Bakelite Pionyr cameras & sample photos

[jorn ake]

I also (see previous Certo thread) purchased a couple Bakelite Pionyr

cameras. These are Czech-made cameras in the French Photax genre,

though unlike the Photax, these cameras use 120 film and came

originally with a 6x4.5 adaptor. Neither of these cameras had one. The

black camera has a flash connection and several focusing stops on the

large screw-out lens barrel for portrait, full-length portrait, group

portrait and landscape. The red camera does not have these stops,

though the barrel rotates smoothly enough to allow for plenty of

adjustment. The black camera's barrel is held by a piece of metal that

rubs against the barrel inside the camera. Two apertures - maybe like

f8 and f11? And a T setting on the shutter. The red camera's shutter

mechanism is much more sturdily made, using actual metal parts rather

than the spring/stamped parts of the black camera. Like the Certo, the

most fun seems to be in playing with the focus - or lack thereof - and

the depth of field. Here are the cameras:<div></div>

[jorn ake]

Here are the lens barrels extended. Trial and error might be eliminated with a ground glass and some patience, making these cameras nice little transportable but entirely low tech 6x6's.<div></div>

[jorn ake]

And here is a sample image. Not the greatest, but you can get a sense of what might happen if you spent a bit of time playing with the focus. The people are pretty well sharp (as sharp as things get at least) while fore and aft are nicely blurry. Shot nearly directly into the sun through the clouds as well.<div></div>

[paulh]

Someone's about to muscle in on your territory :-)

 

I nearly bought a 3 euro agfa clack the other weekend, but managed to tear myself away. Now, if I did my own developing, I'd be tempted.

 

Maybe Jorn you can do some comparative shots of a similar scene with your different cameras ?

[jorn ake]

Where was the Clack? I have a Click which is the 6x6 cousin, and I think that is one of the best plastic body cameras going.

 

A comparison might be interesting. Finding a shot that all the cameras would handle well and show their individual characteristics might be the toughest part. Gimme a couple weeks.

[gene m]

Excellent.

[jacek_witold_chmielewski]

I use both Pionyr, polish Druh and Pouva Start. They're the same family, with collapsible lens part. The results are awesome.<div></div>