#43 Hanimex 110 FL Tele

Em português 

This camera was made in the very early 80's commissioned by Hanimex, probably to Haking of Hong-Kong.

It's a camera like many of it's time.

It has a sliding lens that transforms the focal distance in a small tele, hence the name of the camera.
The film advance/shutter cocking is "a la" Kodak, by a thumb slider on the camera bottom.

The electronic flash is turned on/off with a small slider and is powered by two AA batteries.
Uses 110 film cartridges, allowing a maximum of 20 13 x 17 mm exposures.


Stay tuned (o;

#42 Fujica Pocket 300

Em português 

The Fujica Pocket 300 was one of the first models of subminiature cameras presented by Fuji.

They came to this market only in 1976, when Kodak and Agfa were already well established, nevertheless Fuji presented innovative solutions and very well built cameras.

They presented the first zoom camera on this format, the Fujica pocket 330.

Specifications of Fujica Pocket 300:

• Aluminium body
• 26.5mm f5.6-11 lens
• Fixed-focus
• Exposure control by weather symbols 
• Built-in UV filter
• Fixed shutter speed: 1/125 
• Hot shoe for electronic flash
• Soft shutter release and provision for remote release
• 110 cassette film 

This camera camera does not use the film perforations to cock the shutter, so it can be reloaded with 16 mm film. As I have the feeling that Santa is going to bring me a set of film film slitters I'll be able to put it to use.

MERRY XMAS

Stay tuned (o;

#41 Agfa Optima 500 Sensor

Em português  

This is an Agfa Optima 500 Sensor, made in Germany, by Agfa-Gevaert, in 1969.

This was the first model displaying the orange Sensor shutter release, that became a distinctive feature of future Agfa cameras. It is made of a metal membrane, with a travel of less than 0,5 mm, what makes the shutter release operation ultra soft avoiding motion blur.

The shutter, of the central leaf type, is a Paratic. The shutter speed ranges from 1/30 to 1/500, hence the name of the model.
The lens is a Color-Apotar, 1:2.8/42 mm, focus scale, with three pictograms on the upper part of the lens barrel and a scale in meters and feet on the bottom.

Above we also can see, on the aperture ring, the aperture values, to be used only with the B setting of the shutter.

The aperture and shutter speed values, in normal operation, are automatic selected and controlled by a CdS cell, powered by a BMR 9 cell, using the ISO info, with a range from 25 to 400.

Located on the bottom plate is the film advance/rewind lever, exposure counter, tripod socket and spring loaded film cartridge lock.

You might find strange a film advance/rewind lever but, in fact it is a quite a clever feature.
Reached the last exposure one presses and lift the lever, marked R, by the lens barrel, and actuate the advance/rewind lever several times, rewinding the film, simultaneously the exposure counter regresses, providing the information about the progress of the operation.

You can see, in the picture above, a small window by the top right side of the camera. It's marked LZ/GN and displays some figures in the window, selectable using the small thumb dial under it.
It's function is provide the meter system with the info about the flash guide number (LZ - meters, GN - feet).
When a flash is placed on the accessory shoe the camera automatically enters in the flash mode:
The shutter speed locks on 1/30 and the aperture is calculated in function of the selected distance and flash guide number.

The silk screen impression displaying the model is long gone, only the orange dot endured the passing of time.

The viewfinder is collimated and the round window by it's side arbours the CdS cell.

The disk between the shutter release button and the accessory shoe is the film sensitivity dial, marked in ASA and DIN.

There is a black edition of this camera. The Sensor 200 and Silette LK are very closed related.

It's a very nice and compact camera, perfectly usable as you can see by the following shots, taken with it:

Merry Xmas

Stay tuned (o;

#40 Nikon Nuvis 75

Em português 

This one was another gift from my uncle Jorge Sá Dantas, a major contributor to my collection, and the:

"Good light" retirement home for senior photo gear

It's a simple, compact, auto-everything, APS camera.
It was launched by Nikon in 1996, one of the earlier cameras in this format.

