Oh Man! Plaubel Makina III! Back to RF.

[Nokton48]

Their web site claims that they have it. But they made a mess of backconverting the nominal size in inches to cm - it is listed as being 1mm short each edge, i.e. as 6,4x8,9cm film.

OK Thanks! Will check it out.

I wonder if it is 2 1/4" x 3 1/4"? Smaller by a bit in both dimensions than 6.5cmx9cm. But I will take what I can get 😕

Also I just won 25 sheets of outdated 6.5cmx9cm Orwo NP15, which is an 25 ASA product. Also from Bulgaria.

 

[sevo]

OK Thanks! Will check it out.

I wonder if it is 2 1/4" x 3 1/4"?

No, that would be quite a bit smaller (57x83mm) - they have none of these (a pity, as I own some unusually excellent holders for that format). They obviously made the error of converting by calculator rather than by table of equivalents, as they make the same error the other way around as well - the imperial size they give for 6.5x9cm film is 2.55x3.55"

 

[Nokton48]

No, that would be quite a bit smaller (57x83mm) - they have none of these (a pity, as I own some unusually excellent holders for that format). They obviously made the error of converting by calculator rather than by table of equivalents, as they make the same error the other way around as well - the imperial size they give for 6.5x9cm film is 2.55x3.55"

Wow!

I have indeed found it! Thank you Sevo! Wonder why it only shows up this way? Very Odd.........

https://www.fotoimpex.de/shopen/sys...ub1=Films&rub2=Sheet films&artnr=5646000&pn=0

Ordered ten boxes, so that it 500 sheets for the Plaubels 😀 We will see.

 

[Nokton48]

It's called the "Makiblitz", that little silver round Plaubel adapter for Makina flash sync. And I think I have found one from a reliable dealer. We will see. I would love to be able to use the Plaubel Makina for strobe "reportage photography". That is a use for which it is truly intended. What a history it has. And I would use film up so much more quickly! Stay tuned.

 

[Nokton48]

Plaubel Makina III Foma 200 Microdol-X

Plaubel Makina III Foma 200 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[graywolf]

Kool catalog.

Now, I suppose you are going to have to find one of those focal plane shutters? Think of that an interchangeable focal plane shutter. No wonder they did not thing a fast front shutter was important.

 

[Nokton48]

Kool catalog.

Now, I suppose you are going to have to find one of those focal plane shutters? Think of that an interchangeable focal plane shutter. No wonder they did not thing a fast front shutter was important.

1/200 is perfect for hand holding as well as 1/100 with the Makina III. In a pinch in low-light I have successfully used 1/50, and with care the photos are sharp. The focal plane shutter is 1/1000. That would be cool for stopping action. See the soccer player in the catalog. The focal plane shutter is collectable and rare and so are Makinas! 🙂 Amazing how tough this camera is, but not lightweight. And it folds up into your jacket pocket (put the film holders in the other pocket).

 

[Nokton48]

Innis Woods, Plaubel Makina III handheld, Foma 200, Microdol-X

Innis Woods Foma Makina by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

Plaubel Makina III handheld, Foma 200, Microdol-X

Makina Foma Innis Woods by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

New to me 19cm f4.8 Tele-Makinar lens for my Plaubel Makina III. This one is in absolutely beautiful condition (some I see around are not so nice). This one is correct vintage and I am looking forward to using this soon. The lens is crystal clear and absolutely clean. Funny how the glass looks so "ripply" in the digiphoto; It's not that way!

2016-02-02 12.05.49 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

These Makina accessories arrived today, from the dealer Glenn Evans in Chicago. This flash adapter (to use Makina III with modern flash sync cord), is called the "Makiblitz". Very hard to find. While I was at it, I bought a Makina III viewfinder mask, to use with my new 190mm telephoto lens, and a Makina 6x6 film back. Beautifully made and hard to find as are all the thingees for the Makina. After I clean these up a bit, they will be ready to use.


2016-02-04 15.50.24 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

The difficult to find original Makina lenshood. Hinged to open to work with the screw-in filters I have. Looks cool on the lens, too. Shown on the new 190mm.

2016-02-08 15.40.29 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Nokton48]

One last Makina III lens to complete my setup. The 73mm Orthar, with another hinged (original) Plaubel Makina Shade. Looks pretty cool and from what I can tell from the internet, it's a very sharp lens and well liked generally. I need to find the supplemental clip-on optical 73mm viewfinder mask.

Frank Marshman has now shipped my Makina III, and it's on it's way back to me, and he says I am going to absolutely love it. I can't wait!! He also completely restored my 190mm ^^ (see above) he said the years were not kind to this one, and he scrubbed and cleaned every single inside part and it's now as good as it can be.

I love this stuff; It's like a pocketable medium format with Leica quality.


2016-03-01 17.19.46 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[sevo]

I need to find the supplemental clip-on optical 73mm viewfinder mask.

It is a slip-on viewfinder lens, a brass frame with a concave lens that slides over the finder. I believe I might still have one somewhere around - I once got it with the lens, but never used it as the Orthar requires a ground glass for focusing in my Makina II setup.

 

[Nokton48]

Sevo,
I would be very interested in buying your 73mm Plaubel Makina viewfinder, if you can find it and can part with it 🙂

On my Makina III, the rangefinder works with the 73mm lens (sort of tedious, but it works!), You set the camera to the 100mm setting (as usual), focus the lens using the rangefinder, and note the distance, then collapse the camera to the 73mm configuration, and scale focus the lens, using the left-hand distance scale. Depth of field should cover any errors, I would imagine.

I am curious to know if you like your 73mm Orthar?

It is a slip-on viewfinder lens, a brass frame with a concave lens that slides over the finder. I believe I might still have one somewhere around - I once got it with the lens, but never used it as the Orthar requires a ground glass for focusing in my Makina II setup.

 

[Nokton48]

My restored Makina III is back from Frank Marshman. Shown with the 73mm Orthar, and Plaubel Makina Lens Hood, in wideangle configuration. You can focus by distance scale, or open the camera fully, use the rangefinder, remember the distance setting, and then put the camera back in wide angle mode, and set the distance. Or you can simply focus with the ground glass.

Restored Makina III by Nokton48, on Flickr

And here is a another view. You can also see my new Makiblitz Plaubel Makina Flash Adapter.

Restored Plaubel Makina II 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[sevo]

Sevo,
I would be very interested in buying your 73mm Plaubel Makina viewfinder, if you can find it and can part with it 🙂

I'll search for it.

I am curious to know if you like your 73mm Orthar?

It is rather tedious to use on the II, as you have to swap cells, and on my II there is no scale to scale focus with - so I only used it for a few tests. The image quality at f/11 is good enough, but my pre-war Biogon is as good by f/8, and that in a smaller format. Given the handling and (at least in my sample) a useful speed that quite firmly was not hand-holdable with the film speeds available back then, it is not surprising that only few people bought it when new.

 

[Nokton48]

2016-07-15 13.41.57 by Nokton48, on Flickr

My new Makina IIIR with 100mm F4.5 Anticomar (sharp lens), and my Makina III with 100mm F2.9 Anticomar (high-speed lens).

The new Makina IIIR is a bit worn, but rangefinder is good, shutter good, and should clean up nicely.

Glad to have them both! Makina IIIR has 1/400 speed shutter.

 

[Nokton48]

Makiflex Retro 320 - 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Makiflex 360mm Kern-Arau Process Lens, Foma Soft Retro 320 9x12cm (cropped) Microdol-X


Plaubel Makina III Efke 100 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Plaubel Makina III Anticomar F2.9 wide-open Efke PL100 6x9cm cut film Microdol-X

Plaubel Makina III Ilford FP4+ by Nokton48, on Flickr

Makina III F2.9 Anticomar wide-open, 6x9cm Ilford FP4+ cut film Microdol-X

Makina Innis Woods Foma by Nokton48, on Flickr

Plaubel Makina III 100mm F2.9 Anticomar wide open Foma 200 roll film Microdol-X

Makina III Foma 200 6x9 cut film by Nokton48, on Flickr

Plaubel Makina III Anticomar F2.9 wide open Foma 200 6x9 cut film Microdol-X

Makina III Efke PL100 #1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Plaubel Makina Anticomar F2.9 wide open Efke PL100 6x9 cut film Microdol-X

Makiflex Test Delta 3200 by Nokton48, on Flickr

High speed film was not an option when these cameras were new. Delta 3200 at EI 800 Schneider 360mm Tele-Arton wide-open

makiflex #6 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Makiflex 120 Schneider Angulon Foma 200 6x9 roll film Microdol-X f11 1/8 Camera on tripod

Makiflex Test #8 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Makiflex 360mm Schneider Tele-Arton Foma 200 6x9 rollfilm Microdol-X

 

[Nokton48]

Plaubel Makina III 190mm by Nokton48, on Flickr

^^^ Been out using the new Makina III, shown here with the 19cm telephoto f4.8 Anticomar. Interesting how it works, you focus as you would with the standard 100mm, then transfer the distance setting to the 190mm lens helical, not changing anything from your initial focus. It works perfectly and the ground glass back confirms perfect sharpness. Focusing this lens would be impossible without the Makina rangefinder mechanism, it goes way in and out as you turn the helical (it is very touchy). Quirky and strange but fast and sure and wonderful to use. Shown huddled around the Makina III are some of my many many boxes of 6x9cm cut film.

Been testing the 100mm F4.8 Anticomar too. The beautiful fall weather is coming, looking forward to getting out and using these babies. This camera is so much fun to use, now that I am used to it's unique shooting requirements. I also understand how Roger could become frustrated using it, there is a definite learning curve and many issues to overcome. Rolls of film back in the forties and fifties and sixties were not made to the same specs as the modern stuff we use now, but there are ways to compensate. I enjoy working through and working out the problems.

No wonder the Makinas were the favorites of the elite photo press and the rich and famous!