Simple Medium Format Camera

Thanks, guys. Lots of good input here. I'll keep watching to see if anyone has anything else to add, but it looks like I'll be sticking with what I have or saving up for a Fuji GW. Wish there was a 6x6 version though.
 
Roger Hicks said:
On the other hand they are often so little used that the felt hasn't flattened... An idea occurs to me, though. Why not buy a retractable-lens camera like the one illustrated and fix the tube in the "out" position? Then light-seal the tube from the inside of the camera. Bulky and crude, it's true, but cheap, too.

Note to OP: watch out for 620 cameras that won't take 120 unless modified -- but Kodak's Medalist can be modified, and when properly lubricated, often works. Not cheap, though.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

I have a few of these Gugo/ Goldeck cameras. The point about keeping the tube in the extended position all the time is valid. On top of that, there is an easy, mess-free way to prevent light leaks: use a black elastic hairband and wrap it twice around the barrell. (I got this idea from using Neil van Niekerk's "Black Foamy Thing" flag).

I was not expecting much, but the image quality really surprised me.

 
I'm a huge fan of the Fujica 670/680/690 series of cameras, and they are indeed simple mechanical rangefinder medium format machines.

However, since they require interchangeable rangefinder eye pieces for all lenses other than the 100 and 150mm lenses, I'd consider the Rittreck/Warner/Norita/Graflex Norita 6X6 cameras as simpler, truly scaled up 35mm designs.

Texsport
 
You didn't say why you have an apparent aversion to folders. Even the least expensive Zeiss Ikon folders are really well made and rock solid, decades later. I have a prewar Nettar that is a great picture taker -- no wobble whatsoever. The three element Zeiss lenses in these cameras (Novars usually) will surprise you with how good they are.

Even more simple -- maybe too simple! -- have you thought of a box camera? Check out the postwar ZI Box Tengor. Slow Frontar cemented doublet lens, but with limited zone focusing. But again, you will be surprised at how good the 6x9 pictures are.
 
I've gotten excellent results with my Bencini Koroll 120 on T-Max 100 with a yellow filter.

5495443067_403ea1ed86_z.jpg

00790005_1 by br1078phot, on Flickr

It's a collapsible dual-format model (6x6 and 6x4.5) that comes in a few versions http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bencini_Koroll Limited on shutter speed and aperture, with scale focusing, and a killer cast aluminum alloy body. No problem with light leaks from mine.

PF
 
I have a Koroll 24s, which shoots 24 frames on a roll of 120. Still haven't finished the roll though. Rather limited with only two apertures and scale focusing. Some of the later models had several shutter speeds greatly increasing the flexibility of the camera.

I will also add that cheaper TLRs are often great performers! Companies decided to cut costs by dropping features rather than sacrificing quality. If you can live without a built in meter or automatic frame counting there are plenty of TLRs that will deliver good results for very little money. Super Ricohflex, Reflekta II, Yashica A or C, and others.
 
KoNickon said:
You didn't say why you have an apparent aversion to folders. Even the least expensive Zeiss Ikon folders are really well made and rock solid, decades later. I have a prewar Nettar that is a great picture taker -- no wobble whatsoever. The three element Zeiss lenses in these cameras (Novars usually) will surprise you with how good they are.
Click to expand...

No particular aversion to folders. I like my Nettar, I had just wondered about similar rigid body cameras. It looks like most of the lower end non-folding cameras have less aperture and shutter control than even my pre-war Nettar and tend towards the "toy camera" category.
 
aagiv said:
I think this is the closest to "correct" forum for me to ask this question. I'm basically looking for the features of the medium format folders, but non-folding. Simple, mechanical, range finder would be great, but scale focus is fine too. What I'm basically picturing is a scaled-up version of a Kodak Retinette, Rollei 35, or similar. Was such a camera ever made? Or did the folders fill that niche exclusively?
Click to expand...

Why not get a TLR, if it's mostly function you want?

My Beautyflex with a 3.5/80mm Biokor lens was cheap and is very good.
 
johannielscom said:
Why not get a TLR, if it's mostly function you want?

My Beautyflex with a 3.5/80mm Biokor lens was cheap and is very good.
Click to expand...

Already have a Yashica Mat. I just liked using my Kodak Retinette (scale focus 35mm) for some things. I'll just carry on with my Nettar for a similar function.
 
aagiv said:
Yes, that comes close to what I had in mind. A folder without the issues caused by folding. That almost looks like a folder with a solid lens barrel bolted on. What is it?
Click to expand...

It's called Goldammer Gugo with Bayreuth Steiner lens.
Uncommon, if not rare.

