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Post by johnbear on Oct 29, 2016 17:56:33 GMT -5
It is almost universally stated that later Graphic 35s were produced by Kowa, and some say they had a Seikosha MX shutter. I'm not convinced this is true. I haven't been able to find a single image of a Graphic 35 with anything but a Prontor SVS shutter. Similarly, all available images of the film chamber/back show this to be printed or embossed with Made in U.S.A. In 1957 Graflex began selling the Century 35, a rebadged 1955 Kallo 35 with a Seikosha MX shutter and made by Kowa: a model with no push-button focusing, and the name CENTURY emblazoned on the lens bezel. It appears that these two models may have been confused, especially as the Century is sometimes named as the Graphic Century. The correct statement would appear to be that - later Graphic 35 models were produce by Kowa ... and included the (Graphic) Century 35 and Graphic Jet 35. Most Internet sources state production ceased in 1957, yet I have found magazine adverts from March 1958 (National Geographic), 1959 (Rochester 8 New York), plus a listing in the June 1960 UK Amateur Photographer magazine Annual Camera Guide, and the December 1960 US Modern Photography magazine New Camera Buying Guide. The details here describe the push button focusing, made in the USA, Graphic 35 pictured above . Either there was one massive stockpile of cameras, or it was still being made after 1957? Stylistically, the replacement model appears to have been the Graphic 35 Jet, which was introduced in 1961. Isn't it more likely the Jet perpetuated its predecessors unique focusing system rather than resurrected it four years later? There are lists of Rodenstock lens serial numbers on the Net, but these don't add too much clarity to the camera production date issue. From looking at Graphic 35 lens serial numbers, their range seems to be 2,5xx,xxx (lowest found 2,587,404) to 4,xxx,xxx (highest 4,087,778), which dates their lenses between May 1952 and July 1957 (assuming a linear distribution). July 1957 coincides with the end date information obtained from Graflex.org - but, with regard to the start date - if a lens made in 1952 appears in a 1955 camera, then isn't it also possible a 1957 lens could find itself in a 1960 camera? Just trying to set the record straight!
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Post by johnbear on Oct 25, 2016 14:50:21 GMT -5
Yes I did enjoy ... very interesting. I have to say, I generally prefer the Nikons (and I never knew I would, like I'm not a Nikon enthusiast).
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Post by johnbear on Sept 25, 2016 3:26:20 GMT -5
My camera collection is very humble: I own nothing of significant value.
I started collecting about three years ago ... after my wife and I decided to go our separate ways.
After a while, I wondered why I was collecting, and did some internet research. This told me people collect because they find it comforting.
That's why I collect. I also get a sense of achievement ... as in it took me over 40 years to own a Pentax Spotmatic, but I did it!
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Post by johnbear on Sept 22, 2016 12:17:49 GMT -5
Or did it? (Hehe - that'll flush out all the conspiracy theories).
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Post by johnbear on Sept 11, 2016 10:29:07 GMT -5
Wow !!!! That's a fab accomplishment Ron.
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Post by johnbear on Sept 9, 2016 3:59:16 GMT -5
The link to the Solinette II (Apotar/SV) instruction manual is ... www.cameramanuals.org/agfa_ansco/agfa_solinette_ii.pdf. If you have a Solinette (I), please can you post pictures of it, especially if you can spot any differences between yours and the one illustrated in the manual. I have read a rumour that the first one had a slightly smaller viewfinder window. Also, the baseboard cover should be different, because it will not be embossed "Solinette II". I'd be very interested to see a picture of that. As regards its worth - I doubt it will be worth more than any other Apotar/SV Solinette. I'd expect the appeal of this camera to be limited ... heck few people even seem to know or be interested that it existed!!!
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Post by johnbear on Sept 7, 2016 11:54:57 GMT -5
OK - I've got it. Woohoo! Julio1fer - yes non-selectable shutter speeds is my deliberate oxymoron used to describe the paradox of a shutter speed dial with "values" that cannot be selected, but that's exactly what they are: a scale of incremental, whole seconds, shutter speed steps beyond the travel of the shutter speed dial. They are however not a reminder, but rather an instruction. Rachel - yes you are on the right lines in that "green" times are invoked via a B setting and a manual count of seconds. Their purpose is however nothing to do with a built in light meter, because the large viewfinder Vito B, and Arette Super P don't have light meters. But, you did cause me to think about what these two cameras and the others (light meter equipped Voigtlander BL and Arette 1Dn with the green scale) have in common, from which I spotted the answer. And the answer is - they all have an EV scale. The shutter speed values are not selectable, but they do register against an aperture setting when read in the correct way - in the manner of a slide rule. If you work-out an exposure in EV values (which I personally have never done), then their purpose is intended for exposures at EVs 2 to 6. With the shutter speed dial set to B, the green figures align with the required aperture settings (e.g. at EV 3, f/5.6 at 4 seconds, f/8 at 8 seconds, etc.). The reason why "1" is missing from the scale is that I failed to recognise (with an "s" because I'm English) all these models have a slow speed of 1 second (derrrr!!!!). The reason why "2" is missing is because "B" represents 2 seconds (e.g. the scale reads f/2.8 at 1 sec, f/4 at B, f/5.6 at 4 sec, etc.). At higher EVs, the green scale works only partially, as can be seen in the photo (f/11 at 1 sec, f/16 at B, f/22 at 4 sec). Simple - don't know why it was eluding me?
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Post by johnbear on Sept 6, 2016 16:08:59 GMT -5
I have a few older cameras (Arettes and Voigtlanders) that have a non-selectable section of the shutter speed scale in green. It typically goes; 4, 8, 15, 30, 60. I understand the purpose of this scale was to remind the user of slow speed steps: that two times 4 was 8, and so on. However, I don't understand why 1 and 2 were missing - in fact, I don't understand why the scale was felt to be necessary at all?
Does anyone have an insight as to why some manufacturers thought this "feature" was useful?
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Post by johnbear on Sept 6, 2016 16:00:43 GMT -5
"Old, Vintage, Retro, Antique, Collectable, Classic Thingy" ... Haha, I like it, but you forgot to include "steampunk".
I went to school at a time when words had a specific meaning, and were not so loosely interchangeable.
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Post by johnbear on Sept 6, 2016 11:20:19 GMT -5
I don't know why this hasn't registered with me before, but trawling though eBay today I noticed a listing titled "Vintage Retro".
It just made me laugh as I pondered that such a camera must be an old (vintage) model in the style of an even older (retro) camera. Haha! Plus, a further search revealed there are almost 800 of these "vintage retro" cameras on sale in the UK at this time.
I think I'll start signing myself as "vintage retro guy".
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Post by johnbear on Sept 3, 2016 6:11:25 GMT -5
This is like dating ... from what I can remember?. Hobbies? Recently retired, and trying to figure-out what I want to do with my time. Still work part-time, but more for something to do rather than chasing an income. Client pool pretty much reduced to "the Church of England", for whom I do artisan-type woodwork (making and repairing furniture, etc). A chequered past has allowed me to indulge in hobbies for a living. Educated in the sciences (Botany/Zoology), but employed in the Arts, I've been a professional musician (when I was young and stupid), and a professional artist/illustrator (when I was much older and slightly less stupid). I've also had "real" jobs - 20 years working for the Government crunching numbers - before seeking a new occupation in joinery (another hobby), hence the Government pension that has allowed me to retire at a youthful 56. Currently looking for a new passion that exercises both brain and body. Very interested in returning to the sciences, and getting involved in animal conservation. Suggestions welcome!
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Post by johnbear on Sept 3, 2016 5:23:13 GMT -5
Oh well done Mickey ... indeed it is (such as kitchenette or novelette). My brain has now come to life ... now I've stopped thinking German, and it can also be used to name imitation products (leatherette, satinette), or feminine things, but I think "small" fits better. Now I'm wondering what an "Iso, Sil, Solin, and Flexi" are !!!!
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Post by johnbear on Sept 3, 2016 3:40:26 GMT -5
I was wondering if some of the German speaking forum members (especially) could offer an opinion on this question?
Some Agfa cameras shared a common name formation: Isolette, Solinette, Silette, Flexilette. Does this word ending have any meaning, or did the guys at Agfa just like putting "ette" on the end of everything?
Best-ette wish-ettes!
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Post by johnbear on Aug 16, 2016 7:39:16 GMT -5
Yep! Solinette (I for the purposes of clarity) ... * 50mm Apotar in a Prontor SV, and SVS, * 45mm color Apotar in an SVS (for export to the USA), * 45mm Solinar in a Synchro-Compur, and * 50mm Solinar in a Compur RMXV. Solinette II ... * 50mm Apotar/SV, * Apotar/SVS, and * Solinar/Compur (mine).
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Post by johnbear on Aug 15, 2016 15:31:32 GMT -5
George - Already examined the Ansco Regent's instruction manual, according to which it only came with the same Apotar/SV lens/shutter combination as detailed in the Agfa Solinette manual.
I just find it weird that there were five "model I" Solinettes, but there doesn't seem to be any pictures of them on the Net.
Mickey - I'm a camera-wiki editor ... someone's gotta do it!
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