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Post by philchambers on Jul 16, 2013 14:29:34 GMT -5
Hello there. I am new here so I really hope I've got this is the right section. I have recently been given a few cameras from my Grandma and I was wondering if any of you knew anything about them. I will preface this by saying I don't know a lot about film cameras. I am very much into DSLR's (I think thats why she gave me them) but when it comes to 35mm cameras I am lost. I will try and give as much info on the cameras as I can:
The first is a Voitglander Vitessa T. The lens I'm not too sure about. It says Leica on the lens cap and Voitglander color-skopar 1:2.8/50 on the lens itself. It also says Synchro Compas on the top. It is all in a leather carry pouch that also has a pocket on it with some UV filters and a lens hood.
The second is a Praktica MTL 5 B. The lens on this is a Tessar 2.8/50 Carl Zeiss Jena DDR and says 304018 at the top. It also comes in a big leather carry case.
The last camera probably shouldn't be in this section but I will pop it in anyway, it is an old pull out camera and is a Vest Pocket Kodak Model B. It is made in Toronto and has the number 22115 on it. If I need to start another thread in a different section for this one then I will.
Do you know anything about these and maybe how much they are worth? I certainly won't be using them as actual cameras as I stopped using film years ago. If they aren't worth anything I won't be upset though as they do make very nice decorations on my shelf! Any info you could give would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks everyone.
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Post by Peltigera on Jul 16, 2013 14:36:09 GMT -5
No film cameras are worth very much now. The Vitessa T is worth most and I suspect the Praktica is worth least - £10.00 or so in English money and the lens is going to be better than the camera.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jul 16, 2013 15:02:19 GMT -5
As film cameras are not worth much, send on your Compass, Ektra, Witness, Gamma and a Ducati, I will give them a home....... joking aside, the value is not high on the mentioned models, bar the Voigtländer Vitessa T, which in good condition fetches quite high prices on Ebay.
Most Kodaks are so common that values are not high, unless a rare combination of features. They were after all the biggest maker of cameras in the world.
Practicas will never be a true collectors camera, lots and lots made and the best part is the lens, which explains why they take decent pictures.
Stephen.
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hansz
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Hans
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Post by hansz on Jul 16, 2013 15:41:47 GMT -5
Welcome Phil, to this forum.
Your Vitessa T even has interchangeable lenses. There are also a 100mm and a 135mm, both called Dynaret available for the T.
like Stephen said, your T has value, and if in good working order, is a solid performer.
The Praktica 5B, although a very run-of-the-mill camera, uses the new 1,5V battery, and so is a lot more usable than its predecessors, which needed the 1,35V Mercury cell.
The Tessar is a very late one, after the serial numbers became larger than 1 Mio, the East Germans started with 0 again, up to number 420000 or thereabouts. late 80s I guess...
Hans
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Post by philchambers on Jul 16, 2013 15:55:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. It's quite interesting. I might pick up some film to give the Vitessa and Praktica a go. It has been a while since I have used film so it could be a fun little experiment. Is there anything I need to look out for when using them? The Praktica seems pretty easy to understand but I'm not sure where to start with the Voitglander.
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Post by philchambers on Jul 16, 2013 16:05:21 GMT -5
Also, what kind of film would you recommend?
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jul 16, 2013 17:07:21 GMT -5
The full free Vitessa instruction manual is on reference: www.cameramanuals.org/voigtlander_pdf/voigtlander_vitessa_t.pdfAs to film, the choice is a bit restricted compared to the past, but in the UK the Agfa made by Fuji colour film is very good, and the black and white by Ilford, made by Kentmere is good stuff. Stephen. |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jul 16, 2013 17:54:44 GMT -5
Welcome Phil,
The Kodak Vest Pocket Model B Will sell for anywhere from $5 to $30 CAN depending upon condition.
Obtaining 127 film for it can be a problem as might be the film processing.
Why not just put it on a shelf and admire it. It's a lovely little camera.
Mickey
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jul 17, 2013 3:22:08 GMT -5
The current situation, as I understand from the net and a published statement from Efke, is that all emulsion manufacture has now stopped, the 127 film in particular is no longer made, although stocks may exist in wholesalers and private hands. There is a consultation ongoing about the factory resuming some film production under new owners.
