Sept. 2010
Canon P
35mm
Fuji 200
September 25, 2010
September 19, 2010
Canon P
There is no doubt about the heritage of Canon's camera design, but a superior production quality parts Canon from all the other Leica copies flooding the marked during the 50's and 60's.
My Canon P was made as number 61 928 out of the 90 500 P-models produced between December 1958 and May 1961. The original 50mm lens (screw mount) is a lightning fast 1.4. But still nothing compared to the famous 0.95, 50mm lens for the succeeding Canon 7. The pictures show the camera with a excellent 1.8 / 35mm. This wide angle is some times mentioned in comparison with the Leica Summicron 35mm (of the same era). Both the 35mm and the 50mm produces razor sharp and high contrasted images. The camera it self is also very compact and easy to use.
The metal shutter is a notch louder than the cloth shutter of the Leica M3, but I really can't make up my mind in a general comparison between the two. They are different, indeed. The Leica is tighter and has a more accurate feel to it maybe, but it's not as "fast" and operable as this one.The Canon P has a detachable light meter coupled with the shutter dial on top of the camera. I have to admit that I never use the meter because I think the bulky plastic thing ruins the looks of the sleekest rangefinder ever produced:)
Canon 1.4 / 50mm lens.
Canon 1.8 / 35mm lens.
Shutter: Metal horizontal shutter (B-1000)
Viewfinder: 35mm, 50mm, 100mm framelines. Parallax correction.
Rolleiflex 2.8D Planar
The Rolleiflex 2.8D is the coolest piece of technical equipment I have ever held in my hands. Undoubtedly the favorite among my cameras regardless of format. This marvel of engineering is just strikingly beautiful. Every little knob is made with a unique sense of detail. The design in itself is intuitive, but still nothing is as on a "normal" camera. It's like they went "aach.. never mind the extra hours, we'll do a lens cap of metal with an elaborate hinge mechanism, a real bayonet mount, chrome dials and with edges in black and white painting.." And that's only the lens cap!
Talking about design is one thing, and then you have the pictures... I think the sharp and rich images from this camera are completely stunning. It's not the easiest camera to handle due to the mirrored viewfinder image, but it's not that difficult after some practice. And you do get paid for the extra bit of hassle once you develop your film...
The 2.8 D-model was produced by Rollei from Aug. -55 to Sep. -56 in 20 100 pieces. This was the last Rolleiflex camera without a built in light meter. The 2.8F model is probably the most known and wanted Rolleiflex, but to be frank I really don't see the advantage of a 40-50 years old light meter that you can't trust anyway. The optics are more or less the same on my 2.8D, if not exactly the same as on the 2.8F. And without a light meter I guess you can cut your trouble-shooting guide to half the size.
Taking lens: Planar 1:2.8 / 80mm, bayonet III.
Viewing lens: Heidosmat 1:2.8 / 80mm.
Shutter: Compur Rapid MXV, 1 - 1/500 sec.
Dimensions: 10.5x9.9x14.6cm.
Weight: 1,140 grams.
September 18, 2010
Leitz Leica M3 - single stroke
When introduced in 1954 the M3 was by far the worlds most technically advanced camera. Today hard-headed purists still claim this iconic classic to be the best camera ever produced by Leiz, digital or not. I guess it boils down to references and preferences, as always. Nonetheless, world famous durability, excellent viewfinder, silent action, and sharp, sharp optics doesn't make it look bad, even today.
All together 215 000 Leica M3's were made between 1954 and 1966. Not until twenty years later was I old enough to start dreaming about getting one of these. In the meantime, video killed the radio star, and then digital killed the polaroid. Nowadays the the kids are running around with Lomo-cameras, and the old school film seems to be resurrecting - yes, they say that "analog is the new digital". Well, I don't care really because finally, after twenty more years, I got one. A relic and a unique craftmans tool combined. Working as a dream:)
Lenses: Summicron 5cm, 1:2 + Elmar 9cm, 1:4
Shutter: Cloth shutter (B-1000)
September 17, 2010
Zeiss Ikon Icarex 35 CS
The Icarex is my only 135 SLR camera so far. Quite interesting, it is said to be the tragic symbol of the fall of the German camera industry (in the race against the Japanese). At some point it became clear that Canon made Leica copies just as good as the originals from Leitz, and Nikon made the Contax copies even better than the originals. Then came the famous SLR's that we all know. The Icarex was a clumsy attempt from Zeiss Ikon to keep up in the competition when the Japanese SLR's entered the market at full speed.
It is not a bad camera, but the shutter sounds like a sledge hammer in to a scrap heap, and the operation of the camera is complicated and time-consuming. It's appearence is not exactly eye candy eiter. However, the nice (and cheap) bayonet lenses from Carl Zeiss are some of the few perks. The original Carl Zeiss Skoparex 3,4 wide angle lens has a handy close-up limit of 30 cm. The Icarex is also one of the cameras from this period that has an interchangeable viewfinder, one being a TTL metered pentaprism viewfinder. I kind of like the other option which is a hinged light shade, allowing access to the fresnel screen itself.
Format: 135 (24x36mm)
Lenses: Carl Zeiss skoparex 3,4/35mm + Carl Zeiss Dynarex 4/135mm
Belca Beltica
Folding Camera made in DDR some time after 1951.The Beltica is the Ixus of the folding cameras. Super compact and rock solid. A true pocket camera from the early 50's. Some odd features adds charm to this quirky Eastern Block happy snap: The viewfinder allows you to look through it, and past by it it at the same time. Really amazing. It's also equipped with a manual pallax corrector. The adjustment, though, has to be done purely based on experience - or your best guess. The shutter trigger on the left side, and the film winding knob placed under the camera, might be a challenge to the easily confused photographer. I got this as a part of a bulk purchase on ebay. The Beltica was the nicest surprise in the box - in mint condition as good as new. It takes excellent images, and every travelling person should have one!
Film: 135 (24x36mm)
Lens: 2.8 Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 2.8 / 50mm
Viewfinder with parallax correction(!)
Agfa Record II
Lens: Agfa Apotar 4,5 / 105mm
Film: Medium format, 120, 6x9.
Viewfinder, but no rangefinder, and no pallax correction.
Shutter: Prontor-S (1-250)
The Chevy is approximately ten years younger than the camera..
Meopta Flexaret VI Automat
A nice TLR. Quite sharp when stopped down a bit. Meopta made 60 375 items of the Flexaret VI between 1961 and 1968 (from serial 26156 to 86513). A classic workhorse of the Czechoslovakian press and photographer studios. I guess we owe it to the Flexaret that the dramatic events in Prague 1968 was so well documented. Using a special kit, the camera can also be converted from medium format to 135-film.
Film: Medium format, 120, 6x6
Lens: Meopta Belar 3.5/80mm
Wieving lens: Meopta Anastigmat 3/80mm
Shutter: Metax (B-400)
Height: 138mm (open 196mm)
Width: 95mm : 104mm (76mm case).
Weight: 970 g.
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