Voightlander Perkeo 1

David · Expire: 2013-01-25

Picked up a very nice Perkeo 1 the other day. This is a 120mm folding camera that will be tested in a week or so when my film arrives. In the interim, I decided to take some photos of it. For the whole set (61 shots), follow this link:

https://picasaweb.google.com/102333270936007447976/VoightlanderPerkeo1

This is the Perkeo and its case, which is in pretty good shape, too. Cameras today, they're all function and glitz -- no design compassion. I want Ikea to design a camera. It will be simple, trendy, and made of paper.

Two small rubs on the front, a small dent on the top only perceptible in certain lightting, and dirt on the viewfinder -- these things alone show that it was not in its box yesterday.

The red plastic on the back is curious. I had thought any kind of light exposed film, yet this is the only way to accurately track film placement -- no counter.

Modern cameras lack something. It manifests as an absence of precociousness, unpredictability, and mechanical quirkyness. In short, modern cameras lack the old-timey cameras heart, their soul. Modern cameras are like a reliable Corolla or Civic whereas old-timey cameras are like a mid-eighties Alfa Romeo. Sometimes it may work, sometimes not, and there's never any real reason either way.

Here is the bellows unfolded from the inside.

The camera, unfolded, longing for film as a mitt longs for a ball. It cries out "Look at me; I can still take pictures. I can still focus. I can be relegated to someplace other than your garage. Please, someone, love me."

And now some artsy macro shots:

Yebisu · Joined: 13 Feb 2011 Posts: 1299

Nice pick up. Great shots of the camera too. I might try a few arty macros of my old FE next time I can't go out and shoot because of the rain.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Nice presentation! One of the missing Voigtlander from my experience.

http://www.mflenses.com/gallery/v/filmcamera/german/Voigtlander/?

If you don't have shutter tester to measure , speed values. Check first 1 sec if it looks accurate count speeds above 1/125 as half . This is my general experience on many folders.

David · Expire: 2013-01-25

The shutter speeds seem accurate. The slowest speed is slow enough that I can see the shutter open and close with my eyes, but at 1/200s, I can only hear it. Mechanically this camera is great except for the timer, which doesn't work and just jams and then needs to be forced back to zero so the shutter will function again. That was a scary 30 minutes for me after I set the timer. Ugh.

David · Expire: 2013-01-25

Attila, are you saying you want to buy it from me?javascript:emoticon(' Very Happy

') If so, PM me. I have 120 film arriving late this week or early next. Once I have it tested and verified functional, we can figure out if it's worth your time. Very Happy

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18