However the Rollei shop, on line, can supply colour film in 127, and one type of b/w at the moment, they are not too expensive. Ebay regularly has film on sale at higher prices for 127.
However, all is not lost, you can make 127 from 120 film at home, it needs a "dark room", or the lights turned off! or a changing bag, and home processing for B/W, or a very friendly processor for colour to return the spools and backing paper.
Old backing paper is needed or make your own from art paper, it is easy even from scratch by measurement. The 120 film is slit in the dark on a home made slitter, made in wood, with a sharp blade, to pull the film through to slit to 127 width. It is the rolled up with the backing paper and you have the complete film.
To very simply test out a 127 camera, get a small tray, a bottle of paper developer and any universal fixer, a dark room, (or just turn out the lights!), and a cheap pack of Out Dated photographic paper, or fresh multigrade paper, and under a safelight, (red/ orange very dim), cut out to fit the camera, and use the paper as a paper negative.
Process the shot, and you have a negative that can be scanned or re-photographed to a digital file, which is then made positive in any graphics program. The speed of the multigrade paper is about 10/15 ASA, develop the paper to completion, if it goes to dark, then cut camera exposure, not pull out of the developer, it works better.
Once you have the negative the scanned version can be printed on an inkjet or laser, and the results are very impressive indeed from 127 or 120. It should outdo a digital cameras sharpness etc.
Another alternative is to use the current Ilford "Positive" paper, it has a very low ASA, about 3, but the result is a direct positive straight from the camera. Handle and process as per any paper. It is available in larger sizes that need cutting out under a safe light. The low ASA may need a camera with a B setting an a tripod, as medium apertures will need several seconds exposure even in bright light.
Only oddity is the image is of course always in reverse left to right!, but if scanned into a computer it can be reversed, and enlarged. Great to use in old large format cameras, and far cheaper than cut film for say 8x10 cameras!!
Stephen.
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melek
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Post by melek on Jul 17, 2013 20:59:25 GMT -5
The Praktica MTL5 is a nice camera. Nothing fancy and no multimode, matrix blah, blah. Just your basic match-needle exposure system with a classic lens ... the Tessar.
The Vitessa T isn't quite as cool as the barn-doors Vitessa. But it's still a cool camera with the plunger film advance and a very solid camera overall.
I don't know enough about the Kodak Vest Pocket cameras, except to say that I love the 127 format.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jul 17, 2013 21:57:29 GMT -5
The Praktica MTL5 is a nice camera. Nothing fancy and no multimode, matrix blah, blah. Just your basic match-needle exposure system with a classic lens ... the Tessar. I don't know enough about the Kodak Vest Pocket cameras, except to say that I love the 127 format. My collection thus far. Each differs from all the others in one or more ways. I am always on the lookout. No telling how far this might go. This has taken 11 years.  Mickey |
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hansz
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Hans
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Post by hansz on Jul 18, 2013 2:23:27 GMT -5
Well, this cries for some basic math: 9 cameras in 11 years, so over 110 years you will have 99 cameras... The question of course is, are there enough camera versions available  Hans |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jul 18, 2013 2:47:34 GMT -5
Well, this cries for some basic math: 9 cameras in 11 years, so over 110 years you will have 99 cameras... The question of course is, are there enough camera versions available Hans I am quite willing to hang around for another 30 years to see what I can see and, of course, report my discoveries back the theCC, Now where did I put those pills? Mickey  |
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jul 18, 2013 5:37:22 GMT -5
Never try work out how many cameras have been through your hands or in current collection, .....the cost will frighten you!!!
Stephen.
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hansz
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Hans
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Post by hansz on Jul 18, 2013 9:25:20 GMT -5
Now that is a touchy issue, Stephen... Since the introduction of the euro, I run a spreadsheet just doing that. Buying (mostly lots) and selling off the pieces I don't like or collect. As it stands today, I bought more than I sold, but the value of the collection is at least twice the investment. (It depends on the acquisition side - I'm a Dutchman and like bargains  Question is, will I ever sell the collection (or part of)? Presumably not, but my kids will... unless they susceptible to the same virus as I am... And there is still hope! Hans |
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