Camera

The Nettar series by Zeiss Ikon was a successful range of folding cameras for 120 roll film. Several types for 6×9cm, 6×6cm and 6×4.5cm format with different lenses and even more different shutters were offered. Specifications Alternate names: Signal Nettar, Nettar IIb Film Format: 120 roll film (6×6cm exposures) Shutter: Vario leaf shutter , speeds 1/25 sec – 1/200 sec. , alternate model with Prontor-SVS leaf shutter Lens: Novar Anastigmat 1:4.5/75mm Aperture: 4.5 to 22 Viewfinder: optical direct vision viewfinder below flash shoe

The Half 17 is a half-frame 35 mm viewfinder camera made by Yashica in about 1964. It has a six-element 32 mm f/1.7 Yashinon lens (a wide maximum aperture for a popular camera of the time) and a Copal BR shutter. There is a selenium meter, with the cell arranged around the lens, and the camera is normally used with automatic exposure, which follows a program between 1/30 second at f/1.7 (EV 6½) and 1/800 second at f/16 (EV 17½). The metered shutter speed (but not the aperture) is displayed in the viewfinder. There is also a setting for 'B' shutter (the aperture is then set to f/1.7), and manual aperture settings for use with flash. There is a PC socket on the left end of the body, and a cold shoe on the top. There is a film speed dial on the top plate, allowing speeds from 12 to 400 ASA. The lens has scale focusing down to 0.8 meter, and zone-focusing symbols are displayed in the viewfinder (for a head-and-shoulders portrait at 0.8 m, a half-figure portrait at 1.2 m, a group at 3 m and a scene at infinity). The viewfinder has a brightline frame, with markings for parallax error correction when focused close. The film is advanced with a toothed wheel at the bottom of the back. The rewind release button and a folding rewind crank are on the base. Two similar cameras, the Half 17 Rapid and the Half 17 EE Rapid were made the following year, for Agfa's Rapid film cassettes rather than regular 35 mm cassettes. The Half 14 for regular 35 mm film, with an f/1.4 lens, followed in 1966.

The Contaflex family of 35mm leaf-shuttered SLR cameras was introduced in 1953 by Zeiss Ikon, using the newly developed Compur reflex shutter. By doing so, a completely new 35mm camera emerged, a concept probably first used in 1929 in the Mentor Compur Reflex. The Contaflex name was made famous and became highly respected due to the spectacular 35mm twin lens reflex Contaflex, introduced in 1935 and only produced a few years. The Contaflex family actually was quite successful, quite reliable and performed well, and large number of improved models and new ranges of lenses were introduced all the way up until Zeiss Ikon itself was closed down. The Contaflex I, launched in 1953, was equipped with a fixed Zeiss Tessar 45mm f:2.8 lens with front-cell focusing. The very first Contaflex I had a Synchro-Compur shutter with the old scale of shutter speeds (1-2-5-10-20-50-100-250-500), but very soon it adopted the new scale 1-2-4-8-15-30-60-125-250-500.

Agfa Isoly was manufactured in 1963 - 1971. This camera is a "plain" Isoly. The camera is fitted with Achromat 1:8 lens. Shutter has two speeds B, 1/30, 1/100sec. It takes 4x4 pictures on a 120 film. Isoly cameras were manufactured with different lens options. I have another Isoly which is fitted with Agfa Color Agnar 5,6/55mm lens.The shutter seems to be the same in both cameras. If you compare Isoly with an Agfa Isola II on this same page, you have to admit, that these two cameras doesn't belong to the same category what it comes to a build quality and robustness. The overwhelming winner is Isola. Production Period: 1960

The Walz Electric is a 35 mm rangefinder with a coupled selenium cell that was sold in the early 60's by the Japanese company Walz. It was available with a 1.8/45 mm or a 2.8/45 mm Kominar lens and is fitted with a Copal SV shutter. It was sold in the USA under the brand Lafayette. The shutter allows speeds from B, 1s up to 1/1000s. The aperture ring is coupled to the shutter speed ring in order to keep the same EV when changing shutter speed. It has a very high resemblance to the Minolta AL cosmetically as well as technically. It's shutter is probably not fully synchronized up to 1/1000s because it doesn't open fully at that speed at least not at large apertures. This is true for almost all super fast leaf shutters.

