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Author Topic: Just Bought Another Camera  (Read 3891 times)

Ed Wenn

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Just Bought Another Camera
« on: January 18, 2007, 10:29:31 PM »
I've been after one of these for a couple of years, but i didn't want to pay a lot of money because I'm only going to use it for as long as my stock of 5x4 Polaroid sheet film lasts. I bought a few boxes on evilBay and then realised that I didn't have a camera to put them in (well, apart from my GraphCheck sequence camera that is). Anyway, I have a few boxes of 55 film and Susan sent me some sulfite last year so I'm good to go....now that I have the camera....and as long as it works.

I would have preferred one that didn't look like it had been fished out of the Titanic (Skorj's phrase  ;D), but it was the only one in nearly 2 years of oBay-ing that I found for cheap. I 'won' the auction today. Chuffed? You bet...as long as it works. Got it for £41.50 BTW. It was going for £16 until I was sniped by some lazy git with 3 seconds to go. Luckily they only bid £40 max so I still got it.

The lens is a Taylor-Hobson Cooke Avtar Anastigmat 8 1/4 inch series 11 F/4.5...apparently. Means nothing to me.

Anyway, here she is:

[attachment deleted by admin]
« Last Edit: January 18, 2007, 10:32:16 PM by ed.wenn »
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outofcontxt

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Re: Just Bought Another Camera
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2007, 11:08:49 PM »
Maybe Skorj was being a wee too rough. The Andrea Doria is more like it... ;) But seriously, what a neat find, Ed. Hope it all works!
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Tammy

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Re: Just Bought Another Camera
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2007, 02:45:19 AM »
OMG.  That is one ugly thing.  But, the lens is a keeper if it cleans up well.  Cooke lens arrangements usually give a nice glow, and will be particularly sutiable for portraits.  Can't wait to see the results, Ed! :)
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Susan B.

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Re: Just Bought Another Camera
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2007, 02:57:16 AM »
that's so ugly it's beautiful.

Actually, a friend of mine has that same camera in mint shape and it's a great find. Takes stunning pictures.

Congrats Ed! Eager to see some results. :)
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warren

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Re: Just Bought Another Camera
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2007, 04:54:51 AM »
Oh sweet mercy that is beautiful! A magnificent machine in capable hands. Can't wait to see the results.
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lauraburlton

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Re: Just Bought Another Camera
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2007, 05:58:49 AM »
You know that is a beauty in the rough if I ever did see one. One thing I have to say about harcore filmwasters is they are not the common gearheads you see hanging about in the usual tourists spots. I mean, I can totally see you lugging this thing around and getting the good shots and I am sure a fair share of looks from confused bystanders. You have to wonder what they are thinking, some will think you are some poor sod who cannot afford to buy a "real"  camera( i.e 6mp digtal POS prance n shoot), others will wonder what planet that thing came from and won't even realize it is a camera and still others will give you wistful sidelong admiring glances but be too afraid to ask if they can have a closer look through the magic viewfinder. One thing is for sure, in all of its crazyness, you will probably have some kind of weird anonymity as no one will actually think you are taking photos with it :)
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Phil Bebbington

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Re: Just Bought Another Camera
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2007, 10:27:15 AM »
Oh good lord I can see why you were seduced by this - beauty in the raw! I'm sure that the appearance would put 90% of possible bidders off. I'm sure once cleaned up it will be sweet, can't wait to see what you get from it.
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Janet_P

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Re: Just Bought Another Camera
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2007, 10:55:48 AM »
Looks like those bellows might still be in tact, despite the look of the rest of the box. I' love to know what that camera's been through to get to this point in its life. Can't wait to see your first shots.

Janet
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Skorj

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Re: Just Bought Another Camera
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2007, 11:16:02 AM »
What a machine! Glorious!!! I eagerly await the results. If you want your prints to also look like they've been brought into the light by Doctor Ballard forget the Sulfite; use tea instead.
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Francois

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Re: Just Bought Another Camera
« Reply #9 on: January 19, 2007, 07:01:46 PM »
Wow! Looks just like a vintage Graflex SLR !
I heard the shutter release on these things will wake-up the dead!
You will now be able to go to those tourist traps, sneak-up behind some unsuspecting visitor and scare the daylights out of them... Probably not but just think about it ;)

I hope you won't have too much of a clean-up job to do on it. Especially when it comes to the bellows. They are always a B**** to fold when you need new ones. Just in case you need to, a long time ago I had found this link (http://www.cyberbeach.net/~dbardell/bellows.html) where they explain how to make them. I haven't checked it to see if it still works.

I wonder, does the camera come with back ache pills  :D Looks like it weighs a ton and a half!
You surely will need an industrial supply of WD-40 to get rid of that rust...
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Francois

Film is the vinyl record of photography.
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