Specifications:

Nikon Zoom/macro lens, 30-60 mm, 1:4.5-8.5

Shutter speeds: 8 seconds - 1/500

Auto focus, with infinity focus lock, for landscape shooting

Auto exposure: centre weighted

Flash modes: Auto, fill, red eye reduction and off

Self timer

APS photo formats: Conventional, HDTV and Panorama

Power zoom and macro capable

LCD displays functions, modes and exposure counter

Motorized film advance and rewind

Power: CR123 lithium battery

Dimensions: 114 x 62 x 38 mm
Weight: 200 g
Made in Japan

Some pictures taken with it:

Stay tuned (o;

#39 Yashica 8-EIII

Em português  

My brother-in-law, Mário Gamelas, is one of the top contributors of my collection.

I have several of his old cameras as tenants of the:

"Good light" retirement home for senior photo gear

He bought this one in the early sixties, when he was an officer of the Portuguese army, serving in the former African and Indian colonies.

This is a Yashica 8-EIII, made in Japan around 1959.
It's a movie camera using 8 mm film.

It as three lens mounted in a revolving turret, with matching viewfinders: 

Cine Yashinon  6.5, 10 and 25 mm, with an aperture range: f1.8 - f16 and three internal filters in the optical path: ND, C and H

The spring loaded motor delivers the following frame rates: single frame, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32 and 48 fps  

The dimpled window, above the lens turret, houses a selenium light meter, still working. Two needles are displayed in the viewfinder, playing with the frame rate, aperture and filters one makes them coincide to achieve a correct exposure.

ASA range 10 - 80

Cast metal body covered with grey leatherette and some plates of stainless steel.

It is complete with lens covers and the leather bag. Mário told me he had a pistol grip too but, he lost track of it.

Following TTV views of the different lens; 25, 10 and 6.5 mm:

  

I find it very nice with that blue colour, outside capture zone.
Also visible the two needles of the light meter:
- Thinner: aperture control
- Thicker: fps control

Some more pictures of the camera:

               

Everything is working, all I need now is some film for it.

Stay tuned (o;

#38 Regula Super Automatic

Em português 

I found this beauty in a flea market a few years ago.
A Regula Super automatic.

The only cameras I knew from Regula were all those cheap and omnipresent Sprinty.

This one is in a completely different league. 

It's a rangefinder, with interchangeable lens, in a bayonet mount, coupled selenium  light meter, selectable bright marks, in the viewfinder, for 50, 90 and 135 mm lens and, above all, a very smart look.

I only regret not having found yet another lens for it but, I haven't given up.

This was manufactured by Regula-Werk King KG at Bad Libenzell, former West Germany.

The lens is a Isco-Gottingen Regula-Color-Westanar 1:2.8/50, in a Gauthier (AGC) Prontor SLK shutter, with a range from one second to 1/300 plus B and self timer.

The bright viewfinder not only accommodates the rangefinder it also performs parallax correction.

The accessory shoe is of the cold type. There's a flash sync contact on the front, selectable, on the shutter, for X or M sync.
Dimensions: 135 x 90 x 76 mm
Weight: 645 g

It's an enjoyable, usable camera, although the light meter on this example is dead.

Following, some shots taken with it:

Stay tuned (o;

#37 Rollei A110

Em português 

When my uncle Jorge Sá Dantas knew that I was collecting cameras he invited me to his house and gave me a Nikon F-601, that I told you about in an older post, and this beautiful Rollei A110.

In the 1970's Kodak introduced the 110 film cassettes and nobody wanted to loose that train, so Rollei presented this precious little camera at 1974 Photokina. 

It was a sensation. When closed it was smaller than the boxes where the film cassettes came in.

It also was the most expensive camera of this type sold at the time. That's why they went to Singapore, in 1978, to make it and lower the prices.

The building materials are mostly metal and some durable plastic parts, with a smooth black paint finish. 

It uses a push-pull movement to advance the film and cock the shutter.

When it's pulled open it displays the Rollei-Tessar, 1:2,8 f=23mm, lens and tuns on the light meter.

The lens is manually focused, using the orange slider, under it, focus symbols and distance indications, both in meters and feet, are displayed in the surprisingly big and bright viewfinder. It focus from 1 m to infinity.

