David Murphy
Veteran
I have a Tower 48 which I reviewed informally on my blog. It's a pleasing camera to use: light and precise - it just has a nice feel and it looks good too.
No more 35mms - Except for a lever Tower / Nicca
- Thread starter goamules
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johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
IIRC the Tower '45' had the Nikkor 2.0/50mm lens fitted, while the Tower '46' had the Nikkor 1.4/50mm lens. Both bodies were identical: lever-wind, flip-up back door, ratcheting, up-counting frame counter, 1/25th synced.
Think I'll dub my newly-acquired Tower a type '44', since I'm buying one without the lens! 😛 But, it will have the Canon 2.8/28mm and the W-Nikkor 1.8/35mm and a Voigtländer minifinder so I guess we'll be fine...😎
Selling my chrome wartime Leica II off shortly to partially cover for the expenses. Oh well.
Think I'll dub my newly-acquired Tower a type '44', since I'm buying one without the lens! 😛 But, it will have the Canon 2.8/28mm and the W-Nikkor 1.8/35mm and a Voigtländer minifinder so I guess we'll be fine...😎
Selling my chrome wartime Leica II off shortly to partially cover for the expenses. Oh well.
raid
Dad Photographer
I think that my camera is a Tower 35.
I like it.
I like it.
S
squareshooter
Guest
I had a Leica 3f with several lenses back in the 1960s and was not that crazy about it. I had a Leica M2R in the 1970s and it was pretty nice. I think the Tower or Nicca with the M-type upgrades is one fine camera and have been trying to convince myself that I cannot NOT afford one. The camera is a semi-secret gem.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Definitely looking forward to mine! I'm keeping my FILCAs to load film into it and hope to bump into a nice Nikkor 50mm someday, when I can afford one...
The little chrome Leica II will be missed, but I'll have the black&nickel one to console me, and take on the Tower with its lever winding and flip-up backdoor.
Once it arrives (in weeks, Dutch customs are veeery slow...) I will post a picture of it here. And, it will have a gear article on my website too!
The little chrome Leica II will be missed, but I'll have the black&nickel one to console me, and take on the Tower with its lever winding and flip-up backdoor.
Once it arrives (in weeks, Dutch customs are veeery slow...) I will post a picture of it here. And, it will have a gear article on my website too!
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
It arrived!
It arrived!
Here it is, my newly-acquired Tower. The real deal, with transport lever and rear filmdoor. Other improvements over the lovely Leica II that I let go off to fund this marvel: a flash sync, slower times, rangefinder magnification and strap lugs.
Tested it with my 1.8/35mm W-Nikkor and the lens and camera agree 100% in focusing. A match made in heaven it seems!
Loaded a FILCA and found I need to ever so slightly unlock that myself before installing the base plate, the little metal triangle on the bottom plate is a wee bit too narrow to open the spring lock on the FILCA itself. Once I unlock the cassette myself, the bottom lock easily slides it open when locking.
Nice hefty camera, a bit 'fatter' than a Leica and it feels good in my hands. Currently looking for a nice supple strap that will complement it. Maybe leather, maybe silk...?😎
More pictures here, it will be a full article someday soon!
It arrived!
Here it is, my newly-acquired Tower. The real deal, with transport lever and rear filmdoor. Other improvements over the lovely Leica II that I let go off to fund this marvel: a flash sync, slower times, rangefinder magnification and strap lugs.
Tested it with my 1.8/35mm W-Nikkor and the lens and camera agree 100% in focusing. A match made in heaven it seems!
Loaded a FILCA and found I need to ever so slightly unlock that myself before installing the base plate, the little metal triangle on the bottom plate is a wee bit too narrow to open the spring lock on the FILCA itself. Once I unlock the cassette myself, the bottom lock easily slides it open when locking.
