hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
|
Post by hansz on Oct 25, 2017 11:58:29 GMT -5
A more modern Ikoflex is the Ikoflex II, in this case an early postwar one. It has about the same handling as the Rolleicord. For a collector part of the fun is getting the accessories, next to the camera you see the sheet-metal lenscap, which is most of the time lost in space.. IMG_2715-3D by Hans de Groot, on Flickr Hans
|
|
|
Post by belgiumreporter on Oct 26, 2017 6:25:30 GMT -5
At first glance Cosina never made anything special or "PRO" level just a line of ordinary slr's in the budget range. There is however (a lot) more than meets the eye, the ct1 and ct2 models for instance have been used by just about every big camera company to be rebadged as their own "entry" model. The Nikon FM10-FE10, Canon T60,Olympus OM2000,and numerous others all are Cosina clones, so the CT1 and CT2 have become classics,be it in a special way. But there's more, by removing the mirrorbox and prism Cosina used the CT's to revive the Voigtländer brand and introduced their range of rangefinders Leica style, and even if the bodies aren't exactly Leica quality, the rangefinder lenses by Cosina are very high quality. Here's a few Cosina K-mount SLR's from left to right the solar powered(yes!)E1, the CS3 a very well equipped body with winder and the very basic and plastic C1.
|
|
|
Post by belgiumreporter on Oct 27, 2017 3:21:26 GMT -5
Mamiya, while producing top quality medium format cameras, never succeeded in doing the same in the 35mm SLR range. The 1966 500TL was a very mediocre camera and the only feature that makes it stand out is the TTL spot meter. With a list price in the range of contemporary Minolta, Pentax and Miranda offerings it wasn't(and still isn't) much of a competition to what the other makes had on offer. My well battered Mamiya TL500 with Auto Mamiya Sekor 50mm 1:2
|
|
hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
|
Post by hansz on Oct 27, 2017 15:01:41 GMT -5
Back to the Zeiss Ikon Contarex theme, a slight variation on the Contarex I was the Contarex D. In almost all aspects the same as model I, but the bullseye (or Cyclops) light meter feature has now a removable diaphragm piece and the back was fitted with an ingenious slit which permits the insertion of a strip on which you could write some useable information. A data back avant la lettre! The front, with a Sonnar 1:4 f=135mm attached: IMG_2717 by Hans de Groot, on Flickr The back, the slit barely visible, just right below of the viewfinder: IMG_2719 by Hans de Groot, on Flickr Hans
|
|
hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
|
Post by hansz on Oct 27, 2017 15:07:25 GMT -5
Still another variation, the Zeiss Ikon Contarex microscope camera, all came without a production number. Scientist don't need numbers?! Anyway, attached to it is a Carl Zeiss microscope attachment tube - quite elaborate, with an beam splitter for 1. focussing by a separate ocular and 2. a light metering possibilty by changing the ocular by a n Ikophot M light meter. IMG_2721 by Hans de Groot, on Flickr Hans
|
|
hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
|
Post by hansz on Oct 27, 2017 15:25:01 GMT -5
It is clear that our belgiumreporter (Hi François) has a soft spot for black cameras, so let's post a chrome Canon FTb with a Canon FD 35mm 1:3.5 S.C. IMG_2731 by Hans de Groot, on Flickr Hans
|
|
hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
|
Post by hansz on Oct 29, 2017 8:41:29 GMT -5
When the folder age was near its end Zeiss Ikon came with the Super Ikonta III and IV which marked the end of the era. Shown is a Super Ikonta III with integrated rangefinder in a smooth and comfortable housing. Well engineered and a nice camera to use. The lens is a Zeiss-Opton Tessar 3,5/75mm, so a late Heidenheim lens of the Zeiss-Opton Co before in the West they could use the Carl Zeiss trademark again. IMG_2723 by Hans de Groot, on Flickr Hans
|
|
|
Post by belgiumreporter on Oct 31, 2017 4:39:15 GMT -5
Back to Mamiya, while most camera makers that used M42 or other mounts changed to K-mount somewhere along their production line, Mamiya decided to use their own (lens)mount. While the bodies might not have been bad, the limited lens options made these Mamiyas a less desirable choise. The ZE started in 1980 the Z line, here with Mamiya-Sekor E 50mm :1.7
|
|
|
Post by belgiumreporter on Oct 31, 2017 4:57:54 GMT -5
Mamiyas 35mm slr story ended in 1982 with the ZM, to use its full potential yet another type of lens was needed (ES series)In 1984 Osawa (the Mamiya distributor and maker of lenses) went bancrupt. This event caused Mamiya to pull the plug on their 35mm slr line. Mamiya ZM with osawa 35-105MM 1:3.5-4.5 macro zoom. Some 20 ZM prototypes rebadged as Voigtländers were made, but this model never went into production and i guess it will be a real challenge to find one.(Hans, i don't suppose you've got one?)
