The old Voigtlander came a couple of days ago. It is an Inos 1. The 105 f=4.5 Skopar lens is in excellent condition, needing only cleaning. The shutter is a 1 sec-250 compur (early dial type). Slow speeds are a bit slow, with 1 second being about 3 seconds, 1/2 being about 1 second. It sounds about right from 1/25th on up. The lensboard was a bit sloppy on the folding bed rail, but tightened up nicely when I gave them a squeeze with pliers. This camera focuses by moving the entire lens forward on the rails using a focus scale beside the rails, which I like better then the more common moving front element that most folders come with.
The only disappointment I have is that there is no film pressure plate. There is rollers on each side of the film opening, but only the back presses against the film. Not sure just how flat this can hold the film.
I also bought an old Wirgin Auta 120 folder, which came today. This has a 105 Anastigmat f=4.5 Gewironar lens, which I believe is a Tessar type (not sure). This camera has a nice pressure plate as well as rollers for the film. Alas, it only has a 1/25-100 speed shutter. Also, it has a bigger then standard tripod socket, which I'll have to make an adaptor for. Lens is perfectly clear (after cleaning). Neither camera has a single noticable cleaning mark on the lenses, nor any sign of fungus or other problems.
Anyone know if there would be film flatness issues with the Voightlander? At this point, the Wirgin is looking better as a compact medium format travel camera, in spite of fewer shutter speeds. It seems to have no sloppiness with the folding mechanism. I have heard nothing about the quality of Gewironar lenses, and only praise for Skopars, so this might be an issue, also.
Someday, I may have to bid on one of those more expensive folders to get it all with just one compact medium format camera, but that needs to wait for my wallet to get bigger. I did order a Watameter rangefinder yesterday, though, from England, so I don't have to rely completely on zone focusing.
I'll update after I run a roll of film through one, or both, of these.

Later,

Dave

Quote:

On 2004-09-13 14:02, hurdy_gurdyman wrote: The old Voigtlander came a couple of days ago. It is an Inos 1. The 105 f=4.5 Skopar lens is in excellent condition, needing only cleaning. The shutter is a 1 sec-250 compur (early dial type). Slow speeds are a bit slow, with 1 second being about 3 seconds, 1/2 being about 1 second. It sounds about right from 1/25th on up. The lensboard was a bit sloppy on the folding bed rail, but tightened up nicely when I gave them a squeeze with pliers. This camera focuses by moving the entire lens forward on the rails using a focus scale beside the rails, which I like better then the more common moving front element that most folders come with. The only disappointment I have is that there is no film pressure plate. There is rollers on each side of the film opening, but only the back presses against the film. Not sure just how flat this can hold the film. I also bought an old Wirgin Auta 120 folder, which came today. This has a 105 Anastigmat f=4.5 Gewironar lens, which I believe is a Tessar type (not sure). This camera has a nice pressure plate as well as rollers for the film. Alas, it only has a 1/25-100 speed shutter. Also, it has a bigger then standard tripod socket, which I'll have to make an adaptor for. Lens is perfectly clear (after cleaning). Neither camera has a single noticable cleaning mark on the lenses, nor any sign of fungus or other problems. Anyone know if there would be film flatness issues with the Voightlander? At this point, the Wirgin is looking better as a compact medium format travel camera, in spite of fewer shutter speeds. It seems to have no sloppiness with the folding mechanism. I have heard nothing about the quality of Gewironar lenses, and only praise for Skopars, so this might be an issue, also. Someday, I may have to bid on one of those more expensive folders to get it all with just one compact medium format camera, but that needs to wait for my wallet to get bigger. I did order a Watameter rangefinder yesterday, though, from England, so I don't have to rely completely on zone focusing. I'll update after I run a roll of film through one, or both, of these. Later, Dave

If you know french or have a friend who can translate, ask Eric Burtscher, who is a member here (look for posts from him, if Eric Burtscher finds nothing try Burtscher Eric). Eric has no english at all. But he has an Inos he's very happy with. Anyway, e-mail him.

Now that I think of it, he and his brother have a site http://membres.lycos.fr/apn/
with some nice pictures. Give it a look.

