First roll through the new-to-me C3

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rwintle

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So I recently acquired a C3 on some online auction site or other. Based on the serial number and its location, it's probably from about 1945-46. So not special or collectible - but a nice thing nonetheless. I've wanted one for a while.

Finally got the roll finished - my standby B&W film, Arista Premium 400. First impressions - yep, it's heavy! It's really easy to foul the shutter cocking lever with a finger as it snaps back into position while the shot is being taken (the manual even warns against this, of course). The rangefinder window is TEENY TINY, but magnifies things nicely for focusing. The rangefinder wheel on mine is a bit stiff - could probably use a touch of lubrication I guess. And I think I was a bit ambitious in my handheld shutter speeds.

Oh, one more thing - I love it already. 😀

A few shots from the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto, plus a couple from a local pioneer cemetery north of the city up in King Township. There will be more, but this is a start. Next, I'd like to put some really nice colour film (Ektar maybe) through it to see what it can do with that.

Comments, critique, suggestions, and so forth more than welcome of course.

Thanks for looking,
Richard.

The camera - taken with a Nikon D5000 + 50mm f/1.8D

Argus C-3 by Richard Wintle, on Flickr


Escalating - Eaton Centre, Toronto by Richard Wintle, on Flickr


East by North - Eaton Centre, Toronto by Richard Wintle, on Flickr


Two Looks - Eaton Centre, Toronto by Richard Wintle, on Flickr


Primitive Methodist Hammertown, circa 1868 by Richard Wintle, on Flickr


Primitive Methodist Hammertown, circa 1868 by Richard Wintle, on Flickr
 
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Those are good looking shots. Nice work with "The Brick."

It seems that all of these have very stiff rangefinder wheels.
 
This is proof -- if anyone here needs it -- that it's photographer who makes the pix, not the camera. Stout work with a clunky but lovable antique. Congrats and enjoy!
 
Great shots.

If the cocking lever is slapping your finger, you can loosen the lock nut and reposition it. I've done it on all four of my bricks. You get used to pushing up to cock it.
 

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easyrider said:
This is proof -- if anyone here needs it -- that it's photographer who makes the pix, not the camera. Stout work with a clunky but lovable antique. Congrats and enjoy!
Click to expand...

Agreed! Nice job!

I also found a nice C3 with leather case at an antique co-op for $15. Mine is stiff as well but usable. I'd like to lube it but am afraid of taking the camera apart. 🙁 You're right, VF is very squinty but this is a very capable camera.

The Cintar lens performs very well in color also.

6404164121_8f98c2df67_b.jpg


Enjoy!
 
Thanks everyone. I am well pleased so far. 🙂

mortalenema - thanks for that cocking lever tip. The ever-ready case I have just about fouls it on its own without help from a finger, so repositioning it is definitely worth thinking about.

CliveC - I haven't been brave enough to shoot it wide open (not convinced that I can nail focus at f/3.5, even with the RF window) but I'll have to give it a try. Swirly bokeh = tasty. 🙂

raydm6 - thanks for that example. Definitely colour film next!
 
Repositioning the lever is really easy. It unscrews clockwise. Turn the locking nut underneath roughly 180 degrees and hold it in place when screwing the lever back on.

Great job with the Brick. I like the shots of the floor patterns a lot.
And that coated Cintar lens can still get the job done. 🙂
 
Taking it apart to lube the rangefinder is very simple - I managed, with the extra complication that I had to try to keep the leatherette intact as no-one makes new leather for Matchmatics. Loads of instructions on the intertubes.

Adrian
 
Those are some excellent results, Richard. I've got eight Bricks now, and all of them have the cocking lever at a different position, so I just try to make a conscience attempt to avoid it by positioning my fingers on the top and bottom of the body.

Sometimes though, you can get some cool effects when you forget to keep fingers out of the way.


Locomotion Dreams by br1078phot, on Flickr

PF
 
Thanks, David.

I have since run some Easypix 200 (Shoppers Drug Mart store brand, it's Fujicolor) through it. While a bit underexposed, I enjoyed taking a few shots of the final days of the World's Biggest Bookstore in Toronto.

No, it was never really the world's biggest bookstore, but it's a good name for a store in a building that was previously a bowling alley. All shut and gone now unfortunately, doubtless to be replaced by yet another high-rise condo development. 🙁

Underexposure and dodgy colour correction are all my fault. The vignetting belongs to the Argus and its Cintar lens. 🙂





 
I know how you feel. We lost our "Books-A-Million" store last year, and it's hard to drive by and see it still empty.

PF
 
Nice!
A C3 I found in a junk shop for $10 is what started me down the rangefinder path. I still have it on my shelf...I guess I need to load up some film and shoot with it again for old-times sake!
 
The Eyes have it

The Eyes have it

This might be blasphemous thing to say on this forum, but with an eye as good as yours it almost doesn't matter what camera you use. Nice pics!
 
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