Konica Pearl I film advance

[jamin-b]

I recently picked up a Konica Pearl I (uncoupled rangefinder) for a nice price. It is surprisingly clean and seems to be fully functional. I am a relative rookie in medium format, and especially the antique models, and one thing is baffling me (and i would prefer not to wast too much film figuring it out....)

the film advance is by a key on the bottom plate, and there is an orange window with sliding blind door to view the film advance. However, since this is a 6x4.5 if i wait to see the next number on the film roll, won't I be lining up the film for a 6x6, and thus wasting exposures? Is a double, 360 degree turn of the key equal to a full frame advance? And what is the purpose of the orange window if the film will not indicate when a proper 6x4.5 frame has been advanced.

Thanks for your insights.

 

[VictorM.]

The paper backing on roll film has more than one set of numbers printed on it. The window in the camera is positioned to show the correct set of numbers.

 

[jnoir]

What VictorM said.

Here my two Semi Pearl:

As you can see both have an advance mechanism by key, like yours.

You may notice that the one on the left has just one window in the middle of the lower part, while the one on the right has double windows in the upper part of the rear door, meaning that it is the oldest of the two.

Once upon a time, two 6x4.5 negatives were made out of one 6x9 frame. In those early years, backing papers did not include the markings for this size, just 6x9 and 6x6 which were the "traditional" formats. Camera makers addressed this by using two red windows on the 6x9 position: you position the number on the first window, then advance until the same number appears on the second one.

When film makers started to include the 6x4.5 marks on the backing paper, camera makers switched to one single red window since that was all photographers needed. I assume yours is like the camera on the left from my picture, so you just align each number from 1 to 16, and you're good to go.
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