Pete B
Well-known
That's my dilemma. Similar price and both good condition. Agnar vs vaskar. Any thoughts to help decide which?
Pete
Pete
hanskerensky
Well-known
Think that they are both good folders (i have both) so i understand your dilemma. On the Isolette II you should check the bellows (especially the shiny ones) for pinholes and check the working of the frontlens focusing as hardened grease is a notorious Isolette disease.
The bellows of an Isolette can be easily replaced however and also the hardened grease can be easily replaced by fresh one.
The Perkeo 1 has no "diseases" that i know of.
The bellows of an Isolette can be easily replaced however and also the hardened grease can be easily replaced by fresh one.
The Perkeo 1 has no "diseases" that i know of.
Joao
Negativistic forever
If the Isolette bellows needs replacement, you can use the bellows from a Kodak 66 folder. Details here
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10390
The grease in the focus helicoid stiffens very often, as said above, but the cleaning and lubricating is easy.
Regards
Joao
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10390
The grease in the focus helicoid stiffens very often, as said above, but the cleaning and lubricating is easy.
Regards
Joao
charjohncarter
Veteran
I have three Agfa folders from this era. All had original bellows and all had holes. Plus the focusing problem is a real one. But the Agfa Isolette II is very toughly built (I don't know about the Perkeo). So if you can focus and both have holes it is probably a toss up. Other issues could turn the tide: like shutter performance and general condition. The Agnar is the cheapest lens of the range but I have seen many great photos taken with it.
jnoir
Well-known
I'd go for the Perkeo (I also own both).
The only trouble that the Perkeo may have is a non-functional double exposure prevention system. But the issue is not that frequent and is an easy fix, and the camera can be used even if that's not working (just remember to wind on before the exposure).
The only trouble that the Perkeo may have is a non-functional double exposure prevention system. But the issue is not that frequent and is an easy fix, and the camera can be used even if that's not working (just remember to wind on before the exposure).
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
The Perkeo is significantly smaller and more pocketable.
PMCC
Late adopter.
jnoir: Do you know if the Isolette III bellows are prone to the same issues as the Is and IIs, or are the III bellows more like the Super Isolettes?
PMCC
Late adopter.
Indeed, is there any 6x6 folder that is smaller or more pocketable than the Perkeo? It's smaller even than any 645 folder I've come across.
Corto
Well-known
Both great cameras.
I cant see you going wrong with either one.
Agfa Isolette II
I cant see you going wrong with either one.
Agfa Isolette II
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
All numbered Isolettes are roughly contemporaries, and share that problem - the bellows material seems to have changed some time mid way, and was changed another time late in their production (presumably as the first issues became evident). The early and late bellows have about the same frequency of issues as other makers cameras, the mid version, with a glossy black (vinyl?) coating has severe issues with the latter cracking at all edges.
PMCC
Late adopter.
Miraculously, the original bellows on my very late Isolette III Mark II (75/3.5 Solinar in Synchro Compur MXV) seem to be holding up for now, touch wood.
ianstamatic
Well-known
check the bellows/focusing on the agfa and check for any looseness or movement in the front standard on the Perkeo.
I have both these cameras. they are both capable of taking amazing photos.
Perkeo looks a better build quality but its very close
I have both these cameras. they are both capable of taking amazing photos.
Perkeo looks a better build quality but its very close
ianstamatic
Well-known
From the late 50's they changed bellows material.
john341
camera user
Perkeo!
Perkeo!
However my Perkeo 1 has a Color-Skopar lens which produces wonderful shots, so its hard for me to compare, but I do love the light-weight compact Perkeo-Voigtlander just got it right with this little beauty.
Perkeo!
However my Perkeo 1 has a Color-Skopar lens which produces wonderful shots, so its hard for me to compare, but I do love the light-weight compact Perkeo-Voigtlander just got it right with this little beauty.
Corto
Well-known
yeah, My Isolette II is holding up great as well. I join you in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ztZ7WFo3nw
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
I vote for Perkeo. I had a Perkeo I as my original camera bought in 1957 and only sold last year as I had to do an "inventory adjustment" after buying Rolleiflex.
Very compact, robust, pocketable but if you get the chance look for the f3.5 Color Skopar lens. It's much better, especially if you use colour film, than the f4.5 Vaskar which is what I had on my camera. I also had a Perkeo II with the Skopar lens, so I had a good basis for comparison.
Very compact, robust, pocketable but if you get the chance look for the f3.5 Color Skopar lens. It's much better, especially if you use colour film, than the f4.5 Vaskar which is what I had on my camera. I also had a Perkeo II with the Skopar lens, so I had a good basis for comparison.
PMCC
Late adopter.
