Stephen
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Post by Stephen on May 1, 2013 13:30:29 GMT -5
 A Certos Certi on the way from Ebay, marked as not properly working, but in generally good condition, I have another partially striped example which should provide spares to get at least one fully working camera. Made by Certo from Dresden, East Germany, in 1962, they were well known for manufacturing the earlier Certo Dollina 35mm cameras. They remained a private company till VEB (Pentacon), took over the company. Not widely available in the West. They are automatic exposure, with a nice Meyer-Optik Trioplan 45mm 4.5 lens, much better than average for a relatively inexpensive camera. Nice all metal construction. Stephen. |
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on May 1, 2013 19:52:00 GMT -5
Hi Stephen!
That's an interesting looking camera with a great design. Does it have have any place to mount a flash?
I have a soft spot for eastern block design, something about it just appeals to me.
Nice find!
Doug
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on May 2, 2013 1:11:24 GMT -5
There's a PC socket on the shutter for flash. no shoe, so a flash bracket would be needed. It is a neat design, I wonder why they did not put a Tessar in it like the Werra had. They may be other versions of course. I don't think this was ever re-branded for sale in the UK, in chemists stores like Boots etc., quite a few east German cameras were sold that way in the 1960's.
Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on May 2, 2013 1:33:45 GMT -5
 Another shot, of the Certi, which some sites class as rare, I think just unusual. Stephen. |
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SidW
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Post by SidW on May 2, 2013 18:14:48 GMT -5
Stephen, I thought "private company" was going to mean another special administration company like Exakta, then I saw the name engraved on the second picture: upside down but looks like VEB Filmfabrik Welton, edited out from the first photo (for what reason?) |
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on May 3, 2013 6:51:52 GMT -5
They are stock shots from the net till it arrives, the bottom one is in a museum about Certo, The first from Ebay listing, but may be stock.
Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on May 7, 2013 18:27:53 GMT -5
Shots of the Certos Certi, a 35mm Automatic camera, East German, from Dresden. Solid metal, quite heavy construction. Flash shoe is on the side of the body, which has a separate steel back released by the rewind knob. No life from the shutter so far, strip required as it appears attempts have been made to take it apart before. simple construction, a two speed auto iris mechanism, with a Triopan lens.    Stephen. |
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on May 9, 2013 4:38:03 GMT -5
This Certi has been comprehensively "got at", it's all there, but has been disassembled and fiddled with. I will dig out the other one and try to figure out the problems with the shutter, which is a simple two speed job, with auto iris, similar to the Olympus Trip in design. The camera is heavily built, weighs a ton!! The lens optics work OK and are very clean, I did manage to get the shutter to B to check focus etc.
The previous shots were taken with an old Russian pre-war lens from an early Fed, and will be retaken with a modern lens!
Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on May 15, 2013 6:31:28 GMT -5
The Certi is very problematic, the shutter is a right pain to work on, as it is a two speed auto, with meter controlled iris. It is all well made, but the design must have had flaws, as I now have two cameras that do not work correctly!
I have got the shutter to release, and it seems to respond to light from the cell, but the auto iris is not working correctly, it is closely integrated in to the shutter operation. It is much heavier construction than the Olympus trip shutter, and that may be the trouble, the parts are too heavy, not like the more delicate Trip parts.
Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on May 21, 2013 12:52:45 GMT -5
Oh well, I made as silly mistake, the shutter is wound by the transport on the Certi, which is not direct from the take up, in other words the film has to be in the camera to allow the shutter to fire.
I have now got another with instructions and box etc., and it makes it quite clear that a film must be in the camera, the sprocket is dragged by the film to space and cock the shutter.
I'll re-assemble the first Certi and get a test film through both.
Stephen.
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Stephen
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Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on May 21, 2013 13:30:15 GMT -5
 Bottom of the Certi box shows 1964 as build and inspection in Dresden and 1974 as sale from Coombe Martin, maybe Secondhand.  The instructions shows how to identify a Dealer to show you how to use the Certi! He will show you his manipulations! Stephen |
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