350D_user
B+W film devotee
Having landed one of these prewar Zeiss Ikon TLR's on Ebay, I put a film through it yesterday. Obviously, I wasn't sure what I'd get... but I wasn't quite ready for what I saw emerge from the devtank.
Frame spacing. Ok, the camera does have a winding problem, but... there's an average 1cm between each frame. Given the camera has two frame counters, there doesn't seem to be much of a difference between the counters (I was using the counter next to the "Met" badge, on the left-hand side). The result was 10 exposures on a 120 roll. Hmm.
Focussing. Oh dear. There's definitely a problem there. Looking through the viewfinder and using the magnifier, every shot was in focus. However, the negatives say otherwise. I know the focussing lever's stiff, but surely just that alone can't be the cause of badly-focussed photos?
The outcome of this? I've found a charm about this prewar camera. 3 shutter speeds, plus "T" and "B", a risk of multiple-exposures, and a not-very-bright viewfinder... buying another isn't out of the question.
Frame spacing. Ok, the camera does have a winding problem, but... there's an average 1cm between each frame. Given the camera has two frame counters, there doesn't seem to be much of a difference between the counters (I was using the counter next to the "Met" badge, on the left-hand side). The result was 10 exposures on a 120 roll. Hmm.
Focussing. Oh dear. There's definitely a problem there. Looking through the viewfinder and using the magnifier, every shot was in focus. However, the negatives say otherwise. I know the focussing lever's stiff, but surely just that alone can't be the cause of badly-focussed photos?
The outcome of this? I've found a charm about this prewar camera. 3 shutter speeds, plus "T" and "B", a risk of multiple-exposures, and a not-very-bright viewfinder... buying another isn't out of the question.
oftheherd
Veteran
How about a photo of it? Sounds intrigueing except for the focusing problem. Sounds like for whatever reason, the focusing lens and the taking lens don't agree. Is the taking lens screwed in tight and not out of alignment?
350D_user
B+W film devotee
There's a photo of it at...
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=657305&postcount=44
The taking lens doesn't rattle, and seems to be securely in place. Likewise for the focussing lens. The only rattle is from the film transport mechanism (the film travels horizontally, not vertically, hence the slight bulges on the sides).
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=657305&postcount=44
The taking lens doesn't rattle, and seems to be securely in place. Likewise for the focussing lens. The only rattle is from the film transport mechanism (the film travels horizontally, not vertically, hence the slight bulges on the sides).
oftheherd
Veteran
I don't think I ever saw a TLR that moved the film horizontally. That's different.
350D_user
B+W film devotee
Having heard about the transport mechanism myself, I was intrigued as well. But, there it is...
The empty spool you can see would be where the full cartridge would be, the top cover would be closed down over the spool. The TLR body then, essentially, sits and locks onto the film transport mechanism.
The empty spool you can see would be where the full cartridge would be, the top cover would be closed down over the spool. The TLR body then, essentially, sits and locks onto the film transport mechanism.
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