In the Presence of the Lord (or, some shots from my 5D)

<p>Rick Drawbridge's recent post about the Samoca inspired me to get out my Lord 5D. It's of the same era as the Samoca, late 50s/early 60s. It has a Highkor f/1.9 40mm lens, which has a bayonet filter mounting. It's bigger than Bay I, because I have some of those and they're too small. Threaded filter rings were not yet a standard feature.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5272718637_b2f2f9a2a2.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></p>

<p>I think it's a fine looking rangefinder, very well-finished, although my example has suffered a little bit of corrosion on the finish here and there. Notice the PC socket, and take a look at the oval-shaped serrated button below the viewfinder window. It's for activation of a click-stop for 8 feet on the focusing lever, sort of a hyperfocal aid.</p>

<p>Here's the top plate. No idea where the "Lord" name came from. It was built by the Okaya Optical Company in the 1950s, which is pretty much all I know about it.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5162/5272718739_94493a01da.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>The Seikosha MXL shutter -- which is working perfectly -- still has the old-style shutter speeds. Notice also the ring for the infamous "EV" system which never caught on. Below that is the distance scale (focusing down to 2½ feet), and then the neat little depth-of-field scale.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5272719037_ee5151fdf1.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></p>

<p>Now for the bottom view.<br>

<br /><br>

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5206/5273328150_421f74c369.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></p>

<p>There's the <em>bright </em>red M-F-X sync lever, and the familiar rewind button. To the right is the lever which is rotated in order to open the back.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5250/5272719839_af66c88644.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="332" /></p>

<p>The "rewind-knob-lift" back opening method was not yet standard. And what's that silver button hiding under the lever? Pull it out with a fingernail...</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5273328936_30dd039d07.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>It works a tiny blade for cutting your film, in case you wanted to develop it before the roll was done. You of course would have to remove the cut piece in the dark and then you could continue with the rest of the roll. An interesting device, which never became widespread. Here's the blade about halfway, just to the left of the film gate:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5273329680_b399b57fdd.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Now another back view, from the other side:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5273330002_c6e519c39a.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>No foam light seals here. Only black yarn, which still looks pristine. The red dot on the film advance spindle is in position for a new roll of film. When the film is loaded, you have to push that silver button just above the spindle to reset the gear train so the film will advance.</p>

<p>There's no self-timer, which was not unusual back then, so you had to use one of these:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/5272721425_615da42c97.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>This one came with a box of odds and ends from an eBay purchase. Notice the shutter button requires a Leica-style adaptor to be screwed on for a cable release or one of these accessory self-timers.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5273330266_d63daed5f4.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>The 5D came with a beat-up eveready case:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5272721893_cafb697370.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>It also is a little different; it opens clamshell-style.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5164/5272722217_923639fd37.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Finally, a handheld view of this interesting and compact camera:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5272722609_3e9ffc1e35.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>So, some pictures taken by said 5D -- I used Kodak BW400CN, and Ektar 100. Exposures were by the Sunny 16 rule.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5273344600_33f5e88339.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>My ride that day, belonging from the same era as the Lord:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5272736249_957b16f1a3.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5273345508_8899969d41.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>My mother's Anatolian Shepherd. She got her free because the breeder didn't want her; her coloration is reversed.</p>

<p>Firewood:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5246/5273350386_31e187bc8d.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5002/5272741971_12f6d3aea0.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>My helper:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5272742191_d492de81aa.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5273351250_f475399cc5.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5281/5273351670_26b1925434.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Questions or comments are welcome!</p>

<p>Very Lordly indeed! Blesséd is the name...... etc.</p>

<p>Nice presentation and great to see how well it works - nice sharp results.</p>

<p>Old VW's, gotta love em. Lived with them for 30 years, now I'm old and drive a Camery. Looks like a '65, am I right? Still have my old film cameras though, can't part with them and their care and feeding I can do on the kitchen table (although the first flat four I rebuilt was assembled on a bench in the kitchen, I had a very understanding wife).</p>