Good luck, enjoy y'r new used cameras,

Dan

Quote:

On 2004-09-13 16:28, Dan Fromm wrote: Quote: On 2004-09-13 14:02, hurdy_gurdyman wrote: The old Voigtlander came a couple of days ago. It is an Inos 1. The 105 f=4.5 Skopar lens is in excellent condition, needing only cleaning. The shutter is a 1 sec-250 compur (early dial type). Slow speeds are a bit slow, with 1 second being about 3 seconds, 1/2 being about 1 second. It sounds about right from 1/25th on up. The lensboard was a bit sloppy on the folding bed rail, but tightened up nicely when I gave them a squeeze with pliers. This camera focuses by moving the entire lens forward on the rails using a focus scale beside the rails, which I like better then the more common moving front element that most folders come with. The only disappointment I have is that there is no film pressure plate. There is rollers on each side of the film opening, but only the back presses against the film. Not sure just how flat this can hold the film. I also bought an old Wirgin Auta 120 folder, which came today. This has a 105 Anastigmat f=4.5 Gewironar lens, which I believe is a Tessar type (not sure). This camera has a nice pressure plate as well as rollers for the film. Alas, it only has a 1/25-100 speed shutter. Also, it has a bigger then standard tripod socket, which I'll have to make an adaptor for. Lens is perfectly clear (after cleaning). Neither camera has a single noticable cleaning mark on the lenses, nor any sign of fungus or other problems. Anyone know if there would be film flatness issues with the Voightlander? At this point, the Wirgin is looking better as a compact medium format travel camera, in spite of fewer shutter speeds. It seems to have no sloppiness with the folding mechanism. I have heard nothing about the quality of Gewironar lenses, and only praise for Skopars, so this might be an issue, also. Someday, I may have to bid on one of those more expensive folders to get it all with just one compact medium format camera, but that needs to wait for my wallet to get bigger. I did order a Watameter rangefinder yesterday, though, from England, so I don't have to rely completely on zone focusing. I'll update after I run a roll of film through one, or both, of these. Later, Dave If you know french or have a friend who can translate, ask Eric Burtscher, who is a member here (look for posts from him, if Eric Burtscher finds nothing try Burtscher Eric). Eric has no english at all. But he has an Inos he's very happy with. Anyway, e-mail him. Now that I think of it, he and his brother have a site http://membres.lycos.fr/apn/ with some nice pictures. Give it a look. Good luck, enjoy y'r new used cameras, Dan

Dan,
Thanks. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who can translate french. Wish I could find a download that could.
Dave

PS: I found a french translating site.

http://www.freetranslation.com/

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: hurdy_gurdyman on 2004-09-13 18:19 ]</font>

The lens Vade says the following:

Wirgin Bros, Wiesbaden, Germany.
Gewironar f6.3 105mm on Wirgin 6x9cm rollfilm.
The trade name may be most important in the 1930-1940 period, but was also used after WW2 on the rollfilm
cameras. It is not known whether they were bought-in or not. But they often used bought in lenses such as
the Cassar or Cassarit lenses on the Edixa Stereo. Then the firm's publicity said it was 30 years old.
The same lens Wirgin Gewironar was on the Westex Four-Five rolfilm from Westminster Photographic, Lrd,
81, Strand London, WC2 in B.J.A. 1938, p279, the cheaper version having a Ludwig Victar f6.3. This just might
suggest the origin of the camera.

Quote:

On 2004-09-13 19:30, 45PSS wrote: The lens Vade says the following: Wirgin Bros, Wiesbaden, Germany. Gewironar f6.3 105mm on Wirgin 6x9cm rollfilm. The trade name may be most important in the 1930-1940 period, but was also used after WW2 on the rollfilm cameras. It is not known whether they were bought-in or not. But they often used bought in lenses such as the Cassar or Cassarit lenses on the Edixa Stereo. Then the firm's publicity said it was 30 years old. The same lens Wirgin Gewironar was on the Westex Four-Five rolfilm from Westminster Photographic, Lrd, 81, Strand London, WC2 in B.J.A. 1938, p279, the cheaper version having a Ludwig Victar f6.3. This just might suggest the origin of the camera.

Thanks for the response. My camera has no brand name on it, but the seller thought it was a Wirgin Auta. It does have the 4.5 lens, so perhaps this is a Westex Four-Five. I haven't been able to locate a picture of another camera exactly like it. The shutter is a Prontor with the words "Gauthier G.m. b.H. Calmbach" around the top of the lens mount.

Dave
PS: I found this camera, which looks the same as mine except for the better shutter. Mine has only speeds T, B, 25, 50, 100 and 125.

http://www.mgroleau.ca/photo/autres_cam/wirgin.html

One more edit: I found this which looks the same except for the shutter label and the name "Wirgin" on the lens.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: hurdy_gurdyman on 2004-09-13 20:08 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: hurdy_gurdyman on 2004-09-13 20:15 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: hurdy_gurdyman on 2004-09-13 20:21 ]</font>

I have communicated with Eric by using the free translations here: http://www.freetranslation.com/

Fred