Dr. Strangelove
Cobalt thorium G
Bought a Dacora Super Dignette E-B. This thing used to be the top-of-the-line 35 mm Dacora camera in the early to mid-1960's. It has a rangefinder and
coupled selenium meter, although the meter appears to be permanently dead. Prontor 500 LK shutter with 1/15 to 1/500 seconds and B exposure times, so not bad at all. Lens is a 45/2.8 Steinheil Cassar triplet. Only the front element appears to be coated, but in a triplet that is unlikely to be a huge deal.
Otherwise the word on the Cassar is inconclusive, but I think that most of the infavourable reviews come from people who do not appreciate triplets, i.e. the "must be sharp at wide open" school of thought. I know it will be very soft at F/2.8 and probably still quite soft at F/4, but probably much better bokeh than any Tessar type lens and still better than Planar derived lenses.
Repairs: had to clean the oily shutter blades and adjusted RF vertical alignment. Both now work. RF is not very bright, so vertical alignment really needs to be spot on. Tried to revive the meter with acetone, but it remained completely dead. Since it's coupled, I might replace the selenium cell with a modern silicon solar cell when I have time. For know a external meter will suffice.
Picture as attachment.
coupled selenium meter, although the meter appears to be permanently dead. Prontor 500 LK shutter with 1/15 to 1/500 seconds and B exposure times, so not bad at all. Lens is a 45/2.8 Steinheil Cassar triplet. Only the front element appears to be coated, but in a triplet that is unlikely to be a huge deal.
Otherwise the word on the Cassar is inconclusive, but I think that most of the infavourable reviews come from people who do not appreciate triplets, i.e. the "must be sharp at wide open" school of thought. I know it will be very soft at F/2.8 and probably still quite soft at F/4, but probably much better bokeh than any Tessar type lens and still better than Planar derived lenses.
Repairs: had to clean the oily shutter blades and adjusted RF vertical alignment. Both now work. RF is not very bright, so vertical alignment really needs to be spot on. Tried to revive the meter with acetone, but it remained completely dead. Since it's coupled, I might replace the selenium cell with a modern silicon solar cell when I have time. For know a external meter will suffice.
Picture as attachment.
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