|
|
hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
|
Post by hansz on Oct 31, 2017 9:28:05 GMT -5
Ah, François,20 pieces, that would be the holy grail of collector-land... Helaas... To tell the truth, I never fancied Mamiya 24x36 much. The 4,5x6cm camera line is another league and is certainly of interest. The only Mamiya items I came across regularly are the late Voigtländer (Super-)Dynarex and Rollei Rolleinar lenses which were genuine Mamiya lenses. Hans
|
|
|
Post by belgiumreporter on Nov 1, 2017 7:21:39 GMT -5
While Mamiyas 35mmslr story was't all that succesfull, they do shine in the medium format department. M645, c220,c330,RB67,RZ, Press...they all are great cameras. Though not "cheap" (what is in medium format?)they are affordable for many student or "pro" I think after using allmost every type of medium format Mamiya they all deserve "famous classic" status. here's my current 1985 "user" M645super with AE finder and my favourite Mamiya Sekor 35mm 1:3.5 widangle.
|
|
|
Post by belgiumreporter on Nov 3, 2017 4:22:01 GMT -5
Polaroid allways was something special in camera land. What they did in 1972 with the introduction of the collapsible SX 70 was a stroke of genius. Gone was the fiddeling with peel apart instant film, the exposed image came dry and ready out of the camera, because of the motorised ejection of the prints continuous shooting instant prints was now possible. The folding design made the camera easy to transport, the slr design allowed for critical focussing and auto TTL metering made good exposed pics easy. The early brushed stainless steel and brown leather design made it a very stylish camera as well, despite being (very) expensive both the hardware and the prints over 700.000 were sold in the first two years of production. The SX 70 was the first instant camera in space (skylab 3-4) 1972 original SX70 in open and collapsed form
|
|
hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
|
Post by hansz on Nov 3, 2017 15:08:59 GMT -5
One of my favourite Zeiss Ikons is the Contessa, Bestellnummer 533/24, the last camera which was designed by Hubert Nerwin before he left for the US. (Other two were the Ikonta 35 and Contina II) Designed symmetrically, it fits the (lady-)hand perfectly. The brochures and advertisements of Zeiss Ikon were specifically targetted to the female audience. The rangefinder was integrated in the viewer and made focussing very easy. It was produced from 1950 until 1955. IMG_2725 by Hans de Groot, on Flickr Hans
|
|
|
Post by belgiumreporter on Nov 5, 2017 14:18:23 GMT -5
With later versions some improvement were made on the original. There wasn't a tripod socket on the original SX70 so a accesoire was needed, on the later versions a tripod socket was present. A later black version SX70 with faded leatherette (a common problem) directly mounted on a tripod.
|
|
hansz
Lifetime Member
Hans
Posts: 697
|
Post by hansz on Nov 15, 2017 17:00:44 GMT -5
Not really a "classic" camera, the Zeiss Ikon Cocarette, a preWW2 design. It was made in many variations. The description: Zeiss Ikon Cocarette 514/2 with Dominar-Anastigmat 1:4,5 F=10,5cm Nr. 1096450 Telma shutter B 25 50 100 Production nummer P96430. Also a tryout with my newly acquired lightbox:-) IMG_2743 by Hans de Groot, on Flickr You have to open the film back to get to the production number. To open the back you have to switch the button in the middle to A (I believe Auf, but I'm not a native speaker...). To close it, push the button to Z (Zu). The viewfinder is of a later date and presumably from DDR origin (Ercona type). IMG_2746 by Hans de Groot, on Flickr Hans
|
|