Where have all the Robots gone?

[ZeissFan]

I have an earlier version with a fast Schneider Xenon lens. For such a small camera, it's very heavy.

For the desire to shoot 24x24, I've found a Zeiss Ikon Tenax to be a more usable camera, because it takes standard 35mm film cartridges. It has a rangefinder. And it has an excellent viewfinder.

I've been tempted to give the Robot a spin, but I need to clean and relube the lens and then load that film cassette.

 

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

Just some quick (and not very good) digital shots taken a few minutes ago of my Robot Royal 36 to give you some idea of the camera.

I notice that is probably a scientific model--- the serial number surely ends in 'a'. It should NOT have the lock under the bayonet lever and the back should not be firmly attached but should be removable--- this allows one to use external film magazines (the 10m version is particularly useful).

 

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

I have an earlier version with a fast Schneider Xenon lens. For such a small camera, it's very heavy.

But also robust. One needs to keep in mind that these cameras were readily adopted by various armed services.

For the desire to shoot 24x24, I've found a Zeiss Ikon Tenax to be a more usable camera, because it takes standard 35mm film cartridges. It has a rangefinder. And it has an excellent viewfinder.

The Tenax II (I'll assume you mean this one since you speak of rangefinder) is a nice pre-war collectible camera but its also quite expensive and its bits and pieces are extremely rare. As a user camera its mechanics are not as good as the Robots and its objectives are also not as good. The best objective was the 1:2,0/40mm Sonnar.

I've been tempted to give the Robot a spin, but I need to clean and relube the lens and then load that film cassette.

Loading the T (I'll assume you have a Robot II, the contemporary to the Tenax II) is easy. The spool and film in a standard 35mm cartridge fit inside.

1. Open the T feeder cassette and remove the two pieces and set them aside.
2. Put them together with a 35mm film cartridge and a bottle opener in a changing bag or box.
3. Pop open the film and remove it from the cartridge.
4. Insert it into the Robot T feeder.
5. Put the other half of the T feeder cassette to close it.

You can also just load one up using bulk film. With a little bit of practice it'll take just a moment to load up a couple of cartridges. The time you spend loading a T cartridge you'll get back by not needing to rewind and the speed of opening the N cartridge in the darkroom.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

You will find them here: FOTC - The Humans Are Dead

Chris

 

[Film dino]

Robot Royal 36

Robot Royal 36

i would not mind seeing some images of members robot cameras

Here's mine, with 5cm Sonnar. This version doesn't have the "burst mode".

 

[Brian Levy]

I had a Robot before I bought my Leica CL but was never happy with it as a shooter. Heavy, which I like usually, ergonomics I could not quite warm up to, the stock 50mm lens was quite good but at the time could not find a source for other lenses. Shooting style was odd for me and the advantage of the auto cock and wind seemed to be needless for my shooting. It felt like a camera that would NEVER break or need work.

After getting my Leica Cl, I found I was using it in the same shooting situations and environments as the Robot but I was enjoying it more so when a collector wanted it we cut a deal and the CL with the 90mm Rokkor and 50 Cron-C ended up costing me nothing. In the ensuing years with the appreciation of each, it looks like the buy-sell still was a fair deal. I've looked at Robots since but, think of them more of a cult camera than a daily user and passed on them. Always had a hankering to try a Tessina but never had a chance to pick one up. They look very interesting as a pocket camera.

 

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

Hello Edward,
No it's not the scientific model,and the serial number is 186280.There is no letter "a" after the serial number.

What's interesting then is.. your shutter speed dial.. It has the slot for instrumentation (scientific). It seems, indeed, that some of the later model 36 with the serial (burst) modus did get this piece. Here is a picture of another 36 with that bit:

Normally the bit looks like this: