Werra I

[andrealimphotography]

Picked up a Werra Ie today for 30 bucks, do you guys know anything more about it? It's in mint condition, but unfortunately without the lenscap, came with the case and filter.

Anybody else here using this Werra?

 

[Ronald_H]

I am using a Werra 3. Basically the 1 with a coupled rangefinder. It was completely gummed up when I bought it but had it CLA'd. Bit akward to use, but the lens is very, very good. The rangefinder is also excellent, but the viewfinder is not very good, it distorts quite badly. Very nice little quirky camera.


Museum R.T.M. Ouddorp by Ronald_H, on Flickr

 

[rhl-oregon]

I have a 3 older than yours (without the glassy faceplate and horizontal lines), and it's a special pleasure to shoot. My first was a Werramatic from the same era as yours, and, probably like Ronald's, its aperture/speed dials were sticky and stiff, it was missing the little tabs that make separating aperture/speeds easier, and the CRF was slightly off vertically. But it wound smoothly and shot well. My Werra 3 operates quite smoothly in all ways, so the shooting is more pleasurable.

If yours has smooth movement and a clear VF and a clean lens, it should be easy to get good results with sunny 16; you may want to add an auxiliary RF if you prefer to shoot wide open. And if the camera is sticky, hazy, consider a CLA, unless you prefer to do the best it can as a $30 investment.

Somewhere in the scale focus forums, I started a Werra image thread. Post something once you get some results back!

 

[rjbuzzclick]

I have a Werramat that I finally got working and just finished a test roll. I like how the lens renders and enjoyed shooting with it. Scale focusing a 50mm is a little trickier than a 35mm or 40mm lens, but not all that difficult, especially when stopped down a bit.

It's too bad you're missing the lens hood. I found that easier to grab when winding on than using just the collar. Of course then you can't adjust any of the settings or focus without removing the hood. Setting it up ahead of time and zone focusing worked well however, and I didn't have to worry about accidentally bumping the controls either.

 

[Muggins]

I have a Werra 1 and a 3, both of which I am very fond of. Mike Butkus's page has a manual - it may cover the earlier flat-top models, but the major difference in terms of use is, I think, the rewind mechanism.

Here's a shot from the three - with better light, this would have been a killer.

Poetry in Walschaert's motion by gray1720, on Flickr

And a second - wonky horizon and all!


Buttermere by gray1720, on Flickr

Adrian