newspaperguy
Well-known
Good luck with the Alpha, Tony... it's a true jewel.
I often lusted, but never scored. (For Alphas!)
I often lusted, but never scored. (For Alphas!)
leicapixie
Well-known
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136379
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136379
I think Asahi Pentax worked from the Contax/Praktica boxes..
The Alpa is a beautiful camera but extremely complex!
Lucky to find a repairer. The Swiss who built it were big in watchmaking.
David Douglas Duncan used the system to do book on Picasso.
He may have used other cameras but mentioned the Alpa specifically
using the Kern-Switar lens.
Many years ago i was offered a used system..
It belonged to an extremely wealthy lady...
One of the wealthiest in the world.
It is still a truly awesome camera.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136379
I think Asahi Pentax worked from the Contax/Praktica boxes..
The Alpa is a beautiful camera but extremely complex!
Lucky to find a repairer. The Swiss who built it were big in watchmaking.
David Douglas Duncan used the system to do book on Picasso.
He may have used other cameras but mentioned the Alpa specifically
using the Kern-Switar lens.
Many years ago i was offered a used system..
It belonged to an extremely wealthy lady...
One of the wealthiest in the world.
It is still a truly awesome camera.
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
Yes the Asahiflex was largely inspired by the pre-war Praktiflex, it's where they got the idea for the instant return mirror from. Compare the Praktiflex with the Asahiflex and the resemblance is obvious - though the Asahiflex is a smaller better proportioned camera in my opinion.
You can however see a little bit of a family resemblance between the early Alpas and their distant U.S. relative, the Bolsey rangefinder.
You can however see a little bit of a family resemblance between the early Alpas and their distant U.S. relative, the Bolsey rangefinder.
ZeissFan
Veteran
I have an Alpa 9d. Large, heavy, beautifully made.
The Kern Macro-Switar is the first lens that gave me prints from drug store film that I would describe as 3D.
Very quirky operation with its front-to-back film advance, front-mounted shutter release and (on the 9d), something like 30 shutter speed settings.
The Kern Macro-Switar is the first lens that gave me prints from drug store film that I would describe as 3D.
Very quirky operation with its front-to-back film advance, front-mounted shutter release and (on the 9d), something like 30 shutter speed settings.
peterm1
Veteran
Regarding the extra viewfinder on the camera, the oldest Pentax cameras also had this arrangement.
The earliest SLR cameras did not have an instant return mirror, meaning that when the shutter was pressed and the image was made the main finder blacked out and stayed that way till the shutter was recocked for the next shot.
This might not matter so much with passive subjects, landscapes etc but could be a problem with active subjects, sport tec. So they provided a direct finder as well. One imagines they focussed with using the pentaprism then composed using the direct view finder.
Pentax incidentally was the first SLR camera to have an instant return mirror.
burancap
Veteran
That is exactly how I came to use the Alpas with both finders. More awkward than LTM Leicas, but still worked well.
Major Tom
Established
... Huguette by any chance?
Elmar Lang
Well-known
Hello,
I think I've joined the club too: a couple of weeks ago, I've bought a chrome-finished Alpa 11-Si with Kern Makro-Switar 50/1,8, plus "For Alpa Swiss" (42x1 and Alpa bayonet adapter) 35/2,8 and 135/2,8 lenses.
The camera looks like having been used a lot, but although remained in a drawer for nearly a decade, it works remarkably fine and the exposure meter gives perfect measures. The outfit comes from the estate of a late businessman from my region.
I think I would like to use it regularly so, I would like to know who could be a good repairman for this type of cameras, not too far from here (Northern-East Italy): to me it wouldn't be a problem to travel up to Germany or Switzerland.
Any help would be most appreciated,
Enzo (E.L.)
I think I've joined the club too: a couple of weeks ago, I've bought a chrome-finished Alpa 11-Si with Kern Makro-Switar 50/1,8, plus "For Alpa Swiss" (42x1 and Alpa bayonet adapter) 35/2,8 and 135/2,8 lenses.
The camera looks like having been used a lot, but although remained in a drawer for nearly a decade, it works remarkably fine and the exposure meter gives perfect measures. The outfit comes from the estate of a late businessman from my region.
I think I would like to use it regularly so, I would like to know who could be a good repairman for this type of cameras, not too far from here (Northern-East Italy): to me it wouldn't be a problem to travel up to Germany or Switzerland.
Any help would be most appreciated,
Enzo (E.L.)