The Yashica Mat-124 G was made from 1970 till 1986 and was the last TLR produced by Yashica. Even if this type of camera seemed to be obsolete at the time of its appearence, the 124 G was a success in that time. The 124G has a four-element, 80mm F3.5 taking lens, of the better "Yashinon" variety. Focusing is via a ground glass screen, with a 3x diopter loupe for critical focusing, as well as a sports finder. The focusing screen is used with the camera at waist-level. The sportsfinder, incorporated in the focusing hood, is operational by pushing the front cover backwards. According to the Instruction Booklet, it comes in handy for snapshots or when shooting fast-moving objects at eye-level. No screen to check focus in this set-up though. The Copal shutter features speeds 1 to 1/500 sec., plus B. The 124(G) can handle both 120 and 220 film. The Yashica 12, 24, Mat-124 and Mat-124 G all accept Bay 1 accessories, such as those made for the Rolleiflex. An artificially inflated demand for the 124G has raised the price somewhat in the used market. Since the Yashicamat camera is basically a Rolleiflex copy, the controls take a similar configuration. Build quality is very good. Yashica’s are considered to be an excellent choice for entry-level medium format. The 4-element 80mm f/3.5 Yashinon (taking) lens cannot be considered of equal quality compared to the Rollei’s, however it produces very good results, especially when stopped down to f 8-16.

A later non-folding Retina from Kodak AG, factory type "027". Made from 1958 to 1961. The Retina IIIS rangefinder camera shares the same range of interchangeable Schneider and Rodenstock lenses as the contemporary Kodak Retina Reflex S single-lens reflex camera. It is commonly found fitted with the 50mm f/2.8 Xenar or the f/1.9 50mm Xenon as a standard lens. The combined rangefinder/viewfinder has automatically selected frame lines for the 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm lenses. Kodak sold an accessory finder to suit the 28mm lens.

The Rolleicord IV is a model in a long line of Rolleicords which started in 1933 and ended in 1977 and were produced by Franke Heidecke and later on by Rollei-Werke in Braunschweig, Germany. The Rolleicord IV was produced from 1953 till 1954. About 46.500 units were made. It is a medium format TLR camera that uses 120 type Rollfilm. 12 6x6cm square images can be captured for each roll of 120 film. By using an optional Rolleikin 1 adapter 35mm film cartridges can be used. There is also a Plate adapter available which gives one 6x6 image on a 6.5x9cm size glassplate or filmsheet. Major differences with its predecessor, the III, is that the Compur shutter now has a M-X Flash synchronisation switch, that it has a double exposure prevention (which can be switched off ) and the no exposure prevention is automaticly unlocked after the shutter release. All IV s are equiped with a Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1 3.5 75mm lens. Viewing lens is a Heidoscop-Anastigmat 1 3.2 75mm. Before both lenses is a Bayonet mount Size 1 for filters, lens hood, etc.. The shutter is a Deckel Synchro-Compur MXV CR00 offering speeds from 1 till 1 500 second, a B setting and X and M flash-synchronisation.

The Aires Automat is a 6×6 TLRs made by Aires in the early 1950s until summer 1953, and perhaps later, it was distributed in Japan by T?y? Shashinki-zai. The camera have a 75mm f 3.5 lenses, and focus by moving the entire lens assembly. The Aires Automat (advertised from spring 1954 until mid-1955) is the final model and the most advanced. It is based on the Airesflex U film advance is semi-automatic and it is wound by crank and has a self-cocking shutter. The shutter is a Seikosha-Rapid with M and X flash synchronization, and the lens is a Nikkor or Zuiko. The nameplate says AIRES AUTOMAT. In spring 1955 it was priced at ¥43,000 including case, remarkably high for a TLR.

This twin lens box has been built during the mid fifties in Bombay (India) by the company Ace Camera Equips. PVT LTD. It looks like the Anscoflex II manufactured by Ansco and shown here . We may suppose that this company purchased the manufacturing license from Ansco at the time the production of the Anscoflex II ceased. Surprisingly, the copy was more enhanced than the original. The Sure Flex offered on its front face one selector on each side of the taking lens. The first one for selecting between two diaphragm stops and the other one for choosing between two shutter speeds. These selectors did not exist on the Anscoflex II. This camera is in very poor state. Decades of exposure to warm and humid environment damaged it. It has been found on a shelf of a small shop in Chennai on the South-east coast of the country.