Haha, that song was covered by the Super Isolettes.
kuzano
Veteran
Same size... sort of...
Same size... sort of...
The Balda Baldix is the same length and height as the Perkeo, but about a 1/4 inch thicker. Lenses on the baldix come in various levels of IQ, with the ennawerke lens being the best I have used.
I am prone to the Perkeos, having had a number of Voigtlanders. I have never seen a bad bellows on any Voigtlander, including the Bessa RF (2), The Bessa I (5), and six Perkeos. I've had 4 Vaskar and 2 Color Skopar lenses on the Bessa I (at 6X9,
I have a unique Perkeo I as they could be ordered with the better Color Skopar lens that was standard on the Perkeo II. It's a great compromise, since I've had three of the Perkeo II cameras with the auto film count gears inside. All three of the Perkeo II camera's did not work properly until I stripped out the automation mechanisms.
The Balda Baldix was the only folder I had with auto count that worked.
My preference is simple wind on, ruby window count, and external rangefinder on these old folders. The automation that creeped into many folders in the early 50's was troublesome. Keep it simple,.... develop a habit pattern of folding the cameras closed WITHOUT winding on, Wind on after you open the camera. This will reset the film against the platen or film plate.
Many folders are notorious for the vacuum from opening the bellows pulling the film away from the film plate. That's why the best option is to wind on the film right after opeing the camera.
I've never had any of the Isolettes as I've always been warned about the bellows.
While the Vaskar is only a triplett, I've certainly had a few of them and found image quality to be quite decent. The Color Skopar does exceed the IQ of the Vaskar.
Again, I don't know about the Agnar, but I do know its the lowest rated lens of the 3 or 4 possible on the Isolettes, of which the top is the Solinar, if I remember correctly.
Fun camera's in any event. My favorite so far, the Perkeo I with the upgraded Color Skopar 80mm lens, and the double shot prevention removed. Again, most of the twitchiness of the aged automation will simply ruin your folder experience. The malfunctions usually occur when you have a great subject in the viewfinder.
Same size... sort of...
The Balda Baldix is the same length and height as the Perkeo, but about a 1/4 inch thicker. Lenses on the baldix come in various levels of IQ, with the ennawerke lens being the best I have used.
I am prone to the Perkeos, having had a number of Voigtlanders. I have never seen a bad bellows on any Voigtlander, including the Bessa RF (2), The Bessa I (5), and six Perkeos. I've had 4 Vaskar and 2 Color Skopar lenses on the Bessa I (at 6X9,
I have a unique Perkeo I as they could be ordered with the better Color Skopar lens that was standard on the Perkeo II. It's a great compromise, since I've had three of the Perkeo II cameras with the auto film count gears inside. All three of the Perkeo II camera's did not work properly until I stripped out the automation mechanisms.
The Balda Baldix was the only folder I had with auto count that worked.
My preference is simple wind on, ruby window count, and external rangefinder on these old folders. The automation that creeped into many folders in the early 50's was troublesome. Keep it simple,.... develop a habit pattern of folding the cameras closed WITHOUT winding on, Wind on after you open the camera. This will reset the film against the platen or film plate.
Many folders are notorious for the vacuum from opening the bellows pulling the film away from the film plate. That's why the best option is to wind on the film right after opeing the camera.
I've never had any of the Isolettes as I've always been warned about the bellows.
While the Vaskar is only a triplett, I've certainly had a few of them and found image quality to be quite decent. The Color Skopar does exceed the IQ of the Vaskar.
Again, I don't know about the Agnar, but I do know its the lowest rated lens of the 3 or 4 possible on the Isolettes, of which the top is the Solinar, if I remember correctly.
Fun camera's in any event. My favorite so far, the Perkeo I with the upgraded Color Skopar 80mm lens, and the double shot prevention removed. Again, most of the twitchiness of the aged automation will simply ruin your folder experience. The malfunctions usually occur when you have a great subject in the viewfinder.
PMCC
Late adopter.
Triplets seem to span a wider quality range than Tessar-types, and among them the Vaskar is pretty creditable. And the Perkeo I is both solid as well as dead simple mechanically, making it robust enough to carry in the back pocket of a pair of jeans, so long as you don't sit down. The bellows look bullet-proof -- is it likely that an entry-level folder would use pukka leather bellows?
jnoir
Well-known
Others have answered before I did, but their answers are equally correct.
I have handled a lot of Isolettes, and in the end it all comes down to each particular unit. I have had Isolettes with mint bellows (maybe they were original, I suspect most of them were later replacements, maybe '70s) and Isolettes with literally dozens of pinholes. I have had Super Isolettes with excellent bellows, but I have had Super Isolettes with the bellows so degraded that it showed its inner parts.