Nice hefty camera, a bit 'fatter' than a Leica and it feels good in my hands. Currently looking for a nice supple strap that will complement it. Maybe leather, maybe silk...?😎
More pictures here, it will be a full article someday soon!
goamules
Well-known
You're going to enjoy using it. I've sold or retired most of my Barnack types, after I bought one of these.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Thanks Garrett, I'm sure I will! I had one before, but sold it to fund something I cannot even recall now. Not going to make that mistake again!
My 35mm W-Nikkor is the perfect match for this. I like the shutter sound. It sounds louder than a Leica but the sound is very 'decisive', the shutter fires as if it was new! The whole camera looks like it too, actually...😎 I've fitted a braided leather strap that needs some extra use to get more supple, it was a never-used dog leash for a small dog before I got my hands on it. 😀
My 35mm W-Nikkor is the perfect match for this. I like the shutter sound. It sounds louder than a Leica but the sound is very 'decisive', the shutter fires as if it was new! The whole camera looks like it too, actually...😎 I've fitted a braided leather strap that needs some extra use to get more supple, it was a never-used dog leash for a small dog before I got my hands on it. 😀
Very nice, Johan. I had one of those a few years ago, it was too nice to use...
Brian Legge
Veteran
Ooo nice! That is on my list of cameras I hope to try some day. I haven't had a chance to handle one so I don't know how it would stack up ergonomically to the Canon IID2 or Leica IIIc but I its definitely temping to give it a shot. 🙂
Love it!
Do you have to trim the film leader like with the Barnacks?
Do you have to trim the film leader like with the Barnacks?
raid
Dad Photographer
Tower 35 with Nikkor 50/2.
Archlich
Well-known
Does it have frame lines in finder?
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
No frame lines, this is a screw mount camera so there is no bayonet on the lenses that would trigger different frame lines.
The viewfinder is a 50mm frame in itself. I use my beloved Voigtländer Minifinder to frame 35 and 28 lenses.
The viewfinder is a 50mm frame in itself. I use my beloved Voigtländer Minifinder to frame 35 and 28 lenses.
The minifinder is a little gem. I often wonder why so many of the external viewfinders are so BIG. Another cool little VF is the Ricoh GV-2, which is 28mm only but very light (9 grams) and nearly as small as the pricey Voigt.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
unconfirmed suspicion:
I currently have a W-Nikkor 1.8/35mm attached to my Tower camera. Its closest focus is 3.5 ft, meaning approx. 1 mtr.
When I take the lens off the camera and move in to a power light on my desk monitor, I can move in to approx. 70 cms before the images in VF and RF line up again.
Seems the Tower is capable of focusing closer than 1 mtr, if the lens can do so! I'm pretty happy with that, since I have a Tanar 2.0/50mm coming that can focus close to 70 cms!
I'll report back once the lens arrives.
I currently have a W-Nikkor 1.8/35mm attached to my Tower camera. Its closest focus is 3.5 ft, meaning approx. 1 mtr.
When I take the lens off the camera and move in to a power light on my desk monitor, I can move in to approx. 70 cms before the images in VF and RF line up again.
Seems the Tower is capable of focusing closer than 1 mtr, if the lens can do so! I'm pretty happy with that, since I have a Tanar 2.0/50mm coming that can focus close to 70 cms!
I'll report back once the lens arrives.
Johan, you are on to something here. My Tower (a lever wind, but no flip up back) appears to be capable of the same...what other lenses are you aware, that will focus to 0.7m that are LTM?
Brian Legge
Veteran
Modified Nikkors?
Jan Pedersen
Well-known
Barnacks will do that to or at least my IIIf will. I have not measured the distance but a rough guess is 0.7m.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Robert, Brian,
the modified Nikkor 50mms are the only ones I can think of too. Seems we need more people to help out and chime in.
No doubt more lenses can do this. What about modern-day Voigtländers? Any 0.7mtr-capable lenses there?
the modified Nikkor 50mms are the only ones I can think of too. Seems we need more people to help out and chime in.
No doubt more lenses can do this. What about modern-day Voigtländers? Any 0.7mtr-capable lenses there?
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