Joining the ranks of the medium people

[Bolo Kukus]

The Rolleis are incredible, I've seen lots of images from them in the various fora and they invariably amaze. I did consider offering my immortal soul for one but apparently that wasn't valuable enough 😀

I do intend to get a 6x9 option folder later next year and am considering the Zeiss Super-Ikonta C. It would be nice to get one from a reputable dealer for a change then I'll know it is in good working order, so I'll need to save in order to do that.

An Automat from the 1950s won't break the bank. It has a coated 80/3.5 Tessar with very definite 'character' and a nifty system to back-crank to let you take double, triple, even quadruple exposures on the same negative or slide, which is fun and creative. My Rolleicord Vb and 3.5 E2 have the latter feature but not the Ts, which were a later and cheaper Tessar model but now cost a great deal more as they are greatly in demand by photo-fashionistas.

The only downside with old 'flexes or 'cords is you may have to factor in the cost of a CLA to bring it back to full operation. Once done (and paid for, sadly often with a donor kidney) you will have a camera either for life or as long as 120 roll film remains easily available.

So with either folders or TLRs, your options nowadays for a good 120 camera are still good.

 

[moggi1964]

An Automat from the 1950s won't break the bank. It has a coated 80/3.5 Tessar with very definite 'character' and a nifty system to back-crank to let you take double, triple, even quadruple exposures on the same negative or slide, which is fun and creative. My Rolleicord Vb and 3.5 E2 have the latter feature but not the Ts, which were a later and cheaper Tessar model but now cost a great deal more as they are greatly in demand by photo-fashionistas.

The only downside with old 'flexes or 'cords is you may have to factor in the cost of a CLA to bring it back to full operation. Once done (and paid for, sadly often with a donor kidney) you will have a camera either for life or as long as 120 roll film remains easily available.

So with either folders or TLRs, your options nowadays for a good 120 camera are still good.

Damn, sell ANOTHER kidney? That would be my third 😀

I have come across a small issue on the Agfa, I cannot see the film numbers thorugh the red window.

I did see '1' I think though it just looked like a '|' and filled the window so that may not have been the number. Anyway, my question is, does anyone know if I wind the film till the red disk that indicates the shutter still cannot be released (the ant- double exposure thing) disappears will that be a full frame or will I need to keep guessing the distance I have wound on?

Film is an expired Lomography 400 and may just have faded numbers on the backing paper. I would like to get a dozen shots out of this roll but if I get half a dozen it will have done its job as a test roll.

 

[moggi1964]

Err, so I shot about six or seven pictures, winding on each time and I just sw what looks like a Number 1 appear in the red window 😱

Could it be that the film had a very long leader and what I thought was the first frame was not?

Answers on a postcard to: idiot with a folder at the Insane Asylum.

I guess the only way to know for sure is to shoot frame 1 and see if a 2 appears as I wind on? After shooting 7 fabulous images that may now not turn out, I am loathe to shoot one just to see if I got it all wrong. It's a test roll, I know and I just need to bite the bullet and take that picture. I'll report back!

 

[moggi1964]

Yup!

Number 2 came along soon after though it was upside down so I don't know if that is a problem or not. What happens if all my pictures are upside down?

 

[moggi1964]

Yup!

Number 2 came along soon after though it was upside down so I don't know if that is a problem or not. What happens if all my pictures are upside down?

😉😉😀

 

[Bolo Kukus]

You have one of those elusive 21 exposure 120 rolls, I reckon.

You know, the ones they sell on Ebay - look for the word 'rare'...

I once bought a 108 exposure 35mm roll - it's still in my Nikkormat and I'm up to shot number 67. The way I shoot film nowadays I expect to finish this by mid-2022.

Seriously, you will get the hang of winding on 120 film in your folder after one or two rolls. We have all made this mistake before.

Upside down photos are the least of your problems. Just make upside down prints and - need I say it?

Don't forget to take the cap off your folder's lens, if it came with a cap.

It seems you are enjoying your folder. How goes the hunt for that elusive Rolleiflex Automat?

 

[p.giannakis]

I am trying to think how is it possible for 2 to come upside down... So you put the roll of film in the left chamber and pulled the film lead to the right, didn't you?

