Z, D, and M. These are (respectively) T, B, and I. You don't cock the shutter for T & B, just flick the taking lever.

More on holders and sheaths -- all 9x12 film sheaths are interchangeable, in that they all fit in place of a glass plate and hold a sheet of 9x12 cm film -- though some intrude almost not at all in front of the sensitive surface, while others have a definite shape (mine have an arch that I place at holder bottom, to be frame top).

 

There are at least six, possibly more different kinds of plate holders for between-wars 9x12 cm plate cameras. A Maximar, I think, needs the "thick edge" slide-in variety. These will have an edge about 4 mm thick, constant thickness around the bottom and both long edges; any holder with this type of edge should fit your Maximar (but double check that the ground glass back has this type of edge; I've never examined a Maximar close up). Your holders should interchange with a Nagel or Kodak Recomar 33, and with other Zeiss and Contessa-Nettel cameras using slide-in holders. They will *not* interchange with any Voigtlander, Fotokor, KW (Patent Etui), or other thin-edge slide in (edge flange about 1 mm thick), or any pop-off type for Ica/Zeiss Juwel or Ideal cameras. I'm not certain which kind the BeeBee, Ihagee, Welta, or other brands of plate cameras use, but if you find plate holders on eBay you can easily tell from good photos if they have thin or thick edges.

 

You may also find Zeiss-made double sided holders-- if you do, grab them; they fit your thick edge back, are much more convenient than the single side type and work perfectly in Zeiss thick-edge cameras, but are less than half as thick as modern double sided film holders.

Do you need <a href="http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/instructionmanuals.html">a free manual?</a> (2nd last from bottom, use the login/pass supplied)

Welcome to the world of 9x12!<P>

 

Go with the sheet film, at least initially, just to see those nice big negatives.<P>A roll film back is a puny 6x9 :-)<P>

 

 

If you need the thick edge holders as Donald suggests, drop me a line as I have three I don't need. They will not have film sheaths, but you can find these a lot easier (I got some out of modern 9x12 backs).<P>

 

My Zeca is not that dim, but it does depend a lot on the maximum aperture of the lens - mine if f4.5 so it reasonably easy to focus just using the inbuilt hood.<P>

 

Others have told you how to get the "T" setting - set this then focus. There should be a knurled knob on the door/bed that racks the lens in and out. There may even be a scale alongside the tracks.<P>

 

For film, try <A HREF="http://www.retrophotographic.co.uk">Retro Photographic</A> in the UK or J and C in the US. For my first shots I've used Maco UP 100Plus, but also got some Efke 25 too. Now I'm looking round to see if I can locate a source of colour slide film<P>

<P>

Paul<P>

Paul, as of 18 or so months ago when I got my Kawee Camera, Kodak was still making and selling (in Europe) at least one Ektachrome emulsion in 9x12 cm. Try fotoimpex.de for that. Since 9x12 is a common size there, it shouldn't be any problem getting pro labs to handle the processing for you, or you could get one of the Tetenal E6 kits and do it yourself.

Thanks Don

 

I have checked them out, also another German site. But boy, it is rather more expensive than B+W!! Around Euro 24 for a box of 10 sheets! I got 50 sheets of Efke 25 for less than that.

 

BTW, if you have any spare holders or know where there are some (Voigtlaender types), I'm looking for some more (I am keeping an eye on the auction site).

 

Paul

How thoughtless of me....<P>

 

The <A HREF="http://www.nordfoto.de/cgi-bin/shop/iboshop.cgi?show0">German site</A> with the 9x12 prices. In the "Artikelsuche" box enter 9x12...<P>

 

Paul <P>

Thanks guys, that was fast.

 

Mike E and John: aha, I had been trying to cock the shutter on T. Now I got it.

 

Mike E: its still awfully dim?

 

Mike K: Thanks for the manual, I didnt find that site.

 

PC and Don: Thanks for the info on film holders etc. Still gotta figure all of that out.

 

PC: Yeah, didnt seem to make much sense to put a 6x9 rollback on, I could just get my 6x9 Ikonta 521/2s bellows fixed and use it instead. Ill be in touch about those film holders.

 

To the grammarians: I do know how to use apostrophes, but they all turned into question marks.

You have to pull the focusing knob out a little to unlock it.

 

I still haven't gotten around to finding a usable back for my Maximar (with film pack back).

Still awful dim, eh?

 

Slide the back off and have a look through the lens while still opened up on T. Is it all foggy and crappy looking or is it nice and clear.

 

My guess would be foggy and crappy like mine was. If that's the case, you can probably close up the camera (with the back still off), which would leave you with good access to both the front and back lenses.

 

They should unscrew from the shutter (be careful).

 

Once out of the shutter, they are real easy to clean up. Simply screw them back in again.

 

Make sure the shutter doesn't start turning while they are going off and on.

Thanks, Jeff, but the lens is remarkably clear, so that's not it. I can't get anything to look in focus on the groundglass. This was supposed to be a piece of retro-photography adornment for a bookshelf, I shouldn't care if it works. But I'd like to get a decent photo out of it.

Oh, this is funny. I figured out my focus problem -- I had my face up to the folding hood, keeping out all the extraneous light, and couldn't get anything near in-focus. But I happened to notice that when I held the camera farther in front of my face, the glass was in brilliant focus -- it's my 46 year old eyes that are the problem, not the camera. Good thing I've got a check up with the optometrist scheduled for next week. Now all that's left is the almost-impossible to adjust shutter and film holders.......

Put a loupe up against the ground glass and you can achieve very fine focus. Be sure to have a black cloth over your head. Then pull back a little to admire the composition on the ground glass. I have a Maximar; the lens is superb.

If you want to go REALLY retro, Retrophotographic now has a small stock of 9x12cm glass plates. I've just received three boxes, and will be feeding my Bergheil as soon as the weather permits :)

Ilford has just announced that they intend to coat glass plates!