Oldest camera?

Oldest camera?

  • Yes

    Votes: 548 80.7%

  • No

    Votes: 131 19.3%
  • Total voters
    679
My Leica II, which I most recently used this week, started out as a Leica I(C) in 1931. It was upgraded to its current looks in 1950 according to Leicashop. Here it is with the 9cm Elmar from 1934.

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Richard, that is an absolutely gorgeous II. Wonderful. I've been looking for such an Elmar for a while for a light-weight kit. Currently I use the quirky 2,8cm Hektor as wide.

semrich said:
1930 Leica !! Black Nickel, 1934 Nickel Elmar.
Still in use, with film in it now, fits so easy into a coat pocket,
U5622I1287572516.SEQ.0.jpg
Click to expand...

Best
Philip
 
11x14 w/Rapid Rectilinear -- Unsure of exact year, but believed to be from the 1880s, possibly 1890s. One day to be used for wet plate, but with 2 little ones under 4 that day will have to wait a bit. So I had to vote 'no'... for now :)

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My oldest camera is a Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic from 1919-early1920s? followed by a couple of late 20's & early 30's six20 and art deco Jiffys. My oldest users are 1936 Super Ikonta B 530/16, 1937 Leica IIIa, & 1939 Voigtlander Bessa 46.
 
A surprisingly complete 1955 kit : Linhof Technika III, Three schneider Kreuznach lenses : Angulon 90 mm f6.8, Xenar 150 mm f4.5, Tele-xenar 270 mm f5.5. With the necessary rangefinder knives, optional 6x9 120 mm film back, an extraordinary 'zoom' viewfinder : 90 to 360 mm, parallax corrected from 0.8 m to infinity, lens hoods, caps, manual and a 'gelb 1' filter for the Xenar. An extraordinary beast, can be hand-held like the graflex, with a rangefinder but it has tllts and swings for the lens, and the back can swing.

This is it :
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And it's a rangefinder!

I'm not using it, so...
 
Another Kodak 1, roughly from the early "teens". A Spartus TLR from the '40s and a host of fixed lens RFs from the 50s and early 60s.
 
DNG said:
Possibly a 1st year [D 56676] 1953 Contaflex I with a 45mm f/2.8 Tessar, Synchro-Compur MX shutter with speeds that the 1st version used.... B-1,2,5,10,25,50,100,250,500 and looking down on the camera from a neck strap, the scale runs from B to 500 L<R, the 2nd update (B,1,4,8,15,30,60,125,250,500) runs from B R>L

But, I have to wait for the 3rd sound in the shutter to sound... at 1/25, it is like a click, clack, (shutter opens and closes), then one last click after it closes, that is bit sluggish at slow speeds. Not sure what the 3rd click is, but, I must wait to hear it before I can tension the shutter again.


CC14-Lr-003-2014 Dec 04-Contaflex I 1953 Photo by parbib, on Flickr
Click to expand...
I own a couple of identical examples myself (well, the truth is I own at least one example of most of the different Contaflex models). Your camera will be in sound mechanical condition, however like nearly every Contaflex one encounters the shutter mechanism and probably the actuating rings for same are in need of cleaning. The shutter blades themselves could probably do with cleaning also and extended use in their current condition is going to place excessive stress on their attachment points.

That clack is not the shutter closing, it is the mirror and capping plate retracting. The last click is most likely the shutter finally closing due to the mechanism sticking.
A couple of members here at RFF have successfully managed to get their Contaflexes working correctly again. It's certainly not a model for beginners in DIY camera repair to start off with, but having said that, they aren't really as bad as their reputation suggests, either. I've made many go again.

Your Contaflex is not a 1953 model. It is one of a batch of 20,000 manufactured between March and August of 1954.
Cheers,
Brett
 
IIIf red dial self-timer, a veritable whipper-snapper at only 60! (the lens is even younger)

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I really need to find a less manky surface to photograph old gear on...
 
A Leica 1 from 1929. I'll put a few rolls a year thru it. It's nice to get back to basics and can make a fine photo if you are careful. I especially like its uncoated Elmar with Ektar. Lovely colors. Joe
 
My oldest camera was a Pony Premo 6, c 1903-07. I say was, because the body disintegrated. I saved as many parts as I could, thinking I might use them on a home-built model some time. That just never happened. My next oldest camera I plan to use is a Kodak Autographic 1a, if I ever think about it at the right time.

PF
 
My grandfather's old Leica IIIa is my oldest camera and it needs a CLA so no it doesn't get used now. And no, it's not because there's no 'Auto' function on it.
 
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