Here's a sample picture:

4130912567_d9d38e7340_z.jpg


A good folder like Konica Pearl would produce a much better result that this camera.
 
I love this question because I have long had a "thing" for simple old medium format cameras. Your observation is correct that the "viewfinder" genre - compact, lightweight, fixed lens, non-folding (but often with a pull-out lens tube) - tends towards the lower end. Most models come equipped with only a very basic (meniscus or doublet) lens and little if any control over aperture or shutter speed. However, some manufacturers did in fact produce more upscale versions of their basic models; versions with better lenses, a more or less standard type of leaf shutter with multiple speeds, wide range of apertures, larger maximum aperture and so forth, as well as other "normal" camera features. Here are some examples I am aware of that you might consider:

Agfa Isoly III - Comes with Agnar or Apotar lens (both f/3.9) and Pronto shutter. As mentioned by others already, unusual in that it takes "4x4" pictures on 120 film, which you may or may not like.
Agfa Isola II - Agnar 6.3 lens is better than you might think. With only three aperture stops and two shutter speeds (+bulb) this might still be too limiting for you. But it is a favorite of mine due to it's compact simplicity and stylish (IMO) design.
Braun Paxina - several models including versions named simply Paxina, and also Paxina 29 and 35. The faster lensed versions are in the range of f/2.8 to f/3.5. Shutters range from simple Varios up to Pronto and Prontor SVS with full range of apertures and speeds.
Braun Gloria - Has a rangefinder! 75mm f/2.9 Praxar or Praxanar lens (triplet). Again, Pronto or Pronto SVS shutter. The Paxinas and Glorias seem a little bulky looking IMO compared to some of the others and may handle as such, but then again that may be a worthwhile compromise for the feature set.
Dacora Digna - Better lenses are the Enna Correlar 80mm/2.9 or Dignar 75mm/4.5, both of which are triplets. Shutter is a Pronto or Prontor SVS.
Goldammer Goldeck - Over the years Goldammer made many different versions of the same basic model, with different lenses and features. The top one as far as I know was the first version of the Goldeck model which came with a Steiner 75mm/2.9 lens in a Prontor SVS shutter. Be aware that there are versions of these cameras labeled "Richard Six" (for the British market?), including some with the same specs as the Goldeck models.
Rodehuser Panta - the third version of this camera is the most fully featured, with a Steinar 76mm/3.5 lens (triplet?) and a Prontor-S shutter.
Vredeborch Nordina - A little more upscale than the Felica-series, the Nordina has a Steiner V 75mm /4.5 lens in a Vario shutter. This has a full aperture range but limited to 3 speeds (plus bulb), so maybe not quite as fully featured as you would like.

Typically fewer of the nicer models were made, and that makes them harder to find today. But they are out there if you look long enough. :)
 
KoNickon said:
You didn't say why you have an apparent aversion to folders. Even the least expensive Zeiss Ikon folders are really well made and rock solid, decades later. I have a prewar Nettar that is a great picture taker -- no wobble whatsoever. The three element Zeiss lenses in these cameras (Novars usually) will surprise you with how good they are.

Even more simple -- maybe too simple! -- have you thought of a box camera? Check out the postwar ZI Box Tengor. Slow Frontar cemented doublet lens, but with limited zone focusing. But again, you will be surprised at how good the 6x9 pictures are.
Click to expand...
Not all of them.

In any case, I've found -- as a wild generalization, but based on decades of experience -- that cheaper Zeiss Ikon folders tend to have kept their rigidity better than expensive ones (Super Ikontas) simply because they were used less, and therefore less knocked about. The same is true of Voigtländers, though again as a wild generalization, they're better made and more rigid than Zeiss. After 50+ years, much more depends on how hard they were used than on how good they were to begin with.

I'll second your point about the better box cameras, though. And Johan's point about TLRs.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger,

my Super Ikonta B's are rock solid, the Nikkormats of 120 folders so to speak. Even after extensive use.

Thanks for bringing them up, for a moment I was tempted to scout for a Dacora Digna, but between the Super Ikontas, the Beautyflex and my Hasselblad, what do I need a Dacora for...?

:p
 
@ Roger - The Zeiss Ikon folders that I used, to me at least, seem to be more solidly built than Voigtlander's offerings - especially in the locking of the front standards when the front platform is extended.

I do agree with regards to folders, it's nice to find one that has only seen a few rolls - in other words only light use. Also, get one that is easy to CLA to get rid of any grunge in the optics, to include the finder and get the shutter up to speed.

With that said, I have two Voigtlander folders. On the Bessa II, I certainly wish the focusing was designed to use a set of geared tracks similar to a Welta Weltur or larger Graflex 2x3.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom