Newbie to folders...

@Krosya: What do you call that type of rangefinder on your Welta? I don't ike how the others look (the long tubular ones)...

edit: Your pics just finished loading... wow! Close to wide open even! Sharp! I can see the pits on the workman's nose! What lens is on the Welta? The Solida has a Xenar lens, how does that compare to the Tessar?
 
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If you don't already own one, you should also be prepared to buy a scanner that handles MF. That's another ingredient to add to the mix!
 
thinkfloyd said:
@Krosya: What do you call that type of rangefinder on your Welta? I don't ike how the others look (the long tubular one)...
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If you are asking about a small box on a top of it - it's a Voigtlander light meter. My weltas have a built-in couple to the lens rangefinder - see the square and a round windows below that black meter.
 
@Way: I know! Hahaha... my Mom is planning to get me one (so I can scan ALL our family albums, and I intend to choose one that can handle MF negs!)

@Krosya: Oh right, I forgot that Weltas all have coupled rangefinders!
 
I guess someone should answer your original question. Between the Tessar and Xenar, I think there really isn't an appreciable difference. You might see a difference if you blew them up way more than you are supposed to, but otherwise you'll see little if any difference between normal sized prints from either. The Solinar, if you can get it tuned just right, also is about the same -- but it is a lot more difficult to get it tuned just right. Now it isn't going to be by a lot, but I think the Color Heliar, Color Skopar, and Xenon are a little better.

BTW, I hate those stick-type accessory rangefinders too, but that isn't a rangefinder. It is a light meter. If you are going to get an accessory rangefinder, the ones to look at are: Voigtlander, Watameter, Telex, Prazisa, CIP, and Certo. If you are going to get your camera releathered, the Watameter, Telex, Prazisa and CIP can be releathered too, so they will match. The Voigtlander and Certo rangefinders are not leathered and will (or won't, as the case may be) match anything. One thing to be aware of when buying these things is that some measure in feet and some in meters. Unless you really like doing math, trying to get one that uses the same units of measurement that your camera's focus scale does is usually a good idea.
 
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MF folders

MF folders

No one has mentioned 100 year old 120 folding Kodaks. I have re-bellowsed several and they give vintage looking pix. Interesting with the right subject.

Since the subject of 120 scans is already open, I need first hand user advice on the best scanner for 120 and 135 B&W and color negs as well as chromes. Maybe this is already in the archives but I can't seem to find the thread. They seem to always be upgrading all things digital. An older one that works great and is cheap because it is an old model would be nice! Now, the only way I have of getting pix on the computer is to scan analog prints on my el cheapo all-in-one.

Thanks!

SID
 
puderse said:
No one has mentioned 100 year old 120 folding Kodaks. I have re-bellowsed several and they give vintage looking pix. Interesting with the right subject.

Since the subject of 120 scans is already open, I need first hand user advice on the best scanner for 120 and 135 B&W and color negs as well as chromes. Maybe this is already in the archives but I can't seem to find the thread. They seem to always be upgrading all things digital. An older one that works great and is cheap because it is an old model would be nice! Now, the only way I have of getting pix on the computer is to scan analog prints on my el cheapo all-in-one.

Thanks!

SID
Click to expand...

I have been scanning 120 for quite a while. In my opinion, you can get by with a lot less scanning power on 120 film - my old Epson 2400 does just as good a job on 120 as my Epson 4490. I did have to order the optional transparency adapter for the 2400, it was not originally designed to do film.

But the 4490 is on sale at Epson's website, a $30 MIR brings the USD cost to $119, and nothing else to buy. Works great. Is that cheap enough?
 