The Super Isolette is a coupled-rangefinder camera for 6×6 cm pictures on 120 film, made by Agfa from 1954-60.[1]. Super refers to the addition of a coupled rangefinder. The camera is an extension of the Isolette range of square-format folders the Isolette III has an un-coupled RF other Isolettes are all viewfinder cameras. However, the Super Isolette was introduced only a little later than the Isolette I, II and III, and is a high-specification alternative to them, not a replacement. The Super Isolette always has a 75 mm f 3.5 Solinar, the highest-grade lens offered among Agfa s folders. The shutter is either a Synchro-Compur MX for the early cameras or a Synchro-Compur MXV, fitted on cameras after serial numbers somewhere in the 7xxx range. Both these shutters are synchronised for flash. The lens can accept 32 mm slip-on filters or 29.5 mm screw-in ones. There is a double-exposure prevention interlock, with an indicator window by the shutter release. The film advance knob is on the right of the top housing. There is a film-type reminder on the left, in a knurled disc matching the film-advance.

Vito CL is a 35mm film viewfinder camera made by Voigtländer and produced between 1961-67. It is in the Vito C series. There are three models of the Vito CL, First Model 1960, Coupled Selenium cell lightmeter, needle visible on top, ccessory shoe fitted into the top housing, Second Model 1962, protruding accessory shoe, and the Third Model 1963, meter needle visible on top and in finder, protruding accessory shoe, top housing taller than earlier models. Specifications Lense Color-Scopar 50mm f 2.8, filter slip-on  Aperture up to f 22 setting ring and scale on the lens-shutter barrel Focus range 1-20m +inf Focusing manual front cell focusing, guess the distance, ring, distance scale w symbols for portrait, groups and landscape and DOF scale on the lens Shutter Prontor 500 LK, speeds 1 15-1 500 +B Shutter release on the front cover, w cable release socket beneath the lever Cocking lever also winds the film, on the back of the top-plate, long stroke

Voigtländer developed the Vitomatic series of viewfinder and rangefinder cameras for 35mm film with coupled meter as an alternate camera series to the Vito. All the Vitomatic were derived in 1957 from the Vito B, parallel to the development of the Vito BL and BR, and all have the bottom lock to open the back. The Vitomatic I are viewfinders and the Vitomatic II and III are rangefinders. The a , b and CS have the meter instrument mirrored into the finder. Specifications Lens Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50mm f 2.8 Aperture f 2.8 - 22 6 bladed aperure Shutter 1 500s to 1s plus a Bulb setting Light meter Coupled match-needle cds meter Battery Mercury cell Flash hot shoe and sync connection Weight 677g Takes standard 135 film 24×36 mm negative size.

The Lustreflex ( ) are Japanese 6×6 TLR cameras, at least some of which were made by Lustre. The Lustreflex is a regular copy of the Rolleicord. The front plate moves back and forth for focusing. The focusing and film advance knobs are on the photographer s right. The name Lustre flex is inscribed on a stepped nameplate above the front plate, and there is a Lustre logo above the viewing hood. The release button is placed at the bottom of the front standard, on the photographer s right, and the synch post is buried in the opposite side of the front plate. It seems that all the models have an accessory shoe.The later models have a different LustreFlex nameplate (as opposed to Lustre flex), with a serial number engraved above. They were notably observed in Western online auctions, and might have been made for export only. All have Tri-Lausar Anastigmat 8cm f 3.5 lenses in CHY-FB, Synchro-Super or Synchro-MXV shutters.

Mamiya is a Japanese camera maker, founded in 1940 and that progressively specialized itself in professional medium format cameras. Mamiya was founded in May 1940 by Mamiya Seiichi and Sugawara Tsunejir? as Mamiya K?ki Seisakusho Mamiya Optical Works). It was based in Tokyo, Hongo, and its first camera was the Mamiya Six, a 6×6 folder with coupled rangefinder that focused by moving the film plane. There were many versions in the Mamiya Six series, and it was the only Mamiya model for eight years. The Mamiya Six is a series of 6×6 folders with a coupled rangefinder, made by Mamiya from 1940 to the 1950s. All of them are focused by moving the film plane. The Mamiya Six I, II and III were wartime and immediate postwar models, and had both eye-level and waist-level finders. The coupled rangefinder was combined with the eye-level finder. As a result, there were three windows at the front of the top housing. The Mamiya Six III added an exposure counter with double exposure prevention.

The Yashica Mat-124 G was made from 1970 till 1986 and was the last TLR produced by Yashica. Even if this type of camera seemed to be obsolete at the time of its appearence, the 124 G was a success in that time. The 124G has a four-element, 80mm F3.5 taking lens, of the better Yashinon variety. Focusing is via a ground glass screen, with a 3x diopter loupe for critical focusing, as well as a sports finder. The focusing screen is used with the camera at waist-level. The sportsfinder, incorporated in the focusing hood, is operational by pushing the front cover backwards. According to the Instruction Booklet, it comes in handy for snapshots or when shooting fast-moving objects at eye-level. No screen to check focus in this set-up though. The Copal shutter features speeds 1 to 1 500 sec., plus B. The 124(G) can handle both 120 and 220 film. The Yashica 12, 24, Mat-124 and Mat-124 G all accept Bay 1 accessories, such as those made for the Rolleiflex. An artificially inflated demand for the 124G has raised the price somewhat in the used market. Since the Yashicamat camera is basically a Rolleiflex copy, the controls take a similar configuration. Build quality is very good. Yashica’s are considered to be an excellent choice for entry-level medium format. The 4-element 80mm f 3.5 Yashinon (taking) lens cannot be considered of equal quality compared to the Rollei’s, however it produces very good results, especially when stopped down to f 8-16.

The Piccolette is range of cameras made by Nettel in Stuttgart and its successor companies Contessa-Nettel and Zeiss Ikon. The Piccolette was first made by Nettel, the company which became Contessa-Nettel, as a folding-bed camera for 4x6.5 cm exposures on rollfilm, from 1914. This camera was available with various lenses, including Nettel's own Anastigmat or Rapid Aplanat, and Pronto or Compound shutter. It has radial lever focusing on the bed. The Piccolette is best-known as a strut-folding camera for eight 4×6.5 cm exposures on 127 film, made from 1919 by Contessa-Nettel in Stuttgart,and continued by Zeiss-Ikon after the merger in 1926 in which Contessa-Nettel joined to form Zeiss Ikon. Production seems to have eased in 1930 or 1931. The total production is unclear at this point. The Piccolette is a very close design adaptation of the Vest Pocket Kodak of 1912; the main differences are a fully-fledged film carrier attached to the removable bottom-plate ensuring that the film vcan be inserted correctly, and the curved wrap-around lower part of the front standard. The Piccolette itself was directly copied in 1925 by Rokuoh Sha as the Pearlette, which in turn was copied by Fuji K?gaku as the Dianette and Pionette around 1936 .

Click- III is a medium format film viewfinder camera manufactured by Agfa and produced between 1958-70. An inexpensive snapshot camera that makes photography really simple. If there is Clack there have to be Click also. Click could be considered as an evolution model of Clack (You can easily prove it by pronouncing clack and click definitely the sound goes upwards.) A new feature is an internal yellow filter, instead the close up lens in Agfa Clack. Body material is plastic and the shutter noise is civilized. The bent back cover plays a role as a film pressure plate and provides for a steady and good sharpness. The other cameras in the Click line are Agfa Click-II, Agfa Click III, Agfa Click IV and Agfa Click V. Specifications Film 120 roll, picture size 6x6cm Lens Meniscus lens 72.5mm f 8.8 filter slip-on Aperture f 8.8 and f 11 setting lever and cloudy and sunny setting icons on the lens-shutter barrel Internal yellow filter set to yellow dot Focusing fixed focus Shutter single speed rotary shutter, speed about 1 30 Viewfinder simple Galilei

The Yashica YK was made by Yashica in 1959. It featured a non-interchangable Yashinon 45mm f2.8-16 lens coupled to rangefinder, with a Copal B, 1 25s-1 300s shutter. The YK has the same Yashinon ƒ 2.8 aperture 45mm focal length lens as available on the YL and shares the same 46mm accessory thread. The range of focus is from 1 meter [39.3696 inches] to infinity. It features a convenient handle on the focus ring. The marked shutter speed settings are B 1 30 1 50 1 100 and 1 300th top speed. There are no detents at these settings. Sharing the same lens as the YL allows the Auto Up Adapter shown here to be used on either camera as well as the later YM [Minister 1 model D]. This enables the camera to focus close-ups within a range of 45cm [18 inches] and 80 cm [32 inches]. The adapter attaches to the prime lens with a set screw which compresses a spring steel sleeve which grips totally around the lens. The sprocket release is mounted on the base of the camera exactly as in the YL, and is marked A and R for Active Release, at both ends of it s rotation.

Silette is a name used by the German maker Agfa from 1953 to 1974 to designate successive generations of 35mm fixed-lens viewfinder cameras. The corresponding rangefinder models were called Super Silette. There was also an interchangeable lens rangefinder model called the Ambi Silette, which is discussed elsewhere. The first models were sold in the USA under the name Ansco Memar and Super Memar, and some of later ones were sold under the name Agfa Solina. Silette L is a 35mm film viewfinder camera made by Agfa and introduced in 1956. It belongs to the long lasting Silette series. It based on the same body as the Agfa Silette (original) but with some improvements as an uncoupled Selenium cell light meter in the top plate. There were three successive types of meter, with a bigger or smaller setting knob, and a larger or smaller cover flap. There were many lens shutter combinations like Agfa Color-Apotar, Color-Agnar, Color-Solinar lenses and Pronto, Prontor, Prontor-SVS, Compur-Rapid, and Parator shutters. Certain metal parts before are from now on out of plastic.

Click- III is a medium format film viewfinder camera manufactured by Agfa and produced between 1958-70. An inexpensive snapshot camera that makes photography really simple. If there is Clack there have to be Click also. Click could be considered as an evolution model of Clack (You can easily prove it by pronouncing clack and click definitely the sound goes upwards.) A new feature is an internal yellow filter, instead the close up lens in Agfa Clack. Body material is plastic and the shutter noise is civilized. The bent back cover plays a role as a film pressure plate and provides for a steady and good sharpness. The other cameras in the Click line are Agfa Click-II, Agfa Click III, Agfa Click IV and Agfa Click V. Specifications Film 120 roll, picture size 6x6cm Lens Meniscus lens 72.5mm f 8.8 filter slip-on Aperture f 8.8 and f 11 setting lever and cloudy and sunny setting icons on the lens-shutter barrel Internal yellow filter set to yellow dot Focusing fixed focus Shutter single speed rotary shutter, speed about 1 30 Viewfinder simple Galilei

Altix was a series of sophisticated 35mm viewfinder cameras, made by Eho-Altissa and its successors in Dresden, Germany, from 1938 onwards. Later models have interchangeable lenses.The Altix-NB is the last model built by Altissa in 1958-59 before the merger of several small factories to the huge Kombinat VEB Pentacon. Specifications EHO-Altissa Altix IV version 2 type B to be more precise. Serial No 130546 Shutter Vebur Shutter speeds 1, ½, 1 5, 1 10, 1 25, 1 50, 1 100, 1 250 Lens Meyer-Optik - Trioplan 1 2.9 50 Apertures between 2.9 and 16 Lens No 1681093 Last CLA 04 2010

The Trip 35 is a 35mm compact camera, manufactured by Olympus. It was introduced in 1967 and discontinued, after a lengthy production run, in 1984. The Trip name was a reference to its intended market – people who wanted a compact, functional camera for holidays. During the 1970s it was the subject of an advertising campaign that featured popular British photographer David Bailey. Over ten million units were sold.[1] The Trip 35 was a point and shoot model with a 40mm f2.8 lens, solar-powered selenium light meter, and just two shutter speeds. In A mode, the camera operated as a Program automatic, choosing either 1 40th sec or 1 200th sec. The camera could also sync with flash, and had a range of aperture settings, from f2.8 to f22. In flash sync mode the shutter was set at 1 40. Apart from a simple four-position zone focus system, and an ISO setting from 25–400,[2] the camera had no other photographic controls. The camera had a Prontor-Compur sync connector and a hot shoe. Its lens was a coated Zuiko 40mm f 2.8, with four elements in three groups.The camera had an ISO range of only 25–400, but this was acceptable, as films faster than 400 were uncommon and not of high image quality. 25 speed allowed the use of Kodachrome, while 400 speed allowed use of Tri-X and similar fast materials under low light. Earlier models, from the first few years of production, had a maximum ISO speed of 200. The four-element Tessar lens, still impressive today, gave high-quality images. If used with modern film emulsions, the results can be very good.

The Rolleicord IV is a model in a long line of Rolleicords which started in 1933 and ended in 1977 and were produced by Franke Heidecke and later on by Rollei-Werke in Braunschweig, Germany. The Rolleicord IV was produced from 1953 till 1954. About 46.500 units were made. It is a medium format TLR camera that uses 120 type Rollfilm. 12 6x6cm square images can be captured for each roll of 120 film. By using an optional Rolleikin 1 adapter 35mm film cartridges can be used. There is also a Plate adapter available which gives one 6x6 image on a 6.5x9cm size glassplate or filmsheet. Major differences with its predecessor, the III, is that the Compur shutter now has a M-X Flash synchronisation switch, that it has a double exposure prevention (which can be switched off ) and the no exposure prevention is automaticly unlocked after the shutter release. All IV s are equiped with a Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1 3.5 75mm lens. Viewing lens is a Heidoscop-Anastigmat 1 3.2 75mm. Before both lenses is a Bayonet mount Size 1 for filters, lens hood, etc.. The shutter is a Deckel Synchro-Compur MXV CR00 offering speeds from 1 till 1 500 second, a B setting and X and M flash-synchronisation.