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Post by carole on Jun 13, 2014 12:46:44 GMT -5
Attachment DeletedAttachment DeletedAttachment DeletedHello, I am new to this forum, but stumbled on it when I was trying to find some information on an Alpa Alnea mod. 7 SLR. I inherited it from my aunt who recently passed away. It was my grandfather's camera and I think it just sat in her house for 40 years without any use. It appears to be in good condition and playing around with it, I found it still has film in it which unfortunately, I probably just exposed. It has a Retrofocus Angenieux lens on it. I can't really see length. I think it looks like a fixed lens. I've looked at manuals on the web, but nothing talks about a lever this camera has on the front. It is located next to the lens on the camera body itself. If you pull it down, then release shutter, the camera makes a whirring noise as the lever slowly returns to position. Anything to do with the mirror? Also, stupid question, but can you change lenses without exposing film. I may try to shoot up what is left on the role and see what is there. Would love any input. Thanks, Carole
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Jun 13, 2014 14:15:42 GMT -5
Sorry, Carole, I can't help. I've never even handled an Alpa never mind had one. Someone out there will know. If you can do so, it might be worth posting a photo. I'm sure the lenses are removable. Some details at camera-wiki. ...and welcome.
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Post by philbirch on Jun 13, 2014 14:55:09 GMT -5
Welcome Carole. There is a member who has one of these, Stephen here is a piece he wrote: ALPA 7Stephen is a regular contributor on this quiet forum. I'm sure he will be able to help you. The lever you mentioned is the self timer (so you can get on your own photos) The shutter should have fired when it was used. It is possible that its faulty. This camera is a little delicate if you do things in the wrong order. It sounds like it has a wide angle lens attached. I think this camera is from the mid '50's which would fit lovely in my collection!
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 13, 2014 16:22:17 GMT -5
Well if it is an Alpa 7, as above, then you have a very serious collectors camera, that should be totally usable. it should really have a Kern Switar Standard lens, but a Angenieux lens may be as good! Have a further look and see if you have the standard lens tucked away anywhere. Angenieux made retrofocus wide angles, and were and still are, a French lens maker of the very best quality. Alpa themselves went out of business for 35mm, although a new owner does make large format cameras to this day. It was once the best camera maker of all, rivaling Leica, as the most exclusive, pricey, and well made Swiss manufactured camera, very popular in the States. Virtually hand made, by a company used to watch and clock making, they are unfortunately a bit difficult to use for a newcomer to film. Guides are published on the net. The design was quirky, and old fashioned, deliberately designed to the taste of Alpa alone!! In terms of other makes the shutter is normal, but an extended range, the viewfinders are odd, a rangefinder and a reflex in one body. The wind on is downright crazy, and in reverse to most makers. The lens mount is Alpas own, but takes adaptors for other brands, all are still available from Alpa specialists. To release the lens, the button on the body next to the lens rim mount is pressed and the lens should rotate and come away from the body. You can safely release the lens at any time, before or after taking a shot. The mirror, film transport, and release are normal for the period, the whirring release is the self timer delay. To work the focal plane shutter must be cocked. The camera was designed for advanced amateur use or pro use in a laboratory, which explains the curious angled reflex viewer, also the reversed wind on. Despite the pro uses, it was a superb camera for general use, the quality is amazing. The good part is they are highly sought after and very valuable, they command high dollar prices in mint condition. They are serviceable, lenses are still made or can be sourced S/hand or use adaptors. The down side is service must be done by Alpa experts and this is costly, very costly, due to the high standards required, this is after all the Rolls Royce of 35mm cameras. As far as I know only one agent in New York can handle full service and one or two German service agents can set up and clean the camera internals to the best standards. Even a Rolls needs looking after, the camera may have suffered water or sand and dirt damage, and the shutter cloth can rot, but all can be put right within reason. As your new to this, take time and learn about 35mm camera reflexes in general before using the Alpa, more than once described as the King of Cameras. Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 13, 2014 17:08:46 GMT -5
I should point out that the French Angenieux lens used a strange extra added to the side of the lens, this is the Auto diaphragm mechanism, and aperture setting dial, when the release is pressed the lens aperture is closed at the same time. Modern cameras do this all the time, but it was a big thing in the 1950's to add to a camera. The Angenieux version is a bit awkward in appearance, and leaves the lens closed till the pressure on the release is removed as your finger relaxes. Some early types need re-cocking of the aperture between each shot. Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 13, 2014 17:14:26 GMT -5
Another point is that Pignons, the Alpa owners, never made a single lens, they always used other makers, supplying the best available at the time. This is totally different from other camera makers who's reputation depended on the lens being made by them. Alpa simply supplied the best, at a cost! Most independant makers marked the lenses "Made for Alpa". Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 13, 2014 17:20:55 GMT -5
Welcome Carole. There is a member who has one of these, Stephen ....... " This camera is a little delicate if you do things in the wrong order." NO, That is the EXAKTA that's delicate if you get things in the wrong order!!! ..only joking, the Alpa is far more robust, unless furiously tackled by a frustrated user, as I said it is quirky..... Stephen.
