with Alan
New "old" pics
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 722
Likes: 58
From: Karlsruhe (Germany)
New "old" pics
A year ago I inherited this old camera from my grandpa:
It´s a Zeiss Ikon from 1953.
My parents gave it to me because I do a lot with photography and like old stuff. I wondered if it would still work and first had to find out which films to use and where to get them. I had to order the 60x60mm films over the internet, but they are still available.
And then try it... I am very familar with cameras, but with this old lady you need ~ 2 minutes take a picture until you have set all adjustments.
Surprisingly all pictures have a good exposure and sharpness. There is only one picture where I missed the fokus. (With this cam you can not see the fokus in the view finder, you have to estimate the distance and adjust the lens)
It´s a Zeiss Ikon from 1953.
My parents gave it to me because I do a lot with photography and like old stuff. I wondered if it would still work and first had to find out which films to use and where to get them. I had to order the 60x60mm films over the internet, but they are still available.
And then try it... I am very familar with cameras, but with this old lady you need ~ 2 minutes take a picture until you have set all adjustments.
Surprisingly all pictures have a good exposure and sharpness. There is only one picture where I missed the fokus. (With this cam you can not see the fokus in the view finder, you have to estimate the distance and adjust the lens)
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 337
Likes: 6
St. Jude Donor '16
Those are great photos...the old film cameras almost always produced the sharpest focused pictures possible...60cm film I think must be what is referred to as "2 and a quarter square" in the US...and I know you will recognize these..."Leica, 4x5 Speed Graphic, Carl Zeiss, Minolta, Miranda, Mamiya C220, Kodak Retina 3C, and what I have in a closet somewhere a Pentax Spotmatic F...Keep those pictures coming!...Good Luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Those pictures are astounding! The sharpness, combined with the depth of field make them very life like and natural looking. You must be very good at using a light meter and calculating the distance, because some of those look professional. I really like the B&W pics too and how You set some of those up as well. Thanks, for sharing the results, your grandpa would've of been proud. Those Zeiss cameras and lenses are still considered among the best!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,134
Likes: 4,206
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Z,
Very neat pictures!
Great looking piece of equipment too. Love the bellows. Is there ANY plastic in the camera?
I still use my Nikon FM from the early 70s on occasion and it does take beautiful pictures. The cost of the camera and lens was a reach for me THEN, I can only imagine what that cost would be TODAY.
The person who does the developing and prints for me says he can tell the type of camera and lens used for a roll of film by looking at the prints he's doing
Knowing how to set the aperture, speed, and focus, that an old manual camera requires, really helps in using an automatic camera to it's fullest potential.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Very neat pictures!
Great looking piece of equipment too. Love the bellows. Is there ANY plastic in the camera?
I still use my Nikon FM from the early 70s on occasion and it does take beautiful pictures. The cost of the camera and lens was a reach for me THEN, I can only imagine what that cost would be TODAY.
The person who does the developing and prints for me says he can tell the type of camera and lens used for a roll of film by looking at the prints he's doing
Knowing how to set the aperture, speed, and focus, that an old manual camera requires, really helps in using an automatic camera to it's fullest potential.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,871
Likes: 3,315
From: NYC NY
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 722
Likes: 58
From: Karlsruhe (Germany)
Thx all,
I will post some more in future. But it took me 1 year to take those pictures here. Ok, one film is still in the camera.
And you are right, there is no piece of plastic on that camera, everything is made of sheet metal.
The value of the cam is ~ $20, you can find them on ebay. Nobody want´s to use them anymore. But I like it because of the big 6x6 film and because it´s from my grandpa. I wish he would have had a Rollei 6x6 the ones with view finder and 2 lenses.
Yes, it´s an E-Type LowDrag, taken at a race event for historic race cars.
I will post some more in future. But it took me 1 year to take those pictures here. Ok, one film is still in the camera.
And you are right, there is no piece of plastic on that camera, everything is made of sheet metal.
The value of the cam is ~ $20, you can find them on ebay. Nobody want´s to use them anymore. But I like it because of the big 6x6 film and because it´s from my grandpa. I wish he would have had a Rollei 6x6 the ones with view finder and 2 lenses.
Yes, it´s an E-Type LowDrag, taken at a race event for historic race cars.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
Great photos! I'm not schooled in the old film cameras, but I hear they require much more effort than the modern day DSLRs.
Congrats on the new equipment, and some nice new tires.
Congrats on the new equipment, and some nice new tires.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 722
Likes: 58
From: Karlsruhe (Germany)
God thanks i have not inherited his talent, 50% of his pics are scrap. 
He took just some holiday pictures and was not very interested in photography. So this cam was too complicated for him I think. But that´s how it was back then in the 50´s.
He took just some holiday pictures and was not very interested in photography. So this cam was too complicated for him I think. But that´s how it was back then in the 50´s.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
The F5 is a real treat to shoot - I bought it for $200 and while it's cosmetically rough, it is otherwise a GREAT camera - higher build quality than any DSLR I've owned or shot - but I haven't shot a D2/3/4/5 yet, so that explains that.
Regardless of the equipment used, it's clear the OP has some GREAT skill with a lens. Wish I was that good... this thread makes me want to get out there again.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,746
Likes: 713
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Super photos!!
Hi Z,
Very neat pictures!
Great looking piece of equipment too. Love the bellows. Is there ANY plastic in the camera?
I still use my Nikon FM from the early 70s on occasion and it does take beautiful pictures. The cost of the camera and lens was a reach for me THEN, I can only imagine what that cost would be TODAY.
The person who does the developing and prints for me says he can tell the type of camera and lens used for a roll of film by looking at the prints he's doing
Knowing how to set the aperture, speed, and focus, that an old manual camera requires, really helps in using an automatic camera to it's fullest potential.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Very neat pictures!
Great looking piece of equipment too. Love the bellows. Is there ANY plastic in the camera?
I still use my Nikon FM from the early 70s on occasion and it does take beautiful pictures. The cost of the camera and lens was a reach for me THEN, I can only imagine what that cost would be TODAY.
The person who does the developing and prints for me says he can tell the type of camera and lens used for a roll of film by looking at the prints he's doing
Knowing how to set the aperture, speed, and focus, that an old manual camera requires, really helps in using an automatic camera to it's fullest potential.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Really enjoyed the Super photos!!! Kudo's to the artist behind the lens!!!
(I am still stuck in film too. I like and use my Nikon F3 mostly, all of these older cameras are works of mechanical art, FM is an excellent example. And the best news is, check ebay, you can get quite a collection of the old glass lens for cheap now, plus the mechanical film bodies are cheap too. Sad in a way, but good news if you still shoot film)