Moskva 5, the Saga Continues

[dazedgonebye]

From the top....
I bought a Moskva 5. It leaked light like crazy. I sent it to Certo6.
CLA, new red bellows and body leather. It still leaked, plus the new bellows is shadowing the film.
Sent it back to Certo6. He re-mounted the bellows and light sealed the red windows. He also, at my request, removed the double exposure prevention. The camera no longer seems to be leaking light. However, the rangefinder is now badly out of alignment in the vertical.
So, today it goes back to Certo6.
Juergen has been great on the customer service, but I'm really getting tired of messing with this thing. My luck with old cameras has been dismal and does not look to be changing. At this point, I think it is going to come back with the last major problem fixed...and I'm likely to just sell the thing. Perhaps I should save my pennies and buy something modern in MF.

 

[KoNickon]

Hmm, usually these are pretty good bets. Sorry yours has been a problem. Let Juergen fix it, and then set it aside (to let the bad karma dissipate!). I think you'll find it a nice camera.

6x9 is a bit extreme for an initial foray into medium format (if you're saying this is your first MF camera). And, a folder is never going to be as ultimately sharp as a more rigid lens setup, like a TLR or SLR. There have been some recent threads with recommendations on TLRs and other inexpensive MF systems; you might want to refer to that. Or PM me and I'll be happy to give you my 2 cents.

 

[Krosya]

Sorry to hear that. It may be a good idea to sell it and go for something different. What - it's up to you. You can still get nice folders though. Just go for good names, like Zeiss or Voightlander. I had great luck with my 6x9 Bessas. Incidentally one is for sale now. I know it's a bad tone to advertise E(icky) Bay auctions here, so I will only do it partially. If you can find it - it's there. Don't mean to offend anyone by it. Just happens to be the timing.
George

 

[dazedgonebye]

Not my first medium format actually. That would be the C220 I have for sale. I've had that for about 30 years...though honestly, I never really warmed to it.
I also have a Balda 6x6 folder that is competent, but not stellar.
I run another roll through when it comes back. Maybe I'll keep it, maybe someone will get a great deal on a newly CLA'd red moskva.

 

[doubs43]

I have a Moskva 4 that came to me looking almost new but when I checked focus on a ground glass, it was off enough to ruin the image. IMO, the previous owner tried it, became disillusioned and laid it up until it was sold to me. I re-set the infinity focus and now it is SHARP! The Moskva-5 should be giving the same kind of results. These were taken with the Moskva-4. Both were hand-held.

Walker

 

[dazedgonebye]

I haven't seen results nearly that good.
With the rangefinder off though, perhaps my point of focus was just not right.

 

[Pherdinand]

Steve
as you said, you had no LUCK with them.
Old gear like this needs indeed either thorough service or luck.

By the way your garage sale link does not work.

 

[Krosya]

So, any news on your Moskva? Hope you got it fixed right this time.
George

 

[Rich Silfver]

I have a Moskva 4 that came to me looking almost new but when I checked focus on a ground glass, it was off enough to ruin the image. IMO, the previous owner tried it, became disillusioned and laid it up until it was sold to me. I re-set the infinity focus and now it is SHARP! The Moskva-5 should be giving the same kind of results. These were taken with the Moskva-4. Both were hand-held.

Walker

Wow, that's sharp..and nice tones.

 

[dazedgonebye]

I received the Moskva back from certo6. The vertical alignment is perfect now.
Unfortunately, I've packed up my scanner in preparation for moving and now have no way to test the thing out.
I know there used to be people out there that made actual prints from the negatives instead of scans...I just don't know any of those folks. 🙂

 

[dazedgonebye]

It looks like I'll be out of the film world, for the most part, for the foreseable future. So, the moskva 5 is up for sale in the classifieds section.

BTW, anyone want 3100 sq ft on a golf course in Glendale, AZ?

 

[Krosya]

It looks like I'll be out of the film world, for the most part, for the foreseable future. So, the moskva 5 is up for sale in the classifieds section.

BTW, anyone want 3100 sq ft on a golf course in Glendale, AZ?

Sorry to hear that. I was hoping that it'd work out for you and we get to see some pics taken with it. How much for the 3100 sq ft? 😉

Also, I wanted to ask you - I tried to register with the other web site that you manage/moderate - Manual Focus cameras? But I never got a password emailed to me. What should I do?

George

 

[Buze]

Try to use a non-yahoo address, I think oomz gets rejected en-block with plenty of other servers on this slice of the network.

;D

 

[Gray Fox]

Say, Steve, how did you ship the M5? I haven't had anyone at my door yet.

John W.

 

[jdos2]

Ah, Jurgen.

Some have luck with him, some... Well, you experienced much of what I did, except I actually purchased the camera from him. Four round trips and I was done. A $300 Novar equiped lens for $500. Feh. Won't happen again. Nice guy, but not a camera repair guy.

 

[JonP]

I'd like to side with Jurgen here. I received a 6x9 Mess-Ikonta from him across the Atlantic. On its travels it got bounced, throwing the r/f way out. Rather than return it for repair, which Jurgen was happy to do, he talked me through fixing it with pictures and an idiots guide and multiple emails with monumentally thick questions. The camera is now spot on and wonderful, and I'm saving for another.

 

[clarence]

I really like this camera. It's not as sharp or as versatile as a Mamiya 6, but it's much smaller and lighter.

And with the 6x6 mask, you get a mild telephoto effect.

The first photo is a relatively low resolution 4-pass scan, while the second is a 16-pass scan. Processing and scanning were done at Fotohub here in Singapore, where it's a bit cheaper than in the UK.

The film, expired Fuji RAP100F, was exposed in Cambridge earlier this summer. There is a slight focusing error in the first shot, but in the latter, it was right on target.

Clarence

 

[Buze]

Yeah, Steve is just unlucky; my Moskva is working fantasticaly well.

As for Jurgen, I just find it odd he has statements like "you need to replace the bellows on all of them" (folders) etc. I have seen a BUNCH of them, and /none/ of them had any bellow problems. Sounds awfuly like a car repairman to me...

(Delta 400, DDX 1+9)

 

[JonP]

My M-5 is a mess, but bought it as such. As for your comment about Jurgen and folders' bellows, he only says that Agfas need their bellows replacing, and that is due to the inferior material the bellows are made from.

 

[JonP]

Just to clarify this, the inferior material was the "new" plastic coating, which had really not been optimised, rather than the traditional leather/leatherette