Topic: Interesting cameras #2424-26: The Tenax I & II and Taxona

[DS]

Shooting 24mm square on 35mm-
First is the Zeiss Tenax I:
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Tenax_I

The Tenax II with a rangefinder and interchangeable lenses looks supercool:
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Tenax_II
http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/zeiss/tenax/tenax2.htm

Then there is the Taxona, the post war, East German version of the Tenax I:
http://lippisches-kameramuseum.de/Zeiss_Ikon/Zeiss_Ikon_Taxona.htm

Mentioned these on the weekend thread but created a new thread here for future reference. Anyone used one? I'm trying to resist buying one so please tell me they are rubbish 

[jojonas~]

oh, I think I've heard about this one! sure looks compact, even with the rangefinder.

[wes loder]

The Tenax I is simple and a bit primitive. The Tenax II is a high-quality 35 with interchangeable lenses and quite innovative for its time. The life-size finder, bright RF patch, sharp lenses and rapid advance make for a easy-to-operate camera with beautiful handling. Unfortunately, it uses the square 24mm X 24mm format. This can make getting film processed a bit of a challenge unless you are into do-it-yourself. My local lab cannot print or digitize negatives except one at a time—quite expensive. I enjoy mine. It has made film photography fun again. Cheers, WES LODER

[jharr]

Thanks for posting this. I had no idea 24mm square format cameras even existed. GAS kicking in!! Must... resist...!

[tkmedia]

24x24 cameras still use similar film as 35mm, but are also often in SL or rapid style cartridges.

[mcduff]

So these little fellas are using 35mm film but in a unique cassette?

[Francois]

The Rapid cassettes were an attempt from Agfa to overthrow the popularity of the 35mm and conquer the world. And just like the Betamax, it failed.

[Verian]

I have an agfa that my Dad gave me. As I understand it you can load the cassettes with 35mm film, there's an interesting article and tutorial here:

http://www.lomography.com/magazine/tipster/2013/03/15/how-to-reload-an-old-agfa-rapid-cartridge-with-35mm-film

Not entirely sure if I'll do it, but I might as I have fond memories of the camera.

[tkmedia]

The tenax uses regular 135 film, I was speaking more about the 24x24 format as most of them are rapid.

[imagesfrugales]

Wow, I haven't seen the Tenax II before. There even was a make with a 40/2 Sonnar. Extremely rare I guess, probably because of the unholy times.

[wes loder]

The Tenax II uses regular 135 magazines. It can also use Zeiss cartridges such as for a Contax. You get approximately 34 pictures from a 24 exposure roll and 50 pictures from a 36 exposure roll. I am having my local lab process the film but leave it unscanned and uncut. I then check the negs out and reverse and print the ones I like in Photoshop. Seems to work. Zeiss Ikon may have made between 10,000 and 14,000 of these little cameras between late 1937 and 1940. So they are not super rare. Prices on ebay and in the auction houses vary considerably over a range of $290 to $600 with auctioned cameras going for more. The camera with the 4cm f2 Sonnar is more common than the ones with a 4cm f2.8 Tessar—and more valuable. Cheers, WES LODER

[imagesfrugales]

Thank you Wes for the additional info.

[wes loder]

I have now posted an essay on the Tenax II at my camera blog. <http://wesloderandnikon.blogspot.com/>

This may give you more information on the Tenax II than you wanted to know, but, if not, enjoy. WES LODER

[mono]

I once had the Tenax II from my father. Then thought I must have a Minolta SRT 101 and gave the Tenax away. It was a solid fine camera!
Wish I had it again...