I must confess to being rather taken with the ‘Art Deco’ period with its simple, clean shapes, often with a “streamlined” look. This has previously been reflected in some of my vintage camera collection, specifically in my four Flexaret twin lens reflex cameras. Although they were built in the Art Deco style they were not…
Tag: 35mm
Fed 5 and its Radioactive Industar 61 L/D Lens!
I always attempt to source vintage cameras within the European Union and if possible in Greece so as to save on shipping and Customs duty. It is rare that I find anything in Greece but I have recently sourced a Fed 5 from Athens. It was described as ‘film tested’ and ‘fully functional’. I am…
Voigtländer Vito IIa
I have often heard that vintage Voigtländers are built like Volkswagens. Personally, I think that they are built like a combination of a Volkswagen, Mercedes and Audi! They were built to last; they are very well designed and they ooze quality! Let’s not forget that Voigtländer have been making cameras since 1849 and the company…
Exa IIa – The Baby Exakta
I have lost count of how many times I say that this was another camera bought on a whim! I must confess to having a liking for older Soviet and German cameras. I saw this offered with another identical camera and a third one that came minus the lens. The deal was ‘Get the lens-less…
Meopta Flexaret VI
I am not new to twin lens reflex cameras (TLRs) or cameras with waist level view finders such as the KMZ Start, as well as various Praktica and Praktina models. I accept that they are not everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ but once upon a time, the Rolleiflex was the camera to own, especially amongst professional…
Only Just Vintage – The Praktica BX20
Previously, I wrote about the Praktica MTL5 that I had purchased on a whim. I was so impressed that I have been looking into other cameras from this manufacturer – some older, some newer. This is all about a newer model, the Praktica BX20, produced between 1987 and 1990. They were suppled with a variety…
The Voigtländer Bessamatic (Deluxe)
I acquired a Voigtländer Bessamatic (Deluxe) in October 2021 to add to my collection of vintage cameras. The kit included a 35mm/f3.4 Skopar X, a 50mm/f2.8 Color Skopar X and a 135mm/f4 Super Dynarex lenses. The lenses came with their cases and the camera came with the ever-ready case. I am pleased to say that…
Further tales from the East…
This was another case of me acquiring an East German camera on a something of a whim! (The low price had something to do with it!) This time, it was a Praktica MTL5 which was sold with the standard Pentacon 50mm F1.8 lens, a Pentacon 29mm F2.8 lens and a Peak 135mm F2 lens along…
Tales From The East
Well actually this is the first of two tales that start in the former East Germany, DDR or GDR -Call it what you will! After World War II, Germany was split into two countries. In West Germany a new Carl Zeiss was set up together with a new Carl Zeiss lens makers and half the…
…And Then There Were Four!
Last year, I was kindly donated some old cameras by a lady in our village. One of them was an Altix V. I had never heard of the manufacturer. I must confess that I was immediately struck by how sturdy it was and, dare I suggest, how attractive it is. I decided to find out…