Michael P.
Bronica RF
1965 Yashica Mat, in perfect working order.
Oldest camera?
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sfj
Member
Probably my oldest is a Kodak Model 0 Graphic from the 1920s - focal plane shutter, elegant knobs, nice to hold.
Luddite Frank
Well-known
Flat-out oldest Camera ?
Toss-up between:
Rochester View 8x10 (c. 1895), s/n: 2912, with "Special Rapid Rectilinear 8 x 10" lens, # 4373, from "Ralph J. Golsen, Chicago", in a Bausch & Lomb "Unicum" pneumatic shutter, T, B, 1 , 1/2, 1/5, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100; f: 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 US (Uniform System; iris). Has homebrew 8x10 > 4x5 reducing back; bellows have a lot of gaffers' tape (?) on the insides of the folds... have shot a few sheets of 4x5 with it... has potential; am hoping to find correct 8x10 back for it some day.
or
Rochester Optical "Pony Premo SR", 4x5 self-casing... little jewel of a camera, about the size of a Graphic 2x3 when folded-up; also Unicum Pneumatic shutter, US stop system (iris). Has lovely purple bellows. Takes modern 4x5 holders, came with 8 original plate holders, two printing frames, couple of homemade brass oval printing masks, about 50 4x5 carboard mounts, and a crumbling instruction book... this was someone's "kit" from the 1890's.
Have shot a few sheets in this one too; a bit fiddly to use (film-holder tends to pull-out of the camera when you pull the dark-slide ! )... has a reflex finder on the bed, but also ground-glass focusing screen if you want to be a "purist".
Front rise/fall, L/R shift, rear tilt & pan... c. 1895
and/or
Rochester Optical "Rev Back Premo" 5x7 self-casing, s/n: 64156; has double-extension bellows , front rise/fall, rear tilt & pan. The "Revolving Back" feature actually means the spring back can be unclipped and rotated 90 deg to give choice of horizontal or vertical format; not a true "revolving back" like you'd find a on a modern mono-rail. Usual B&L Unicum pneumatic shutter, US stops (iris), "triple convertible lens": choice of using only front or rear cell, or both, to achieve desired focal length.
This one needs some shutter work and have to check integrity of bellows, but I have some Ilford FP-4 5x7 film in the fridge, and some modern Riteway holders, so I'm hoping to try it out soon.
Oldest 35mm:
Leica D (black II), s/n 77xxx, nickel Elmar 50, with "11 o'clock inifinity lock".
Very nice cosmetics, shutter drags when the temp goes below 50 deg F, so it needs a CLA.
Oldest functional 35mm:
Leica F (black III), s/n 117xxx, Summar 50. PC sync added (back , right of VF eyepiece). Body seems to work well; cosmetics too nice for me to want to add wear, but it's taken some very nice pics.
Oldest user RF 35mm:
Leica III (chrome), s/n 134xxx; ugly cosmetics, peeling chrome, but works very well. This is my "everyday Barnack", in the bag are: Summicron 50mm w/ Hoya UV filter, Canon f 1.8 35mm, Elmar 90 (1950's), Hektor 135 (black, pre-war, coated); Summicron "barndoor" shade, round shade for long lenses, 36mm clamp-on to E-39 filter adapter, my Gossen Luna-Six meter, cuticle scissors for trimming leader, cable release, 39mm Hoya polarizer, a Nikon Varifocal accy finder (that "accidentally" came with a Super Rokkor 135 lens; didn't pay attention to the accy finder when chasing that lens on e-bay...), and a brown Eveready case. All in a meduium size Tammac DSLR bag.
Oldest SLR (sorry!):
Exakta VX ( US Varex), c 1955, with 50mm CZJ f 3 Tessar, 135 Schacht Travegon, 35mm Soligor pre-set.; prism finder, although I do have the waist-level finder, and the "rare" penta-prism w/ meter (not working). Was my daily user; still works.
User SLR:
Pentax SP-500 (Asahi), 1960 (?)
