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Ansco Standard Speedex


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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

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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

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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>

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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

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