farlymac
PF McFarland
Found this one just the other day in an antique store. And it didn’t have an antique price on it!
The second generation of Daiichi Optical Company’s (DOC) copy of the Zeiss Ikonta A, it has a 3.5/75 Neo-Hesper (Tessar type) lens in a Daiichi-Rapid shutter (exact copy of the Compur-Rapid). Improvements are a new top plate that incorporates the finder in a solid housing, accessory shoe, DOF calculator, winding knob, and shutter release with cable socket.
I put a roll of Fujicolor Pro 160 NS in it, added a Kodak 32mm push-on hood, and hit the road (south on US-11 to be exact). I really guessed wrong as to what shutter speed to use, and went too slow at 1/100. Should have used 1/250, and opened the aperture a slight bit. Even though the 1 sec speed is fine, the higher ones could still be a bit slow. So, after getting the scans back, I spent the afternoon fixing exposures and color. The lens handles flare pretty well, and the controls are all in the right places. Except for that left handed shutter release. It’s not wrong, it’s just left. Didn’t take much to get used to.
You can read about the Zenobia cameras here in better detail:
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Zenobia
Now I have to see if I can find some 32mm push-on filters.
Zenobia C-II Front by br1078phot, on Flickr
Side-By-Side Zenobia-Ikomat 1 by br1078phot, on Flickr
Quiet Course by br1078phot, on Flickr
Church In Springtime by br1078phot, on Flickr
Plum Creek Makeover by br1078phot, on Flickr
Silent Cannon by br1078phot, on Flickr
Walking The Carolina Road by br1078phot, on Flickr
See more photos at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/sets/72157652155388101/
PF
The second generation of Daiichi Optical Company’s (DOC) copy of the Zeiss Ikonta A, it has a 3.5/75 Neo-Hesper (Tessar type) lens in a Daiichi-Rapid shutter (exact copy of the Compur-Rapid). Improvements are a new top plate that incorporates the finder in a solid housing, accessory shoe, DOF calculator, winding knob, and shutter release with cable socket.
I put a roll of Fujicolor Pro 160 NS in it, added a Kodak 32mm push-on hood, and hit the road (south on US-11 to be exact). I really guessed wrong as to what shutter speed to use, and went too slow at 1/100. Should have used 1/250, and opened the aperture a slight bit. Even though the 1 sec speed is fine, the higher ones could still be a bit slow. So, after getting the scans back, I spent the afternoon fixing exposures and color. The lens handles flare pretty well, and the controls are all in the right places. Except for that left handed shutter release. It’s not wrong, it’s just left. Didn’t take much to get used to.
You can read about the Zenobia cameras here in better detail:
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Zenobia
Now I have to see if I can find some 32mm push-on filters.
Zenobia C-II Front by br1078phot, on Flickr
Side-By-Side Zenobia-Ikomat 1 by br1078phot, on Flickr
Quiet Course by br1078phot, on Flickr
Church In Springtime by br1078phot, on Flickr
Plum Creek Makeover by br1078phot, on Flickr
Silent Cannon by br1078phot, on Flickr
Walking The Carolina Road by br1078phot, on Flickr
See more photos at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/sets/72157652155388101/
PF
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
Wow...I say it's a keeper...
oftheherd
Veteran
Some great photos. No question you are putting yours to good use.
I have seen the Zenobia on ebay, and heard others comment on how they liked it. I have never gone for one as I have a Zeiss Ikon 6x9, and several other 6x6 cameras by Welta, Fuji, and Mamiya. I wish I had the opportunities you have to get out and use them.
I have seen the Zenobia on ebay, and heard others comment on how they liked it. I have never gone for one as I have a Zeiss Ikon 6x9, and several other 6x6 cameras by Welta, Fuji, and Mamiya. I wish I had the opportunities you have to get out and use them.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Opportunities come because I'm disabled/retired, so plenty of time on my hands. Had to squeeze the last bit out of the budget to buy it, but at the price asked, I was going to make it happen one way or another.
PF
oftheherd
Veteran
Glad you got a camera you enjoy using. Have you ever tried the Welta 120 film cameras?
Joe Vitessa
Well-known
I've got the same camera. The Neo-Hespar is a great four-element Tessar copy. I also bought a Zenobia TLR with the same lens. I admit that I was first attracted to the unique name--Zenobia. It's somehow more exotic than "Rolleiflex," but the lens made me a believer.
farlymac
PF McFarland
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
I too have the same camera. Mine had a couple of stubborn light leaks in the bellows, which I believe I've now fixed with "Liquid Electrical Tape." It is indeed a nifty little camera, and the Neo-Hesper (a great name also) is quite good.
My main complaint is that inserting the film spools in mine is really hard to do. The clearances are quite tight. Anyone else have this issue?
My main complaint is that inserting the film spools in mine is really hard to do. The clearances are quite tight. Anyone else have this issue?
gb hill
Veteran
Nice find Phil. Keep shooting with it & perhaps you'll get the exposure all figured out. Maybe you can use it on the 30th when the 611 rolls into Roanoke.
Jack Conrad
Well-known
Yes. My Zenobia II had the same issue with a super tight fit.
Also, the hesper lens has an odd propensity to cloud up with a strange calcium like film on the rear element facing the shutter blades. If you buy one, make sure the lens is clear behind the shutter. It could easily be overlooked unless you open the shutter to the bulb setting.