ralf_j.

Township Clock, Smaller Aperture

I wrote about this camera here. It was fun restoring it. Taking photos with it? Not so much... As I had mentioned, it is made well, all metal and quite attractive for a box camera, but that's where the fun ends. Issues in photo shoot: 1. Film advance: I had lubricated rollers and everything went smooth without film, with film, I was afraid I was going to rip it apart. This definitely created bands and damaged the emulsion, pity 2. Frame advance: Its red window and the Black Backing Paper of Arista EDU film, bad combination, you would need full sun and lots of squinting or angle viewing to read the frame numbers, and that is how I lost two frames... 3. Focusing: Generally these camera give you a focusing range of 8 feet to Infinity, this one hates infinity consistently producing OOF images. I figured I had loaded the film wrong or something, and put a ground glass on film plain and opened the shutter on B. Nope, it is a dog on infinity, I wonder why... Positives: 1. It will make a great shelf queen or a "Conversation Piece" LOL 2. Not too terrible at about 10-15 feet range. 3. The nifty rotating view finder is pretty crafty.. 4. Two F Stops Some Images below: A Blurry Landscape, there were two colorful wind surfer sails in the distance...

Spartus, oh My, that Spartus Press Flash looks like it escaped from a Sci-Fi movie in the 50s. Or better yet, something you would take with your with your scuba gear... sheesh... The full vue, I think I have it's more handsome cousin somewhere... the Spartaflex, matching flashpan and all...

Certainly an American made folder with a view prism at the front standard, probably made in the 20s. Very likely a Kodak with a little stylus hidden somewhere...

Hi John - that's not the lens, that's the shutter flap with slight rust on it. The lens is clear as a whistle (Safely behind the shutter) now after some generous Zeiss lens fluid was applied. :) The camera is ready to go, pleasure to aim and shoot after maintenance.

You are correct Rick, but it is my go to test film, and if I pull the development a little plus some exposure control at scanning time Should do the trick. I still have some Neopan Acros in the freezer and a couple of Delta 100s, but those are for better cameras

I came upon this camera (MITHRA) by chance as I was looking through some Flickr Images. It is quite rare from what I see, made around 1947 in Switzerland. Mine came from the Republic of Georgia for a pretty reasonable cost given that the only eBay sample is listed at 200$. Its name Mithra seems to be from a deity I am not very familiar with, sorry :-) For a "simple" box camera, it is very well made, all metal with a 2 element Achromat lens. This projected a pretty sharp image on the ground glass after I cleaned it. The viewfinder is another interesting contraption, it rotates via the front knurled ring for Landscape or Portrait mode. Maintenance was pretty straight forward: remove 3 screws up front, clean viewfinder and blow away the dust bunnies sitting dormant under the decorative plate. Straighten out bent retainer of viewfinder, oil socket of rollers and reset light baffle thread with some modest glue. It is loaded with Arista 400, and time permitting, it will get some use this weekend. Here is the camera in the mean time.

Hi Mike - I as well :-). Have already exposed one roll through Ansco, will see where its sweet spot is.

Hi Mike, you bet, good to see you.

Chuck buddy, how are you, all ok in Deutscheland? So good to see you.

Rick - excellent write up. Compositions are top notch and geometric perfections (lines are fabulous on the architecture and 33 and 33A doors, how do you do it, really?) Tonality of the images is excellent, I guess your pyro soup works well. What scanner are you using? I still use a Nikon Coolscan LS IV ED from early 2000 that has not let me down (35mm)

What classic cameras you've owned do you vote for the ugliest prize?

Camflash II together and clean...

Camflash II Apart

Now, this must have been very successful because they actually made a second version of it, which of course I set to find on fleabay. It arrived in almost the same crappy state. The second version was quite the "upgrade" :rolleyes::D, you actually get a heavier outer shell (metal I think), and wait for it, a "focusing" two element plastic lens. The design is genius, there are no threads for the focusing front cell, just a one bump "helicoid" that puts pressure on the front cell which is supported by a spring ring. This spring ring also serves as the separator between the two elements; really genius... Disassemble almost the same as before, grease dried up long ago and color/b&w selector was frozen in place. Same clean up procedure and reset the focusing lens back, pics below. This camera has not been loaded yet... I am waiting for brighter days, it's been crap here in NorthEastern US lately... Dirty Camflash II:(

Cleaned and Assembled Camflash 127

Camflash 127 Apart

My vote goes to Sears' Camflash 127 and Camflash II 127 (and their Mamiya clones). These were made by none other than United States Camera, hey now...:D I found one in fleamarket in crappy state for a buck. Battery contacts corroded of course, flashbulb contacts the same, dirt galore and ugly as sin :-). Still could not leave it like this, figured I would bring the old girl back to some of its "glory" :-);):p. Repairs: one screw in the back, removes outer shell (really secure). Two screws on the side that held the flash screen in place at some point. One screw under the "decorative" plate. Cleaned names plate with soap and water, viewing pieces held under pressure ring gears, the meniscus lens/plastic fantastic and cleaned contacts with vinegar and a dremel, some soldering required to restore contact conductivity. It is loaded with Rerapan 100. Original state below

Excellent write up Bill, the tone and the near panning effect on that photo is excellent. I always wondered who produced this film, is it the same as Rollei 80? I just ordered some Holga 400 from BH which is supposed to be re-badged Foma, so will see if it's exactly the same as the Arista.edu. It is sad that Aristas are going for almost 5$ a roll these days, I remember buying 40 rolls from Freestyle in 2007 for 1.30$ a roll.

Jurgen is very good at what he does, I have had 3 camera done by him, and I do not know anyone in the US that offers his quality of labor. You will need to ship him your damaged camera and he will bring it back to life. Now keep in mind this is not going to be cheap, expect to pay more than 100$ for this type of work, but you get what you pay for. Regards, Ralf

Just got a lens for 59$ from KEH for this unit: the 200mm F4

JDM, my old friend, the GDR King, hope you are well and hope you still remember me. It is heart warming to see some of the familiar posters here.

Oh good, John, I am glad I am not the only one :-). BTW, some of these use plastic lenses, and plastic lenses do not like qtips at all, usually end up with plenty of scratches :-), that's why dish soap and water it is for these ...

Yes, competition for these cameras is becoming an issues on www. I am also seeing the 1980s point and shoots attracting a quite a bit of attention, i.e. Olympus Infinity line, Ricohs, Canon AF-M/Snappys and or Minolta HiMatic AFs

Thank you sir