Braun Gloria - passion and glory?

[Lotari]

Last friday I went into a small antique / second hand shop, as I knew that there are usually some cameras. I thought about just looking around, and, oh well.. you know what happened, I was a victim of GAS.

On the shelf I noticed this interesting camera. At first its lens, Praxanar-Bayreuth 75/2.9, woke my interest, that's quite fast for medium format camera.

Then I also noticed that it's a rangefinder camera, very interesting.. This could be even usable, I thought. After some haggling, I handled my 20 euros (which I had just gotten from the ATM before stepping into the shop..) over the counter, and walked outside with a new camera in my hand.

Basically Braun Gloria is a quite well made 6x6 medium format camera from the 50s, its lens retracts into the body, but it doesn't have a folder (no pinholes!). As I already said, it has a single-coated 75/2.9 lens, which was at least to me, the main reason for buying this. The Prontor-SVS shutter goes from 1/300s to 1s, and there's also switch for M/X synch and V for self-timer. On top of the camera there are two wheels, one for winding film, and another for focusing the uncoupled rangefinder.

When looking at the back, one can notice a few things; two viewfinders, one for framing and the other for the uncoupled rangefinder. There's also a red window, and that's of course for checking the frame number from the film's backing paper (it also has a lever above it which moves something in front of the small window so that the film wouldn't get exposed).

Unfortunately my camera is quite beaten up, it doesn't have springs which would pop the lens out of its retracted position (now I have to pull it out), also it's missing the double exposure prevention and a screw, probably due to some inexperienced repair man.

These aren't really problems for me, I can live with them as long I can take photos. But the rangefinder is a small problem, it's very foggy, faint, basically unusable. Fortunately I have an external rangefinder (Watameter Super) which is quite usable with this camera, but of course I would prefer using the camera's own rf..

Also I may have to get the shutter serviced as it's a bit slowish at 1/300s (well, not abnormal for leaf shutters), and long times (1s, ½s and 1/10s) stick a bit, but fortunately it works quite well otherwise, except for the self-timer, but who needs one? I'll shoot some rolls first and then decide on servicing, luckily it would cost just some 60 euros to get it fixed.

There doesn't seem to be much info nor users of this camera in the web (except Certo6 (click) and a site or two), so does anyone here have one?

I have one question, in the photo above, there's a 'u3' mark on the aperture scale, on the bigger end (like 5.6, 4, 2.9, u3), does anyone know what it means?


Hopefully this post helps if someone is looking for info about this beautiful camera. I'll post some pictures taken with this after I get some rolls developed. Right now I have quite high expectations, I really like the physical appearance and using this camera, and I hope that the lens would render in a.. hmm.. not too modern way. By that I don't mean Holga-like vigneting and very soft corners, but something.. not razor sharp. I hope someone understands what I mean.


BTW. these photos were taken with Pentax *ist D, M50/1.4 and Zoomar Macro Zoomatar A 40/2.8

PS. Moderators, I'm not sure if this should be in the '120 RF folders' or '120 RF's' section.. The latter one seems to be focused more on more modern machines, but then also this isn't technically a folder camera..

 

[shadowfox]

Wow!

Another 19-year olds with interest in the GOOD stuff!
I just got into MF folder myself.

 

[ZeissFan]

Hey, I love that lens on the tube. There's nothing like a great, old folding camera.

 

[dazedgonebye]

I'm guessing this will meet your stated expectations very well.
Looking forward to the pictures from it.

 

[Lotari]

I've now gotten some shots digitized.. with my DSLR! I don't have a scanner cabable of medium format film, so I have to.. eh.. improvise.







That last picture shows why it has taken so long to get some material with the camera; I've been in the army since July (also it shows why I should get a scanner, it has not so nice banding [or something] in it).

About the camera: I like the picture it takes, they are different to my more modern cameras and lenses, especially bokeh-wise.
What I don't like, is how slow it is to shoot with the camera. I have to use an external rangefinder, and it's distances are in feet. So, I have to convert feet to meters and swing the lens on to the right distance.. not very convenient if shooting something not-so-still.

But still.. I really like this thing..

ps. I'll probably post more shots in two weeks, I'm stuck in my serving place for the next 1½ weeks.

 

[shadowfox]

Samuli, those are awesome pictures. I like the colors, the stray lights, and the black border. Did you put your negatives on a lightbox and shoot it with your DSLR?

 

[KoNickon]

Very cool! I had never heard of this camera before. Great results, "swirly" bokeh and all (and I'm also interested in how you digitized the pictures) and I liked the pictures of the camera itself as well. It does indeed seem there are several young Finns doing interesting stuff here -- keep it up, lads!

 

[Lotari]

Samuli, those are awesome pictures. I like the colors, the stray lights, and the black border. Did you put your negatives on a lightbox and shoot it with your DSLR?

I'd do that if I just had a lightbox.. instead I use a flash to light a white wall and keep the negative in front of the camera with hands. After getting the pictures on computer, I try to take the orange color off the negatives in my raw converter, before adjusting positive colors in to them with photoshop.


a busy man in the streets of helsinki

 

[raid]

This is very cool stuff, Lotari. Experimentation will lead you to better and better results. Your approach is very interesting. Keep up the good work.