The Rollei-Prontor electronic controlled shutter has a speed range from 4 sec. to 1/400.

An innovative shutter/aperture control was used in this camera. When the shutter is cocked, the shutter blades open and the aperture blades close, releasing the shutter causes the aperture blades to open and at the end of the programmed exposure the shutter blades close. This choreography is controlled by the fast silicon photo diode, which has it's own set of diaphragm blades, synchronized with the ones controlling the aperture.

The AE program has a range from f2.8 - 4s to f16 - 1/400.

There is a cube flash adapter to attach to it's side.

Size: 30 x 44 x 84 mm (100 mm opened)

Weight: 185 g (with battery)

I have got some 110 films I have to get a replacement for the defunct, mercury PX27/5,6 V, battery and give it a try.

Stay tuned (o;

Nemrod Siluro

Em português 

I have some diving and underwater photography experience, but I had never seen or heard about this camera, until I saw one on OZBOX photostream, at Flickr.

I googled it, just to try to know more about it, and found this nice example on a local auction site, contacted the seller, went to see him and the camera.
It was a nice young man from Vila Nova de Cerveira. His father at some instance bought this camera but had no idea of what it was, the son insisted that it was a diving camera, he didn't believe it due to the flash unit, he thought it wouldn't work underwater.
They made some inquiries and found what it was and had it for sale.

After inspection of the camera, money changed hands and I came home with this beauty.

This camera was made by Nemrod Metzeler, S.A. in Barcelona, Spain.

and it was distributed by Vilarrubís y Sagué, S. A.

Sagrera, 44 - 55, Barcelona - 13, España

The Nemrod company, named after the bible character of Nemrod the hunter, king of Babylonia, was a manufacturer of diving and spearfishing equipment, they produced this camera from 1960 to 1966

It's moulded in a kind of heavy Bakelite, known as Novodur.

It has close resemblances to the Mako-shark, by Healthways, California, with the benefit of using 120 film instead of 620 and having a dedicated flash unit, invaluable for underwater photography.

The lens is a 70 mm fix focus and aperture, 1-2,5m, f:16

The shutter is a very simple single speed type, 1/55 sec.

Built-in inside the back there is a pair of lead weights to make it's buoyancy neutral.

Made to be water tight at 40 meters.

Valve in the front to pressurize it.

It provides twelve 6 x 6 exposures on 120 film, the film advance, via scalloped knob, is controlled by the ruby window, on the back.

The power, for the exterior flash unit,is provided by a 22,5 V battery and it uses an 100 μF 25/30 V capacitor, both housed inside the body.

Dimensions and weight: 16,5(d) x 27(l) x 20(h) cm, 1.550 kg (including flash)

In a nutshell it is an underwater box camera.

Let's see how it's made:

Left to right: ruby window rubber cover; back cover, containing the ballast weights and film pressure plate; 

 

the front with the camera itself and the flash electronics; 

 

flash unit; adapter to XM-1 bulbs. 

The controls: up the shutter release, down the film advance knob; the logos; flash connectors.

  

The flash unit may use MB2/3 bulbs

 

Or, via the included adapter, XM-1 bulbs

 

For underwater use white bulbs are the best choice, blue bulbs for topside use.

It's an amazing piece, seen from any angle

Even the sports finder is great

 

This is a curious feature, the pressurizer valve, you can use a bike pump to do it, it provides positive pressure inside and, if some gasket is leaking, on the immersion the diver will see a stream of bubbles denouncing it, giving him time to take it out of the water, before any damage occur.

The only fault in the camera was a broken piece in the inside, some kind of adapter, that glued quite all right.

I'm not sure what it's function is as you can see in the following pictures: on the left one there's a kind of adapter, that gives an extra clearance between lens and film plane, of about 5 mm.
On the picture on the right I removed the adapter.

 

I can only guess that the adapter is for close range photography, mainly underwater, and removing it probably it will focus from 2/3 m to infinity, for topside use.
It's just a guess, as the camera doesn't have B position, I haven't yet tested my supposition.
If someone can confirm or discredit my theory I would be must obliged.


Stay tuned (o;