Oh Man! Plaubel Makina III! Back to RF.

The Makina is really a reportage camera, made to be used hand held. But there are times that I would like to attach mine is a smallish tripod. I have a Star-D tripod which is a Leitz Tiltall copy, I think I will try using that. My new solution for attaching the camera, is the Leitz Ball Head. This should fit horizontally on the camera, not blocking the roll back advance knob (Which is really a major issue). If it does I can remove some material with my metal grinder. Verticals are no problem; there is a tripod socket also on that side of the camera, any tripod will fit. Also my Makina III body now has 1/4 to 3/8 tripod inserts installed, so now it will attach to 3/8" tripod screws.

Don't need to use a tripod much with these cameras but I'm hoping this will work well. This solution cost me $25.

Leitz Ball Head for Plaubel Makina by Nokton48, on Flickr
 
Horizonal Format tripod Makina III issue resolved. Very solid setup. This will work great and the tripod weighs very little. I can easily reach the film back advance knob with plenty of room for my fingers. This is the lightest weight tripod I have in my studio. This will get some use believe me. And now I am thinking I want a Leitz Tabletop tripod to use with the Makina on location. That can go folded up in a Domke bag!

Leitz Ball Head Plaubel Makina IIIR Star D tripod by Nokton48, on Flickr
 
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Yesterday my Wife and I went to the local Art Museum. We had a nice tour and I shot two rolls of Delta 3200 120 film in my Makina III. I shot at 1/50 and 1/30 at F2.9, so it will be interesting to see what I will get. I think I will develop in Ilford DDX. I rated the film at EI 800. I tried this once before with my Plaubel Makiflex, and it worked well.

Such high speed films were not around in the era of Plaubel Makinas.
 
Penumbra Foundation by Nokton48, on Flickr


Penumbra_Foundation 3_016 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Penumbra_Foundation 4_212 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Penumbra_Foundation 2_161 by Nokton48, on Flickr


Geoff Berliner is quite an interesting Guy. He has hundreds of cameras, including many early Plaubel Makinas and other Plaubels as well. And about 1500 or so lenses. I thought I had a few! I think we are becoming good friends! Here are some YouTubes on Geoff.

He has a repair man in his building full time and he has given him one of his Makiflexes (not working) to learn on. I am sending him one of my Makiflexes that needs adjustments and CLA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0OsjSjjwJY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSFsElOBY-s
 
My Makina IIIR is coming back tomorrow from Wizcam. He's the Guy in NYC who advertises fixing Makinas on Ebay. This is my second camera going to him. He does fabulous work and has a stockpile of old Makina parts! 😎

This camera I bought to get the rare lens, the 100mm F4.2 Anticomar. I sent that along as well. It will be interesting to see what he does with this one. 😛
 
Two Makinas My IIIR and III CLAed by Nokton48, on Flickr

My somewhat corroded Makina IIIR is now back from Wizcam in NYC and has been through a complete mechanical CLA. I bought this body to get the lens; the rare F4.2 100mm Anticomar. Wizcam did a fantastic job. All I need to do now is apply some black camera body dye I bought from Cameratools, to the bellows and leather parts, and buff them up bright and shiny. I did this with my first body ( a III) and it looks like new to the casual eye. This IIIR has been rode hard, but works like new and soon will look like it too.

I'll be using these cameras extensively this spring. They are great for folding up and carrying around, although a bit heavy. I can deal with that. And they are built with Leica-like build quality! 🙂
 
If you don't mind an interruption in the monologue, wonder whether you've ever run with one of the other Makina's? Like the 67 ofr 670 before you came to these particular animals? Just curious.
 
roscoetuff said:
If you don't mind an interruption in the monologue, wonder whether you've ever run with one of the other Makina's? Like the 67 ofr 670 before you came to these particular animals? Just curious.
Click to expand...

That's actually a very good question! Monologue, LOL. Personally I'm surprised there isn't more interest here in old Makinas, especially from the Leica Guys. I do know a couple of individuals that are rather fanatical about old Makinas.

I've never been too excited by the newer modern Makinas, these do the job and Yes they do evoke a sort of "steampunk" mentality that I find very appealing. Repurposing old stuff for modern uses. The newer modern ones are not the same camera at all in my eyes. Also being totally mechanical they will likely be running a very much longer time than the expensive newer electronic ones. I sure see a lot of them on Ebay.

I guess I'm just an old-school type of Guy. It's like the difference between a Leica R4 and a IIF. I'd prefer the IIF. I agree with the "camera is just a box" line of reasoning, but why not use "The Rolls Royce of Photography"? (According to old Plaubel literature).

Also I can remember when these cameras sold for really big money. Now they have become much more affordable.
 
Hi,
I've just bought a chrome Makina IIS (I think so, but maybe is a II, only) and it looks like the rangefinder is misaligned, both vertically and horizontally. Even the half-translucid second image is way to the left, not centered at all. Anyone know if it is a difficult adjust to do oneself, or has some pdf manual about it?


Many thanks in advance.
 
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