No more 35mms - Except for a lever Tower / Nicca

[goamules]

I've used a fair amount of rangefinders before settling on a Canon P, but I still like the Barnack types smaller size, and their myriad of controls and knobs and viewports, reminiscent of an early lunar probe. So I sometimes shoot a Canon IVSB, Fed, or Leica iiic. I've sold or am selling the rest, who really needs more than one or two 35mm cameras?

Yet I told myself I'd really like to try a lever-wind Barnack type - the Nicca 5L or Tower 45/46. It seems like adding that feature would really make using these small ones more enjoyable.

I just got Tower 45/46, coming soon. I'm crossing my fingers the more complicated lever mechanism works well, and the curtains are good, etc. Can anyone who has used one tell me how the rangefinder views compare to other Barnacks? I read some Niccas used rose colored glass in one port. I see it has two viewports that are close together. Any other features that improve on the Leica?

 

[tunalegs]

What exactly are you asking? How the Tower 45/46 compares to a Leica IIIc? I'm pretty sure the viewfinder an rangefinder eyepieces are basically the same distance apart on the Tower and the Leica.

 

[goamules]

What exactly are you asking? How the Tower 45/46 compares to a Leica IIIc? I'm pretty sure the viewfinder an rangefinder eyepieces are basically the same distance apart on the Tower and the Leica.

Yeah, is the view better, worse, or the same in terms of contrast, ease of use with glasses, all the factors that are usually discussed. Not just the effective rangefinder baselengths (I know all of these will have about the same focus accuracy). But more than just asking a question, I wanted to start a conversation with other users of these, and see how they like them.

 

[splitimageview]

The RF is very similar to most Barnacks. Difficult to tell them apart, actually. The lever mechanism is not complicated. 🙂

I would venture that the particulars of a specific camera are more important (i.e., does it have a good RF patch, etc.)

 

[goamules]

Great, thanks. If it's as good as my Canon and Leica, good deal. The much older Fed has a very tiny slot to view through, and is much harder to focus.

I'm also looking forward to the hinged back to help with bottom loading. I still carry a loupe with my other cameras so I can see down into the bottom to be sure I've got a tooth engaged. A pain.

 

[tennis-joe]

I have a Tower Lever 45/46 that I had cleaned by Youxin Ye and it's tops. He cleaned the viewfinder and it is like new. One of my favorite cameras, especially with a Nikkor 50f2.0 lens. One can really shoot faster with a lever-wind but it is a litttle bit heavier than a Leica IIIf that I have also. Recommend it highly.
Joe

 

[johannielscom]

Had one once and sold it. Now why did I decide that was a good idea...:bang:

 

[goamules]

Sounds good, I hope to get it in the next couple days. It comes with just a 135mm lens, so I'm trying to decide what to shoot the first roll with. Maybe a Jupiter 8 F2.0 would work nice and is very light being aluminum.

 

[goamules]

Got it! The package came at dark, so I didn't get to shoot a roll of expired Tri-x like I wanted to test it. Will do that tomorrow, but all the speeds sound right, the curtains look nice, and the lever wind seems smooth. Also included was a Tower mini manual, and a tabletop tripod. The rangefinder patch seems pretty good in the darkened house. All is good so far.

 

[goamules]

And here it is. The camera appears to be in such good shape I'm chancing a roll of Portra to test it!

 

[splitimageview]

Sweet. Tower/Niccas are my favorite Barnack clones...

 

[Spicy]

Looks a beaut. If only there was a Barnack with a rear door (M4+ style petal film loading) that didn't need trimmed leaders, with lever rewind and a unified finder, it'd be my perfect camera. Oh, and a shutter dial that could be adjusted after the shutter is cocked.

Basically an M that was the size of a Barnack and looked like it :-D.

I think the late Niccas/Towers come closest -- I don't like the side-opening film doors on the Canons. That part of my P feels flimsy.

 

[goamules]

Looks a beaut. If only there was a Barnack with a rear door (M4+ style petal film loading) that didn't need trimmed leaders, with lever rewind and a unified finder, it'd be my perfect camera. Oh, and a shutter dial that could be adjusted after the shutter is cocked...

I think most of that is in the Towers and Niccas. It has a rear door, I just loaded film without trimming the leader (to see if it worked - it did), lever rewind, and you do adjust the shutter after it's cocked on Barnacks. The only thing missing from your list is a multi-focal length viewfinder!

 

[raid]

I recently got a Tower with a Nikon 5cm/2, which I had CLA'd by Youxin.

 

[Spicy]

Right, right. I meant adjustable before cocking the shutter, heh.

 

[goamules]

I got my first roll back, and they all came out perfectly! Very smooth winding and unloading, quiet snick of a shutter, no light leaks carrying it for a couple hours in bright desert sun. No need for a CLA. I'm convinced, this is my carry camera now.

Portra 160 with Canon 50/1.5:

 

[goamules]

It works good with expired Tri-X too.

 

[buckwill]

hi my name is buck williams, i am new guy here,, disabled viet vet, i apologize if this is in wrong place, i have a very fine nicca, does not have a model #,, on top just says nicca camera company and film plane mark. O with a line thru it, serial number 406XX lens all chrome nikkor-H 1:2 f=5cm ser 6269XX, film goes in from bottom thru slot,, thumbwheel wind,, leather and strap in beautiful shape, can someone tell me approximately what i have,, mebbe what year and model, thanks buck,, to other viet vets out there,, welcome home brother

 

[Red Robin]

Sounds like a nice camera+lens . Have you been using it long? I have a similar lens works great. Anyway welcome, and member "Raid " may be able to direct you to more information on your camera.

 

[xayraa33]

hi my name is buck williams, i am new guy here,, disabled viet vet, i apologize if this is in wrong place, i have a very fine nicca, does not have a model #,, on top just says nicca camera company and film plane mark. O with a line thru it, serial number 406XX lens all chrome nikkor-H 1:2 f=5cm ser 6269XX, film goes in from bottom thru slot,, thumbwheel wind,, leather and strap in beautiful shape, can someone tell me approximately what i have,, mebbe what year and model, thanks buck,, to other viet vets out there,, welcome home brother

It sounds like you have a Nicca III camera from around 1952 or 53.

The same camera re-badged as "Tower" was sold by Sears at around that time also.