Avotius
Some guy
A friend of mine has an old zeiss ikon tenax camera that is not in the best of shape, he is trying to raise funds to pay off his canon a series digital camera and as a photo student, I told him he would regret it dearly if he sold the tenax to pay a small portion of his digital purchase back but he was adamant. He wants 70 bucks for it, which seems like a little much I guess. For the most part only 100th of a second works on it, the lens is not the tessar one, instead its the novar or something like that, doesn't leak light and advances ok. I am not much good at taking cameras apart and putting them back together so I would probably play with it as is. Its the one with a sports finder and the lens seems to have a lot of cleaning marks.
Its a lot of money for an old beat up camera I guess, you think its worth it at least as just something to tinker with the odd roll of black and white?
Its a lot of money for an old beat up camera I guess, you think its worth it at least as just something to tinker with the odd roll of black and white?
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ZeissFan
Veteran
Is this the prewar Tenax (24mm x 24mm) or the postwar camera? It sounds like the prewar version, if it has an uncoated Novar.
In its current state, it isn't worth $70, if only one speed works and the lens has cleaning marks. In its current state, it's more of a conversation piece and a curiosity than it is a usable camera.
I would value this at about $50.
In its current state, it isn't worth $70, if only one speed works and the lens has cleaning marks. In its current state, it's more of a conversation piece and a curiosity than it is a usable camera.
I would value this at about $50.
jmkelly
rangefinder user
Raid and I had an email exchange about the later-model Tenax II yesterday. Researching prices for this interchangeable lens rangefinder showed a range of $400-$1,500 depending on the lens. The Tenax is simpler by comparison. IMO $70 is an acceptable price, even if it is in rough shape.This should be an interesting camera for someone (though not me, as camera funds just now completely dried up - diagnosed the need for a replacement transmission in the family wagon :bang
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John Robertson
Well-known
There are two Tenax cameras, Model 1 has usually a Novar lens, although some assembled after the war have a coated Tessar. The factory in DDR developed it as the Taxona.
Model2 was a whole different ball game, it had interchangeable lenses and a coupled R/F, it never had the Novar lens.
The one you mention is the Tenax 1, even with the lens in pristine condition the results are well "adequate" If however it is slightly cloudy and has cleaning marks forget it!!!!!
The shutter is probably gummed up. Make sure the take up spool is present on one of these cameras, it uses the same one as the Contax/Kiev.
I have a Tenax 1, I've shot a few films with it, but there are better cameras around, I certainly would not give $70 for it, at best, in its condition probably $10 is nearer the money. Sorry to dissapoint.
Another problem is the format of 24 x 24, none of the film scanners will handle it, and a D & P lab probably does not have the facility to print films either.
Model2 was a whole different ball game, it had interchangeable lenses and a coupled R/F, it never had the Novar lens.
The one you mention is the Tenax 1, even with the lens in pristine condition the results are well "adequate" If however it is slightly cloudy and has cleaning marks forget it!!!!!
The shutter is probably gummed up. Make sure the take up spool is present on one of these cameras, it uses the same one as the Contax/Kiev.
I have a Tenax 1, I've shot a few films with it, but there are better cameras around, I certainly would not give $70 for it, at best, in its condition probably $10 is nearer the money. Sorry to dissapoint.
Another problem is the format of 24 x 24, none of the film scanners will handle it, and a D & P lab probably does not have the facility to print films either.