WIFE IF CAMERA BUFF- NEED SOME CAMERA HELP! Does anyone know about..

[mich8261]

Hi, I am writing on my husband's message board. I saw what I thought looked like a nice camera (Meyer Gorlitz F. Deckel-Munchen trioplan 1:2.9 F=5 cm Nr 746441) at the flea market but the seller wasn't able to tell me what kind of film it took or anything else about it. My husband's birthday is next week and I want to get him something he would enjoy and be able to use. The seller wanted 75 dollars for it. The camera looked to be in very good condition and it is very smart looking (in my opinion ). Does anyone know anything about this type of camera? Can film be purchased for this kind of camera?
Thanks, Amy

 

[bmattock]

Difficult to know, but judging from the focal length (50mm or 5cm), I would guess it is a folding 35mm camera from the 1930's.

Maybe something like this?

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/vintage/jubilette.html

These can be fun cameras, but a lot depends on the bellows being light-tight and the shutter being operable. The price seems a tiny bit high to me, but it is hard to judge value on a camera such as this.

 

[M. Valdemar]

It is probably unwise to try to buy an old camera for someone if you don't know anything about cameras or how to buy them.

You will end up with something that is junk, broken, not usable by him, or worthless, even if the gesture was well-intended.

Buy him something else, or just give him the money, it will be better spent.

Since you even know how to log in to his online forums, I'm sure you know everything else about him.

 

[NickTrop]

I agree with Valdemar. People think of me as "the old camera guy". And people, a few times, enthusiastically, give me some worthless broken old crappy point-n-shooter they had laying in their drawer for 20 years. I pretend to graciously accept them (it's the thought) then I have to deal with it. Yes, I like "old cameras" but I don't like any or every old camera. I like very specific models in good usable condition. Folders, in particular, are dicey. Some that look beat are actually users, others that look great are unusable and worthless. Very often, the bellows develop light leaks, or the focus sticks, or etc., etc., etc...

If you want to get your husband a folder, best bet is to go to www.certo6.com and buy one from him. He completely restores them with new bellows, etc. so you know you're getting a user. It will probably cost more than $75 though.

Another thought is to ask him what camera he would love to have but doesn't currently own, and just be on the lookout for a restored version either here or on eBay. For me, I might say an Olympus RD or a Fujica Compact Deluxe and would be THRILLED to get one of these that's been CLA'd and is a fully functional user. But if someone gave me a "broken" Agfa Billy Record, I'd be put in the awkward position we've all been in, pretend to like it, feel bad that you're not using it, etc...

There's just too many cameras to "guess" at this sort of thing.

 

[mich8261]

Thank you to all three of you for taking the time to respond. I did check out the bellows and the shutter and both were in good shape. I understand what you mean by getting something from a non-collector. The same has happened to me with the things I collect. Others sometimes don't have a discerning eye. bmattock, the picture you provided seems to be a close match. If I decide to go back to the market, I may be able to barter a bit. Thanks again! Amy

 

[Keith]

Ok ... the question I have to ask is where is Michel and what will stop him from seeing this thread before his birthday! 😛

 

[mich8261]

Mich knows I am using the site and promised not to look! 🙂

 

[bmattock]

You can always delete the first message you used to start the thread, that deletes the whole thing and all replies.