Flexaret III, my first TLR.

[POSTI-Tuomo]

First off, hello to everyone here at the TLR forums. 🙂

I'm here to tell you about my newest acquisition, the Venerable Czechoslovakian Flexaret III TLR camera. I bought it from the Classifieds from the ever friendly Brian, aka SCOTFORTHLAD and received it earlier this week. Even the Royal Mail strike didn't delay the delivery, which was surprising.

Anyway. I loaded the camera with some slide film, just to test the shutter. And it was spot-on, just as SCOTFORTHLAD described (it was CLA'd by this certain Irish fellow).
I received the test shots today and scanned them as soon as I got home. I present you: FLEXARET III TLR PHOTOGRAPHS! 😀

Film is Fuji Provia 100. Accessories: my Gossen Luna-Pro and a tripod.

1st shot: An icon inside the Uspensky Cathedral in Helsinki.

2nd shot: The amateur looking over the Helsinki skyline. You can see the Main Guard Post in the middle. In the distance, another Cathedral (Lutheran, this time).

3rd shot: The Main Guard Post, with the sorry fellow guarding it.

4th shot: This is the Lutheran Cathedral mentioned earlier.

5th shot: A girl walking her dog. Some elderly lady trying to bypass her...

6th shot: An 'oops' moment inside the Eastern Orthodox church... Accidental double exposure. Two good frames ruined.

All in all, I'm pleased with the camera. And to some extent, with the shots too. I find slide film easier to scan and post-process than color negatives. But you have to be more careful with the exposure times as a trade-off (which I'm more than willing to make).

But I really need a case for this camera. Lugging that tripod around gets awkward really quick...

Anyway, post your comments and feedback. Thank you! 😎

 

[KoNickon]

Tuomo, these are great! I love these views of Helsinki. I got a kick out of the shot of you with the Main Guard Post in the background -- no doubt with the same sentry standing there as is in the next picture.

Too bad about the double exposure -- you should take more photos of the interior of the Uspensky.

 

[rolleistef]

come on the dbl exposure one is the best - completely mystic with the icone floating mid-air! I love it!

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Tuomo, these are great! I love these views of Helsinki. I got a kick out of the shot of you with the Main Guard Post in the background -- no doubt with the same sentry standing there as is in the next picture.

Too bad about the double exposure -- you should take more photos of the interior of the Uspensky.

Thanks! 🙂 I'll post more Uspensky photographs soon. I like the colors in slides. And hitch-free scanning is nice too.

come on the dbl exposure one is the best - completely mystic with the icone floating mid-air! I love it!

I suppose it's not as bad as I made it appear in my initial post. But a double exposure wasn't my goal and that's why it's "ruined". I would have been happier if I got the two frames I was after...😱 Thanks anyway for your comment! 🙂

 

[charjohncarter]

Those are fabulous keep posting, I've never seen that camera. I'll check it out.

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Those are fabulous keep posting, I've never seen that camera. I'll check it out.

Flexarets are plentiful on eBay. And not too costly! The III version has crank-winding. Others don't.

 

[shadowfox]

Tuomo, I always enjoy your testrolls with your new (old) cameras 🙂
You are as bad as I am in terms of collecting them 😛

I love the shots including the Oops one 🙂

What is the taking lens? It has a nice bokeh, and very good contrast.

And did you have to pay a lot to process 120 slide film in Finland? how much approx. if you don't mind telling us?

 

[oftheherd]

All those shots are good. I also like the double exposure. I understand that you didn't get what you wanted. However, as often happens with accidental double exposures, you got a nice shot.

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Tuomo, I always enjoy your testrolls with your new (old) cameras 🙂
You are as bad as I am in terms of collecting them 😛

I love the shots including the Oops one 🙂

What is the taking lens? It has a nice bokeh, and very good contrast.

And did you have to pay a lot to process 120 slide film in Finland? how much approx. if you don't mind telling us?

Hehheh, yeah. I just seem to accumulate all these cameras, nothing is ever going out. They just keep pouring in... 😉
The taking lens is Meopta Belar f3.5 80mm. Quite nice, the fastest medium format lens I have! 😀 Actually, it seems the taking lens could be screwed off. I wonder if one could change the lens... 😕

120 slide film processing costs 5 euros per roll. And a roll of Provia 100 costs 5,30 euros... Quite a lot cheaper than 135 film! A roll of 135 Provia 100 costs 9 euros... 😱

All those shots are good. I also like the double exposure. I understand that you didn't get what you wanted. However, as often happens with accidental double exposures, you got a nice shot.

