ALPA cameras

1dave

1dave

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Does anyone have any info or experience with ALPA cameras?
How do the model numbers work?
Any info woudl be appreciated.
Merry Christmas.
 
Hallo Dave!

Alpa cameras have always fascinated me, although I've yet to see one in the flesh. This comprehensive site will probably provide the information you're looking for - http://www.alpareflex.com/

Gorgeous avatar, incidentally!

Cheers, Ian
 
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Here's another link- these are the Alpha cameras that fascinate me. If I could afford the "compact" with a top line digital back and three lenses I'd be set. I would also view the M8 as being cheaper then a used Bessa I'm afraid.

http://www.alpa.ch/

Alas.
 
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Dave...Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz use 'em, along with Bessa gear. They've been advocates of Alpa and Bessa for a while. I think their website is "rogerandfrances.com". Good enough for globe-hopping professionals like Roger and Frances, but don't know anything else about 'em.

Regards!

Don
 
fishtek said:
Dave...Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz use 'em, along with Bessa gear. They've been advocates of Alpa and Bessa for a while. I think their website is "rogerandfrances.com". Good enough for globe-hopping professionals like Roger and Frances, but don't know anything else about 'em.
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Well, on the one hand, there's the Alpa known for their brick-scheisshaus-built but awfully quirky 35mm cameras (I know they have their adherents, but I found their film-advance lever design, to point out the biggest quirk, to be something only the Marquis de Sade could love) which were made through the late 1980s (IIRC); then there's the freeze-die-come-to-life Alpa of the present, which abandoned 35mm but builds a modular MF platform like nobody's business (and priced appropriately). Film or digital, they're the high-end move if you can spring for one. Those are the Alpas Hicks and Schultz appear to be using and are quite fond of.

Of course, I remain a 35mm lifer...safer that way, fiscally if not otherwise. ;)


- Barrett
 
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Which model numbers you mean?
As already mentioned, the old company built 35mm's and one panorama camera.
Alpareflex gives a good overview over this period. And there are 2-3 very good books available.

The actual cameras are very different, still committed to the highest possible quality standards, but designed as universal and modular medium format platform.


Side remark: the new www.alpa.ch website will be activated Monday.
 
The Alpa of today is the ultimate snob camera (the old Alpa is a different beast). There are lots of claims about how "superior" they are - they love to pay on fears of tolerances and film flatness (BTW, if film flatness was really a concern for them, why don't they make their own backs?). The only thing "superior" I found with them is the price. It is certainly an excellent camera, but there are other manufacturers around. If you are looking for a similar medium-format system for someone other than the usual like Mamiya, Bronica, Hasselblad, and Pentax, then I would look at Horseman SW 6x9 and 6x12 series, Cambo Wide, and Silvestri.
 
Before I switched to digital I had an Alpa with 55mm Rodenstock and horseman 6x9 220 backs. I bought it because it was excellent at its intended function and its cost was in line with other high end medium format gear. I did a lot of commercial and personal work with it. It's no more a snob camera then a Hasselblad or a Leica or any other expensive piece of kit you'd care to name. It did the job for me and I can recommend it as an extremely well made product, but as it is without a focusing mechanism for wide angle work only.
 
Finder: have you ever seen one in reality, myabe even worked with one (and I don't talk about pressing the shutter once at an exhibition) or even better: been able to compare the results of identical photos taken with an Alpa and with another camera on the same film/digital back?
 
schaubild said:
Finder: have you ever seen one in reality, myabe even worked with one (and I don't talk about pressing the shutter once at an exhibition) or even better: been able to compare the results of identical photos taken with an Alpa and with another camera on the same film/digital back?
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Yes, I have seen/used one. As I said, it is a very nice camera. i could not see any difference in quality in the images between that or any well made medium-format camera - Alpa don't make lenses, just as they don't make film backs. It was on my list for a medium-format wide-angle camera. The conclusion of that search was to buy a Horseman SW612. I rejected Linholf, Silvestri, and Cambo as well.

Perhaps the "snob" remark was a little obsure. Personally, the Alpa marketing turns me off. I don't buy cameras as a status symbol. I don't take what I see as fear mongering about tolerances as anything but snobbery. Alpa is conspicuous in professional photography by it absence. Italian performance sports cars are great, but I would not buy one for work and the end result is not different than what I can get for less.
 
I tried the Cambo and Horseman and prefered the Alpa. To each his own. A companies marketing has no bearing on my camera selection. The owners are however very dedicated to making the best product that they can manufacture and they have done a good job of it.

You can make excellent images with a whole range of medium format gear, some of it a lot less expensive then either the Alpa or the Horseman. That doesn't make purchasers of the Horseman snobs because there is cheaper gear available that might match the image quality of the camera you purchased:).
 
Dear all. Thanks for the links and the discussion. I've followed the links and read some of the info available. It sure sounds like a quality camera; but also far out of my league, (at least in this life!)
Tha array of lenses facinates me. I've never heard of any of them, except Schneider. I mean, that is the essence of the camera isnt it? Put an exceptional lens on a reasonable body and the results will still be stunning. (I'm assuming sme skill in the photographer!)
I do thank you, as i have learned a great deal over the last couple of days, thanks to you folks.
Merry Christmas.
 
For more affordable wide angle medium format options you might take a look at the Mamiya 7II used with the 43mm lens -6x7 neg , in the same league as the spectacular Zeiss Biogon on the Hassy SW and it's got rangefinder focusing! Only camera snobs like Finder, Schaubild and myself would spend more on cameras that don't even have a focusing mechanism :) For a cheaper still option check out the old Graflex XL similar idea to the Cambo, Alpa, Horseman but with rangefinder focusing. You could put together a kit for a couple of 100 dollars. Need movements + the possibility of handholding? go for Weegees favorite the old speed graphic or an old Horseman press camera.
 
For older SW cameras, you can also look at the Brooks Veriwide. If you want new, Fotoman had intended to release a 6x9 camera and certainly they have an affordable 6x12 camera - especially if you pick up the lens from ebay.

I am not a snob. Unlike the little people, I just happen to be right!

:p ;) :D
 
Alpa 35mm SLRs

Alpa 35mm SLRs

1dave said:
Does anyone have any info or experience with ALPA cameras?
How do the model numbers work?
Any info woudl be appreciated.
Merry Christmas.
Click to expand...

If you're referring to the Alpa Reflex, the RFFer who's got a large working collection is Honu-Hugger. He doesn't seem to post any more but a search of his threads might be interesting. Alpa mount lenses were made by Kern, Kinoptik, Angenieux, Old Delft, Schneider, Kilfit

I use an Alpa 6b with Macro-Switar 50mm regularly for close ups. As Amateriat has point out, the wind-on takes getting used to, as does changing shutter speeds (lift & turn, as in thread mount Leicas, but somewhat ratchety) . It has a 45-degree viewfinder, which is fine for horzontal shots but a PITA for vertical ones.

That said, the camera is solidly built & the Kern optics still very good by today's standards. A few people in the States still service the older Alpas, including Radu Lesaru, in NYC. Happy to provide details if needed

Merry Christmas
David

(edit- typos)
 
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I recommend the Mamiya 7II

I recommend the Mamiya 7II

it is a remarkable camera, particularly with the 43MM lens. You don't have any movements (tilt), but that is no problem if you don't need it.
 
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