Akarelle -- an odd duck but a rather pretty one

[Gordon Coale]

I was at a party at my sons last week taking pictures with my Leica IIIc and Zorki 3M. A friend I hadn't seen in some time, J.P. (as in Morgan), noticed it and mentioned that he had his father's old camera and that I could have it if I wanted it. That got me quivering. Yesterday I dropped by and picked it up. It's an Akarelle. I had never heard of Aka cameras before. The Akarelle was built between 1954 and 1957. J.P.'s dad picked it up in the mid 50s when he was living in Germany. It's really a pretty little thing. The Zorki 3M towers above it. The bevel on the viewfinder is missing. The viewfinder is pretty dim. Something that cleaning up some glass surfaces should take care of. The double windows suggest a rangefinder with the worlds smallest rangefinder base but there is no internal rangefinder. There are brightlines for 50mm and 90mm.It has a cute little film advance lever. Push on the R lever and you can rewind.

 

[Gordon Coale]

The back opens up along the split line. Once inside you see some very nice die castings in a black crinkle finish. Really nicely finished inside. And outside, too.

 

[Gordon Coale]

If you were paying attention at the inside shot you would have seen that the Akarelle has a leaf shutter. This is something that I've never seen before -- a leaf shutter camera with interchangeable lenses where the shutter is not in the lenses. (Does anyone know of another one?) The shutter is a Prontor SVS very much like the Prontor SV in my Agfa Isolette II. The shutter was jammed but, with a little fiddling, I got it to start firing again, except for the slow speeds. 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, and 1/300, plus B, seem to work fine. 1/10, 1/5, 1/2, and 1 second open but do not close. The lens cap ssrews into filter threads. The lens screws on to the shutter with a threaded collar. The lens is am Isco-Gottingen Color-Isconar 1:2.8/50. Not one I've ever heard of. There were a variety of lenses for this camera in 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 90mm. J.P said he was always impressed with how sharp the pictures were. The lens seems to be a four element in two groups. It focuses just like my Isolette by rotating the front group. The collar that attaches to the front focusing element is missing a set screw so it falls off. Even it is a nice casting.

 

[Gordon Coale]

Attached to the strap of the never ready case is a leather pouch that contains the Akameter -- an external rangefinder. Looking through the rangefinder window you see a center orange area. Just match the images. Read the distance on the dial and then set the focus ring on the lens to that distance. It will work just fine on my Agfa Isolette II, too.

The little Akarelle is a curious mixture of sophisticated manufacturing and old technology with it's Prontor shutter and front element lens focus. I really like it. When I get some of my other camera projects done I will get this one working again. It doesn't really give me anything that my Leica and Zorki don't already have but it's so cute! It would be a shame for such a nice little camera to sit on a shelf. I have no idea what I will do with it but I will worry about that later. I do thank J.P. for sharing this little jewel with me.

 

[jan normandale]

Gordon, looks like it would be fun to give this new 'toy' a test drive. Keep us posted when you get your shots processed!

 

[Ash]

I bet if you get this baby firing again it'll have a charm you won't be able to live without. It looks like something very hit and miss, good luck with restoration - I want one now! 😀

 

[Gordon Coale]

Ash -- I have no idea who the seller is, but there is an Akarelle on eBay. Not that I'm trying to tempt you. 🙂

 

[Ash]

I can't afford it though!

The shipping will cost more than the camera anyways. If you fancy buying it and I'll buy it off you, so you get a play with it as well, then maybe. 😀

 

[ffttklackdedeng]

This is something that I've never seen before -- a leaf shutter camera with interchangeable lenses where the shutter is not in the lenses. (Does anyone know of another one?)

Gordon,

the Werra III I had once also had a leaf shutter inside (and interchangeable lenses). Now that was an ugly.. ahem I mean interesting design!

E.g. to advance the film you had to rotate the green ring next to the lens!

Regards, Robert

 

[Oldprof]

Interesting little camera Gordon. Thanks for sharing.

 

[FrankS]

Hi Gordon,
I have a similar camera called AKA rette with uncoated 4.5cm f3.5 Xenar lens which produces amazing glowy results. Mine has no accessory shoe. There are 2 viewfinders in the back, one for the 45mm lens and the other for the available 75mm lens. Shutter speeds on my camera are B to 1/250. AS far as the leaf shutter goes, how about the Contaflex SLR with leaf shutter!

 

[Ducky]

The Argus C3 has a three leaf internal shutter and interchangeable lenses. It's not easy, but they're interchangeable.

 

[wes loder]

I am currently working on two Akarelles. One is a type two with the bright lines for the 50, 75 and 90mm lenses. The finder is clear and usable. The second one is a type 3 with bright frames for the 50 and 90 only. Its viewfinder is so dim as to be almost useless. I have the shutters working and the one Xenar repaired. Will know better when I get the film back. I like the small size and handling other than the finder. More later. WES

 

[KoNickon]

I think of three such cameras offhand -- the Kodak Retina IIIS, and the Voigtlander Prominent and Vitessa T. There are probably others I am forgetting -- oh yes, the Leidolf Lordomat (from the "other" Wetzlar camera maker).

 

[hilltime]

A great range of cameras, especially the Akarex III, all shown here...

http://www.cjs-classic-cameras.co.uk/index.html

 

[Dralowid]

Nice camera, sold one about a year ago (it was very rough).

Talking about leaf shutters and interchangeable lenses don't forget the competition ie the various Paxettes and the Futura or Futura Tower

 

[Dralowid]

...and the Lordomat!

 

[markjwyatt]

Nice looking camera. There was a class of cameras with leaf shutters mounted to the body (both rangefinder and SLR) including the Retinas, Bessas, and others. One potential benefit is using them as a 35mm electronic flash camera (i.e., synch up to top shutterspeed unlike many focal plane cameras).

 

[farlymac]

...and the Lordomat!

Yes!


Lordomat Grouping by P F McFarland, on Flickr

PF

 

[wes loder]

I got both of my Akarelle working except for one second on the one. I disassembled the one with the dim finder, cleaned it and I'm seeing much improvement. Working on my second roll of film now. Will let you know what I think when I have the results, I do like the camera's size and handling.