I'll go there again soon, and this time, NO ACCIDENTS! 😀 Really, there is a lot to photograph. It's such a nice place.

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

This is actually quite weird. According to Meopta's official site, the Flexaret III (which mine is supposed to be) should have a Mirar 3.8 taking lens. And the shutter should be a Metax one, not a Prontor-S as it is on mine. And still, it has the crank winding of the Flexaret III... Here's the official data:

Flexaret III


Twin-lens reflex camera for 12 pictures of size 6x6 cm in a roll film.
Lenses: viewfinder - Anastigmat 3/80, camera lens - Mirar 3.8/80.
Focusing: central with simultaneous motion of both lenses.
Film feed: by a crank.
Shutter: Metax 1-1/400 s.
Year of production: 1948.

Weird, huh? 😀
It seems I've got a Franken-Flexaret on my hands now! One could speculate that this camera was serviced somewhere in the past. Like, the shutter mechanism was changed from Metax to Prontor-S. And the taking lens was changed too, it seems.

The Flex' hanging out with its friend, the Nettar:

Got some filters and a close-up lens set today:

The close-up set has two lenses... I'm at loss how to actually use it... Which close-up lens to stick on which camera lens?

 

[sweathog]

My Flexaret (a IIa, as far as I know), has also had some interesting modifications made to it before I bought it. Yours seems in a lot better nick than mine; once I have some cash it is going for a CLA. Great shots, they remind me that I do have to come back to my mother country. See, now you've got me all nostalgic!

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Hey, Tom! Yeah, it's pretty good looks-wise. And other-wise too. 😛 It is an aesthetically pleasing camera... And don't worry 'bout the nostalgy; once you get here, you'll be greeted by sleet and darkness. 😀 I wish the winters here were a bit more winter-like. I don't mind freezing temperatures and snow. Beats that slush in and under your boots every time... 😉

My Flexaret (a IIa, as far as I know), has also had some interesting modifications made to it before I bought it. Yours seems in a lot better nick than mine; once I have some cash it is going for a CLA. Great shots, they remind me that I do have to come back to my mother country. See, now you've got me all nostalgic!

 

[sweathog]

I'm planning to get mine CLA'd soon, because the slower shutter speeds are off and the timer is kebroken. Also the light seals are going. Once it is sorted I shall put up some of my shots.
I'm planning to head over to Helsinki next summer, so I think a mini RFF meet may be in order. Who knows?

 

[espressogeek]

Do these have the swirly bokeh or oof areas like the lubitels and seagull tlrs?

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Do these have the swirly bokeh or oof areas like the lubitels and seagull tlrs?

I think the first one was shot wide open... no swirly bokeh. But I'll have to experiment more before I can say for sure. I'll get more film today and see how things develop (pun intended). 😉

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Reviving this thread a bit. This post concerns the aperture-opened-up performance of the Flexaret. I believe this was taken with a setting close to f3.5, on Ilford PanF Plus ISO50 film. I am beginning to like this camera/lens even more and more... Judge the photo with your own two good eyes! 🙂

That's my dad. I told him to pose as if he was reading the lyrics sheet (which he was
doing already). The exposure wasn't spot on as you can see from the blown highlights...

 

[sweathog]

Just a thought on those close up lenses...
If they are both the same masgnification I would assume one is for the viewing lens and one is for the taking lens... But I'm sure you figured that out.
I need to get my hands on a working light meter, then I will once and for all find out if I need to calibrate my eyes or get the Flexaret resealed.

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

Just a thought on those close up lenses...
If they are both the same masgnification I would assume one is for the viewing lens and one is for the taking lens... But I'm sure you figured that out.
I need to get my hands on a working light meter, then I will once and for all find out if I need to calibrate my eyes or get the Flexaret resealed.

Yeah, I stumbled upon the information about that close-up set. The thinner one goes onto the taking lens. The thicker one is supposed to be parallax corrected and so it must go onto the viewing lens. Makes sense, but I've yet to try that...

 

[sweathog]

Yeah, I stumbled upon the information about that close-up set. The thinner one goes onto the taking lens. The thicker one is supposed to be parallax corrected and so it must go onto the viewing lens. Makes sense, but I've yet to try that...

Well, I can't wait to see if it works.

 

[POSTI-Tuomo]

No close focus set yet, but here's something for you. These were shot with Velvia 50.