Anyone here shooting Medalists? NSFW

[Sanders McNew]

After a hiatus, I've dug my Medalist II out
and dusted it off and shot a few rolls -- I
had forgotten this camera's capabilities.
I'm posting a scan from a negative I shot
(of my wife, 9 months pregnant) last week
with the camera. If you're shooting one,
post more scans here.

 

[filmfan]

Excellent photo!

 

[Gumby]

Is this your first child?

You can't tell? 😉

Re: Medalist... Not currently shooting with one... too big/heavy and too much of hassle re-rolling film. Would rather use Hassy, which probably weighs about the same but at least uses modern film. The Medalist, like the Koni, are interesting options, though, if one wants to shoot obselete equipment.

 

[monemmer]

I'm using a Medalist II off and on. Its lens is super sharp, but the thing is really heavy. Here are some scans...

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

She's very cool to let you post that on the internet. good luck with the baby!

 

[rxmd]

Good picture. I like the lighting.

Do you use 620 film with this camera?

 

[furcafe]

I use 1 that's been converted (by Ken Ruth) to 120. I should really use it more often.

 

[Burlap Jacket]

I don't use my Medalist (II) enough. Recently ran a roll of AGFA RSX II 50 through it (respooled). Here's a sample:



There's also the Medalist group on Flickr which I started, though I think all of you that posted above are already contributors.

I shot a roll of Acros 100 earlier in the summer that I still have to develop. May try to stand develop it in Rodinal for an hour (1:100).

 

[thetooth]

nice photo . here is what i do for 620 film . take a 120 roll and sand down the spool on either end to make it thin enough to fit in the camera . works for me i have a folder ( bower x) that i do this with .

 

[monemmer]

While that strategy works for my older Monitor, and my Reflex II on the supply side, it does not work on my Medalist II. Conversion or respooling are the only options. Personally, I don't find respooling that big of a pain, it takes about two minutes per spool. Just remember to respool back to a 120 spool before sending the film off for processing.

 

[thetooth]

While that strategy works for my older Monitor, and my Reflex II on the supply side, it does not work on my Medalist II. Conversion or respooling are the only options. Personally, I don't find respooling that big of a pain, it takes about two minutes per spool. Just remember to respool back to a 120 spool before sending the film off for processing.

oh i didn't know that . that old bower is the only 620 camera i own ( swap meet find ) . good info .

 

[Burlap Jacket]

While that strategy works for my older Monitor, and my Reflex II on the supply side, it does not work on my Medalist II. Conversion or respooling are the only options. Personally, I don't find respooling that big of a pain, it takes about two minutes per spool. Just remember to respool back to a 120 spool before sending the film off for processing.

I always have it processed on the 620 spool but ask the lab to return the spool to me. Have never had any issues with this.

 

[crawdiddy]

I have a Medalist I. I've only shot 1 roll of film with it. The negatives are beautiful. And HUGE!

Unfortunately, my enlarger will not accommodate 6x9 (6x6 max).

But even a contact print is decent with such a huge neg.

I respooled from 120. Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is with respooling film. It's easy, and pretty quick.

I'll try and post some contact sheets.

 

[Sanders McNew]

Is this your first child?

My second, her first. My wife is the better photographer
in the family -- she shoots an Agfa Record III folder and
also a Rolleiflex. She and I have been shooting a series
of the pregnancy, which you can see at this URL:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandersnyc/sets/72157619413429032/

To answer the other posters' questions -- I've respooled
400TX onto 620 spools for the Medalist, but I'm thinking
of having Ken Ruth do a half-conversion to the feed side
so I can load 120 and spool onto 620 spools. That way
I can shoot with it on a moment's notice, without worrying
whether I have any respooled film in the fridge.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Can't wait to see the baby pictures.

Congratulations to you both.

Last time I shot 620 it was with a 1947 Kodak Twin Lens Reflex, Ektar lens. Results were first rate. I still have a number of 620 Kodacolor 200 in the fridge. Saving it for the spools.

 

[ZeissFan]

It was a decent camera with a good lens, but the trade-off of respooling, weight and a body shape that I didn't really like led me to sell it.

Guess I'm more of a folder photographer.

 

[Sanders McNew]

I shot Melanie with the Medalist again yesterday
afternoon. This time I was shooting against
strong window light -- the Medalist's lens did an
impressive job of minimizing flare, despite the
age of the lens. Kodak knew what they were
doing with their lenses and coatings, back in the
day when they chose to make such things.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Very very nice! I have an old 1950's vintage Kodak Precision Enlarger with about every negative carrier they ever made for the thing, including metric sizes. Kodak made some great stuff half a century and more ago, including their Commercial Ektar and Wide Field Ektar view camera lenses.

 

[Frank Petronio]

Beautiful work as always Sanders. And congrats again ;-)

You can get an old Foldex on eBay for $20 and use that to respool film for less than what a conversion to your Medalist will cost.

I have a Medalist II that needs a CLA (RF dim/dirty and shutter gummy) -- Ken Ruth is the best or are there other good options? Nothing against Ken but it's pretty expensive.

 

[Sanders McNew]

Steve: It is a scan from the negative. I will
try to remember to bring a camera to the
hospital ... but it will be a Rolleiflex.

Frank: Thanks for the congratulations. I
understand Manfred Schmidt also works on
Medalists when he has the time. I am
guessing that Nippon Photo Clinic in NYC
might be willing to take a shot at it.