jay_capodiferro

Gene, are you a writer? If not, you damn well should be!!

another

I am a proud owner of a near mint Konica Auto S2. Rock-solid feel,

crisp shutter, built-in lens shade. I received it a week or so ago

and couldn't believe the condition. If it wasn't for a few rub marks

on the edges, I would have guessed it was new out of the box. The

light seals even looked good, but I replaced them anyway, just

incase. It's a little big for a rangefinder, but it feels great and

is an easy shooter.

The lens is sharp and contrasty. I will post a few test pics.

I would love to hear from other Konica users to see how much they

love their camera's!!!

Dave, thanks for the spelling correction. That helped. I found a few references to the Steinheil Cassar lens and they say it is a triplet. Other than that, I see no reference to image quality. I also found that my 3.8 is a front element focus lens. I think I will still invest in a nice Ektar 2.5

I'm assuming they are 4x5 but if they are 2x3, I'll take them.

I just bought a Graflex Speed Graphics 2x3 camera but I've never

heard of the lens that it comes with. (The camera is being shipped

to me so I don't have it in front of me to look closer.) The lens is

a 105mm f3.8 Casser with a compur shutter, speeds from 1 to 250 with

B and T. I can't find anything on this lens. Has anyone heard of it

and can you tell me anything about it? I plan on buying a Kodak

Ektar lens later. For now, I will try this lens and post the results

in a few weeks.

Any help would be appreciated.

From what I've seen, the Horseman press camera is not cheap.

So many to choose from!!!!! Must excersize control!!! So....hard...to stop....thinking about...cameras. Must have all of them!!!

OK..I'm currently leaning toward a Graflex Pacemaker. I really like what I've found out about that camera. However, I think I'll also keep looking for a 6x9 folder to throw in my jacket pocket for those last minute drives.

 

Thanks everyone.

I hadn't thought about a press camera. I like the idea of interchangeable lens. They are not very compact, but that was never a requirement for me. I would definitely need the roll film back. I don't have any interest in sheet film. I just took a look on the bay for 2x3's and the prices are very high. Time of the year perhaps? I'll keep my eye out for a reasonable find. Yep, I think a roll-back 2x3 sound just right. I also may pick up a cheap folder to play with. After all, who can buy just one camera? Aren't we the true fanatics!!!!

 

Thanks to all for your sound advice and photo sample.

What about the Zeiss Maximar with the 135 Tessar?

 

Any experience with that?

Mike,

Zone focusing wouldn't bother me. I would be shooting almost exclusively at the smallest aperature so a rangefinder is not a must. Also, I have no interest in color landscapes so the uncoated lens sounds like a good deal.

 

Can anyone post a few example shots from their 6x9 so I can take a look?

OK good people of PN, I have a decision that I know you can help me

with. I am looking to purchase a 6x9 folder for landscape

photography and would like to know of any recommendations. I have

been looking at the Moskva 5 but I'm not sold on it yet. Also, let's

keep around $100 or less. I have a low budget.

Sorry....here is a smaller image.<div></div>

Here it is.<div></div>

OK...I do not shoot much digital, certainly not enough to warrant

PS. I spend 12 hours a day in front of the computer for work. My

darkroom is a vacation in comparison to having to use the computer

for photo's as well.

 

But, in this case, I need help from the photo techies and I would

appreciate some assistance. I recently shot a wedding (informally)

and had a problem with a frame not advancing which resulted in a

double exposure. The bride and groom really liked the shot and would

like it if I could get it 'fixed'. My question is this: Is it

possible, using PS or any other software to separate the exposures by

density? Has anyone ever had to work on a similar problem before?

It has been pointed out that you could easily purchase another camera for a fraction of the cost to get your existing camera repaired. Risk = getting another camera that may have a problem upon arrival or will have a problem very shortly after you get it. Then you have 2 camera's that don't work.

 

It has also been pointed out that if you get it professionally repaired, you get the assurance of a quality repair with most repair shops having a warranty on their work. If the $89 includes a CLA, then it is really worth the money.

