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Smallest pocketable medium format camera
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:15 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:15 pm
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I vote for Konica Pearl 6x4,5cm, this is Bill's camera I got back from maintenance.

It featuring un-coupled RF and a great sharp lens and size is small very small.


Last edited by Attila on Fri Jun 10, 2011 7:02 pm; edited 1 time in total


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:55 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:55 pm
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What a nice camera. How much do they go for usually?


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:59 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:59 pm
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Small indeed - smaller than the Zeiss 4.5x6 Ikontas ?

I may have an even smaller one - I will post it when I have the time - the KW "Etui" 6x9 plate camera. Its for sure smaller, but only if loaded with plates or sheet film, not a roll back.


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:01 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:01 pm
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luisalegria wrote:
Small indeed - smaller than the Zeiss 4.5x6 Ikontas ?

I may have an even smaller one - I will post it when I have the time - the KW "Etui" 6x9 plate camera. Its for sure smaller, but only if loaded with plates or sheet film, not a roll back.


I look forward it, thanks! I don't know smaller or taller than Ikonta I never had one.


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:04 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:04 pm
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My little Dehel is also pretty small:


Dehel - Demaria Fréres 1941 by LucisPictor, on Flickr


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:05 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:05 pm
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ludoo wrote:
What a nice camera. How much do they go for usually?


Rare very rare out of Japan, I watch them I saw 2 or 4 copies in last two years at USA Ebay I didn't see any in Europe. Around 100 USD a good guess. Due rarity no usual price on them, I bough mine and this one for Bill around this value.


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:06 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:06 pm
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LucisPictor wrote:
My little Dehel is also pretty small:


Dehel - Demaria Fréres 1941 by LucisPictor, on Flickr


Yes looks pretty same size I never heard about this camera. How do you like it?


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 10:26 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 10:26 pm
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Looking good, Attila, now let's see some pix! Wink Smile


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 10:28 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 10:28 pm
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Katastrofo wrote:
Looking good, Attila, now let's see some pix! Wink Smile


Laughing Yes, I have big hope about tomorrow at all week we had crappy weather boring , sunshine less autumn.


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 10:39 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 10:39 pm
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Hoping the weather is sunny! Smile


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:52 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:52 pm
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luisalegria wrote:
Small indeed - smaller than the Zeiss 4.5x6 Ikontas ?



I'll have to get a pic of the 6x4.5 Ikomat, next to what might be the smallest 6x6, the Bessa 66, and a 35mm film box.


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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:55 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:55 pm
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Look forward it Jusi!


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:33 am
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:33 am
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The Zeiss Super Ikonta A might not be quite as small as that cute little Konica, but I'll wager it's close, plus it does have a coupled rangefinder.



For me, having that coupled rangefinder is worth giving up a bit size-wise. Besides, it's a Zeiss. The one in the photo has a Synchro Compur shutter. Very desirable.


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:24 am
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:24 am
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Michael, you have my permission to ship that camera to me immediately.
Flat Rate Priority is just fine, thanks. Laughing

BTW, Sweet! Cool

The Konica Pearl II I shipped Attila is the same size as the Pearl, but has
coupled RF and shutter to 1/500. The Pearl above goes to 1/500 as well.

Here's a comparison I did with the XA2:



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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:14 am
Post subject: Re: Smallest pocketable medium format camera
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:14 am
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Attila wrote:
I vote for Konica Pearl 6x4,5cm, this is Bill's camera I got back from maintenance.


Ikonta A 520 is slightly smaller and lighter at 120 mm x 86 mm x 38 mm (closed) vs. 120 mm x 100 mm x 43 mm, 440 g vs. 580 g, mainly due to the use of a simple pop-up viewfinder.

.

