Retail Sources for 120 folders?

I just looked it must have sold already as it is not listed. Some of the cameras Beedhams has listed look great and I am talking with a member here also about one of his cameras.

Thanks though I appreciate it!

Ray

FallisPhoto said:
Did you notice Pacific Rim has an Isolette III, with Solinar, for $20? The focus is stuck, but that is par for the course with Isolettes and it isn't hard to fix. If I didn't already have two I'd get it.
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Look up Petrakla on eBay. Peter and Petra from the Netherlands. I've never bought a folder from them but they usually has some very nice ones on eBay. I've only purchased Leica stuff from them. The things I bought function perfectly and were very clean. Very nice, classy people and passionate about photography. A very beautiful letter, that they included with my red-scale Elmar that I purchased, made me cry!
 
ray*j*gun said:
I just looked it must have sold already as it is not listed. Some of the cameras Beedhams has listed look great and I am talking with a member here also about one of his cameras.

Thanks though I appreciate it!

Ray
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Nope! It's still there: http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/ click on catalogue and then on Agfa/Ansco. Scroll down until you see Isolette III. It's the fourth camera down from the top of the list. The same camera was also sold, in the U.S.A., as the Ansco Speedex Special R. This is one of mine:



This one is theirs:

109173.jpg


It has a better lens, and a better shutter, but will need a new Kodak bellows and you'll have to soak the lens in naptha for about a month in order to get the elements apart. Clean and regrease the threads where the front element screws into the middle element and the focusing will no longer be stuck. BTW, if you do get this one, let me know and I can give you complete instructions on how to fix it up.
 
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ray*j*gun said:
OK! I found it. I like yours better!! Lol.

What do you think a proper CLA would cost for the camera?

Thanks.
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It's the nice, contrasty, bright red blanket I used for a background, isn't it? Actually, I like mine better too, but then I put a bit of work into it.

Most places, a CLA will cost about $80 (I've heard of prices everywhere from $40 to $150 for CLAing rangefinders), but folders are pretty simple to do yourself and I always did my own. I can guide you through seperating the stuck elements, cleaning and lubing the shutter gearing and flushing the blades if you like (I know of a partial teardown way of doing it that's pretty easy, fairly safe for beginners, and it's very effective -- if the shutter is otherwise functional). It will cost about $30 to do it yourself (I'm assuming you already have screwdrivers, so a transplanted bellows from a Kodak 66 and a lens wrench -- about $15 each -- are the only costs beyond oil, naptha and cleaning supplies). Even if you don't already have screwdrivers, a set of precision jewelers screwdrivers can be had for about $10.

You'll need new bellows too (Isolettes always do, because they used this stuff that is like vinyl electrical tape). Both of mine have "new old stock" (old but unused) Nettar replacement bellows, but those are getting hard to find, and cost a lot when you do. I've found that Kodak bellows work fine and the bellows made for the Kodak 66 (a crappy plastic camera that has good bellows) are a good fit. New bellows cost about $75 to $85. A Kodak 66 costs about $15. Simple math.
 
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HI FallisPhoto,

Well I actually made a deal with Wallace here on 2 of his cameras. Might as well jump in with both feet. One is an older Bessa (6x9) and the other is a really nice Weltex. I have attached pics below. I might buy that Isolette anyway and ask you to help me fix it up. For $20. its hard to resist. I am going to call Pacific on Monday. God I love this stuff!! Lol.

Thanks for your help and support in my addiction.

Ray

FallisPhoto said:
It's the nice, contrasty, bright red blanket I used for a background, isn't it? Actually, I like mine better too, but then I put a bit of work into it.

Most places, a CLA will cost about $80 (I've heard of prices everywhere from $40 to $150 for CLAing rangefinders), but folders are pretty simple to do yourself and I always did my own. I can guide you through seperating the stuck elements, cleaning and lubing the shutter gearing and flushing the blades if you like (I know of a partial teardown way of doing it that's pretty easy, fairly safe for beginners, and it's very effective -- if the shutter is otherwise functional). It will cost about $30 to do it yourself (I'm assuming you already have screwdrivers, so a transplanted bellows from a Kodak 66 and a lens wrench -- about $15 each -- are the only costs beyond oil, naptha and cleaning supplies). Even if you don't already have screwdrivers, a set of precision jewelers screwdrivers can be had for about $10.