I, too, am looking for a scanner. A cheap one that works great... I figure, why need something like a coolscan, when the scanning is for web purposes? If I needed to print, I can always use my negatives right? Anyway, to go back on topic, I am super close to purchasing the Franka Solida IIL and accessory rangefinder... J. Kreckel just replied to my email and offered me a great deal that includes shipping here to the Philippines... any last minute thoughts? Suggestions? Violent reactions? The Solida IIL has metering, is 6x6, within my budget, and has a Xenar lens (the real deal breaker for me). With the accessory rangefinder, I got all I need...
 
also welcome to RFF thinkfloyd,

personaly i would not suggest the Solida IIL , the xenar lens are excellent (much better than Novar's) but the light meters arnt reliable on the old gals (if they work at all). i much prefer a hand held if you need one.

not sure what your budget is, but it appears coupled rangefinder equiped cameras are out...possibly even a camera with a built in rangefinder is too exspensive (there is a difference). so that leaves what we call scale focus..bmattock pretty much covered scale focus but perhaps was unclear on using the hyperfocal marks as aids for a quick point and shoot focusing method, also used with scale focus camera.

on the pic below you can see the scale distance (in feet on this camera) around the front lens element, you guess the distance to the subject and turn the lens element until it shows the distance you guessed (unless you use an accessory rangefinder to measure distance). to use the hyperfocal method if say you were shooting friends at a gathering, you could set the camera to 10 feet (marked in red) and then set the aperature to between f8-f11 (also marked in red on this camera but not in picture) and simply take you pictures at random and everthing between around 7' to 15' will be in focus, if you set this lens to its other red mark of 30' then everthing between 15' and infinity will be in focus

Isolettesolinarprontor-1.jpg
 
thinkfloyd said:
I, too, am looking for a scanner. A cheap one that works great... I figure, why need something like a coolscan, when the scanning is for web purposes? If I needed to print, I can always use my negatives right? Anyway, to go back on topic, I am super close to purchasing the Franka Solida IIL and accessory rangefinder... J. Kreckel just replied to my email and offered me a great deal that includes shipping here to the Philippines... any last minute thoughts? Suggestions? Violent reactions? The Solida IIL has metering, is 6x6, within my budget, and has a Xenar lens (the real deal breaker for me). With the accessory rangefinder, I got all I need...
Click to expand...

I'd read this thread before placing an order:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26972
 
thinkfloyd said:
I, too, am looking for a scanner. A cheap one that works great... I figure, why need something like a coolscan, when the scanning is for web purposes? If I needed to print, I can always use my negatives right? Anyway, to go back on topic, I am super close to purchasing the Franka Solida IIL and accessory rangefinder... J. Kreckel just replied to my email and offered me a great deal that includes shipping here to the Philippines... any last minute thoughts? Suggestions? Violent reactions? The Solida IIL has metering, is 6x6, within my budget, and has a Xenar lens (the real deal breaker for me). With the accessory rangefinder, I got all I need...
Click to expand...

folding cameras really are great, but as keen as you are i would suggest just a little bit of restraint if you can...you only started the thread a couple of hours ago and there are quite a lot of options out there (more than you can imagine), a few finer details to learn yet, maybe just a few more hours before making a definite decision 😉😀 , perhaps a sleep on it approach 😉
 
What about the Perkeo I with 75/3.5 Color-Skopar lens? It has no rangefinder and no meter but I'll have no budget for the accessory rangefinder then... or the Mess Ikonta, with uncoupled rangefinder, but my budget for it is only for the one with the Novar lens...(lens is a big factor for me)
 
thinkfloyd said:
What about the Perkeo I with 75/3.5 Color-Skopar lens? It has no rangefinder and no meter but I'll have no budget for the accessory rangefinder then... or the Mess Ikonta, with uncoupled rangefinder, but my budget for it is only for the one with the Novar lens...(lens is a big factor for me)
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the perkeo with colour scopar are excellent, the lens is great for a scale focus lens (again much better than the novar) . somewhat difficult to find on the perkeo I and more common on the perkeo II (i like the perkeo I & II a lot, someone on here has had trouble with the auto film stop on the P II but i have never had a problem and find it excellent) ....you could guess your distances for a while until you can purchase a rangefinder later, some of those mentioned by fallisphoto can be picked up cheap $10-20 or so, on occassion ,not from J kreckle but on the bay.
 
chippy said:
folding cameras really are great, but as keen as you are i would suggest just a little bit of restraint if you can...you only started the thread a couple of hours ago and there are quite a lot of options out there (more than you can imagine), a few finer details to learn yet, maybe just a few more hours before making a definite decision 😉😀 , perhaps a sleep on it approach 😉
Click to expand...