 

Myself, I own and use a Konica Auto S2 and love it. If anything happends to it where it needs a repair, I will get it fixed over replacing it. I know of repair shops that I trust and would feel better knowing that the camera is in excellent working condition after it has been repaired. I do not trust an ebay auction that states that the camera is in good working order. It maybe...but I would still like a technician to tell me that.

 

Your choice..choose well.

Thanks Mike. About the '4 Way Lunch' That is actually a straight (horizon) shot. You have to look at the telephone poles to tell. The street slopes down slightly, however, the building slopes down A LOT!!!!! Who says small towns have nothing visually interesting to offer....crooked buildings, cigar store indians, etc. :-)

Sorry about the size of the pics, I didn't realize they were that large. You can go to my folder called 'test shots' to see them in a smaller format.

here's another<div></div>

Once again, thanks to all who offered advice on the focus and

distance estimate using a viewfinder. I didn't think I would like

using this camera. I was wrong. I love this camera. It is super

quiet...by far quieter than all of my other camera's. I will be

using it for street photo's during the day (the Xenar 3.5 will limit

its use in low light) and use my Konica Auto S2 for lower light

situations. Also a big plus, this camera is small....really small.

The body measures 5 x 3 3/4 x 1 3/4. I took a few test pics and

scanned them using a hp 3570c scanner (which does not do the

sharpness of this lens justice). The contrast of this lens is

great! Remember, I shot these for test of the shutter and lens

rather than subject.<div></div>

The advise helped very very much. I took a few pictures (with the Xenar) simply to test the shutter speed/lens quality and distance estimate. I am please to say that I am addicted to this classic camera and will be using it camera for much more than the occasional snapshot!!!! Soooo contrasty and sharp!!!!!

 

I would post some pics in this post, but I can't figure out how to get the photos in here....

Amund, please post results of additional tests with this film. I am curious about its performance also.

Thanks everyone for your timely responses. I will be shooting a roll of Tri-x today, guestimating distances and using the homemade rangefinder from the instruction of Martin Tai. I will have results posted by the end of the week. I can't wait to see how contrasty the pics come out!!!

First, let me say that the wealth of knowledge on this site is truely

staggering! Thank you to all of those who are willing to lend their

expertize to sometimes difficult subjects and questions. Special

thanks to Mike Elek and Matt Denton for past assistance.

Second, I blame all of you for my classic camera addition. Know I

can't even look at a camera that isn't fully manual and fully

mechanical!!!

 

Know here is my dilemma. I am the proud owner of now 2 beautiful

AkArette II camera's. Here is an clip from a German translated

website (some of the only info on the web at all about these cameras):

(*Thanks to Matt Denton)

 

Aka is the acronym of Apparate & Kamerabau (Manufacture of cameras

and movie cameras). This company had one very short lifespan (1946 -

1960). Its manufacture is overall of good quality.

This camera is with interchangeable lens. Its finder is double and

thus makes it possible to adapt to the 50 or 75 mm.

 

There is a picture at this address: http://www.collection-

appareils.com/appareils/html/akarette.php

 

Both cameras are in good shape and working. One has a 5omm Westar

3.5 and the other has a 50mm Xenar 3.5 (nice!) However, these are

not rangefinders. They only have a viewfinder. How in the world are

you supposed to focus with an adjustable lens with only a

viewfinder? I will post a few pics once I test these cameras, but

would like to know if there are any 'rule-of-thumb' advice out there

beside keeping you fingers crossed, hopping on one leg and spitting

east in hopes that the pics are in focus, especially at shallow depth

of field f-stops?

 

Will I be shooting blind, or is there something I can do to help

ensure I get sharp photo's. (And yes, I've thought of always setting

the focus to infinity, but that wouldn't be as fun!!!)

What type film are you developing?

I have found that some films recommend a faster inversion of the tank than others for the opposite reason. That is, quickly inverting the tank will do less active development than slowly inverting it. By slower inversions, the developer will actually wash over the film more than a quicker inversion. Just remember to tap the tank after a quick agitation b/c air bubbles will occur the more rapid the agitation.

 

I agree with the over-exposure assesment.

 

I would do this test. Take 2 rolls of film, shoot the exact same scene back-to-back exposing the first roll with your meter recommendation and the second with one stop less exposure. Develope both rolls with your usual agitation method and check the results.