You'll need new bellows too (Isolettes always do, because they used this stuff that is like vinyl electrical tape). Both of mine have "new old stock" (old but unused) Nettar replacement bellows, but those are getting hard to find, and cost a lot when you do. I've found that Kodak bellows work fine and the bellows made for the Kodak 66 (a crappy plastic camera that has good bellows) are a good fit. New bellows cost about $75 to $85. A Kodak 66 costs about $15. Simple math.
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ray*j*gun said:
HI FallisPhoto,

Well I actually made a deal with Wallace here on 2 of his cameras. Might as well jump in with both feet. One is an older Bessa (6x9) and the other is a really nice Weltex. I have attached pics below. I might buy that Isolette anyway and ask you to help me fix it up. For $20. its hard to resist. I am going to call Pacific on Monday. God I love this stuff!! Lol.

Thanks for your help and support in my addiction.

Ray
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That is a nice Weltax. I have a suggestion for the Bessa though. The Bessa I doesn't have any collector value, so there is nothing to stop you from modifying it. I'd take off the viewfinder and replace it with an accessory shoe. This would allow you to mount an accessory rangefinder. It will help you to focus far more accurately with wider apertures, by telling you the exact range to your subject, and it can be used as a viewfinder. http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Watamet...ryZ15234QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
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Well, the Bessa is in almosty minty condition except for the stiff self timer and the long speeds are a little too slow. The cameras come with a Voigtlander rangefinder (the best) and I've already mentioned the possibilty to mount it on top of the Weltax. But I wouldn't do it.... the Weltax is just perfect in all aspects.. The lens performs better than the Tessar and Xenar on the rf coupled Welturs (prewar, uncoated). A pity that Welta dropped the rangefinder after the war.
I live in Gemany, folder's land, so during the years I could test many different cameras from Zeiss, Voigtlander. Agfa and Welta. I kept only the best, and some are double or triple. To finance my 35 and mf rf gas attack, I give away some more. Just wait for Ray's feedback and ask me if you are interested in purchase or tips. My fav. folder still is the Perkeo II.

Wallace
 
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ray*j*gun said:
HI FallisPhoto,

Well I actually made a deal with Wallace here on 2 of his cameras. Might as well jump in with both feet. One is an older Bessa (6x9) and the other is a really nice Weltex. I have attached pics below. God I love this stuff!! Lol.



Ray
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congratulations Ray on your new cameras and your aquired addiction!!!!, both are models i think are great and have a particular fondness for the welta ...even if it doesnt come across (i hope not) that way in my next post 😉
 
wallace said:
the Weltax is just perfect in all aspects.. The lens performs better than the Tessar and Xenar on the rf coupled Welturs (prewar, uncoated). A pity that Welta dropped the rangefinder after the war.
I live in Gemany, folder's land, so during the years I could test many different cameras from Zeiss, Voigtlander. Agfa and Welta.
Wallace
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i agree it is a pity they didn't produce the rangefinda cameras after the war! or for that matter continue to produce cameras that were at the leading edge or as inovative as they had been in the past on occasion.

It is a pretty bold statement though i would suggest to say the post war, east german produced front cell focusing Tessar of the Wetax is a better performer than the fixed coupled Tessar on the Weltur! the only advantage the post war Weltax Tessar has is its coated lens! And then it only has three groups; the extra light captured is minimal at best (about half a stop depending on how you fiddle the math, the tessar was designed to minimise that loss, its one of the things that make it as aclaimed as what it is, another is its natural higher contrast); that may have been important back in the fifties when colour had blinding fast speeds of 25ASA but today when most folk shoot much higher it makes no difference at all. as for b/w it never made a difference. not to mention the higher grain and varying contrast films we have now.

in fact as Ansel Adams and some other bloke whom i can't remember once said coated lenses simply made them change the way they had to develope their film and prints so they turned out the same as they prefered with non-coated lenses. also vararing exposure of the neg in the camera can make the difference when shooting colour film on non-coated lenses--one simply has to become familar with the camera and lens your using.

after using both for some time i can only say IMO flare is the only noticable argument for the p/war wetax Tessar lens but they flare too! if its a snap shot then with either i take pot luck but if i am to try and create a picture with either i take precautions-lens hood, hold a hand up, have someone stand in the way-whatever it takes because they will both flare.

on the negative for the wetax tessar is it has front cell focusing which is not as sharp throughout the range as the weltur. a weltur will focus closer and has around 8mm of travel compared to less than half that in the weltax front cell movement which also moves the front lens from its optimal positon. no doubt if you got good results from it then its focus was calibrated spot on--many arn't

ah well ..both good cameras tho and mabye shouldn't be compared, one is from the late 30's and was high end amature/prosumer and the other late 40's consumer model--still i have found the weltur takes as good or mostly better pictures so far..perhaps yours wern't set up well...just a thought...wondering who did the cla!!
 
raid said:
When I return from my upcoming trip, I will sell several folders.

Franka Solida IIIE: One of Juegen Kreckel's favorite folders according to his website. The lens is a Schneider Radionar 80mm/2.9. It has an uncoupled RF in the camera. Made in Germany.
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ooo ooo -- me! me!
 
Chippy,

Thanks for the review. I'll be using both the Bessa and Weltax as soon as I get them. I'll post some shots from each and lets see if we can determine which camera took which photos. I have never used a folder of any kind but I have a number of 35's (and a wonderful TTL) some back to the mid 1930's with uncoated lenses so I am familiar with flare which I sometimes use for effect.

Degrees of goodness is what we discuss here at RFF...... I have noticed. I will be thrilled with the gear as long as it is in good working order and I am able to understand each cameras personality so as to use it with sucess.

Ray
 
Andrew,

the CLA of my Welturs has been made by Mr. JK. Yes I know....
Sent 5 cameras, not a single one came back without faults, maybe that explains something...
about front lens focusing: I get really superb results with the Perkeo II.

Wallace
 
wallace said:
Andrew,

the CLA of my Welturs has been made by Mr. JK. Yes I know....
Sent 5 cameras, not a single one came back without faults, maybe that explains something...
about front lens focusing: I get really superb results with the Perkeo II.

Wallace
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JK.. hmm yeah been there too..
gota love those Perkeo's i have 1,2 and 3...the 2 gets used often, its in good nik but not minty (paint of here and there) i dont bother with a case just slips in a pocket or sits in the consol of my car, always ready! i should use the 3 😱(although i need to set the distance scale correctly on the lens before i do) but it is so dam new looking i dont want to scratch it up lol...within there limitations the scopers/front cell in general make beautiful pictures...with cameras as always--big money=small gains
 
ray*j*gun said:
Chippy,

Thanks for the review. I'll be using both the Bessa and Weltax as soon as I get them. I'll post some shots from each and lets see if we can determine which camera took which photos. I have never used a folder of any kind but I have a number of 35's (and a wonderful TTL) some back to the mid 1930's with uncoated lenses so I am familiar with flare which I sometimes use for effect.

Degrees of goodness is what we discuss here at RFF...... I have noticed. I will be thrilled with the gear as long as it is in good working order and I am able to understand each cameras personality so as to use it with sucess.

Ray
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no problem Ray--hehe look forward to the mystry pics

just a little more on the post war weltax (also built to welta plans by Rheinmetal from around 56=same camera); you often hear that they (welta in general) were lesser quality build or the chrome is not as good after the war but i can say comparing the Wetax or Welti (35mm) to their pre-war versions they are just as good-i have not found any problems so far with chrome and in the case of the weltax it is the same design except the front door release (arguably improved) and the shutter button which IMO doesn't look quite as nice as it did but is stronger (the old version did get bent on occassion) and has the thread to atatch a cable for bulb setting, although on the pre-war one did this on the shutter itself. the shutter is probably the single thing i prefer most about the prewar--east germany used the tempors, verburs and junior instead of the compur etc..... a great camera, built like a tank for a folder!
 
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