Flexaret II test (early Optikotechna model)

I did a testroll with an old Flexaret II TLR made by Optikotechna (pre-Meopta).

The camera has a T3 lens (triplet) instead the more commonly found Mirar. Seems

to be a very nice picturetaker despite it's old age (made around 1938). Enjoy.

 

 

<img src="http://users.skynet.be/unclegoose/brol/banaanmacro.jpg"><br>

Here I used the Meopta Macro lenses.<br>

<br>

<img src="http://users.skynet.be/unclegoose/brol/tuinslang.jpg"><br>

Also taken with the Macro lenses<br>

<br>

<img src="http://users.skynet.be/unclegoose/brol/kraan.jpg">

WOW! These look very nice!

Very cool mr Goose. Really nice quality. Does this one have the Belar or the Mirar lens? Can we see a picture of it? I also have 1930s flexaret where the focusing is done through a metal cable pulley system. Very cool.

Wow! Who needs a Rolleiflex? The tones on the bananas area amazing. Even the close up filters are sharp. Well done. Isn't it cool how black and white medium format can transform the most mundane things into something worth taking a second look at?

And here is a photo of the Flexaret II. It does not have a Mirar or a Belar but it has a T3 lens which is an early triplet that preceded the Mirar line. This Flexaret is build with parts of the Flexaret I, clearly visable by the flat top of the viewfinder which the Flexaret I also has. The Macro lenses are very sharp, I cannot understand that some people claimed that they aren't sharp at all, clearly they did not use them in the right way I guess.<br>

<br>

 

<img src="http://users.skynet.be/unclegoose/brol/flexaret2.jpg">

Nice examples, Filip. Thanks for share them.

That's interesting - I didn't know there was a macro lens for the Flexarets.

 

I'm tempted to pick 1 up for my VI...

Yes, macro lenses are available, just check Ebay or send a mail to Cupog (you can find him on the bay too). There are 2 sets, first set is from 1meter to 0.5meter and the second set is from 0.5meter to 0.33meter. Just remember that the Flexaret VI, VII and Standard uses the B36 Meopta bayonet while the Flexaret II till V are using the push-on version. I have use both versions (as I have the Flexaret VI too but I like the IV more) and they are both great performers.

<p>Hi, i've bumped into this thread at least twice for different reasons:</p>

<p>a) I would like to get my hands on one of the older flexaret/autoflex/optiflex/flexette models with a f2.9 triplet lens - what should I expect to have to pay for one in fully working condition when they're available, which is not that often?</p>

<p>b) I'm generally interested in the performance of the close-up lenses especially the later ones for the Flexaret VII. How well does the parallax correction work in the 0.5-1m range?</p>

<p>Most early Flexaret types (like the Flexaret I) are difficult to find and Autoflexes/Optiflexes/Flexettes even harder. Expect to pay from 150euro and up for a nice working example. Cupog (a notorious Czech Ebay seller who does a lot of Czechoslovakian gear) once told me that even he rarely finds early camera's of Optikotechna and if he finds them that they are in bad shape and hard to fix.</p>

<p>The Macrolenses are great, they have excellent parallax correction and are fun to use (the thicker lens is used for the viewing lens and has a dot that has to face upwards to achieve the correction). The VI, VII and Standard are using the Meopta B36 bajonet while the II till V are using the old push-up type. This is of course important to check before you buy. I have used both types and I was very pleased with the quality they produce. And they are not very expensive to buy.</p>

<p>Thanks for the info! It's just as I feared and hoped; that fully-working older f2.9 models are hard to find, and that the close-up lenses actually work well. I have a Flexaret VII that I bought due to my Minolta Autocord becoming hard to fix (I dropped it on stone floor :) and I've been pretty happy with it for the short while that I've had it, and I guess the close-up lenses would make a nice addition to it.</p>

<p> </p>