Oldest MF RF:
Super-Ikonta 6x9; pre-war, nickle; uncoated 4.5 Tessar in Compur.
missing 6x6 mask, somebody gave it a black paint-job; needs CLA, so it's going to Jurgen soon.
User MF RF:
Super Ikonta 645, postwar, coated 3.5 Tessar in Compur-Rapid. Plating pitted, but it works well.
and then there's all the other "junk"...😀
On the "fix list":
Contax IIIa BD (CLA), Leica IIIf (CLA, new curtains), Rolleiflex, Ciroflex, Ikonta 531, Nikon S (CLA, curtains); and others... hope I get them done before film goes away !
Happy shooting ! 😎
Luddite Frank
Toss-up between:
Rochester View 8x10 (c. 1895), s/n: 2912, with "Special Rapid Rectilinear 8 x 10" lens, # 4373, from "Ralph J. Golsen, Chicago", in a Bausch & Lomb "Unicum" pneumatic shutter, T, B, 1 , 1/2, 1/5, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100; f: 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 US (Uniform System; iris). Has homebrew 8x10 > 4x5 reducing back; bellows have a lot of gaffers' tape (?) on the insides of the folds... have shot a few sheets of 4x5 with it... has potential; am hoping to find correct 8x10 back for it some day.
or
Rochester Optical "Pony Premo SR", 4x5 self-casing... little jewel of a camera, about the size of a Graphic 2x3 when folded-up; also Unicum Pneumatic shutter, US stop system (iris). Has lovely purple bellows. Takes modern 4x5 holders, came with 8 original plate holders, two printing frames, couple of homemade brass oval printing masks, about 50 4x5 carboard mounts, and a crumbling instruction book... this was someone's "kit" from the 1890's.
Have shot a few sheets in this one too; a bit fiddly to use (film-holder tends to pull-out of the camera when you pull the dark-slide ! )... has a reflex finder on the bed, but also ground-glass focusing screen if you want to be a "purist".
Front rise/fall, L/R shift, rear tilt & pan... c. 1895
and/or
Rochester Optical "Rev Back Premo" 5x7 self-casing, s/n: 64156; has double-extension bellows , front rise/fall, rear tilt & pan. The "Revolving Back" feature actually means the spring back can be unclipped and rotated 90 deg to give choice of horizontal or vertical format; not a true "revolving back" like you'd find a on a modern mono-rail. Usual B&L Unicum pneumatic shutter, US stops (iris), "triple convertible lens": choice of using only front or rear cell, or both, to achieve desired focal length.
This one needs some shutter work and have to check integrity of bellows, but I have some Ilford FP-4 5x7 film in the fridge, and some modern Riteway holders, so I'm hoping to try it out soon.
Oldest 35mm:
Leica D (black II), s/n 77xxx, nickel Elmar 50, with "11 o'clock inifinity lock".
Very nice cosmetics, shutter drags when the temp goes below 50 deg F, so it needs a CLA.
Oldest functional 35mm:
Leica F (black III), s/n 117xxx, Summar 50. PC sync added (back , right of VF eyepiece). Body seems to work well; cosmetics too nice for me to want to add wear, but it's taken some very nice pics.
Oldest user RF 35mm:
Leica III (chrome), s/n 134xxx; ugly cosmetics, peeling chrome, but works very well. This is my "everyday Barnack", in the bag are: Summicron 50mm w/ Hoya UV filter, Canon f 1.8 35mm, Elmar 90 (1950's), Hektor 135 (black, pre-war, coated); Summicron "barndoor" shade, round shade for long lenses, 36mm clamp-on to E-39 filter adapter, my Gossen Luna-Six meter, cuticle scissors for trimming leader, cable release, 39mm Hoya polarizer, a Nikon Varifocal accy finder (that "accidentally" came with a Super Rokkor 135 lens; didn't pay attention to the accy finder when chasing that lens on e-bay...), and a brown Eveready case. All in a meduium size Tammac DSLR bag.
