Ensign Multex 127 film half format rangefinder camera

In the last year my upgraded TopCon Primo Jr. has been the most used

camera. I mostly use it for super slides. Since then I have became

insterested on 127 cameras and I was wondering about a half frame 127

film camera (1 1/4" x 1 5/8" format). After some research I

discovered the Ensign Multex II. It is a rangefinder that uses half

frame 127 film, the modern equivalent today would be the Fuji GS645

that uses 120 film (6x45 format). Today I found it on eBay, it was

not the Ensign Multex II but the Mark 1 model. Still the asking price

is EUR 1040!!! <http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ensingn-England-Multex-2-9-53-

mm-Ross-London-Xpres-

le_W0QQitemZ7558941752QQcategoryZ4701QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZView

Item> We all know that arsenal price are not cheap but still it seems

a very expensive camera. With those prices the Multex is obviously

out of my league (I would not mention it here if I were thinking

about buying it, he,he) and I can forget about having one since I

will never have the money to buy one (or when I have it I will buy a

Leica MP instead), but now just for curiosity has anyone ever used

such an expensive machine? Some info I found on the web:

<http://www.ensign.demon.co.uk/multex.htm> and

<http://www.ensign.demon.co.uk/multexpage.htm>

I hope you have a freezer full of the 127 E-6 film, since it's discontinued. You might also want to stock up on unperforated 46mm Portra 160NC, for loading color negative on old backing paper. Surplus rolls are showing up on eBay.

 

I'm sure this camera price is due to collector rarity.

 

I do find my Primo, Jr. to be quite sweet. Nice bright fresnel screen, which can't be said about my 120 Laurelflex (also a Tokyo Kogaku camera).

 

By the way, half-frame 127 format is almost exactly the same size as the 28x40mm Bantam (828) format. At least Bantam film is 35mm wide, so you can make loads using unperforated 35mm film. That format is available in Portra (for now), but I don't know of any E-6 choices in that format. I have a bunch of VP828 in my film fridge.

127 film available here http://www.on-line-shops.com/shop3x.php?category=127+Roll+Film&shopid=02111201

New fresh 127 film is available all over the internet in slide, color and black and white film. Just do a search "127 film" and you will see.

Two things here. First, based on the demon.co.uk page linked above, I have the question of "why would you want one?" It sounds as if it wasn't a particularly good camera when new, certainly not in the same league as your Primo Jr. (aka Sawyers Mk. 4), which is possibly the best 127 TLR ever.

 

Second, if you do a current search on 127 film sources, you'll find them starting to list the color slide film as "out of stock" -- apparently the maker of the film has dropped the slide stock or stopped cutting it in 46 mm, so Maco is no longer able to load it in 127. The Efke 100 and Maco color print stock is still available, though how much longer the Maco print stock will be around is questionable (Maco films under their name seem to be vanishing).

 

These days, I wouldn't put money into a 127 camera with expectation of using it -- stick with 120 or 620 (at least respooling isn't difficult), unless you plan to slit 120 to 46 mm and cut down and renumber the backing to fit the 127 spools...

As mentioned above the Multex price is a collector's price and is due to its rarity. It sounds expensive even for a Multex though and may well be a try-on by an optimistic seller.

 

The reason the Multex remains expensive now is because it was a commercial failure. It was expensive compared with the Leicas and Contaxes it was up against. In the 1930's you could buy a Multex with cheap, non-interchangeable, 3-element lens for about 20GBP. For the same price you could buy a Leica with interchangeable Leitz Elmar lens. You coudld buy the Multex with an f/2 Sonnar but it would set you back 40GBP! So there are not many of them about.

 

If you want to try 127 half frame there are plenty of nice cameras from the pre-war period to choose from at much more reasonable prices. The Voigtlander Perkeo (not to be confused with similar 120 models of the same name) and the Foth Derby (my personal favourite) both work well, come with nice lenses and are fun to use. If you want a Leica-type rigid body with pull-out lens you could look for a Zeiss-Ikon Kolibri.

Donald you are right. The Multex is not at the level of any 4x4 TLR camera, definetly not at the level of the Primo Jr. I am happy staying with my Primo Jr anyway.

 

 

 

 

As for 127 slide film, it seems that you are also right. 127 slide film has disapeared from the MACO website in Germany (www.mahn.net). I wrote to HANS O. MAHN & CO, the company that owns the MACO brand, in Hamburg and they have responded that currently they are not capable of selling it, but that they have not dicarted ordering a film manufacturer to manufacture it for them again. Since they only design film (not rebrand it) and they do not manufacture any film because they have no facturies, I hope that they will be able to market it again. It would be a pity since super slides are really great and I love shooting with 4x4 cameras. In any case I have ordered a good banch of film from a shop where it was still available and will put them in the frige. I would not be surpised if this stroy had something to do with the bankrupcy of some German film manufacturer recently.

That is sad about 127. I had been looking for a Primo and/or a Yashica 44 :(

Lili good news! B&H Photo has 127 film super slides made by Kodak. Kodak Professional Ektachrome E100G <http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=306143&is=REG&addedTroughType=search> They also have Kodak Portra 127 print film. IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO SHOOT SUPER SLIDES!

This is a little bit off subject but has anyone considered modifying these old cameras to fit modern digital bodies? I've done something similar previously with lenses from medium format cameras, (Pentax lenses on a nikon body, see my blog <a href="http://www.dennisonbertram.com/hackmaster/hack_index.htm">Dennison Bertram</a> but I ran into the problem that generally the cropping factor from using a standard DSLR chip for a 6x6 lens limits your shooting options significantly. This format however, seems like it might be a nice compromise in terms of cropping size-to-lens. Has anyone tried something like that? Or perhaps should it be my new years resolution? :-)

 

<a href="www.dennisonbertram.com">Dennison Bertram</a>

Czech Fashion Photography