John Roberts
Member
Didn't know that Ross Ensigns were this good, especially with issues:-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260843011744&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123
Or is this only for collectors??
Regards,
John.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260843011744&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123
Or is this only for collectors??
Regards,
John.
graywolf
Well-known
What something is worth is what someone will pay for it. Who knows what is going on there. Maybe his granddad had one just like it and he is willing to pay anything for sentimental reasons.
Collectors are more interested in beating the other guy out for the item than what it actually is worth.
Users, usually, are more interested in a good working camera at a reasonable price, and often think people who do not think the same way they do are some kind of nut.
Just to make it clear, I am of the user persuasion.
Collectors are more interested in beating the other guy out for the item than what it actually is worth.
Users, usually, are more interested in a good working camera at a reasonable price, and often think people who do not think the same way they do are some kind of nut.
Just to make it clear, I am of the user persuasion.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
It shows signs of heavy corrosion. Gazing into my crystal ball I see a ebay/Paypal dispute in the near future...
nosmok
Established
The things are these: 1) it's the best viewfinder/ rangefinder I've ever seen on a camera.
2) That Ross Xpres really is that good. I didn't get it for a while, because I couldn't hold the camera steady enough on the first test roll. Finally I did. As the Monkees say, now I'm a believer.
It is not worth that money. On the other hand, they ain't makin' any more of them. It's all about how you want to spend your money. I'd probably buy a Mamiya 7ii with that dosh.
nosmok
2) That Ross Xpres really is that good. I didn't get it for a while, because I couldn't hold the camera steady enough on the first test roll. Finally I did. As the Monkees say, now I'm a believer.
It is not worth that money. On the other hand, they ain't makin' any more of them. It's all about how you want to spend your money. I'd probably buy a Mamiya 7ii with that dosh.
nosmok
Muggins
Junk magnet
It's probably worth mentioning that they were made by the handful - I've heard around 500 in total, though I can't find confirmation anywhere. So they're pretty damn rare. The ordinary Selfix 820 is pretty common, but the Autorange is like hen's teeth.
Adrian
Adrian
johnwood
Member
The regular ol' Selfix takes some fine pix, though. Or, rather, the lens it features provides the opportunity 
I was searching for an Autorange about a year ago, and was offered one in pristine condition (for far less money that this one) from a collector on flickr; I flinched and he moved on. I get a little twitch when I know I'm buying for the thrill of owning/collecting vs. using...felt that twitch then. Now, of course, I wish I had the camera! As mentioned above, I see a return/dispute looming on this one...the rest of the camera looks good, but that rusty/corrosive shutter plate is scary.
I was searching for an Autorange about a year ago, and was offered one in pristine condition (for far less money that this one) from a collector on flickr; I flinched and he moved on. I get a little twitch when I know I'm buying for the thrill of owning/collecting vs. using...felt that twitch then. Now, of course, I wish I had the camera! As mentioned above, I see a return/dispute looming on this one...the rest of the camera looks good, but that rusty/corrosive shutter plate is scary.nosmok
Established
It also bears mentioning that the Epsilon shutter is hideous, terrible, pick your negative adjective. Has anybody ever remounted the lens in something better? Or is everybody (sensibly) afraid it might disturb the mojo?
--nosmok
--nosmok
citizen99
Well-known
That got a bite from me .
Agreed, the Epsilon is not as high quality as the Compur or Compur-Rapid, but for me it does the job if you don't need 1/400 second or a built-in delay timer. I've CLA-ed/repaired a few of each those Epsilons & Compurs of that era, and happily used them all. Of course, on some of the Ensign and Kodak older or 'lower-range' version cameras, the Epsilon may be found omitting the timer mechanism for speeds below 1/25, and having top speed only 1/150.
Once, whilst working on two cameras, I did transplant an Xpres from a Selfix 820 on to the Compur-Rapid on a Bessa Rangefinder as an experiment. It made a perfectly good, and very pocketable, combination.
The Xpres on the Autorange 820 was re-calculated to optimise for colour film, and is distinguished by 3 coloured dots. (You often see e-bay Selfix seller optimists saying that the Selfix Xpres is the same one.) Nevertheless I have always found the Selfix 820 Xpres to be perfectly adequate for colour photography (come to that, so are plenty of pre-1940 uncoated lenses if you take care to avoid stray light.)
I had an Autorange 820 once, I sold it because I didn't like the ergonomics; you have to remember to hold it carefully so that your grip doesn't retract the focus position that you had just carefully set up .
.Agreed, the Epsilon is not as high quality as the Compur or Compur-Rapid, but for me it does the job if you don't need 1/400 second or a built-in delay timer. I've CLA-ed/repaired a few of each those Epsilons & Compurs of that era, and happily used them all. Of course, on some of the Ensign and Kodak older or 'lower-range' version cameras, the Epsilon may be found omitting the timer mechanism for speeds below 1/25, and having top speed only 1/150.
Once, whilst working on two cameras, I did transplant an Xpres from a Selfix 820 on to the Compur-Rapid on a Bessa Rangefinder as an experiment. It made a perfectly good, and very pocketable, combination.
The Xpres on the Autorange 820 was re-calculated to optimise for colour film, and is distinguished by 3 coloured dots. (You often see e-bay Selfix seller optimists saying that the Selfix Xpres is the same one.) Nevertheless I have always found the Selfix 820 Xpres to be perfectly adequate for colour photography (come to that, so are plenty of pre-1940 uncoated lenses if you take care to avoid stray light.)
I had an Autorange 820 once, I sold it because I didn't like the ergonomics; you have to remember to hold it carefully so that your grip doesn't retract the focus position that you had just carefully set up
.
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Grytpype
Well-known
I'll second what citizen99 said in favour of the Epsilon shutter. It has been much maligned online, quite unfairly, I think. In terms of construction quality I would rate it rather above the Prontor. The only issue with it as far as I can see is that there is a rather steep ramp on the cam-plate between the 1/25 sec and 1/10 sec speeds which means it is best to make this change before cocking the shutter. There are plenty of other mechanisms with similar issues which do not seem to get the bad press inflicted on the Epsilon (check out the FSU forum re. the perils of setting the speed on a Zorki before cocking the shutter!).
nosmok
Established
Good to find some defenders of the Epsilon shutters. Mine actually had no issues, so I probably spoke out of turn. It always felt like it was about to break, though; maybe that's just me being a clumsy ox. The 820 does have some weird ergonomic issues-- I always ended up wanting to rest my thumb on the bellows.
Grytpype
Well-known
They really are that valuable! Here's another one - different lens number (but close), so obviously different camera.