Oldest SLR (sorry!):
Exakta VX ( US Varex), c 1955, with 50mm CZJ f 3 Tessar, 135 Schacht Travegon, 35mm Soligor pre-set.; prism finder, although I do have the waist-level finder, and the "rare" penta-prism w/ meter (not working). Was my daily user; still works.
User SLR:
Pentax SP-500 (Asahi), 1960 (?)
Oldest MF RF:
Super-Ikonta 6x9; pre-war, nickle; uncoated 4.5 Tessar in Compur.
missing 6x6 mask, somebody gave it a black paint-job; needs CLA, so it's going to Jurgen soon.
User MF RF:
Super Ikonta 645, postwar, coated 3.5 Tessar in Compur-Rapid. Plating pitted, but it works well.
and then there's all the other "junk"...😀
On the "fix list":
Contax IIIa BD (CLA), Leica IIIf (CLA, new curtains), Rolleiflex, Ciroflex, Ikonta 531, Nikon S (CLA, curtains); and others... hope I get them done before film goes away !
Happy shooting ! 😎
Luddite Frank
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literiter
Well-known
I like Super Ikontas so I have a 1939 "C" 6x9 and a "B" from about 1950 or so. I use these a fair amount because of the size of the negative relative to the weight and portability of the camera.
Then there is the Hasselblad SWC from 1959 and I use this thing a lot. And if I had to trim my equipment down to one camera, and had to choose, I think this would be the one camera I'd keep. I may indeed be a little odd.
Then there is the Hasselblad SWC from 1959 and I use this thing a lot. And if I had to trim my equipment down to one camera, and had to choose, I think this would be the one camera I'd keep. I may indeed be a little odd.
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JustPlainBill
Established
Hi,
My oldest camera is No 2A Folding Autographic Brownie. Its patent dates are 1910 and 1913. I've never attempted to photograph with it. My next oldest camera is a Retina II from the 1930s or 1940s. Next comes the sainted Rolleiflex MX which I used to put more than fifty pictures in my college yearbook forty-eight years ago and a Linhof Super Technika III which I use as a field camera - don't know which is older. My button rewind Leica M2 is a few years younger and is used frequently.
Cheers,
JustPlainBill
My oldest camera is No 2A Folding Autographic Brownie. Its patent dates are 1910 and 1913. I've never attempted to photograph with it. My next oldest camera is a Retina II from the 1930s or 1940s. Next comes the sainted Rolleiflex MX which I used to put more than fifty pictures in my college yearbook forty-eight years ago and a Linhof Super Technika III which I use as a field camera - don't know which is older. My button rewind Leica M2 is a few years younger and is used frequently.
Cheers,
JustPlainBill
bobkonos
Well-known
My oldest is a 1936 Leica II, in black paint, with 5cm f3.5 Elmar. Original to my wife's father who purchased it new in 1936. A gem, a joy to hold and use, and a link to her past.
ray*j*gun
Veteran
Leica IIIa, 1936.
benmacphoto
Well-known
My oldest camera currently is a IIIc from 1946 and I still use it often.
dave61
Established
My Cameras are Older then Me-and I'm Old!
My Cameras are Older then Me-and I'm Old!
Fully functional, but retired from service: 1904 3+1/4x4+1/4in. Auto Graflex. Made in NYC by Folmer and Schwing, before they moved to Rochester to join EKCo.
My primary camera: 1930 3x4 Series D Graflex. Interchangeable lensboards. Prime lens=16.5cm/f-2.9 Erneman 'Ernon'. 'Graflex 23' 120 rollfim back. Original condition.
Oldest RF camera in use: 1937 Minolta Auto Semi. 16 on 120. My 'walk around' camera. Works good, unrestored, sees frequent use.
I don't use modern cameras, no challenge in them. I find lenses made after 1980 lack individual character. It's become too easy to click + drag to get the results we want. Are we forgetting how to use filters and manipulate development to tweak contrast & tonal range?
If I had to go out each day and bring back photos to feed my family, I'm sure I'd go digi. Fortunately I don't have to, if I did, we'd starve.😉
My Cameras are Older then Me-and I'm Old!
