Our rangefinder collections...

Teo · Joined: 19 Jul 2014 Posts: 1071 Location: Romania

Here are mine , not many , but I still use them ....
All classics from Russia

I have to insert here also this little fellow ,wich is adopted in the Ruskis family ,it's not a rangefinder
but you have to admit, it's a beauty despite it's age ! A bit sad and lonely due to lack of usage.The slow times are a bit hesitant , and I don't know yet if it leaks light or not .

uddhava · Expire: 2021-06-21

Nice group.
Do you have a favorite? I also have the same folder. Mine is an Isolette II and I enjoy using it.
How do you like the Helios 103 on your Kiev?

Teo · Joined: 19 Jul 2014 Posts: 1071 Location: Romania

uddhava · Expire: 2021-06-21

[quote="Teo"]

!Karen · Joined: 20 Jul 2013 Posts: 837 Location: Belgium Baby

I have so much rangefinders it's rediculous lol
Here is a shot of my rangefinders with a fast fixed lens

uddhava · Expire: 2021-06-21

Nice ones! Have you used the Olympus yet?

Teo · Joined: 19 Jul 2014 Posts: 1071 Location: Romania

My Kiev went on a trip,yesterday....
Here is when it was resting for a beer and pizza

LittleAlex · Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 8:48 pm Post subject:

Looks like my Leicas started to gemmate:

voytek · Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Posts: 891

One from most underrated rangefinders: Petri 19

#1

sample, Arista 100
#2

Minolfan · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 3419 Location: Netherlands

uddhava · Expire: 2021-06-21

Alex TG · Joined: 13 Oct 2019 Posts: 221 Location: Ukraine

Super Fujica-6, arrived today
Needs fome minor work, but otherwise looks promising

Teo · Joined: 19 Jul 2014 Posts: 1071 Location: Romania

Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 444 Location: New Zealand

This arrived today, bought on a local auction site here in New Zealand. The meter doesn't work, and after a few tries, 'B' setting doesn't work so great, but other than that the shutter works. When I bid on it I had actually forgotten the interesting history of this camera, and was not reminded until holding it in my hand and seeing what looked like a battery cover on the bottom plate, on a camera with a selenium meter. I was actually more interested in what I knew would be a Kowa f/2 lens for a reasonable price. So I was tickled to undo the cover and find an old air cartridge, long depressurised, still in place, as well as the o-ring still in fairly good nick.

Interestingly, most online reviews tell you that air cartridges to fit are a long discontinued item, however the ones from this Soda Siphon are an identical size, so maybe not. These type of siphons were in use during the early part of the 20th century, usually quite ornate glass items, collectors items now, but I don't know if they used a similar cartridge at all.

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 660 Location: Winnipeg Canada

The soda stream cartridges are 12 gram CO-2.
Looks like 12 gram oxygen or air in the green enameled air cartridge for the camera.

I would advise against using CO-2 carts in the camera- they create moisture, especially when rapid, repeated use is involved.

Tell us a bit about how this camera works...

-D.S.

Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 444 Location: New Zealand

Haha now you're putting me on the spot...

I had to check the online manual at https://www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/graphic_35_jet.pdf (page 13)

The shutter release lever on the front actually has 3 positions:

1 - rest position
2 - release shutter
3 - activate powered film advance / shutter cocking

This is what I already inadvertantly noticed when trying the 'B' shutter function. I was activating it past position 2 all the way to 3. It stays open at 2, and releases for either 1 or 3, obviously for 3 because now it will advance the film again. So 'B' function does work okay on the camera.

With regard to the CO2, my original post and description of 'air-powered' turned out to be lazy and inaccurate. Consulting the manual (page 4) shows that CO2 actually is the gas it was designed for use with, it also notes that the CO2 used should be clean, and that Soda cartridges may be used (so they were still common at that time), but for best results a cartridge from Graflex should be preferred. It seems like you could also get cartridges for use with model equipment, but those were recommended to be avoided for use in the camera. Possibly those type of cartridges were made using lower grade CO2 and compression equipment, and may also have had oil added to lubricate the various types of equipment they ran.

At Mike Eckman's excellent review site there is a review of the camera, somewhat less than complementary, however of interest is a posted comment from a person involved in the original testing of the automatic advance system way back then - https://mikeeckman.com/2020/06/graflex-graphic-35-jet-1961/ which gives some good detail about the pressurised gas compartment of the camera, and tells us that it operated a ram to automatically advance the film. I wonder if there must be some kind of mechanical feedback system which prevents moving the lever to position 3 before the exposure is complete, especially for slower speeds.

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 660 Location: Winnipeg Canada

Interesting camera!

Thanks for posting.

-D.S.