A medium format digicam that weighs simply 536g, solely twice as thick as my smartphone and suits into my denims again pocket! Why do not they make extra cameras like this? The above photograph is a dimension comparability between the Goerz Tenax 6×9 and the Google Pixel 6 smartphone.
This text is partly prompted by a latest article by Hamish by which he apologizes for not having returned a borrowed lens after just a few years! I believed “oh, that jogs my memory, professor Kuraishi had lent me the above digicam, when was it?” After opening the field I discovered a word dated… 2011! Large ooops! A second immediate got here from an article by Ralph Turner in RPF the place he reviewed a 73 yr previous digicam (in significantly better situation).
I final used this digicam 10 or so years in the past so it took me some time to re-learn the best way to function it. Opening the digicam is by pushing a tiny barely seen button on the aspect permitting the lens mattress to be pulled down which then clicks into place. The lens unit itself pulls ahead and clicks into place on the infinity focus. To focus nearer than infinity flip the linear screw on the appropriate hand aspect utilizing the size on the opposite aspect. The shutter is primed by pulling the lever to the appropriate of the lens out and down, and the shutter is fired by pushing the small lever on the left hand aspect down. The dial on the left must be set to M for a shutter timed publicity, D allows you to maintain the shutter open by urgent the discharge, and Z press as soon as to open and once more to shut. There is a cable launch socket on the 10:30 place. To place the digicam again, focus must be returned to infinity and the lever slightly below the lens moved to at least one aspect to launch the catch and when the lens unit is totally pushed again the 2 aspect brackets want pushing barely all the way down to launch the mattress from its locked place. Movie is loaded by pushing the tiny button (seen simply above the take up spool) and pulling the again off. All simple after you have completed it as soon as, and it’s really very fast.
The lens is an f6.8 Dagor of 100mm focal size (43mm equal in 35mm). The identical title was used for a variety of cameras overlaying quite a lot of movie sizes and codecs and with a variety of lenses – within the 6×9 vary this was clearly the most affordable choice.
The virtually excellent news:
German engineering so mechanics function nearly completely (the lens mattress lock-up doesn’t all the time work – not materials so far as pictures are involved).
The unhealthy information (sit):
100 years previous (roughly) so in fact there is no such thing as a gentle meter. Dials are onerous to learn. Lens lower than good (some scratches and inside haze) however I’ve seen quite a bit worse. Scale focusing. Viewfinder? Ha, ha, ha! Neglect that tiny sq. prism – sure it identifies the middle of the world you might be pointing at however for your complete picture depend on expertise. The primary take a look at pictures confirmed that it is advisable connect a spirit stage (the round object subsequent to the prism finder was a bubble stage however is now not useful), and an exterior viewfinder. The leaf shutter is operating sluggish – I timed the 1sec at 1.5sec. Bellows – the Achilles heel of this type of design – appear intact and internally really look fairly good other than an apparent seemingly sound tape restore in a single nook; externally there may be some ageing however total no apparent gentle leaks. There may be clearly paint loss across the rear of the lens and the plain steel will act as a reflector to any imaging or leaking gentle. Trying carefully on the rear and across the edge when the again is fitted there’s a lack of gentle seals and the again now not suits as snugly because it ought to and, specifically, it’s straightforward to by accident push the again lock button and the again can doubtlessly ease unfastened.
A primary set of take a look at images had been taken on HP5 and scans had been distinction adjusted to attempt to enhance the picture inside purpose in any other case no different corrections had been utilized or recognizing completed. The worst instance from the primary set is proven. The picture reveals a extreme diffuse gentle leak and a nicely outlined leak on the backside proper close to the tripod screw socket on the aspect. The very best instance additionally confirmed gentle leaks.
Deterioration of sunshine seals and scattering by the lens mount and lens are apparent suspects in addition to unseen leaks within the bellows. So at first I attempted the same old easy resolution – tape across the again joint as soon as the movie has been loaded and tape round the front and back to verify the again doesn’t by accident come unfastened. I additionally taped a spirit stage to the lengthy aspect. A second take a look at roll of HP5 was taken (once more in vibrant barely hazy daylight). Three pictures are proven after scanning and distinction adjustment as earlier than.
The following step can be to attempt a black cowl enclosing your complete digicam besides lens (and giving entry to the wind-on lever and the body counter) to assist determine the supply of the leaks, then consideration would flip to the lens and its mount. Would I take pleasure in utilizing this digicam if it labored completely and had a viewfinder and spirit stage? The one issues in use are holding the digicam stage and remembering to re-focus (!) however with observe I most likely would take pleasure in it, however as it’s, definitely not! I am undecided its price monitoring down the supply(s) of leaks any additional and anyway I believe it is time to return the digicam!
Contribute to 35mmc for an Advert-free Expertise
Supply hyperlink