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Post by carole on Jun 14, 2014 12:19:12 GMT -5
Dear Stephen, Thank you so much for all of this information. I would call my self a serious amateur photographer or semi-pro. I'm quite a photo enthusiast and I enjoy it as a serious hobby. I shoot digital now and haven't taken photos with film for a very long time. I shot up the rest of the roll and will see how this camera performs. I found a guide on the internet, but it doesn't discuss loading and unloading the film. I found it a little difficult to rewind the roll. I had to finally go into a dark room and manually rewind it since I couldn't really figure it out and I didn't want to break it. Do you have any suggestions on this? Also, I haven't tried loading a new roll. It's probably easier than I think. I included some photos of the camera and what was included in the case. Yes, I have a Kern Switar standard lens and even a vivitar flash. Very interesting since it looks like it connects to the front. I haven't tried using that yet. Some questions I have on the camera use though are: 1. Is there any way to set ASA or you just don't? 2. I find the shutter speed knob interesting. It is scored for certain speeds. I suppose you can set it midway between it's markings such as maybe a 150 or something? 3. I found it weird that it has a knob to dial in lens lengths. How does that change the pictures? 4. It does have a quirky viewfinder and then it has a small viewfinder on back that doesn't go through the lens. Why is this there? 5. I don't see a way to set aperture, but like you said the Angenieux has aperture on the lens. Was this pretty common for the period? aperture on lens and not camera. I'm excited to try shooting more film with it. I enjoy collector cameras. I also have a polaroid Land camera and film is very difficult to come by for that. At least the Alpa takes normal 35mm film. I added pictures to the beginning of the thread
Thanks so much for your help, Carole
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Post by paulhofseth on Jun 15, 2014 9:20:26 GMT -5
*One does not need to adjust film speed on the camera since it has no light meter. If you use an ilford XP2 B&W it will be quite tolerant towards inexcact exposures.
* According to the original instructions, intermediate times can be set except between 1\10th and 1\25th since this setting is occupied by the B setting, and between 1\500th and 1\1000th since they are "only one tooth in the cogwheel apart" (freely translated from German)
* The lens length knob will adjust your rangefinder view but not affect the picture. You will note that the (apochromatic) Switar lens is coupled to the rangefinder so that you can use this for focussing instead of the groundglass.
* The earlier models were marked Alpa Alnea and the corresponding 6 element Angenieux 28mms had ordinary aperture rings. The later A7b were marked Alpa Reflex, and some had a transparent wind lever mounted on the winding knob. Towards the end of the model-run Angenieux marketed the 28mm with the "auto diaphragm" which closed when the release button was pressed. The aperture values for this were set by a knob on top of the lens. ---------
The Pignons factory at Ballaigues was in the middle of the watchmaking area of Switzerland and like classic watch movements, their mechanics last a long time, but like fine veteran clocks and cars, should be used from time to time. I just excercised the shutter on one my late 1940es Alpa "Standard"; works perfectly.
p.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 15, 2014 13:45:27 GMT -5
loading is about the same as any 35mm reflex, the unloading is a touch unusual, the re-wind knob is raised and the claw inside the camera remains in contact with the cartridge, the knob can then be turned, but there is a racket inside the knob, which allows just a back and forth action.
When film is inside the cartridge, and then the film will release from the body, when the back is opened up. The overall action is the same as all 35mm reflexes, except for the ratchet, which is stepless, as a non return clutch is used. Typical de-luxe over engineering by Alpa........
Stephen.
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Stephen
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Post by Stephen on Jun 15, 2014 13:52:22 GMT -5
As you have the Switar standard lens, the best standard ever made, there are Alpa to Mirrorless Digital SLR adapters made, which allows the use of the superb Kern and Angenieux lens to be used on Sony and Micro 4/3 cameras. You simply will not get sharper lens than these.
Stephen.
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Post by paulhofseth on Jun 16, 2014 2:19:18 GMT -5
I just looked up the serial number of the camera body in the picture; it belongs to a series made in 1955. Probably with an all matte focussing screen.
p.
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Post by carole on Jun 16, 2014 14:38:59 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for your valuable input. I have learned more here from this forum on my camera than any search.
Thanks so much, Carole
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Post by philbirch on Jun 17, 2014 5:02:59 GMT -5
You're welcome Carole, on behalf of the members here. There are not many active members but there is a lot of knowlege. I knew Stephen would be able to help and I hope that you have lots of fun using your 'new' camera. Phil
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truls
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Post by truls on Jun 18, 2014 8:37:16 GMT -5
Nice camera, collectible, expensive. You could buy a decent car for the money
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