daveh
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Post by daveh on Jan 24, 2011 7:10:28 GMT -5
Sid, today's "junk" is tomorrow's collectable - or something like that.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jan 24, 2011 13:44:39 GMT -5
Curt, What I'm not over keen on are those forums where everyone lists everything they own, down to the last accessory, on every post. This is last group is the only one I find comes in to the bragging category. Dave. Dave, Due to the ability of almost any of today's 10 year old kids and older to find everything about anyone I am reluctant to post an inventory of select pickings for thieves who probably know what I am saying right now. But as a member of CC's showing some collectibles is more or less an obligation. Mickey
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jan 24, 2011 13:55:18 GMT -5
Mickey, ....especially easy to find when you have done your own photofit picture. All anyone has to do is find someone asleep at the wheel. Dave.
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Jan 24, 2011 17:08:47 GMT -5
Hi All! I've been busy, and didn't get around to this till today. I've bought some and had some given to me by friends. They'll all be added to the collection as I get them ready, these two I'm very fond of. a rebadged FF-1S FF-3AF Super I like Ricoh I guess; I've had quite a few over the years, and have always gotten good results from them. Doug
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Post by nikkortorokkor on Jan 27, 2011 1:10:09 GMT -5
Love the Ricoh - classic 80s styling - cameras, stereos or cars, didn't matter. Boxy styling and lots of labels screen printed over everything. The mnore angles and edges, the better!
BTW, I "won" the auction for the Ambi Silette, so 2011 is of to a bright start (now contemplating what to sell to placate my wife).
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jan 27, 2011 3:54:48 GMT -5
Mike, my immediate thought was what about starting with the wife!
Dave.
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Post by nikkortorokkor on Jan 27, 2011 4:28:09 GMT -5
Dave, as much as I love my cameras, I'd sell 'em all to keep my wife.
but if I can keep both, even better!
Seriously, I'm a small collector by choice. I'd rather have a few cameras that REALLY pique my interest than a whole room full. That's not criticizing other people's approach to collecting, it is more of a comment on my short attention span! I'm trying to focus (pun fully intended) on German leaf shutter rangefinders. Hopefully I can sell one or two of the nice Japanese compact rangefinders I've acquired to finance the Ambi. I'm really keen to see if it lives up to the 'poor man's Leica' tag.
Going OT, my hunch is that the Ambi Silette, the Retina and the 3 window Diaxes are the cream of the "2nd tier" (West) German 35mm crop (for those who couldn't quite afford a Contax or Leica).
Does anyone more informed than I have anything to add (I admit I'm a little biased against Voightlander, though I understand their build quality & lenses were great).
Mike.
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Jan 27, 2011 9:19:41 GMT -5
Mike, Yes, I think you've picked the top three of the "second tier" of German rangefinders. My personal preference is for the Retina. Not the Retinette, though that was good value for money in performance. It was let down by cheap cosmetic finishing that didn't last. My preference for Retinas is purely personal and not based on extensive comparisons. I haven't had much experience of Diaxes except borrowing one from my brother in law, but I was impressed with both the quality and performance. Not sure how closely the Ambi Silettes follow the Agfa branded ones, but of the Agfa models the Super Silette with Compur shutter and Solagon lens is tops. The lower-down model with the Apotar lens is also an excellent performer. Yes, the Apotar was "only" a triplet but in the opinion of many people it has to be one of the best triplets of all time. When it first appeared it got rave reviews from the UK photo mags who found that it outperformed many cheaper four-glass lenses built to the Tessar layout. If you want a quick run-down on Silettes I have a page about them on my personal website www.peterwallage.comClick on My Cameras and then on Agfa. I've since fixed the return lever spring on the Super Silette. For more info try the link I give at the bottom of the page but last time I tried it the site seemed to have gone down. Got to admit I tend to share your bias against the later Voigtländers. The lenses were and always have been superb but my opinion is that Voigtländer went downhill towards the end because build quality was sacrificed in the effort to increase production. By build quality I don't mean lack of workmanship on the assembly lines, I mean the cheapening of many parts inside until they were little better than bent strips of thin-gauge mild steel. Sad for a great name to go that way, but even being bought by Zeiss Ikon couldn't save them. Have a look at the Ilford Sportsman range made in Germany by Dacora. They included a nice rangefinder. Some of the later ones tended to have too many gadgets built-in but the earlier models were good solid well-built cameras. I've also got a page about those on my website. Another German camera from that period worth looking at is the Agfa Karat IV rangefinder with Solagon lens. I think Agfa really tried to match the Retina with this, but though it was well made and gave very good performance it wasn't a great success in the market place. Possibly because for most people the name Karat brough a picture of the cheap and cheerful little Karat folders of previous years. I like the little folding Karats. Not everyone's choice, but for me they've got a certain charm. I've also got a page about Karats on my website but though I've since got a Karat IV I haven't got around to including it. PeterW
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Jan 27, 2011 16:56:46 GMT -5
Peter, I just visited your web page and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's very well done and I'll be visiting often. I especially enjoyed your rescue of the old Voigtlaender folder. What an undertaking! I don't think that I would have had the patience for a job like that. Doug
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jan 27, 2011 17:18:12 GMT -5
I have just been re-visiting Wayne's wonderful world having visited Peter's pages previously. I must get round to doing something myself some time. You should do one too, Doug. Perhaps it could be called Doug's Delightful Doors!
Just to echo what you have said - they are all well worth a visit.
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Post by nikkortorokkor on Jan 28, 2011 2:51:19 GMT -5
Peter, I haven't visited your site for an age. Thanks for the reminder. Your endorsement is heartening. Ive committed the sin of dropping the "AGFA" from Agfa Ambi Silette - an attempt at feigning insider familiarity at the expense of accuracy. I understand that the Agfa Ambi Silette was the top-of-the-line in the Silette Range. Steve Grandy has quite a rave on them here: www.cameraquest.com/agfambi.htmI don't love the styling - the Lordox Lordomat, IMHO is the prettiest of the "camera club" IC rangefinders (just a shame about the Leidolf lenses) while the Diax combines the elements of beauty and brawn. But what the Agfa lacks in looks, it makes up for in features. Sorry for hijacking the topic! I'll do a proper post on the Agfa when I get it in my hot little hands.
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