multi-exposure camera recommendation

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ulrich.von.lich

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Hi,

I'm looking for a relatively cheap camera, SLR or RF, that is capable of handling the multi-exposure easily.

Many can do it but with too much hassle. They require pressing the rewind button, holding rewind knot firmly and forcing to advance the film, which is uncomfortable to me. Plus the second image is often not superimposed on the first one.

So I'm looking for a camera that is designed to do it. Like a Holga but with a more precise focusing system, like a Leica Barnack but with a less price tag.

The Nikon FMs have caught my eye. But I decide to look around a little to see if there is any better or cheaper alternative. I'll be needing only the camera and a lens that is between 35mm and 50mm, f2 or faster. Camera has to be mechanic, without or with meter. The younger, the better.

Any advice?

Best Regards,
Tony
 
Get a leica copy like you'd find in Japan. nicca, leotax....
 
Why mechanic?
The Leica R8/9 has one simple switch.
The Bronica RF645 same.
The Contax 645, one simple switch.
Only mechanic camera that comes to my mind is the Rolleicord.

Cheers,

Michiel Fokkema
 
My Ricoh Diacord L TLR-camera has great multi-exposure capability. I get double exposures on every roll I shoot with it :)
 
Thanks for the suggestions!

Flip. Sorry I forgot to mention, when I said Barnacks, I actually meant the Leica IIIg as it's the only model I was looking at. I don't think I can get used to the separated framing and focusing windows. Is there any IIIg copy?

Michiel, I generally prefer mechanic shutters but an electronic one is not a problem. Leica Rs are out of my budget. I'll look into the others.
 
My Nikon F4S cost me £89. Handles double exposures (and almost anything else, up to and including driving nails and breaking rocks) like a champ.
 
Ulrich,

have a look at a Chinon Memotron CE-II or CE.

It has a simple switch, and is fully mechanical should you choose not to use the 1 to 1/2000th stepless electronic shutter. I use it to shoot slides with, it is always spot-on and double exposure only requires moving the switch and cocking the shutter. Take as many as you like on one frame.

CE and CE-II take M42 lenses, CE-3 and CE-4 (top speed 1/1000th) take Pentax bayonet.

Added bonus: the CE and CE-II have brass bodies with black lacquer, which bears a striking resemblance with Leica M black lacquer, they brass just as nicely...:D
 
ulrich.von.lich said:
Hi,

I'm looking for a relatively cheap camera, SLR or RF, ...
Click to expand...

Cheap is relative...

The Nikon FMs have caught my eye...
Click to expand...

If an F2 or F3 fits your definition of "cheap" then they would be good considerations. They have a factory designed true double-exposure function. With the F2 you press the rewind button and wind. The transport is completely disengaged. There is no need to take up the film slack in advance or hold either the rewind button or rewind knob. The F3 has a lever near the wind lever for the same purpose.

There were countless 35mm VF/RF cameras with leaf shutters made in the '30s thru the '50s that lacked any coupling between the shutter and the transport. These are easy to use for multiple exposures. Some have interlocks between the two to prevent double exposures, though many can be bypassed. There are several, Retina II is one if I remember correctly, that block double exposures when you use the body mounted release, but using a cable release in the shutter's socket bypasses the interlock. (does someone have one at hand to confirm my dusty memory??).

Another would be "The Brick". These beasts, known to their manufacturer as the Argus C3, have no interlock between transport and shutter. You can cock and fire as often as you please without winding. They are "cheap" by almost anyone's definition and their lenses are rather sharp.
 
The Canon EF (manual or shutter priority automatic) has double exposure capability. Rolleicords are the wrong format. I can't remember how many windows the IIIg has on the back: perhaps you should check. With any "Barnack", it's a simple matter to cock the shutter without advancing the film.
 
AFAIK, with all those cameras with old-style shutterdial on top and a separate dial in front for the slower shuttertimes, you can turn the topdial by hand to the set shutterspeed again, thereby cocking the shutter without advancing the film. Perfect overlap each time. To be sure, I just tried it with my two Canon IVSB. Works fine.

Stefan.
 
Dwig said:
There were countless 35mm VF/RF cameras with leaf shutters made in the '30s thru the '50s that lacked any coupling between the shutter and the transport. These are easy to use for multiple exposures. Some have interlocks between the two to prevent double exposures, though many can be bypassed. There are several, Retina II is one if I remember correctly, that block double exposures when you use the body mounted release, but using a cable release in the shutter's socket bypasses the interlock. (does someone have one at hand to confirm my dusty memory??).
Click to expand...

Indeed! Hey, I never knew that. Just confirmed your dusty memory with my dusty Retina II ;)

Classy suggestion.

Remember, one of the requirements was f/2 or faster lens, which means many other folders are out. But the Xenon fits the bill.
 
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