Actually, I've been exchanging emails with J. Kreckel since last September. I started this thread since I (sorta) narrowed down my choices, and wanted a 2nd (3rd, 4th, etc..) opinion. I'm in no rush really. I can wait awhile. I intend to order next week. If I had the cash, I'd go for the Super Ikonta IV or the Certo Six, but money is a factor... (I also just joined yesterday, since I only found out about this forum the other day.)

Solida IIL with acc. RF - bang for buck, great lens, with lightmeter
Perkeo I - no frills, superb lens
Mess Ikonta with Novar lens - uncoupled rangefinder, good lens

Where else, other than ebay, can i buy CLA'd folders? Folders are pretty scant here, and I doubt no one knows how to CLA one, so I have to be sure what I get works well...
 
Hands down, the best of those three is the Perkeo I with c/scoper (be sure its a scopar and not the vaskar, most perkeo I, come with vaskar, the vaskar is good for a 3 element lens but the scopar 4 element is choice). probably just has the prontor shutter but that what the franka has as well. as nice as a light meter sounds it will disapoint, either imediately or sooner or later--waste of time in almost all cases i feel on these cameras- the voigtlanders are great quality, super small to fit in your pocket, feel good in the hand, with nice lens. the bellows on them is usually good and not much to go wrong except the prontor shutters, usually just a good clean will get them working well if they arnt already working well--thats all JK is said to do to them.

there are a few other sellers on ebay as well , that are reliable, but whether they have what you want in stock right now, is unlikely. there are quite a few people that can service these as well.
 
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@Chippy: You're right about the meter, I'm sure in the long run, I'll be referring to a dedicated light meter... what I like about the Perkeo I is its size. Hmmm, it's also a Voigtlander so no question on its quality... can you direct me to some of the reputable sellers that you speak of? (I rarely use ebay, since I got ripped off once...)
 
Here is a pick with the Franka Solida

Here is a pick with the Franka Solida

Here is picture with Fuji RIP Tungsten. I have 2 Franka Solida IIL's and a Franka Solida III all with radionars lenses. I am very happy with them. I tend to notice you can get vignetting in the corners. Here is a picture, hand held scanned with the Epson 4990 Photo using the medium format tray from bettering scanning.com. I have more pics available. I believe I didn't apply sharpening on the photo, just defaults on the epson scan.

Another folder I really like is the Agfa Record III with solinar lens, I got excellent results with Fuji 100. The format is rectangular and similar to a dslr. If you look in previous posts, I posted some pictures.
 

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its late here so i cant think that well, but beedhams has a good reputation as does Mark Harma but i cant remember his handle (ebay name), he also services folders..quite a few others as well service...cant think who it is atm (have it saved somewhere) but i think theres a lady that repairs shutters as well in the US, all types and sizes prices start from $50 from memory. i think she does folders as well but doesnt speclise in lens problems

a couple of perkeo's on ebay with scopar atm, one in Australia , poor picture but looks like maybe a perkeo 1 with scopar to me, perhaps with a sychro compur shutter i think as well (1-500), its in fairly average condition but possibly worth a look for the price-price is low with 16 hours to go...another one (perkeo 2 w/synchro compur) in very nice condition, he 'says' all is good with the camera, i would enquire if the fillm stop mechanism works --for the right price it looks good-ask questions
 
I also have no experience with either of the OP's choices...I'll still chime in...naturally.

I'll second an earlier poster's thought about the Balda Super Baldax. I love mine. I'll also add the Iskra as a recommendation. I don't think you can fault images out of either of those cameras.
 
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