dee
Well-known
I have just acquired a black painted, lever wind 1930s Charity Shop Exakta VP with case, which is seized with flaking blinds.
With unusual scale in feet and a USA stamp near the number, it appears to have been an export to the States.
Even the rusted back catch needed gentle easing off.
At £10, it was simply curiosity as to being able to handle the beginning of SLR photography.
I was surprised to find that, with a clean, the focusing helical is fine , the simple aperture controls work and the Tessar is free of fungus.
I can even focus it on what must be a compromised screen.
It used 127 film remembered from my bakelite Brownie 127 [ 1957]
First impressions are that the contemporary Contax II and Leica II wipe the floor with it, together with any decent roll film TLR !!
I wonder what advantage it must have provided for the purchaser.
[ One aspect I realise is that even in the early 50s until 1959 with the Nikon F, the Kiev was a capable camera compared to the early development of the SLR]
I admit to extreme ignorance concerning the development of the SLR, but, it must have required considerable vision to imagine overcoming some of the shortcomings of the initial concept!!
OK age has not been kind, but a TLR is easier to hold and easier to focus.
I guess the interchangeable lenses were a plus, but the rangefinder was a far more elegant solution, especially as a 135mm lens, or equivalent, was generally the longest telephoto available.
As an Art Deco piece of history, it's rather neat, but I won't be investing in a rebuild!
With unusual scale in feet and a USA stamp near the number, it appears to have been an export to the States.
Even the rusted back catch needed gentle easing off.
At £10, it was simply curiosity as to being able to handle the beginning of SLR photography.
I was surprised to find that, with a clean, the focusing helical is fine , the simple aperture controls work and the Tessar is free of fungus.
I can even focus it on what must be a compromised screen.
It used 127 film remembered from my bakelite Brownie 127 [ 1957]
First impressions are that the contemporary Contax II and Leica II wipe the floor with it, together with any decent roll film TLR !!
I wonder what advantage it must have provided for the purchaser.
[ One aspect I realise is that even in the early 50s until 1959 with the Nikon F, the Kiev was a capable camera compared to the early development of the SLR]
I admit to extreme ignorance concerning the development of the SLR, but, it must have required considerable vision to imagine overcoming some of the shortcomings of the initial concept!!
OK age has not been kind, but a TLR is easier to hold and easier to focus.
I guess the interchangeable lenses were a plus, but the rangefinder was a far more elegant solution, especially as a 135mm lens, or equivalent, was generally the longest telephoto available.
As an Art Deco piece of history, it's rather neat, but I won't be investing in a rebuild!
