Stephen
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Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Aug 11, 2013 11:33:18 GMT -5
Just too tempting on Ebay, from Vivitar, a Cosina reflex, made in mainland China, in Shanghai, a V3000 K mount manual body, 1/2000th top speed. Nice plain design, made by the bucketload, with universal K mount, (M42 via adaptor), some what plastic, mid 1990's to 2004 production period. The same CT-1 camera chassis was sold by Canon, Olympus, and Nikon brands, and proved very reliable indeed.  Fully manual mechanical metal bladed shutter, 1/2000th top speed, no battery required, body with TTL metering.....and the cost ........£1.04.....$1.61..... It needs a decent standard lens but I have several assorted K mount lenses in good order that are in need of a body. Stephen. |
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Post by Randy on Aug 11, 2013 20:05:34 GMT -5
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Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Aug 12, 2013 8:03:27 GMT -5
and about 100 other models/trademarks! including Centon and Seagull, they say the chassis is one of the most widely used SLR types ever, available from 1994 till now,( and still being sold). The modified chassis and shutter were even used in a digital camera from Epson......and two Nikons! |
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casualcollector
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In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Post by casualcollector on Aug 12, 2013 14:56:43 GMT -5
I have three versions of this camera. A Cosina CT-1 Super, A Vivitar and a Voigtlander Bessa R.
The 21st century version of the Ricoh Singlex TLS!
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Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Aug 12, 2013 15:11:11 GMT -5
After all, it is the lens that takes the shot, a Pentax branded lens must be the better choice, but then Cosina's own glass has a good reputation, I have a couple of K mount zooms, but no quality prime lens in K mount, so watching Ebay again. Must get a K to M42 adaptor as well, might as well make is flexible!
At the very low price, I hope it works, the meter would be redundant really, it is a working accurate shutter that's needed, and the CT-1 type shutter was one of the best designs for manual operation.
Stephen.
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Post by Randy on Aug 12, 2013 16:24:22 GMT -5
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Post by pompiere on Aug 13, 2013 9:26:52 GMT -5
I have a Kalimar K-90 that looks like it came out of the same mold as the Phenix DC888k. |
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Aug 13, 2013 12:19:11 GMT -5
manilacamerastyle.com/post/1427156173/sent-in-ricoh-kr-5-super-iiPage above has a list of the Cosina CT-1 chassis variants, and I do not think it is complete! Early types were made in Japan, then production went to Shanghai in China, and still is being made there. Early types used a metal chassis, later changed to polycarbonate metal loaded plastic. The shutter remained basically the same across the models. Vivitar branded items are less common in the UK, they traded on the lenses more than cameras. Stephen.
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Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Aug 14, 2013 7:00:31 GMT -5
Vivitar V 3000 is here, all £1.04's worth, ($1.61).... quickly tested out, all working fine, just needs a decent standard lens!! The Shutter tests within about 1.5% of accurate, about the same as a Nikon! Only the 1 sec setting is a bit long, of no consequence at all. It came without a case, not expected, but has a genuine Vivitar strap!, and unlike some descriptions, the Chinese made CT-1 Cosina chassis is solid metal, only the top plate and bottom are polycarbonate.
This example has a nice Fresnel screen, with diagonal split image rangefinder. Light seals are foam!, might be worth changing to felt and cord.
Now a cheap Pentax standard lens?
Stephen.
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Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Aug 14, 2013 7:39:43 GMT -5
Ordered a K mount to M42 adaptor, it is not often the adaptor even at £3.99 is 3.8x times the cost of the camera!
Stephen.
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Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Aug 22, 2013 9:51:45 GMT -5
The adaptor for M42 to K mount arrived post haste from China, infinity focus type, that latches into the body. As it is manual only, I will try a Steinheil Cassar 50mm F2.8 with it for the moment, makes a nice compact unit. Stephen. |
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Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Aug 22, 2013 11:48:44 GMT -5
Ohh dear.... the Steinheil Cassar 50mm F2.8 fits all right, but those pesky Germans made the register area at the back a smaller diameter than the whole M42 mount, and the K mount adaptor "floats", using the M42 thread lens to pull the adaptor tight.
So the Cassar has "slack" play despite being done up tight, as it locks to the adaptor, which still floats,(as it should), in the K mount.
It needs M42 lenses with a plain backed m42 mount to really work, although the Cassar does focus correctly, and I will try it out.
Stephen.
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Stephen
Lifetime Member
Still collecting.......
Posts: 2,718
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Post by Stephen on Sept 9, 2013 15:25:54 GMT -5
Finally I got from Ebay an inexpensive Ricoh 50mm F2.00 lens that have a good reputation, even on the basic model. K mount and is smaller than the Pentax equivalent or the Vivitar original lens by Cosina.
Running a film through over the next couple of weeks.
The camera was OK with the Cassar lens and adaptor, but very manual operation!
Stephen.
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