 

[moggi1964]

You have one of those elusive 21 exposure 120 rolls, I reckon.

You know, the ones they sell on Ebay - look for the word 'rare'...

I once bought a 108 exposure 35mm roll - it's still in my Nikkormat and I'm up to shot number 67. The way I shoot film nowadays I expect to finish this by mid-2022.

Seriously, you will get the hang of winding on 120 film in your folder after one or two rolls. We have all made this mistake before.

Upside down photos are the least of your problems. Just make upside down prints and - need I say it?

Don't forget to take the cap off your folder's lens, if it came with a cap.

It seems you are enjoying your folder. How goes the hunt for that elusive Rolleiflex Automat?

😀😀 Sounds like we bought form the same seller 🙄

Thanks for your input on the upside down images, I was scared I would need to do a headstand to see them properly and at my age...... You've put my mind at rest.

No lens cap, though it does have a strange plastic black lens which I assume is a medium format thing. Is that a special shutter that opens when I press the release? 😛

My hunting days are over, just ask my wife and she'll confirm that is exactly what I told her.

I took six photo's on a train where the carriage was empty except for me. They were classics for sure, I already wrote the accolades. I am saddened that the world will never see them.

 

[moggi1964]

I am trying to think how is it possible for 2 to come upside down... So you put the roll of film in the left chamber and pulled the film lead to the right, didn't you?

Yes, that bit I got right! Everything else? well I can't promise!

Here's a pic.

 

[p.giannakis]

The only other thing I can think of is that the film has been re-spooled the wrong way at some stage before being sold to you.

 

[moggi1964]

The only other thing I can think of is that the film has been re-spooled the wrong way at some stage before being sold to you.

It was definitely packaged in a sealed pack like you usually get 120 film in so maybe it was incorrectly put together at the factory?

I guess we'll know more when I complete the roll and get it developed. Could be two or three weeks before that happens but I'll report back.

I looked closely and can also see the edge of a sideways 2 as well just above and below the upside down one. I just Googled it and Arista Edu 100 seems to have a setup where there are two sideways numbers and a correctly oriented number in-between them. 😕

 

[Bolo Kukus]

😀😀 Sounds like we bought form the same seller 🙄

Thanks for your input on the upside down images, I was scared I would need to do a headstand to see them properly and at my age...... You've put my mind at rest.

No lens cap, though it does have a strange plastic black lens which I assume is a medium format thing. Is that a special shutter that opens when I press the release? 😛

My hunting days are over, just ask my wife and she'll confirm that is exactly what I told her.

I took six photo's on a train where the carriage was empty except for me. They were classics for sure, I already wrote the accolades. I am saddened that the world will never see them.

If you lie on your side on the floor and put the camera on it side, the problem will go away, all of a sudden suddenly like.

I think Einstein came up with this solution. It's the theory of medium format relativity or some such thing.

Seriously, I've tried to figure out how the blazes you could have got yourself into this situation, and I can't come up with any answers. Where did you get the film? Does the camera have two winder wheels and does it wind either way? Are you sure there is film on the back of that paper roll? Or could it be that you have only the paper roll of without any film attached, rewound on the wrong way?

I mean, all his really boggles the imagination. It will keep me awake at night for the next small eternity if you don't 'fess up and tell us how this all came about. Call me cynical, but you write well and come across as an intelligent type with a good sense of humor and maybe mischief too, so I suspect you probably know what this film mystery is all about.

I'm still convinced you should give up all this folder business and get a Rolleiflex. You will never ever look back. A life of enjoyable poverty will folllow - Rolleis are highly addictive and before you know it, you will be the proud owner of a 2.8F, a 3.5F, a T, and at least one Rolleicord. Not to forget several tons of brand name accessories including what was known in Germany 1950s as the 'Rolleiflex mating device' ... I have four of those and have kept them all together in a box in the dark, but still no Rollei offspring, drat!

 

[moggi1964]

ozmoose, I applaud your lateral thinking 😀

To answer your questions:

Where did you get the film? It came in a box of Lomography 400 film of which one was gone. Sealed in the individual paper holder. I have a second one too 😎
Does the camera have two winder wheels and does it wind either way? Nope!
Are you sure there is film on the back of that paper roll? Nope!
Or could it be that you have only the paper roll of without any film attached, rewound on the wrong way? Could be!

"... so I suspect you probably know what this film mystery is all about" - I honestly don't! It's my first roll of 120 film EVER and so that explains why it took me ages to figure out how I had to wind it on quite a lot further than I expected to get to the numbers and the dots. I don't think it in any way explains why everything is upside down though UNLESS....

maybe this was stock meant for south of the equator???????????? 😱 Am I shooting with Aussie bound 400 film?

Anyway, the weather has been crap so I haven't got past frame 4 yet. If it will help you sleep better I'll shoot random stuff just so we can get the film on its way to the developer 😀

Just for the record, the 3 and 4 are the the same orientation.

Now what's the chances the second roll will be the same? Only time will tell.

 

[Bolo Kukus]

To answer your questions:

Where did you get the film? It came in a box of Lomography 400 film of which one was gone. Sealed in the individual paper holder. I have a second one too 😎
Does the camera have two winder wheels and does it wind either way? Nope!
Are you sure there is film on the back of that paper roll? Nope!
Or could it be that you have only the paper roll of without any film attached, rewound on the wrong way? Could be!

"... so I suspect you probably know what this film mystery is all about" - I honestly don't! It's my first roll of 120 film EVER and so that explains why it took me ages to figure out how I had to wind it on quite a lot further than I expected to get to the numbers and the dots. I don't think it in any way explains why everything is upside down though UNLESS....

maybe this was stock meant for south of the equator???????????? 😱 Am I shooting with Aussie bound 400 film?

Anyway, the weather has been crap so I haven't got past frame 4 yet. If it will help you sleep better I'll shoot random stuff just so we can get the film on its way to the developer 😀

Just for the record, the 3 and 4 are the the same orientation.

Now what's the chances the second roll will be the same? Only time will tell.

Okay, you've vindicated yourself. Moving on...

Down here on the big isle of kangaroos and koalas we have a lot of filmless paper backing films - not saying these are sold on Ebay, but not saying they aren't either.

For us Ozzys film of any sort, even with odd Chinese or Russian hieroglyphs on their paper backings, is do expensive, many poverty-stricken shooters (I fit into this category) in their/own desperation often reload respooled filmless paper backings in their ancient instruments and go out let's-pretend shooting, something to do during these Covid times.

To end all this and bring it to some sort of sensible conclusion, when you eventually finish the roll, film or no film, get it processed (what! you don't do your own at home?) and let us know the results. Better yet, post a few more photos.

Finishing up with some practical advice - Mike Butkus's excellent camera manuals site will surely provide you with a manual for your camera. Yo'll enjoy reading it. I've downloaded a few and reread them regularly - often as not they clear up many small problems I have when I take out a camera I've not used for some time and find I've forgotten many of the basics.

Send him a small donation via Paypal for your download. Mike is an excellent resource and needs to be encouraged to keep on keeping on.

Looking forward to seeing your first roll photos when you get them back from the lab.

 

[moggi1964]

Cheers ozmoose.

Already been over to Mike's site, fabulous resource. kept forgetting to send him a little something so you prompted me to take care of that.

Like you, I too look forward to seeing that first roll and I will be sure to post some photo's no matter what they look like. I'll even the scan the backing paper if it turns out that is all there is 🙂

 

[moggi1964]

I figured it out!

I just opened the second roll of film and it seems the numbers are oriented for which format you use: 6x6 and 6x9 goes in one way and you flip the cartridge for 6x4.5.

Let's wait and see what happens eh 🙂

 

[moggi1964]

Okay, so I got a few shots that are useable. One clearly did not wind on correctly (I knew I had done something wrong at the time) and it is evident the film was past its best. However, the purpose was to check that the lens would focus at different distances and there were no light leaks. I think it's okay. So, putting aside any critique of the images, can you more experienced film folk let me know if you see any issues with the camera that I am missing? Ta!

This one had overlap but I do like the colour on the pillar box and the Royal Mail writing looks to be pretty well focused.