Fully functional, but retired from service: 1904 3+1/4x4+1/4in. Auto Graflex. Made in NYC by Folmer and Schwing, before they moved to Rochester to join EKCo.
My primary camera: 1930 3x4 Series D Graflex. Interchangeable lensboards. Prime lens=16.5cm/f-2.9 Erneman 'Ernon'. 'Graflex 23' 120 rollfim back. Original condition.
Oldest RF camera in use: 1937 Minolta Auto Semi. 16 on 120. My 'walk around' camera. Works good, unrestored, sees frequent use.
I don't use modern cameras, no challenge in them. I find lenses made after 1980 lack individual character. It's become too easy to click + drag to get the results we want. Are we forgetting how to use filters and manipulate development to tweak contrast & tonal range?
If I had to go out each day and bring back photos to feed my family, I'm sure I'd go digi. Fortunately I don't have to, if I did, we'd starve.😉
Attachments
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
My oldest is a Rolleiflex Automat from 1938. Uncoated 75mm f3.5 Tessar lens, takes incredible photos. It needs a CLA, thee shutter speeds are off but it does work. I should get it out and use it sometime. It was my very first medium format camera. Bought it for $65 from an old man who had a couple of old Rolleis and some misc. Rollei accessories on a small tale at a photo swap meet my dad took me to in Cincinnati, Ohio when I was 15 yrs old.
Loved it for portraits.
Loved it for portraits.
jarski
Veteran
and here too 😀 1932 Leica II is quite common, according to Leica Pocket Book 21970 black ones were made that year (0 chrome).
mine got CLA last year, works now like a clock, and is only Barnack I have and use.
here is photo with LTM modified Sonnar, had this combo at motorbike holiday this summer.
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robinsonphotography
Established
Mine is my 1959 M2....not as old as many of the ones you guys have, but I use it almost daily!
f16sunshine
Moderator
Plaubel Makina II. I think it's a '37. Fun camera and interesting images at times.
Not the best IQ technically speaking from any if the three lenses. It's in for a CLA now.
Not the best IQ technically speaking from any if the three lenses. It's in for a CLA now.
Chris101
summicronia
Yup, but not very often. It's a Grover 5x7 monorail made by Burke and James in the 1920s. And a 40s Wollensack lens. Film in 5x7 format is both expensive and rare, but readily available, so I do use it from time to time, mostly to exercise the shutter. 😉
I hate tripod shooting, so I haven't made a decent shot with this camera for a couple of years, but it's a beaut
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I think this is the oldest one for me...
No. 1-A Pocket Kodak...Latest date stamped inside is 1921...it uses A116 film so I've never used it...It's in Excellent condition and came with the case...the only part missing is the Stylus...
No. 1-A Pocket Kodak...Latest date stamped inside is 1921...it uses A116 film so I've never used it...It's in Excellent condition and came with the case...the only part missing is the Stylus...
Ezzie
E. D. Russell Roberts
My two oldest cameras are the Welta Weltix, have no idea exactly how old it is, but somewhere between 1935 and 1950. And a Genos Rapid, also age unknown. I think both will work. The former has a very nice tan leather case, with purple velvet lining, and two accessories pouches (in the same leather) on the strap. One for the B + W filter (UV possibly), and the Sixon light meter.
Mablo
Well-known
I'm concentrating on cameras built in the late fifties until the late seventies which I think is the time frame when camera companies were still competing with quality and workmanship.
_goodtimez
Well-known
II F 1932. I use it with no problem and more than my M8
1932 Lecia Black Paint by CustomM8, on Flickr
1932 Lecia Black Paint by CustomM8, on Flickr
jwnash1
Well-known
My first camera was a Pentax Spotmatic w/40mm f1.4 Super Takumar. Unfortunately, it is no longer operational and sits on a shelf. My oldest camera is a Fed2 which sees quite a bit of use.
JeffGreene
(@)^(@)
The oldest camera I have is also the first camera I ever used. It is a Nagel Vollenda circa 1928. I still have it, but haven't used it in about 25 years. Here it is:
