Vintage film cameras

[Kenzie]

I don't understand why Agfa used the stupid coated bellows. Yes they look nice and shiny but the tear so easily.

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[johnnyrod]

What's your method for checking them? The bellows on my Mess Ikonta have a light leak, it comes out in the pictures, but I tried before with a torch and couldn't find it. I suspect it's a fold or corner somewhere, and affects a fairly small area of the pics (but near the middle) so might be able to patch it, if I can find it!

[Kenzie]

High powered led light and a dark cupboard. Its almost always the corners. If you know where the light leak is on the image, just flip it upside-down and it should guide you to where the leak is. For example a mark on bottom right of image os likely to be top left of the bellows.

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[johnnyrod]

Thanks, I'll try it again. The shutter speeds on the Super Fujica are spot on, just 1/500 is about 1/330 but even 1/250 is right. If anything they're a touch quick. Am going to leave well enough alone! Nice sharp peaks on Audacity which means the blades are opening and closing quickly. I need to pop the top off, it's really only had a cursory clean on the outside.

[Kenzie]

Sounds like you got a good one. Going to pick up a Super Westomat tomorrow, it's a quirky looking 35mm rangefinder similar to the Kodak 35 RF.

[Kenzie]

Got the Westomat, its working now but the focus was gummed up. Will need exercise before shooting or I guess it would seize up again. Film advance is a double stroke, I thought it was broken at first. Had a good wipe down but otherwise ok. He also gave me an Ilford Sportman as well.

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[johnnyrod]

Proper bit of steampunk style there! I missed out on the Automatica that was on ebay, I got the time wrong and thought it ended an hour later. No bids so trying to get them to take an offer.

[Kenzie]

That's a pain. Hope you sort something. You adjust the focus with the small spikey gear wheel while looking through the focus window which is the horizontal split image type, then you frame using the main viewfinder. Shutter speed ring is fairly normal and the aperture lever is under the lens barrel.

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[johnnyrod]

They relisted the camera but took an offer anyway so it's on its way. Bit of a beater but the whole working bit comes off in one go, so will transplant onto the body which just has the winder and film chamber. Flog crappy one, keep good one, now hopefully worth plenty. That's the plan anyway!

[Kenzie]

Sounds like a good plan. I had a Pentax MG in my bag today, only took a couple of shots while out and about. Got soaked and then hailed on while riding. Kind of takes the fun out of it. The rise home was better thankfully as it was an 80 mile road trip to collect the cameras.