Graybeard
Longtime IIIf User
My Ansco Automatic Reflex arrived today. Its a clean one with flawless glass and modest signs of use - some paint loss where in rubbed against the leather case going into and out of the case for film loading.
I was prepared for some problems, but happily (strangely?) there don't seem to be any obvious ones. I followed Ansco's loading sequence and shot couple of rolls with any film advance problems. Ansco's instructions aren't everywhere so I'll list them here.
1) On the crank side of the camera, (gently) draw the resetting lever toward the frame counter and rotate the frame counter so that the indicator points to the small letter "N" just after frame 12. (This is to disengage the double exposure prevention lock mechanism so that you can freely crank the film)
2) Load the film, full roll at the camera bottom, empty spool at the top (if this isn't clear to you, you may be biting off too much with a TLR). Crank the film a bit to be sure it is winding nicely (happily, contentedly, smoothly) onto the take up spool. Don't overdo this.
3) Close the camera back. Slide open the little hatch on the camera back to reveal the ruby window.
4) Patiently, slowly, crank the film past the red window. You will see bars, circular starburst things (I lack a noun), film maker's ID, appearing, and finally a frame numeral. Center the numeral "1" in the ruby window and slide the hatch closed.
5) Again on the crank side of the camera, gently draw the reset lever toward the frame counter and wind the frame counter to number "1". There is a little red spot for you to set the pointer.
6) All is ready - go out and shoot and make your mark. Cock the shutter with the (not crank side) lever, fire the shutter (crank side lever).
Editorial comment- (POSSIBLY HELPFUL TO SOME) -
I have found that with my Ansco, it was possible to fire the shutter nicely with the Right Hand lever but not release the double exposure prevention mechanism. I discovered that it is necessary to depress the shutter release past the point at which the shutter fires all the way to where the lever motion completely "bottoms" in order to free the mechanism to allow it to wind to the next shot. Not much of a problem so far as I can tell, but for those others reading this; after all, what were you planning to do in the 20 milliseconds needed to press the lever the rest of the way ? On the other hand, who am I to judge?
I shot two rolls of HP5 this way with the expected and acceptable results.
In the field, I'll never mistake the Ansco for a late series Rollei TLR but I'll be pleased to have it along.
Good light all-
I was prepared for some problems, but happily (strangely?) there don't seem to be any obvious ones. I followed Ansco's loading sequence and shot couple of rolls with any film advance problems. Ansco's instructions aren't everywhere so I'll list them here.
1) On the crank side of the camera, (gently) draw the resetting lever toward the frame counter and rotate the frame counter so that the indicator points to the small letter "N" just after frame 12. (This is to disengage the double exposure prevention lock mechanism so that you can freely crank the film)
2) Load the film, full roll at the camera bottom, empty spool at the top (if this isn't clear to you, you may be biting off too much with a TLR). Crank the film a bit to be sure it is winding nicely (happily, contentedly, smoothly) onto the take up spool. Don't overdo this.
3) Close the camera back. Slide open the little hatch on the camera back to reveal the ruby window.
4) Patiently, slowly, crank the film past the red window. You will see bars, circular starburst things (I lack a noun), film maker's ID, appearing, and finally a frame numeral. Center the numeral "1" in the ruby window and slide the hatch closed.
5) Again on the crank side of the camera, gently draw the reset lever toward the frame counter and wind the frame counter to number "1". There is a little red spot for you to set the pointer.
6) All is ready - go out and shoot and make your mark. Cock the shutter with the (not crank side) lever, fire the shutter (crank side lever).
Editorial comment- (POSSIBLY HELPFUL TO SOME) -
I have found that with my Ansco, it was possible to fire the shutter nicely with the Right Hand lever but not release the double exposure prevention mechanism. I discovered that it is necessary to depress the shutter release past the point at which the shutter fires all the way to where the lever motion completely "bottoms" in order to free the mechanism to allow it to wind to the next shot. Not much of a problem so far as I can tell, but for those others reading this; after all, what were you planning to do in the 20 milliseconds needed to press the lever the rest of the way ? On the other hand, who am I to judge?
I shot two rolls of HP5 this way with the expected and acceptable results.
In the field, I'll never mistake the Ansco for a late series Rollei TLR but I'll be pleased to have it along.
Good light all-
