Kodak Signet 35...

[somecanuckchick]

Are there any RFF members who use/have used Kodak Signets, specifically the 35? Or am I the only one?


🙂 SC

 

[jlw]

I have one, but don't use it much because of the limitations of the four-speed shutter. Interesting little camera, though, with a nice lens.

 

[somecanuckchick]

I have one, but don't use it much because of the limitations of the four-speed shutter. Interesting little camera, though, with a nice lens.

Aye, well it was my first camera... I outgrew it some time ago... and gifted my niece with it some years ago. Alas, it was the only RF I ever owned... and one of the few that I used, save for a Hasselblad.

Out of curiosity, which lens(es) do you have?


🙂 N

 

[GeneW]

In high school I bought a new but discontinued Signet-40. It was my first 35mm camera. It wasn't bad, but I never really warmed up to it. The odd shutter lever on the front, the absence of a pc connector for external flash (it had a three-prong flashbulb attachment), and the weird rewind wheel on the top all put me off a bit. I later traded it in on a Minolta Himatic 7 and I was much happier. This was all early to mid-60's.

Gene

 

[somecanuckchick]

In high school I bought a new but discontinued Signet-40. It was my first 35mm camera. It wasn't bad, but I never really warmed up to it. The odd shutter lever on the front, the absence of a pc connector for external flash (it had a three-prong flashbulb attachment), and the weird rewind wheel on the top all put me off a bit. I later traded it in on a Minolta Himatic 7 and I was much happier. This was all early to mid-60's.

Gene

Aye. the Signet series was limited and sparse in terms of what it could do, and features, etc....

If I were to acquire a RF, instead of living vicariously thru Dave *wink*... I would likely pick up an M6.

 

[jlw]

Aye, well it was my first camera... I outgrew it some time ago... and gifted my niece with it some years ago. Alas, it was the only RF I ever owned... and one of the few that I used, save for a Hasselblad.

Out of curiosity, which lens(es) do you have?

In my case it wasn't so much a question of "outgrowing" it -- if you mostly take pictures outdoors in good light, it can still turn in first-class results -- just that I tend to gravitate more to indoor photography.

My Signet 35 is the original model with the art-deco die-cast body. Its lens is non-interchangeable, and is a 44mm f/3.5 Ektar.

The only Signet with interchangeable lenses was the weird-looking but effective and somewhat collectible Signet 80. I've handled these but never owned one. Anyone else?

 

[pshinkaw]

I have a Signet 35 and a Signet 40. The Signet 35 has the best lens of the entire series, a Tessar formula Ektar. It's not as ergonomic a camera as many others, and I use it mostly for fun or out of nostalgia. I can think of lots of other 35mm rangefinder cameras I would rather use on a daily basis. But, it gives good results.

For those you who may have never seen one of these, they are very small cameras that are styled to look big. The Signet 35 is about as wide (fron left-to-right) as an Olympus 35RC.


-Paul

 

[mbisc]

I have a Signet 35, and as noted above, the Ektar lens is a stellar performer. Assuming it is in good shape, focusing is smooth as butter.
The shutter is a bit limiting, but if you use slow film (I use TMax 100 at EI 50), it's no big deal -- just shoot "sunny 16" at f8 and the top speed -- nominally 1/300, but probably something like 1/200 in reality).

Enjoy,
Mike