Koni Omega... I think I like it A LOT!

[sanmich]

I have tried lots of different MF gear, never really finding the right one for me.
A couple of rolleis, beautiful things but that square.... and can't change lenses
A C330, that square again...
a mamya 645 old type, not bad, but not great.
I recently got what was supposed to be a good deal on a hassie set, and cost me an arm to CLA. Great gear, no doubt, but that square... and I am now so used to RFs, the blanking after you press the shutter...well... not my cup of tea..
I always thought the 6x7 was too squarrish, so I tried a Fuji 6x9, Great great camera, but one lens.
and then...
From a pile a photographic garbage, I recently saved a few parts that assembled nicely into a KO 200. A CLA (at a reasonable cost) later, a back, a tele lens and a wide both in great shape for what seems like a ridiculous price when we come from Leicaland and I have a perfectly working 6x7 RF system in the 400$ marks. Really affordable stuff, and great quality.
The 6x7 negs look great. they have a 1:1.3 ratio that is more rectangular than the "6x7"denomination may suppose. I will use it for landscape so its obvious quirks (the 180 focuses down to 12 feet. Talk about a macro lens...) don't bother me. And It IS a heavy beast.
35mm is really the right tool for me, but from time to time I like to shoot a slightly larger neg, and I think I have finally found the right MF for me...

 

[bgb]

Does this give us all hope that one day we can beat G.A.S? I really hope so as i have too many cameras 😉
Nice to see you have found something that works well for you.
I recently discovered that my XA takes excellent photos ... so that will be my constant companion from now on
🙂

 

[MCTuomey]

michael, you have to stop. the reason i haven't adventured in MF is every body i think i'd like is too much money. and now you've discovered a 6x7 interchangeable system (2 keys for me too) for $400 after a CLA. aye ... there goes my New Year resolution to spend only on film and some travel.

 

[Todd K.]

I had a rapid omega 100 for a while. It was great great camera with razor sharp lenses and I regret selling it. I wanted a MF camera that could focus closer with long lenses. So I got a C330f.
I belive that when Greg webber CLA'd my Konica Auto S2 he told me that view finder was identical to the rapid omega.
I am sure you will enjoy it.

 

[sanmich]

Thanks all,
I know I'm not helping here 🙂

Does this give us all hope that one day we can beat G.A.S?

Err... your honor...
I may have given the wrong idea here..😱
We are talking about more than 20 years of GAS in 120-land, and all were sold as soon as I started to see dust on them...

Really, for the occasional MF shooter, what a bargain is this KO system!

 

[raid]

This thread will make met get the 90mm 3.5 lens CLA'd. The aperture is stuck open.
It is my only remaining lens for the Koni-Omega M200.

 

[sanmich]

michael, you have to stop. the reason i haven't adventured in MF is every body i think i'd like is too much money. and now you've discovered a 6x7 interchangeable system (2 keys for me too) for $400 after a CLA. aye ... there goes my New Year resolution to spend only on film and some travel.

Mike,
If that helps, the total is just a tad higher, and assumes that you find a camera and lens for free, and a pile of parts to partly trade for Greg's CLA.
Does that help? 😀 :angel:
But really, for such a flexible system, the prices are affordable.

Now what I really need is a serious strap, and a photo backpack for the beast.
Did I mention that it's HEAVY? 🙂

 

[raid]

I used to have a 180 lens and a 58mm lens for the Koni. I had difficulty advancing the film without causing overlapping frames.

 

[Don Parsons]

I'm looking for a 180 if anyone has it for sale. I have a Rapid Omega M.

 

[raid]

I think that my Koni is also a Rapid Omega M and not a 200.

 

[amateriat]

Whenever I get that "larger format" feeling, I get a few rolls of the slowest, finest-grain 35mm film I can find, and have at it. Doesn't happen that often, thankfully. 🙂


- Barrett

 

[JRG]

they have a 1:1.3 ratio that is more rectangular than the "6x7"denomination may suppose.

Well, "6x7" was not supposed to mean, literally, 6x7. It was supposed to mean 56mm x 70mm more or less, i.e., the 4x5 aspect ratio. But there was some variation across implementations in the exact size.

