Kodak Medalist question...

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wclavey

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I shoot mostly MF, and primarily a Bronica S2a and Mamiya TLRs. But I would like to get a MF RF and I would like it to be 6x9, so I am seriously considering the Medalist. I do not mind respooling 120 to 620 reels, so I can put that objection aside.

For any camera that age, I should realistically expect to have to have it CLA'ed if I intend to use it. There is a seller on eBay named bennfoto, whose name in the mailing address is Cameraworks in Latham, NY, who offers a $110 priced CLA service for the Medalist.

I am writing here to ask if anyone has experience using this service. I appreciate any info. Thanks.
 
Realistically, he's probably fine. That said, there is only one name that comes up in conjunction with Medalists and that's Ken Ruth at Bald Mountain: http://www.baldmtn.com/ I'd send it there & have him do his 120 conversion just for sanity sake, but then I'm a wimp.

No matter, I bought a pro-pack of the new Ektar in 120 today. Bet that would be yummy shot in a Medalist :D All in the family, too ... :angel:

William
 
I would suggest getting a Medalist II instead of the first model. It lacks some of the earlier design flaws.
 
The Koni-Omega is one of the best designed medium format 120 rangefinder cameras ever made. although it's 6x7 format. The Hexanon lens is superb, it has a unique push/pull knob for film advance, a bright contrasty range/viewfinder with Konica's innovative expanding contracting frame lines for exact framing at varying focus ditances.
 
I found the Medalist II to be bulky and ungainly. Plus, the leather covering on the body is smooth, making it difficult to hand hold. Nice lens, but a bit of a pain to use.

For 6x9, I feel more comfortable with a Super Ikonta or a Mess Ikonta. However, your experience might differ, and a lot of people like the Medalist II.
 
wclavey said:
Yes, I was planning on actually getting a Medalist II if I make this decision.

Thanks for all the thoughts, so far...
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I shoot the Bronica C, and I have a lovely Fuji G690. I really though about a Medalist, and I still love the thought, but although the lens is amazing, there is just the one lens. And it has to be converted to 120 unless you want to re-roll onto 620 spools, as noted. And I am told it is a bit of a beast to frame and focus with two different windows to look through. The G690 has a monster big clear viewfinder/rangefinder window, and the first model (not the G690II and III) has interchangeable lenses (although the are expensive and hard to find).

Just a thought - for me the G690 is a better alternative. YMMV.
 
bmattock said:
Just a thought - for me the G690 is a better alternative. YMMV.
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Yes, I agree. Back when the G690 came out, I thought that that was the MF rangefinder for me, just with the standard lens... actually an RF with 1 lens is one of the objectives that I'm looking to fill... not something with an entire kit that I lug around... that's what the Bronicas and the Mamiyas have become.

And, to be honest, if I had the money for one, that is probably what I would get. But my budget for this purchase is about $500 total, so I am looking at MF RF options that, if I include a CLA, keep me in that range.


I have only used a Medalist once - - about 25 years ago - - I had it for about a week. It was large but I loved using it. And compared to what I was dragging around (Mamiya C220 and C3) it was actually quite small and portable. I think it is a matter of perspective.

My very first camera was a 6x9 folder, but I quickly moved on to 6x6 TLRs. If I didn't want to get back to a rectangular format (I need an option beyond 6x6) I probably would just carry around the Bronica with the 80mm lens. Maybe I should look at other MF RFs, too... like the 645s and 6x7s.
 
bmattock said:
And I am told it is a bit of a beast to frame and focus with two different windows to look through.
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Actually, the viewfinder and rangefinder views are both included in a single window. The viewfinder image is on top, with the rangefinder view below (magnified split-image). Your eye takes in both images at once.
 
Mr_Flibble said:
I would suggest getting a Medalist II instead of the first model. It lacks some of the earlier design flaws.
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I acquired a Medalist I a couple of months ago. I decided on the 1st model because I liked the idea of the fine focus knob. I hardly ever use flash anyway (oddly, the fine focus knob of the Medalist I was replaced by a flash sync port on the Medalist II.) The Medalist II also uses a Supermatic Flash shutter, compared to the Supermatic shutterof the 1st model.

Other than those differences, the most obvious difference between models is the 1st model has black anodized aluminum lens barrel, and the 2nd model has satin aluminum lens barrel. Apparently, the first model was used extensively by the US military in WWII, and they wanted to camouflage the massive lens barrel.

Do you know what the other model differences are?

Btw, I know respooling 120 to 620 is a bit of a pain, but the Medalist film chambers are extremely tight. Enlarging them for 120 would be no small matter. I wouldn't undertake it myself, and I'm not sure what you'd end up with if you did. They're even tight for 620 spools.

Having said all that, the Medalist is a beautiful camera. It's a beast! The double helical focus mechanism is beautiful, and being aluminum, holds up quite well-- no corrosion or pitting. The 6x9 negatives are pure magic when you see them for the first time. And Medalist prices are a bargain. I bought mine for $150, and I see some going for under $100.
 
The Kodak Medalist lens is extremely nice. I don't think it gets quite as much credit as it deserves. It'll make a Summicron on a 24mmX36mm frame look like nothin! I'm not sure what design flaws the Medalist I had compared to the Medalist II, other than simple technological developments included in the Medalist II. For instance, the Medalist II is synced internally for flash bulbs, and has a terminal where the focus knob would be on the Medalist I. Also, the Medalist I had lens coatings on the internal air-glass surfaces only, while the Medalist II was fully coated with a superior "Lumenized" coating. However, both lenses are awesome. It's still by far the best lens I've used in medium format from a classic camera, and could easily hold its own with modern lenses.

So other than the flash sync (which I believe is for bulbs, so it might need converted for X sync), and the better lens coatings, it's basically the same camera as the Medalist I. As far as durability, the Medalist I was used by the U.S. Military in WWII, and apparently help up very well.

Too bad you didn't post this several months ago... I sold a nice, fully CLA'd and functional Medalist I for $200.
 
Didn't mean to make it sound like the Medalist I is a bad camera. Just needs a bit more attention then the II.

From Ken's website:
One reason there are Medalist II units is there were design problems with Medalist I units. Problems corrected in the new design included eliminating the shutter button lock lever located on your unit at the base of the trip button. If it rotates even slightly counter clockwise and the return of the trip button is not fully completed [very easy to not notice] the camera will sometimes jam the trip arm as the camera is wound also jamming the wind/cock assembly.
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This is what happened with my first Medalist (1941), so someone took out frame lock mechanism from the winding knob, and the link to the shutter. I have to use the little lever under the viewfinder to set it.

The other Medalist I have (1944) one is in good working condition.

I haven't used my Medalists in a while, so I've just respooled some Adox 25 film and loaded it into the neutered Medalist. Now to find something worth taking pictures of ;)

The Navy also mutilated 200 Medalists during te war to use the lenses in their stereo-scopic reconnaissance aircraft cameras.
 
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Westley,

What's the latest on the Fuji back to KEH?

These threads always bring up the Rapid Omega. That and the Mamiya TLR I foolishly sold back in the Dark Ages are probably the two cameras I miss the most.

Good luck on your quest. I will be terminally jealous if you come up with a 6x9 camera.
 
There are 3 models of Medalist. Not 2.

-The Medalist I with ebonit helicoid was for the civil market. It has the little focusing knob. It has a self timer. Very light coating on the lens.

-The Medalist made for the US Navy. It is a Medalist I with little focusing knob but aluminium helicoid. US Navy red paint marks on pressure plate.

-The Medalist II (post WWII) with better coated lens, no focusing knob, flash sync, no selftimer. Medalist is engraved on the opposite from the other model on the top cover.

The Medalist was designed to take pictures under extremely hard conditions. It does not have any luxury features. Medalists were designed in late thirties, remenber. To me they have a brillant parallax compensated finder (for their days), a precise RF, and a knob for both shutter advance/cocking.

It was originaly designed to have a successor with interchangeable lenses, like some sort of super Ektra. But the project never went on.

To me, what I think is really nice on these underestimated camera :

-It is a workhorse
-It delivers superb sharp pictures
-Take a light tripod and you're ready for landscape
-It can survive a 30 mph bike accident without any damage (I can tell, the camera was in a green cotton military gas mask bag when I slipped on a gasoil residue on the road )

On the other side, you have to respool 120 on 620. But if you like photography, you have to like restraint, otherwise do not take pictures.

The handling is strange, for sure. I have my left hand on the focusing knob, the right hand's thumb under the camera, the right hand index on the trigger. (best option to avoid camera shake when taking a picture, thanks to Kodak Medalist I manual)

Beautiful simple and inexpensive camera. I love my Medalist !
 
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Wayne, no news... and no news is no news...

Thanks, all, for the insightful information on the Medallist... I have used the Medallist, so I do not need much more convincing - - I simply need to know the disposition of a camera that KEH currently has in their posession.

I think, though, that I will be contacting Ken Ruth for an overhaul, any repairs, etc. Thanks, too, for that input.
 
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