what are your coolest/weirdest cameras?

[lubitel]

I thought this could be a very cool thread.
Just when I think, I dont need another camera, I stumble upon something that I think is so cool or unusual, that I just cant believe they actually made it. For example Pentax made a whole SLR system with interchangeable lenses for 110 film, or the tiny Kiev camera packed in a sigarette case, and recently I saw the smallest 6x6 camera (altissa box camera) which is only about a 6cm cube.
So whats the weirdest, coolest or sweetest camera that you own?

 

[Goodyear]

Pentax made a whole SLR system with interchangeable lenses for 110 film

I keep thinking about these. There's a couple of shops in edinburgh between might have enough to make up a reasonable kit.

It's the film that puts me off...

 

[lubitel]

I was thinkng of getting one from ebay, just for fun. they go for pretty cheap.

 

[dexdog]

My oddest camera is a Werra 1, produced by VEB Carl Zeiss Jena in the 1950s. Small scale-focusing leaf-shutter camera with a minimalist design. The film advance and shutter cocking actions are combined into a ring mounted at the base of the lens- turning the ring to the left about 60 degrees completes both functions. Rewind crank and film counter are bottom-mounted as on the Rollei 35s. The matching green lens hood doubles as a lens cap when reversed, covering the entire lens body. Last but not least, the camera is covered in olive-green vulcanite. Nice little camera with a 50/2.8 Tessar lens. The attached link leads to a closed eBay auction that contains a picture of the camera.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7566828734&category=67380

dexdog

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I sold a Pentax 110 last year.

Collectors go for the the 'black panhead' version.

Yes, I know they all look alike but they are not.

My thirty or so year old black panhead sold for a good price.

Ones with panhead (slot) screws sell for more that ones with crosshead screws.

Ones with blacked out 'Asahi' sell for more than white 'Asahi'.

My funkiest camera at this time is a Rolleicord Art Deco edition. Now that is one cool camera.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Tessina 35, sub-mini TLR with auto film advance.

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1772

 

[tetrisattack]

My great grandfather's (whom I never met) Yashica 44, takes 127 film so it's all but useless now. I opened it up years ago and found an undeveloped roll of film. 🙁

Oops.

My other bizarre piece of gear worth mentioning is a 30mm Arsat fisheye with adaptor for Mamiya 645. The lens is HUGE and monstrously heavy and the adaptor had to be custom machined on a lathe to get it to fit on my 645e. Thankfully, I live in boeing land, and skilled machinists are not hard to find (especially when they're your uncle, who takes payment in beer). 🙂

 

[lubitel]

Brian, that is one amazingly cool camera. I think you mentioned it once as a good street camera.

127 film? i think its still available. I developed a 45 year old film once from a folder of my father in law, there was one good shot of him when he was young. He was pretty surprised to see that the picture has survived so long.

 

[bmattock]

Yes 127 film can be had at Frugal Photographer

http://www.frugalphotographer.com

I have a couple of rolls for my Bell & Howell Electric Eye, which is my contribution to this thread:

This is not mine, mine looks better, but doesn't have the flash:

I keep meaning to try it out, I have a dev reel for it, and I should be able to use it.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[captainslack]

This is far and away the weirdest camera in my collection and probably in most other peoples too.

It's a Univex Mercury II, which I picked up at the local flea market for $20. It's a scale focus, half-frame, aluminum bodied 35mm camera made by Univex after WWII. It uses a rotory shutter that can achieve speeds up to 1000. Also explains the distinctive "hump" on top. It was also the first camera to feature a hot shoe flash. Believe it or not, it also has interchangable lenses!

Unfortunately, the shutter doesn't work at the moment. I opened it up once, but didn't have any luck getting it working. I think someone have have scavanged a part from it. Oh, well. It's a good conversation piece. 🙂

 

[dmr]

My great grandfather's (whom I never met) Yashica 44, takes 127 film so it's all but useless now. I opened it up years ago and found an undeveloped roll of film. 🙁

The latest B&H hardcopy catalog does list 127 film. It's not cheap.

I don't know where you would get that processed, however.

 

[bmattock]

The latest B&H hardcopy catalog does list 127 film. It's not cheap.

I don't know where you would get that processed, however.

http://www.jandcphoto.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=9

J and C has it listed a bit cheaper than Frugal Photographer. I guess you could send in 127 color or C-6 reversal, or you could do it yourself if you were really wanting to. B&W is easy though - I do 35mm and 120, so 127 is no big deal, same chemicals, just adjust the reel size to a different width.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

This is far and away the weirdest camera in my collection and probably in most other peoples too.