Veijo


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 9:54 am
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 9:54 am
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IMGP0842 15 by Nesster, on Flickr

My quick measurements including various bumps etc:
Bessa 66 = 13cm wide x 9.2cm tall x 4cm deep folded
Ikomat 520 = 12 cm wide x 9.2 cm tall x 3.8 cm deep folded
Yashica T4 = 11.5 cm wide x 6.4cm tall x 3.8cm deep turned off


Baby Bessa vs. Ikomat 520 by Nesster, on Flickr


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:55 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:55 pm
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Hi Nesster.

Congrats !!

I love these old cams, so beautiful and small .

And the voigtlander (from the '30s I guess). Did it come with the yellow filter?

the lens is the voigtar or the skopar? Anyways, is it 4,5/75mm?

Enjoy them Rino.


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:01 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:01 pm
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Rino, the Bessa 66 is just about my favorite camera - and yes, it has the removable yellow filter, a Skopar f/3.5 75mm, speeds to 1/300, and was probably one of my biggest bargain buys to boot ($25 for it and a Luna Lux SBC)... The serial numbers date it to 1938. What I like the best is the auto stop feature on the wind - except for locating '1', there's no need to peek through the red window.



Bessa 66 by Nesster, on Flickr


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:30 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:30 pm
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So many great little cams! Thank you !


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:56 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 3:56 pm
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Nesster wrote:
Rino, the Bessa 66 is just about my favorite camera - and yes, it has the removable yellow filter, a Skopar f/3.5 75mm, speeds to 1/300, and was probably one of my biggest bargain buys to boot ($25 for it and a Luna Lux SBC)... The serial numbers date it to 1938. What I like the best is the auto stop feature on the wind - except for locating '1', there's no need to peek through the red window.



Bessa 66 by Nesster, on Flickr


Whay a nice cam !!!

The lens is very good too. Some older voigtlander collectors (when I was one of them) told me that the 75 mm is the best skopar ever made. Almost apochromatic lens.

Very good luck. When you can, share the pics taken with these lovely cams.

Rino.


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:39 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:39 pm
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That's interesting about the 75mm - I think it's a great lens, better than the longer Skopars of the age, and better than the Tessar on the Ikomat.

Here's some old posts from the Bessa 66

http://forum.mflenses.com/some-100-crop-fun-w-skopar-on-bessa-66-t26807,highlight,bessa.html

http://forum.mflenses.com/susquehanna-river-at-dawn-t26695,highlight,bessa.html

http://forum.mflenses.com/voigtlander-bessa-66-skopar-7-5cm-f-3-5-t16879,highlight,bessa.html

http://forum.mflenses.com/astia-bessa-66-t28155,highlight,bessa+astia.html


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:00 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:00 pm
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Konishiroku Pearl III 6x4,5 medium format folder

Coupled rangefinder
Double exposure prevention
Automatic frame counter (no red window)
Aperture settings move parallel with time setting.




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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:14 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:14 pm
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Quote:
Konishiroku Pearl III 6x4,5 medium format folder


I want one.

It is an EV era camera, with the coupled aperture/shutter? If so, your pilot reads EV Smile Isn't life wonderful...


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:20 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:20 pm
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Nesster wrote:
Quote:
Konishiroku Pearl III 6x4,5 medium format folder


I want one.

It is an EV era camera, with the coupled aperture/shutter? If so, your pilot reads EV Smile Isn't life wonderful...


Yes, coupled aperture, shutter same than Super Ikonta IV.


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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:56 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 5:56 pm
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Katastrofo wrote:
Michael, you have my permission to ship that camera to me immediately.
Flat Rate Priority is just fine, thanks. Laughing


Heh. Sadly it isn't mine. I just snagged a nice looking shot of one off the 'net. I've owned a couple of SI Bs with Synchro Compur, though, which is why I like the SIs so much.

This is a great thread. I've learned a lot about 6x4.5cm folders. Wondering why nobody's mentioned the Russian copies of the SI A yet? I've heard the Russian SI copies are good picture takers. Or is there no Russian copy of the small Super Ikonta?

Last edited by cooltouch on Thu Oct 21, 2010 6:00 pm; edited 1 time in total
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