Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jul 21, 2012 21:44:13 GMT -5
I just thought, I'll share my happiness with you  Got an early japanese postwar TLR, called "Middl Flex" here from an auction this week. A quite rare camera, made by Otawa Optical Co. in 1952. The camera is in excellent condition and full working. Can't wait to give it a try   Middl Flex by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jul 21, 2012 22:18:03 GMT -5
berndt,
That is an impressive looking camera.
It is too bad the mfg's. didn't know how to spell "Ottawa".
They didn't do too well with "Middle" either.
However, they will be forgiven if you are happy with the pictures it produces.
Mickey
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col
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Post by col on Jul 21, 2012 22:28:17 GMT -5
berndt that's a very nice looking camera
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jul 21, 2012 22:38:38 GMT -5
Uuups ... my misspelling. Should be Otowa and neither Otawa nor Ottawa. The actually right way to write it would be 音羽光機製作所  One possible reason, why I got it for a really nice price might be the fact, that the seller was spelling it wrong too. He wrote something like "MiddleFiex" ... and not many people found it  |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jul 22, 2012 2:39:56 GMT -5
Uuups ... my misspelling. Should be Otowa and neither Otawa nor Ottawa. The actually right way to write it would be 音羽光機製作所 Aah. That is much better. Mickey |
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Jul 22, 2012 19:17:40 GMT -5
Very nice camera, Berndt! I'm still looking for the "Five Goats" Doug |
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Post by nikkortorokkor on Jul 23, 2012 9:41:19 GMT -5
Berndnt, that's a nice TLR. Congrats on a rare find. Don't be too sure that Dave is the only one looking for Five Goats:  (Not my photo, grabbed off the net) Yes, there is a more-than-spurious connection - the elusive Five Goats TLR was made in Guangzhou, home of the legendary 5 Goats: Legend has it that 5 celestial beings brought 5 goats into Guangzhou. The goats were all carrying rice, which symbolized that they would make sure that the area would always be free of famine. Guangzhou has paid tribute to these benevolent goats by making them the symbol of the city. There are many goat statues in the "Goat City" and the Statue of the Five Goats is the most impressive. And yes, I'd like a Five Goats TLR too. By the way, do you know the story behind the "Middl Flex" name or is it another Japanese camera mystery lost in the sands of time? |
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jul 23, 2012 20:57:58 GMT -5
I guess so  I couldn't find anything in the japanese internet about this camera, which is unusual ( there are a lot of camera maniacs here, writting blogs about everything ). It is just known, that the maker released two cameras ( a TLR and a folder ) in 1952, both called "Middl" ( without the "e" ). The tricky thing in the japanese language is, that Japan is still using Katakana for writing words of foreign languages. For example, "Aires" ( name of another japanese camera maker ) comes from "EYE REScue". But ... why the strange writing ? Because EYE RES would be written アイレス ( A-I-RE-SU ) in Katakana. It needs some imagination sometimes to guess the original English word. Any idea what "Ma-ku-do-na-ru-do" means ? Mc Donalds ;D ;D ;D But I still have no idea about the origin of the word "Middl". "Middle" would be too easy, wouldn't it. It seems to be a rare camera though. I just found, that one famous TLR collector owns one and another ( or the same ? ) model appeared on an auction in Europe app. 10 years ago. What really makes me happy is, that my Middl Flex is in fantastic condition. The shutter is still working at all speeds and the lenses look like new after a little cleaning. I couldn't resist, trying it yesterday but need to wait a few days for getting the film back. I know, that not everybody is interested in also using his collectables, but for me, it's the highest level of "collectors happiness" |
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jul 24, 2012 14:39:13 GMT -5
Interesting posts, Berndt and Michael.
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Jul 31, 2012 6:48:20 GMT -5
After the "light leaking curse" on several cameras it seems, that I got a new one ... the "out of focus curse". All testfilms from three different cameras, which I got back today, have been a disaster  One of them has been from this Middl Flex. A fist and surprising experience. I would say, that the focus on TLRs is most accurate and easy to set ... but in this case, all pictures have been out of focus. I checked the taking lens, but it has been screwed on tightly and the metering of the viewing/focussing lens seems to be realistic too. Any suggestions ? It seems, that the focus is always a little bit behind of where it actually should be ( like on the test shot, attached ). |
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jul 31, 2012 15:54:38 GMT -5
It could be on this that the two lenses are out of sync. Perhaps you will have to reset it by trial and error. The actual lens looks reasonably sharp, so it would seem that once you have it set that it'll be a good worker.
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Post by julio1fer on Jul 31, 2012 19:59:57 GMT -5
Maybe they run out of room in the plate. They cme clse 'nough.
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Aug 1, 2012 1:23:09 GMT -5
Mmmmh ... maybe  What I also thought is ... could it be, that one of the former owners exchanged/mistaked taking and viewing lens ? They are basically the same ... nearly ... except the distance to the plate ( where they get screwed in ) is different, depending on which lens you screw into which hole. My assumption is based on a try. I exchanged both lenses and the viewing lens is now focussing to infinity a little bit more perfectly, I think. And I noticed something else. The front lens is made of two elements ( lenses ), which become screwed to eachother and fixed by an outer orifice ring. The question is: How much/far do the need to become screwed to eachother ( distance ). Just tight ? That's what have been the case ... BUT ... I also found a scratch on both lenses, which actually looks like a mark ? All that could have an influence on the focus, couldn't it ? What I did now is ... I exchanged taking and viewing lens PLUS adjusting the both front elements ( lenses ) the the "scratch mark" ( if this is a mark at all ). Comparing the pictures in the viewer and projected by the taking lens, it doesn't look bad ... but it's always so tough to say, I think, because the DOF on a full open lens is so damn shallow on those type of cameras  ... and my eyes not that young anymore as well |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Aug 1, 2012 4:30:39 GMT -5
berndt, "...the DOF on a full open lens is so damn shallow on those type of cameras ... and my eyes not that young anymore as well "How about using a more powerful magnifier than the one attached to the hood? It might take years off your eyes. If the camera is worth the cost and effort a Fresnel lens will brighten things considerably. Mickey |
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I couldn't find anything in the japanese internet about this camera, which is unusual ( there are a lot of camera maniacs here, writting blogs about everything ).
... and my eyes not that young anymore as well