Certo-Matic camera & sample images

The other day feeling a bit under-challenged and over-motivated, I

bought a handful of less-than-$20 cameras, just to see if I could do

anything with them. The first of the group is this Certo-matic, made

by the same people who do the Certo folders I think. From Desden

anyway. A chunk of metal - not a plastic camera by any stretch - with

a very interesting linkage assembly inside to control the shutter and

the aperture (which is a two bladed square - cool.) Lens allows for

zone focusing, which is something new for me in this sort of camera.

Aperture range is from f8-f11-f16. Shutter speed feels like maybe a

bit quicker than most - like 1/50 rather than 1/25? Who knows. Has a

flash connection as well as a switch for "auto" or bulb settings. I

shot some PanF, developed it in Diafine and here it is.<div></div>

Here are the guts. The linkages are to the right side and the aperture, which was set at f11, is a nice square made by two intersecting L shapes. Really feels solid and pretty well bomb proof. Nice spring to the shutter.<div></div>

And here is a sample image. Not so shabby, though definitely made for scenery more than say, trash cans (my favorite subject.) However, the focus-able lens is kind of cool as you can play with the depth of field a bit, as shown by the corner of the building to church steeple distance.<div></div>

That's a neat shot. Seems like a camera well suited to your environment.

What?! A lightmeter in a cheapo camera? How odd.

I like the little crest on the front of the camera.

No, in this case I think you would call it a "light-like" meter or merely a bubbly plastic lens on the front of the camera. There is no meter. Lux.

Just a high-end meter look. Very cool.

Your photo has a wonderful look. I love the "sharp in the center, blurry elsewhere," character.