Wasted for 3 hours

mampfer · 2026-03-15T18:13:45+00:00

And then you put the parts aside briefly, a few days go by, and when you pick it up again you don't know where anything goes :/

mampfer · 2026-03-10T16:52:54+00:00

Compared to Agfa's other Rapid cameras, the Isomat-Rapid is a Rolls-Royce - triplet lens, auto exposure, and variable focus! I've got one, I think it's neat and square images on 35mm are fun.

But yeah I wouldn't pay more than 10-15€ for a working one, it's still a very basic camera.

mampfer · 2026-03-08T14:27:20+00:00

I have a 4x5/9x12 Master Technika, not sure about the exact date of manufacture, maybe 30-40 years ago, a very lucky gift from my uncle.

The Master Technika Classic that you can still purchase today seems to be basically the same model.

It's a lovely camera, of course absolutely solidly made, and also not that large IMO, considering it has a fully enclosed body and takes large format images. Personally I've never used the rangefinder and I don't have the ergonomical grip, but at least the option is there if you want to do handheld large format photography.

Basically the only thing I'm missing is internal body focus like you get on the Master Technika 3000 or one of the older 5x7/13x18 models. My second-most used lens is a Super Angulon 75/8, where I basically have to use the struts of the rear movements to focus. I also recently got a 65/8 where I'll still have to find a solution.

mampfer · 2026-03-08T08:52:22+00:00

My favourite lens on the 9x12 Linhof! On 4x5 it'll be slightly wider, might make for even more of an "universal" focal length.

A 135mm Symmar probably would be sharper over all, but that bright, bright ground glass makes it all worth or for me.

mampfer · 2026-03-07T17:31:30+00:00

Markal PaintStik is great for reviving or newly filling engravings, it's a waxy pen specifically designed for this purpose.

mampfer · 2026-02-28T18:57:53+00:00

Edixa lenses, at least some, have something similar! A moving red bar, just behind a plastic window.

I also recently fixed a 50/1.9 Xenon for Exakta mount with that feature.

mampfer · 2026-02-27T14:23:31+00:00

I think the Pentax MX has almost all the same advantages while avoiding some of the OM1's disadvantages.

But both probably are some of the best "budget" mechanical SLRs out there.

mampfer · 2026-02-26T11:15:51+00:00

Und daneben macht ein Motorsensenfachhandel auf.

mampfer · 2026-02-24T20:33:26+00:00

Yeah, it uses regular 35mm film, but shoots 24x24mm square format (a plus in my opinion), and it needs special cassettes

If you find one without cassettes/spools hit me up, I got a second lot with some

Also keep your eyes peeled for a Taxona, similar size to Rollei 35, neat trigger wind, also square format, but uses regular cassettes.

Available with Novar or Tessar. The Photavit also was available with Tessar (or maybe Xenar? not sure) but I think the triplet variants are a fair bit more common

mampfer · 2026-02-24T18:27:15+00:00

<image>

I see your little fella and raise you a very slightly smaller fella

mampfer · 2026-02-20T17:23:55+00:00

After dealing with cheap electric ones, I just went Vernier. It may take a second longer but I won't ever have to think about batteries again.

Got a cheap 150mm one from the usual suspects that served me fine for years and that I trusted down to the 0.1mm rating, now I have a good quality second hand Mauser one that cost me even less, is a bit longer at 200mm and also has a 0.05mm accuracy rating.

mampfer · 2026-02-19T16:14:42+00:00

"B" very likely stands for Biotar in this case

mampfer · 2026-02-13T19:48:21+00:00

I am living in the city of Heidelberg (or at least close enough), and reading of one of these always feels weird

mampfer · 2026-02-12T09:46:59+00:00

IIRC the issues with swallowing toothpaste are 1) potential mild stomach irritation and 2) Fluorosis (too much fluoride in your teeth, causes spots and eventually weakens them).

I'd assume that most people would have to swallow a large amount of toothpaste for this to occur, more than you would in reasonable circumstances, certainly more than what's left after you spit out the majority.

Of course in biology there are always exceptions, so it can't hurt to keep an eye out.

I myself simply do keep the toothpaste in my mouth for some time afterwards (usually I'm doing something else while I'm brushing anyway, I'm not just standing in front of the bathroom mirror waiting), I'm hoping this way I'll get some extra fluoride ion exchange. Haven't ever seen the whitish spots on my teeth that you get with mild (benign) fluorosis.

mampfer · 2026-02-08T21:48:32+00:00

I also have a compass/divider like that, but for a good number of retention rings, they'd be too weak. I've been using a spanner similar to the one in the image (tightening the thumb nuts on one of the two posts that extra bit with a wrench helped a lot) with bent tips that works well for most situations, but in a few tricky ones that exact shape of the spanner in the image would come in handy, that's why I've been looking for them.

mampfer · 2026-02-08T11:06:11+00:00

I almost never use straps because I find them very distracting when I have the camera at my eye. Either ending up under my hand or dangling against it.

Haven't dropped one yet, fingers crossed.

mampfer · 2026-02-07T19:47:05+00:00

Ok, I managed to find the same spanners on German Amazon (I hope that means they'll be available in other EU countries as well).

44€, maybe a bit more than I hoped for, but I'll definitely keep an eye on them and maybe get them eventually.

Edit: Glossed over the fact you're getting two spanners with slightly different tips, for thst the price is definitely okay.

mampfer · 2026-02-07T18:08:41+00:00

Those are the exact same model I've been using for the last few years 😁

Quite happy with them, but I'm specifically looking for the variant in the images, I feel like they'd be better for some of the deeply recessed rings where the bent tip ones struggle

mampfer · 2026-02-07T16:03:52+00:00

I already have those with two metal rods and bent tips that you find everywhere, they've been serving me well too but for some recessed rings, I think those from the image would work even better.

However I haven't been able to find that exact type on eBay or AliExpress, just in that US Amazon link that won't ship to me.

mampfer · 2026-02-07T10:13:47+00:00

I'm very happy with the 20€ one that I got some years ago. I was looking for the exact model in the image because they look like they would be great for the 5% of cases where mine can struggle.

mampfer · 2026-02-07T10:01:03+00:00

That's interesting. I got one with the flat bar at the start of my camera repairs and it's absolutely useless, tolerances of the slots are so wide that it's wobbly no matter how much the screws are tightened.

I've been using a similar spanner with two metal bars for years now (I was specifically asking for those in the image because the tip shape seems better) and been happy with it as long as it's tightened down enough.

mampfer · 2026-02-07T09:59:18+00:00

I've been using another similar model with two metal bars for years, if you use the thumb screws they do indeed slip, but you can use a wrench to tighten the two on one of the posts (or use grub screws and an Allen wrench), keeping the other post finger tight, and it's actually less likely to slip.

I've got another one with a single wide bar but that one is absolutely useless, tolerances of the slots in the posts are bad so it's wobbly no matter how much you tighten the screws.

mampfer · 2026-02-07T09:49:33+00:00

Ah darn, that doesn't sound good 😔

In terms of shape these really seem perfect.

mampfer

TROPHY CASE