Welta with Sytar 5.4

[Farside]

Just got this...



Not much of a picture, but this is a clearer example what it should look like... Mine has a Leitmeyr Sytar Double-Anastigmat 135/5.4 in a Vero shutter. There's not much in the Vade Mecum about Leitmeyr and Sytars but some were coated. Another source said Zeiss bought them out.


(acknowledgements to http://www.kameramuseum-privat.de/)

[Katastrofo]

Dave, is this going to take 4x5 sheet film? Cool looking camera.

[Farside]

It is quite eye-catching, isn't it? Part of its appeal was the resemblance to a Graphic, but I just fancied getting an old one working again.

It'll take 4x5 indirectly. It takes 9x12 cm which was a European film standard not a kick in the ass off 4x5. Luckily, some of the later ones adhered to a standard size for the holders which were the same external dimensions as 4x5 ones. The earlier ones went their own merry way for holder sizes.
If I'm dead lucky, a 4x5 holder might just slip in, but if not, a mod should be relatively easy without hacking the body. This one seems to be relatively rare - not authoritively rare, but I can find very little info on it anywhere, compared to other makes and certainly lenses - so I don't want to cut it about. Of course, it's entirely possible someone's replaced the lens or shutter with what they had available. 80-odd years is a long time for something to remain unmolested.

[Sevo]

[Farside]

Cheers, Sevo.
The one term I didn't previously search on, "Leitmeyr lens", threw this up; http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/00B4OH so it might be good, might be mediocre. I shall see.

[Farside]

It arrived yesterday and is in a condition you'd expect after 7 decades. Used, but not abused and a fair bit of wear and tear. Everything works, and the bellows are in very good condition, but the shutter speeds all seem the same, so need a clean out.









The rear ground glass is excellent and I'm now trying to find the right film holders for it. Several options, only one of them right, it would seem. I'm thinking of using it for 4x5 by adapting a 9x12 film holder as a spacer for a 4x5 holder or a Graflok back, as that means I won't have to cut the body, which would be a thing to avoid.
Happily, it looks as though I can compensate for the rearwards film plane by simply not pulling out the front standard as much - need to measure accurately. If I'm using it purely on a tripod and focusing with the ground glass, I won't need to cut the camera at all.
The focus wheel locks, which is very useful.

[Orio]

Huge!!
I'm very curious about the results!

[Jesito]

Hi Dave, I love those old big cameras, but I got no place where to put such big stuff (the drawbacks of living in a small flat).
So I feel a lot of sane envy for your nice acquisition.

Enjoy it, and let's see the (for sure nice) results!.

Regards,

Jes.

[Farside]

It's not really that big - when folded up it's about the same size as a Tom Clancy paperback
I could actually fit it in a pocket of a bodywarmer, come the winter.

[Laurence]

Fabulous! What a GREAT acquisition.

Isn't 9x12 pretty much a "standard" in Europe, and specifically Germany? Perhaps you could actually shoot 9x12cm?

Have fun!

[Jesito]

[GrahamNR17]

Wow, that's a great looking beast

[Farside]

[Farside]

UPDATE:
Well, I've pretty much given up on finding holder for it, since everywhere I turn I find unsuitable ones. A Rada rollfilm back I purchased was also slightly wrong
Inspired by mention of someone having fastened a Graflex back on to one I re-visited the idea and offered up the Graflok back from the View II onto the rear of the camera and it's not too bad. It sticks out a bit at the sides, but honestly it's not an eyesore, like I was expecting.
I'm determined to not destroy the camera though, because I might find some proper film holders sometime, so I will attempt to fix a Graflok back to it in a non-destructive way. Black silicone springs to mind.

Of course, it means I can use normal 4x5 and Polaroid (Fuji) film too.