<p>Wonderful !</p>

<p>I've seen some cool RFs on this forum but this has got to be one of the coolest. Love the tiny blade. And that self timer is just awesome. Thanks for posting.</p>

<p>Excellent post and pictures taken in the presence of . . .</p>

<p>@JDM -- Thanks!</p>

<p>@John -- very close, it's a '66.</p>

<p>@Gene -- I am not worthy.</p>

<p>@Kayam -- Thanks, I like that self-timer too.</p>

<p>@ L Mar -- ;-)</p>

<p>Great post, <strong>Donnie</strong>! Good to see such fine pics both of and by the camera. I knew the Lords have a great reputation and your fine presentation shows it's well-deserved. I'd read about the film-cutter but this is the first image I've seen of it. The whole camera certainly exudes quality. Love the portrait of your helper... Aren't these old rangefinders fun? Thanks for a teriffic post.</p>

<p>Thanks Rick, for getting me off my duff. Glad you liked the Lord! It is a quality camera indeed.</p>

<p>Fantastic story,<br>

At first thought that it is a posting of Canon 5D die hard fan.</p>

<p>Donnie, that's a beautiful camera! What a great presentation, both of the camera and the pictures from the camera. It looks as though the lens is a great performer as well. I love all of the pictures but the one of the pooch is my favorite; she's gorgeous! Man, the bar is being set higher and higher around here with such excellent posts...<em>and that's a wonderful thing!</em> Thanks for another great one, Donnie.</p>

<p>Ah yes, the nipple hubcaps, I missed that. Sandwiched between a '65 with the moon hubcaps and a '67 with the one piece headlights. I'm out of touch.</p>

<p>Fine looking camera and a great performer in your hands. I am going to research some of my documents to find out whether I never heard of it or simply overlooked it because it is not one of the prominent name brands. I wonder why it didn't become more popular.</p>

<p>Anyone know what it sold for new? Kind of embarrassing that in the same era, the US was cranking out the Argus C. Don't take offense, Argus lovers. </p>

<p>@Kozma -- Thanks; the "5D" in the title was indeed a little pun.</p>

<p>@Andy -- I'm blushing.</p>

<p>@John -- good eye.</p>

<p>@James -- that's a good question. I'd also like to know what it sold for new.</p>

Excellent .. what Andy said... I love these vaugley obscure RFs. Good description and nice phots to boot! Nice little helper you got there. Rebuilding an engine on the kitchen table... I married the wrong woman!!

<p>Excellent presentation.</p>

<p>Donnie,</p>

<p>Really nice camera and presentation. I went through some of my magazines and only found a little bit of information. Unfortunately I couldn't find any test results.</p>

<p>Here is a listing from Pop Photo's 1960 Directory. It shows both the 4D and the 5D.</p><div></div>

<p>Here is a 1960 ad from Heights camera.</p>

<p>You can see there was quite a bit of competition.</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks Stuart and Chuck!</p>

<p>@Mark -- Thanks so much for that info! $110.90, with case, in 1960.</p>

<p>Interesting that the ad describes a "single-stroke wind lever", when mine takes two strokes to advance the film. The instruction manual states, "The film can be wound up by swinging the winding lever twice for one shot."</p>

<p>I found some more information. I was actually looking for something else when I found this ad. I was really surprised that they had a full page ad for this camera.</p><div></div>

<p>I love it..."World's only 35mm with the unique 'Snapshot lock' "...! Great stuff Marc.</p>

<p>Neat camera and shots. Nice presentation. Thanks for showing us that cool camera.</p>

<p>This post is not really relevant, but the VW brings back memories. My wife and I were married in 1965, the year it was made, in Tallahassee and drove away in our own ('59) Bug for a honeymoon tour of the North Georgia mountains. Wish I had been into photography then -- all we have is some poor box camera snaps.</p>

<p>Who would have thought that these 60's Japanese rangefinders would one day be cool....but they are. Goes to show that if you keep something long enough it will become much better, or at least that's what I keep telling my wife!<br>

Thanks for the write up and shots with that sweet Lord.</p>