joseph_wei Posted November 7, 2003 Share Posted November 7, 2003 I found an excellent Ansco Standard Speedex folder in the back of an antique shop and bought it for $10. It's scale-focus, takes 120 film, and has an "Ansco Anastigmat" 90mm f/6.3 lens. I was wondering how old this camera is (history), how well it performs (reputation, if any), and any other tips on getting the best pictures out of it. Since this is my first folding MF camera, any other tips concerning the performance and use of this type of camera would be great, too. Thanks! JW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corey Posted November 7, 2003 Share Posted November 7, 2003 I don't have all the answers that you are looking for, however I can tell you that your camera was made in 1950 and was styled alot like the Ansco Titan but with some lower specifications. In 1928 Ansco and Agfa merged but still used either the Ansco, Agfa, or Ansco-Agfa name on all of there cameras, so to help you with the research of this camera the Agfa Isolette series is very similer to the Ansco Speedex. Good Luck!! Corey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfophotos Posted November 8, 2003 Share Posted November 8, 2003 I have had an Ansco Speedex for several years. It's capable of pretty sharp photos. Put it on a tripod, use a shutter release cable, shoot at small aperture, and you will be amazed. Try it out with a roll of Ilford HP4+ or PanF, or Kodak TMax 100.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silent1 Posted November 9, 2003 Share Posted November 9, 2003 My Speedex Jr. is from the bottom of the Speedex line -- it was a cheap camera when it was made, fifty-plus years ago, with 1/30 and T speeds and f/11 to f/32 on a double meniscus lens -- and it still consistently produces the best shots of any camera I own. The lens is plenty sharp to produce acceptable 8x10 from 35 mm size crops -- and this is the worst lens Ansco sold in this line.<p> Here's an example of an image from my Speedex Jr. In the original 5x5 machine proof, from which this was scanned, you can literally count the bricks in the smokestack base, from a half block away:<br> <center><img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1819847&size=lg"></center> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfophotos Posted November 10, 2003 Share Posted November 10, 2003 here's another shot with a Speedex: http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/~mfobrien/tonedhuron.jpg I used Ilford Delta 100 film for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph_wei Posted November 10, 2003 Author Share Posted November 10, 2003 Thanks for all the helpful comments and excellent photos! I printed a few pictures from the first roll of Tri-X run through the Standard Speedex today. You guys were right - most of the pictures were sharp and contrasty, even when handheld at full aperture! Scale focusing and estimating exposure by the "sunny f/16" rule wasn't that bad either. This folder makes a really good backpacking camera - it's durable and doesn't have any major parts (like a rangefinder) to get knocked out of alignment. Plus, it's compact, quiet, and easy-to-use. Thanks again for all the comments and pictures. I'm really looking forward to shooting some more with the Speedex soon! JW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfophotos Posted November 18, 2003 Share Posted November 18, 2003 here is another fine example from my Ansco Speedex - taken June, 2001 in Glen Arbor, MI. The photo has obviously been cropped from 6x6.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph_wei Posted November 19, 2003 Author Share Posted November 19, 2003 Wow! Nice shot. JW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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