I've got a K-O M, Rapid M, and 200. Each has a film gate that measures about 55mm x 69mm, very close to the nominal 1:1.25.

The Koni-Omega system is indeed a great bargain these days. Big and sort of clunky, but plentiful, rugged, and the lenses are much better than current prices might lead you to think. Even the elusive 135mm lens is cheap by Leica standards.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Linhof's 6x7 is 56x72 i.e. whole-plate when enlarged 3x. Most are smaller -- often as small as 56x68.

Two other fun MF RFs are the Graflex XL (especially with the f/2.8 Rodenstock lens) and the Polaroid 600 with a roll-film adapter (I have 6x7 + 6x9).

Cheers,

R.

 

[hans voralberg]

The Polaroid 600 is also the Mamiya Press Universal, which has a more "universal" mount accepting something like 5-6 lens for that system, cheap as well. In term of flexibility it might beat you Koni 😉

 

[kuzano]

Koni Omega Press 100 less money.....

Koni Omega Press 100 less money.....

The only difference I can recall between the KO 100 and the KO 200 is the Midroll film change feature. 200's generally sell for more money and the midroll change is the only advantage. You need two backs to affect a midroll change and good backs with proper frame spacing are the weak link on these cameras.

In all the years I've shot MF with Bronica, Mamiya, and others, I don't think I've EVER done a midroll film change.

My hunt if I were looking for a KO, would be a 100 complete. Then I'd have the back rebuilt. I've never seen a KO that needed a CLA. The only thing to CLA beside the back is the lens. The only other moving assembly in the camera is the rangefinder, and I've not seen one out of whack. Then I'd probably keep an eye out for a new back. They pop up occasionally on eBay NIB.

The lenses for these cameras are DynoMyte Sharp!!!

 

[MaxElmar]

Great camera. First used one in the 70s to shoot groups for my school yearbooks, then picked one up about a decade ago because they were cheap again. Super sharp, but a heavy beast. The 135 is incredible (and focuses a bit closer, as I recall) and the 58 is darn good. Sold it in a downsize a few years ago.

 

[MCTuomey]

Mike,
If that helps, the total is just a tad higher, and assumes that you find a camera and lens for free, and a pile of parts to partly trade for Greg's CLA.
Does that help? 😀 :angel:
But really, for such a flexible system, the prices are affordable.

Now what I really need is a serious strap, and a photo backpack for the beast.
Did I mention that it's HEAVY? 🙂

Yes, Michael, that helps 😉 Still, even at keh, a KO kit would be maybe 1/4-1/5 the price of something like an equivalent mamiya 7 kit. Heavy doesn't bother me much if it's not an everyday camera.

 

[sanmich]

Yes, Michael, that helps 😉 Still, even at keh, a KO kit would be maybe 1/4-1/5 the price of something like an equivalent mamiya 7 kit. Heavy doesn't bother me much if it's not an everyday camera.

Mike,

You are welcome to come and try it.
Yes, the price really makes it a viable option for the occasional MF shooter.
But hey, I came to it by chance, some have suggested that other options, maybe more versatile (the KO has virtually only three lenses options) also exist.
For two more weeks, I can still offer you coffee, and a free KO ride. Don't 'miss the opportunity 🙂

 

[shadowfox]

Michael, I'm happy for you!

I know the satisfaction in getting a fully working camera from scraps. Yes, the CLA cost is a bit painful, but nothing that can't be reimbursed by a couple of selling gears or parts.

My 6x7 is a Mamiya Universal Press (MUP for short). But a friend of mine who had access to old photo-department in his office once lent me a Koni Omega M100 if I recall, and I had fun with its 90mm lens, got some overlapped frames because it's due for a CLA, but the film advance mechanism is quite unique.

I think together with the MUP, the KO is one of the best "investment" that produces jaw-dropping 6x7 negatives (or slides). Lots of fun to be had with these old heavy-weights 🙂

 

[jvan01]

Do you guys find a tripod necessary? If not, what's the slowest shutter speed you can manage to get sharp negatives out of? I'm using a 90mm Omegon.