tunalegs
Pretended Artist
Single Lens Reflex cameras which expose 6x9cm on 120 film are a rare breed. I have a couple. A K.W. Reflex box which is much like a big brother to the much more compact Pilot 6, and two versions of the Ensign Roll Film Reflex. The Ensign I've talked about before, in detailing how to get it to work. Neither of my copies worked well, and after I repaired them - they didn't work at all! I was mystified, because when I took them all apart, they worked perfectly. And little by little I would build them up, and they would work - until I screwed the last pieces on and closed the film door. Then the shutter would stick. Every time. :bang:
It finally struck me, that the mirror box - which is constructed of quite large expanses of thin tin plate steel - was "oil canning" when the camera was completely assembled and closed. This slight distortion caused the shutter to hang up, and the camera to become inoperative. The solution? Simply enough, was to place my thumbs into the mirror box and bend it slightly so the mirror's felt light seals wouldn't catch on the sides as the mirror swung up. Problem solved.
I loaded a roll of Ektar and went out on an overcast day to shoot eight frames.
Untitled by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Untitled by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Untitled by Berang Berang, on Flickr
It's a pretty unwieldy camera. There's one shutter speed (about 1/50) and the Aldis Uno lens maxes at f/7.7 so even this weather was a stress test for the camera. About half the images showed a slight double image, the result of the massive mirror and its associated masses moving around during exposures. But if you can hold it tight enough, the results are surprisingly sharp. And the Uno's OOF quality is quite pleasant.
I will use it again, but it's not going to replace my Pilot 6 any time soon. It's a pretty massive box that, though, it is only slightly larger than a Kodak Brownie of the same era - is magnificently cumbersome in use, and doesn't really lend itself to casual shooting or carrying around.
It finally struck me, that the mirror box - which is constructed of quite large expanses of thin tin plate steel - was "oil canning" when the camera was completely assembled and closed. This slight distortion caused the shutter to hang up, and the camera to become inoperative. The solution? Simply enough, was to place my thumbs into the mirror box and bend it slightly so the mirror's felt light seals wouldn't catch on the sides as the mirror swung up. Problem solved.
I loaded a roll of Ektar and went out on an overcast day to shoot eight frames.
Untitled by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Untitled by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Untitled by Berang Berang, on Flickr
It's a pretty unwieldy camera. There's one shutter speed (about 1/50) and the Aldis Uno lens maxes at f/7.7 so even this weather was a stress test for the camera. About half the images showed a slight double image, the result of the massive mirror and its associated masses moving around during exposures. But if you can hold it tight enough, the results are surprisingly sharp. And the Uno's OOF quality is quite pleasant.
I will use it again, but it's not going to replace my Pilot 6 any time soon. It's a pretty massive box that, though, it is only slightly larger than a Kodak Brownie of the same era - is magnificently cumbersome in use, and doesn't really lend itself to casual shooting or carrying around.
