richard_moore5

<p>I have a Rollei 35, a Rollei 35S and a Minox GT-E and use all three regularly. The Rollei 35S probably has the sharpest lens but I probably have the Minox with me more of the time and the results from it are excellent.</p>

<p>I have a 35 (Tessar) and 35S (Sonnar). I've never ever found focusing a problem. Both lenses are excellent (I have a slight preference for the Sonnar) and these are two of my cameras that I use most regularly. They are built to last and the quality of engineering is superb. I found you soon get used to their quirky design.</p>

<p>I'm surprised the excellent Voss Diax (e.g. Ia, Ib, IIa and IIb) series with their range of S-K Xenar and Xenon (as well as other interchangeable) lenses haven't been mentioned more. Chunky. pretty and with good optics. I have had great fun with my IIa.</p>

<p>That's a nice IIa! I have a couple of those too (one used regularly... a nice sharp lens), a Ia, four Vito Bs (all with the smaller viwfinders, one a regular user and I agree with what August and Chuck said... they are possibly the prettiest of the cameras I have), a couple of Perkeo IIs and a Baby Bessa, and a Bessamatic and a Bessamatic CS with Septon (the latter a main user camera). Possibly one or two others too. Voigtlanders got me into collecting German classic cameras and are still a favourite make.</p>

<p>My GT-E manual claims that the shutter can operate from 1s at 1600 ASA up to 30s at 25 ASA. Hope this helps!</p>

<p>I still have two of these and one is still a regularly used camera with a working meter and excellent sharp lens.<br>

Like Kerry I like the Vito B too and had four I think at the last count, one of which I regularly use. Now I come to think of it, I have a fair few Voigtlanders including my favourite Bessamatic CS and Septon.</p>

<p>The best is Michel Campion, 15 rue Boniface in Ixelles, B-1050, Brussels. Telephone: +32 (0)2 512 1721. He has a very large and varied stock of classics.</p>

I use a Bessamatic (a CS) with Septon as my daily camera with another Bessamatic as backup. The Septon one always has B&W loaded and the backup colour. I totally agree that the Septon is a marvellous lens for B&W. I have the Scoparex 35 and Dynarex 135 which also perform well but, unfortunately, not the Zoomar. There is is just something about the weight and heft of the Bessamatic that I love.

 

Excellent pictures Tony!

Yes... getting a bit cold and wet here in Scotland too (well cold anyway... it's been wet all year!). I'm not sure how much more riding I'll get done on my Moto Guzzi this year. Moving from the leather to weatherproof suit when I do go out. Fortunately the rack on mine is exactly the right size to take a nice old solid leather case with a couple of classics in it.

I'm rather fond of these and have four, two with 1/200 and two with 1/300. They were my first classic cameras. I've personally never seen a 1/500 version.

Nice composition and photo Mark!

I only own and collect German cameras but my favourite users of different makes are:

 

Voigtlander: Bessamatic CS with Septon, Vito B, Vitomatic IIa;

Zeiss Ikon: Contina IIa, Ikoflex IIa;

Rollei: Rolleicord Va, Rollei 35S;

Diax: Diax IIa

 

Richard

You might try Lee's Cameras in London who do a lot of classic 16mm equipment... again not local to you:

 

http://www.leescameras.co.uk/

I have a fair number in good shooting condition, both 120 and 35mm, but the ones I regularly use are my Retina IIa and Contina 35 (524/24)... I'm particularly attached to the latter.

Yes... Two Kiev 4

I remember that camera fondly... I bought one second-hand around 1976 and took some memorable photos with it. I exchanged it with a student at our lab a couple of years later for a Canon rangefinder, also now long gone.

Good for you! And good luck also for the future. I don't do weddings any more... the last time shot my nerves to hell with a large number of guests, a technically demanding situation with midday sun, lots of light and shade and a plethora of big hats... this was before the days of digital so I wasn't sure how things would turn out. And I was providing the live music as well. In the end it turned out OK and the bride and groom were happy but I promised myself not to do a wedding again (except as an ordinary guest).

Oh yes!

 

And I must do an inventory soon as well! I know I have a number of Vito Bs and a couple of Vitomatics, a couple of

Rollei 35s, a couple of Retinas, a couple of Kiev 4as, a Diax IIa, a Bessamatic, a perfect Yashica Electro 35 that I

spent a lot of time refettling, several Contina 35s, a couple of Ikoflexes, a Rolleicord Va and numerous medium

format folders (Voigtlander, Zeiss, Franka) and other curios, filters, hoods, meters, rangefinders, tripods, etc.. Almost

all are in good working condition and many are users as different moods take me. Almost all except the one

currently in use are stored in wooden cases or photographic bags in my small spare bedroom.

 

That would be bad enough but they share the space with probably an equal number of musical instruments, almost

all users, and their cases (apart from those in use which have spilled into the living room).

 

Due to a masterpiece of logistical planning it is still possible to squeeze two guests in as well.

 

Fortunately my partner also likes photography and is a musician so I haven't been thrown out yet!

Hi Rich,

 

I recently had very good service from Newton Ellis in Liverpool, not on an Iskra, but they are used to working on classic cameras and did a good job on a tricky repair on my Retina IIIc

 

www.newtonellis.com/

 

Cheers,

 

Richard

It might sound odd but I work in cutting edge scientific research all day so in my own time and for my hobbies I like to use old, mechanical methods and equipment. Plus I cannot but admire the quality and feel of the engineering of classic cameras. Plus the whole process of using and keeping the "traditional" skills going appeals to me.

I second Rob's comments. My two most used cameras are both scale focus and you quickly get used to sunny 16 and estimating distance. In many ways it frees you up more to concentrate on the shot.

Where are you located Dennis?

Solarized! Sorry!

Nice shots. It doesn't look polarized to me. I have two Ikoflex II cameras with Tessars... both in excellent working order and highly useable.

Hi Jessica,

 

I'll check the postage cost. As it's a spare I'm happy to give it to you in the light of your bad luck. Yes... Paypal would be fine for the postage.

 

Cheers,

 

Richard