dreilly
Chillin' in Geneva
One particular photographic tool that I have never used is a medium format SLR. TLRs a plenty (love them), a few folders, including a Makina 67 I tried from KEH last week (it didn't work out, see the 120 RF forum for that humdrum saga), but never one of the bigguns.
I was looking at Contax 645s...an 80mm f2 lens! But kinda expensive and complex and electronic. Then somehow I ran across a photo or thread about the Norita 66.
Now, 6x6 is my honey. Love the square. I have a medium format slide projector for 66. The native lens on the Norita 66 is an 80mm f2. Few MF lenses are that fast.
I shoot m43 (and APS-C off and on), both of which is kind of like putting yourself on a shallow depth of field diet. Seems to me that's one of the reasons to go back to full frame or larger formats, having the ability to really separate subject and background. And of course the delicious experience of seeing a 6x6 slide projected....
So I started looking at Norita 66s. I learned that they were first designed built and sold by a company called Rittreck, which then sold the design and jigs and everything to another company, which sold them at Norita 66s and Graflex Norita 66s and also Warner 6x6s. All these cameras are black on brass, but the Rittreck was chrome.
So, I have to admit, I have a thing for old chrome cameras. I just think they're classy. Modern chrome paint, meh, looks fake to me, but genuine chromed brass. Rittreck 66s are pretty rare, and in high demand because they have mirror lock up and later iterations did not.
But I emailed Ross Yerkes, who I read is the go-to guy for Norita repairs (and religious tracts in the box with your camera), and he had a Rittreck and matching 80/2 for sale. Camera should be here in a few days.
Very excited! Will obviously post some camera porn and first shots too.
Now I just have to order a meter and some MF film.
Here's an old ad, from Flickr user Koni Kowa, licensed under creative commons:
Flickr: "This image or video is currently unavailable."
I was looking at Contax 645s...an 80mm f2 lens! But kinda expensive and complex and electronic. Then somehow I ran across a photo or thread about the Norita 66.
Now, 6x6 is my honey. Love the square. I have a medium format slide projector for 66. The native lens on the Norita 66 is an 80mm f2. Few MF lenses are that fast.
I shoot m43 (and APS-C off and on), both of which is kind of like putting yourself on a shallow depth of field diet. Seems to me that's one of the reasons to go back to full frame or larger formats, having the ability to really separate subject and background. And of course the delicious experience of seeing a 6x6 slide projected....
So I started looking at Norita 66s. I learned that they were first designed built and sold by a company called Rittreck, which then sold the design and jigs and everything to another company, which sold them at Norita 66s and Graflex Norita 66s and also Warner 6x6s. All these cameras are black on brass, but the Rittreck was chrome.
So, I have to admit, I have a thing for old chrome cameras. I just think they're classy. Modern chrome paint, meh, looks fake to me, but genuine chromed brass. Rittreck 66s are pretty rare, and in high demand because they have mirror lock up and later iterations did not.
But I emailed Ross Yerkes, who I read is the go-to guy for Norita repairs (and religious tracts in the box with your camera), and he had a Rittreck and matching 80/2 for sale. Camera should be here in a few days.
Very excited! Will obviously post some camera porn and first shots too.
Now I just have to order a meter and some MF film.
Here's an old ad, from Flickr user Koni Kowa, licensed under creative commons:
Flickr: "This image or video is currently unavailable."
Texsport
Well-known
Congratulations! A rare find.
Texsport
Texsport
Wow. That's a new one for me. It must be a heavy beast.
The Contax 645 isn't complex, though.
The Contax 645 isn't complex, though.
dreilly
Chillin' in Geneva
By complex I guess I meant electronic and battery dependent. I should have said "modern". I need a little analogue salve to all the digital shooting I do.
dreilly
Chillin' in Geneva
I think it's less heavy than a Pentax 67. And seems a little more svelte than a Pentacon six. I might have to scrawl "This camera kills fascists" on it and carry it on a chain to get my menace on.
Joe Vitessa
Well-known
Congrats on your purchase. As a faithful Norita 66 user, I think you'll love that 80mm f2 lens. The whole thing is sort of like using a giant Canon F1. Have fun!
Joe
Joe
kbg32
neo-romanticist
Noritas are quite small. Built pretty well. Not to dampen your enthusiasm, if I remember correctly, they are prone to shutter problems.
kbg32
neo-romanticist
From our own, Dante Stella - http://www.dantestella.com/technical/norita66.html
Make sure you get it CLAd. I had a teacher that had one and he loved it.
Make sure you get it CLAd. I had a teacher that had one and he loved it.
dreilly
Chillin' in Geneva
Just got it today. The seller was Ross Yerkes in LA, who is also a Norita repair specialist. This was from his own collection, and he checked it out before he sent it. It's beautiful. The chrome is really nice. I put it next to my M3 and Canon 7, and the Rittreck 66 looked like it ate both for dinner. With my glasses on, it's a bit hard to see the whole square frame, but the good news is that with the 80mm lens the viewfinder view is 1:1...so you can shoot both eyes open.
Shutter is actually not much louder than the surprisingly loud Plaubel Makina. So it's loud, but not horrible.
I think I'm going to enjoy it. I ordered film today: Velvia 50, Provia 400, Delta 3200, Acros 100 and Pan F.
I have a shoot at a farm-restaurant in a couple of week, I plan to shoot with the Rittreck as my main camera, with my Sony A56 filling in. Looking forward to having some fun with shallow depth of field without getting right up against my subject.
I'll try to post a pic of the rig tomorrow for you camera porn addicts. Tease: it has a gordy strap on it already. Guess the wrap color.
Shutter is actually not much louder than the surprisingly loud Plaubel Makina. So it's loud, but not horrible.
I think I'm going to enjoy it. I ordered film today: Velvia 50, Provia 400, Delta 3200, Acros 100 and Pan F.
I have a shoot at a farm-restaurant in a couple of week, I plan to shoot with the Rittreck as my main camera, with my Sony A56 filling in. Looking forward to having some fun with shallow depth of field without getting right up against my subject.
I'll try to post a pic of the rig tomorrow for you camera porn addicts. Tease: it has a gordy strap on it already. Guess the wrap color.
dreilly
Chillin' in Geneva
Okay, here it is. The Rittreck 66. Sultry. Sexy. Concussion heavy. Can't wait to start shooting it.
Flickr: "This image or video is currently unavailable."
Flickr: "This image or video is currently unavailable."
Texsport
Well-known
I've noticed a seller on eBay offering Norita to Canon EOS adapters.
Since I already have the lens and camera, I'm intrigued by the idea of combining the EOS and m43 adapters to use a Noritar 240/4 on m43.
Likely not as sharp as a Canon FD or Vivitar S1 400, but, the Norita would be a pretty compact tele, with a 480mm field of view with a max aperture of 4, on m43. (480/4 with digital high ISO capability is tempting to try anyway).
And a Norita 400/4.5 on m43?
Any thoughts?
Texsport
Since I already have the lens and camera, I'm intrigued by the idea of combining the EOS and m43 adapters to use a Noritar 240/4 on m43.
Likely not as sharp as a Canon FD or Vivitar S1 400, but, the Norita would be a pretty compact tele, with a 480mm field of view with a max aperture of 4, on m43. (480/4 with digital high ISO capability is tempting to try anyway).
And a Norita 400/4.5 on m43?
Any thoughts?
Texsport