corposant wrote:
When I sold my Rollei I thought about getting one as a replacement. After I handled one, it felt like it would take some getting used to ergonomically (focusing, etc, is done differently). I looked for a while for a used model which didn't require much work and gave up after a while.
There's a guy, Karl Bryan, who is supposedly the expert on overhauling Minolta TLRs.
For what it's worth, if I were going to get another TLR, I'd look serious at the Mamiya C-series. Super cheap, bellows focusing, with removable lenses - very unique as far as TLRs go!
Thanks for the info. I reached out to Karl. The unit I got is in excellent condition... Doesn't seem to need much of anything. I will keep the Mamiya in mind as well.
kwoodard wrote:
Anyone have any experience with a Minolta Autocord CDS III? I have always been interested in TLR cameras and this one kind of fell into my lap. It appears to be in excellent shape. Need new light seals, but beyond that, I don't think it needs anything else other than a battery. Speaking of the battery, it uses a mercury cell... Any thoughts on a modern equivalent?
Kevin,
I used a "mercury" quiv that consists of a battery shell & a shottky diode. I've used in my Canonet with excellent results. What is the Mercury battery type ?
I will look up what I purchased.
I used a "mercury" quiv that consists of a battery shell & a shottky diode. I've used in my Canonet with excellent results. What is the Mercury battery type ?
I will look up what I purchased.
Dan
Dan, the manual says Everready EIN or Mallory RM-1R.
Haven't been this excited about anything camera related in years...
kwoodard wrote:
Anyone have any experience with a Minolta Autocord CDS III? I have always been interested in TLR cameras and this one kind of fell into my lap. It appears to be in excellent shape. Need new light seals, but beyond that, I don't think it needs anything else other than a battery. Speaking of the battery, it uses a mercury cell... Any thoughts on a modern equivalent?
Hi Kevin,
a Minolta Autocord CDS is my favorite TLR. I just don't use the built-in meter, that's why I've never tried to get a battery for it.
Would love to try a Rolleiflex 2.8, but good ones (with no service-backlog) are too expensive for me.
Back to the Minolta TLR:
The Rokkor taking lens is a really great performer. Some hints: the camera straps are attached with a unique system. No ordinary strap will fit. I would make sure the camera in question will come with a original strap.
The finder-image is really prone to flare. The viewing lens is not the issue, it's the focusing screen. Most of the time I try to shield the viewing hood with my hand. And I nearly always focus with the eye on the loupe.
The focusing lever works well, but make sure it's well greased. Some user's have bent or broken the lever and a expensive repair is on order.
Aperture and shutter-speed are displayed on a rather tiny window on top of the viewing lens, I have seen more practical set-ups. It's difficult to exactly set the wanted values (no click-stops).
mismatch by Georg, auf Flickr
My favorite TLR with some teutonic stuff attached to it (shot with a 4x5-camera and rollfilm-back)
georgms wrote:
Hi Kevin,
a Minolta Autocord CDS is my favorite TLR. I just don't use the built-in meter, that's why I've never tried to get a battery for it.
Would love to try a Rolleiflex 2.8, but good ones (with no service-backlog) are too expensive for me.
Back to the Minolta TLR:
The Rokkor taking lens is a really great performer. Some hints: the camera straps are attached with a unique system. No ordinary strap will fit. I would make sure the camera in question will come with a original strap.
The finder-image is really prone to flare. The viewing lens is not the issue, it's the focusing screen. Most of the time I try to shield the viewing hood with my hand. And I nearly always focus with the eye on the loupe.
The focusing lever works well, but make sure it's well greased. Some user's have bent or broken the lever and a expensive repair is on order.
Aperture and shutter-speed are displayed on a rather tiny window on top of the viewing lens, I have seen more practical set-ups. It's difficult to exactly set the wanted values (no click-stops).
edit: congrats, Kevin! I didn't realize that you already got this fine camera!...Show more →
Ahh! It was you that had one. I couldn't remember for sure. Beautiful shots of your copy as well as the shots taken with it.
I love it already. I pick it up and look through the finder, focus on stuff, trip the shutter...daily. I only ever did that with my original Canonet I got in the early 80's. I am more excited about this camera more than more than my F2 and 55/1.2 that I waited 31 years for! I hope I can pick your brain on the Autocord...
Finally carved out a few hours to do some devloping!
Taken with the Mamiya 7, Fuji Acros
I had several negs that showed a blotchy look along the edge.
Almost like fogging, but the inverse. I've edited it out but will post one example.
I've seen that before, but cant' remember if it's film specific.
From the trip to Death Valley. Returned through Darwin.
dswiger wrote:
Finally carved out a few hours to do some devloping!
Taken with the Mamiya 7, Fuji Acros
I had several negs that showed a blotchy look along the edge.
Almost like fogging, but the inverse. I've edited it out but will post one example.
I've seen that before, but cant' remember if it's film specific.
From the trip to Death Valley. Returned through Darwin.
A shot with a new to me Pinhole-camera, 90mm focal-length, f/225: Am Kabutzenhof by Georg, auf Flickr
4x5-pinhole-camera, f=90mm, f/225, about 8-10 sec exposure on Fomapan 100
developed in Rodinal 1+100, but not stand-developed (agitation/inversions every 30sec)
This one was shot with a Busch Pressman D: Ohne Titel by Georg, auf Flickr
Pressman D + Xenar 135/4.7, Fomapan 100 in Rodinal 1+100
I like the view, but will re-do this shot in better light. And I have to work on my scanning-skills.
and finally another pair out of the Pen FT: Heimat LXX by Georg, auf Flickr
The Pen FT is a lovely camera, but to be honest it's cheap and simple cousin, the Pen EES2, is almost more fun to use.
Rollei RPX 100 in Xtol 1+2
Forgive me posting without commenting on recent entries to this thread....I plan to review the thread in the next day or so.
I just received back two 120 films of Portra 160 commercially developed and scanned by an excellent lab in Sydney. These were shot on a new to me P67 II.
That last one is a crop of the original - an attempting birding shot with a 75mm 6x7 lens. It's half of a wedgetail eagle pair that our landing glider had narrowly avoided on the grass runway; they were feeding on half a kangaroo - life in Australia!! My P67 II froze straight after that shot so I didn't get a photo of it flying off. Camera no longer frozen thankfully.
lenticular11 wrote:
Forgive me posting without commenting on recent entries to this thread....I plan to review the thread in the next day or so.
I just received back two 120 films of Portra 160 commercially developed and scanned by an excellent lab in Sydney. These were shot on a new to me P67 II.
Welcome to the forum, all is forgiven. I need to order some more Portra 160 in 120 and 4X5, thanks for the reminder. How are you getting on with that Pentax?
Thanks for the welcome Kenny, although I've actually been posting to this thread on and off for some months.
I had an earlier model P6x7 MLU and liked the experience so much that I splashed out on the P67 II. I enjoy the more sophisticated metering, better MLU switch position and better moulded handgrip of the II. It's certainly a big beast but I love the low prices of the great lenses and I also use them on my P645D.
You're the guy posting the exceptional 4x5 warbirds photos, right? 😃
lenticular11 wrote:
...You're the guy posting the exceptional 4x5 warbirds photos, right? 😃
Exceptional? I dunno about that but thanks. I love old things and I love 4X5...the two just seem to go together. Almost bought a P67 recently but already own the Mamiya 7 so I didn't get it. I would love to shoot one eventually though.