It's a Univex Mercury II, which I picked up at the local flea market for $20. It's a scale focus, half-frame, aluminum bodied 35mm camera made by Univex after WWII. It uses a rotory shutter that can achieve speeds up to 1000. Also explains the distinctive "hump" on top. It was also the first camera to feature a hot shoe flash. Believe it or not, it also has interchangable lenses!

Unfortunately, the shutter doesn't work at the moment. I opened it up once, but didn't have any luck getting it working. I think someone have have scavanged a part from it. Oh, well. It's a good conversation piece. 🙂

Yeah, I've seen it. That thing is freaky. I had nightmares.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[KoNickon]

The Pentax 110 is just a brilliant little camera. Pentax did a great job executing it. My understanding (from CameraQuest, I think) is that it was the brainchild of an independent designer, who brought it to Pentax.

But I was going to mention the Omega Rapid 100 and Vitessa as being two of the oddest and cleverest cameras I have. Both very effective, however. I don't know who's responsible for the Vitessa design, but the Omega, and the previous Koni-Omegas, were the brainchild of Henry Simmon (I think that's his right name). He contracted with Konishiroku after initially building them in the US.

I've recently acquired three Rollei 35s, and it's hard not to appreciate the originality of its design too (by Heinz Waaske).

This forum has a lot of fans of the Olympus XA series -- they're certainly worth a mention. They, and the OM, are clever and "sweet" designs, no question about it -- the product of Olympus's then-chief designer, Yoshihisa Maitani.

 

[ZeissFan]

The little Tenax II is one of the oddballs that I use quite a bit. It was the answer to the 24mm x 24mm Robot. I also have a Zeiss Ikon Contarex Hologon that I've been using a bit lately. Just found a handgrip for it, and you really need some type of handgrip for this camera so you don't photograph your knuckles.


Still working on my 6x8 National Graflex Series II with leather chimney finder and focal-plane shutter.

I concur that the Werra is a very nice camera -- very unusual in design. I don't have too many other odd cameras ... maybe the Olympus Pen F half-frame SLRs.

 

[Bertram2]

I thought this could be a very cool thread.

So whats the weirdest, coolest or sweetest camera that you own?

A AGFA "Box" 6X9, with not one sinlge switch or knob to set anything, only a release lever which cocks the shutter while it travels to the point of release.
Takes pretty good photos anyway with FP4 !! 🙂
A lesson for all those who think they are minimalists !!! 😀
bertram

 

[bmattock]

I don't have one (don't I wish) but this lists high on the freak-o-matic scale to me:

http://www.vintagephoto.tv/foton.shtml

Bell & Howell Foton

An American rangefinder with a British lens, calibrated in t-stops! Come on, who would not want one of those?

About the only camera I'd like more would be the Ilford Witness or a Steinheil Casca. All way out of my price range, I'm afraid. Cool, though. Weird, too.

Non-rangefinder - Yashica Samurai half-frame cameras. Various Cyclops models. All the bloody Alpa SLR's ever made, including the one with the direct view side window in addition to the SLR. Weird.

Top of the heap weird for me: Traid Corporation's Fotron III. Used a weird proprietary film cartridge that only they sold or processed. Ran on 110 volts AC or a battery that apparently never worked. Ugly, weird, and nearly useless - sold door-to-door by fly-by-night salescrews:

http://www.collection-appareils.com/appareils/html/fotron.php

Scroll down for the evil photos of the thing. There are still lots of them around. All nearly mint, no one ever seemed to have succeeded in taking a photo with one. Everyone who has one thinks they are worth a lot. Sadly, no.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[oftheherd]

I guess mine in the cool category would be my Welta Welti. I nice little 35mm folder. It is scale focus and goes to 1/500 in shutter speeds. It has a sharp lens and is easy to carry since it is a folder. It isn't light however, apparently being made of surplus tank metal.

I used one my father had owned while I was in the Army, to include as a crime scene camera while in Vietnam (the Army didn't give me a camera). I am not sure why, but I just like the little thing.

 

[bmattock]

Reportage with a Brownie Box Camera. One button to shoot, one knob to wind.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6014

And they put the photos in the local newspaper.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

I guess mine in the cool category would be my Welta Welti. I nice little 35mm folder. It is scale focus and goes to 1/500 in shutter speeds. It has a sharp lens and is easy to carry since it is a folder. It isn't light however, apparently being made of surplus tank metal.

I used one my father had owned while I was in the Army, to include as a crime scene camera while in Vietnam (the Army didn't give me a camera). I am not sure why, but I just like the little thing.

I always liked the Weltas, although I have never owned one. I keep thinking I'll get one sooner or later.

I have a Japanese roll-film folder that is an apparent rip-off of a "Franka" camera - but this is called a "Frank." I like that. Frank. Works well, too.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks