Author Topic: This weeks object of lust! (Read 11657 times)

Ken B: eyes, I just do eyes. · « **on:** April 18, 2012, 04:09:18 PM »

You would need a heart of stone not to have fleeting moment for this baby

Japanese Lust Object

Suzi Livingstone · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2012, 04:45:45 PM »

*drool*

byron · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2012, 05:06:26 PM »

I didn't even know that existed...what a beautiful camera. If only...

calbisu · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2012, 07:34:51 PM »

I always longed for the newer version

http://www.nyclondon.com/blog/plaubel_makina_67_review/

Francois · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2012, 11:55:08 PM »

Oh well... at least there's always something left to dream about

Alan · « **Reply #5 on:** April 19, 2012, 09:39:20 AM »

yea that is / was nice indeed !

LT · « **Reply #6 on:** April 19, 2012, 10:37:32 AM »

nice ... I think it's german isn't it? AFAIK, Plaubel didn't become Japanese until the 1970s. Makes no difference though, they are all amazing cameras.

I can't see if this has a roll film back - looks like sheets only?

Francois · « **Reply #7 on:** April 19, 2012, 01:49:05 PM »

Here's a picture of the ensemble I found on Camera-Wiki

This is for the Makina IIIR which is probably pretty close to the one on ebay.

gregor · « **Reply #8 on:** April 19, 2012, 04:58:31 PM »

Leon, you're right - the Plaubel was German made and in the 70s moved to Japan. I believe both ownership and manufacturing was moved - not just manufacturing. A bit of a cult item, their prices continue to skyrocket on auction sites (but few actually sell at the astronomical "Buy it Now" price).

As a former owner of a W67 model I'll say they are troublesome cameras, but beautiful indeed: an incredibly compact 6x7 folder compatible to a land pack film camera in form factor. That said, the struts, electronics for the meter and the focus ring are design flaws that have lead countless copies to an early burial. The focus ring is placed just above the film advance lever in a very vulnerable position, using relatively 'thin' metal to house such a critical piece of the cameras operation. I had sent mine to a friend who had always wanted to shoot with one. Well packed, en route, the focus ring was broken, repair estimates came back above 900 USD and needed being sold for parts... Parts are no longer available but places like Nippon Photo Clinic in NYC regularly pick up dead copies for spare parts.

These types of issues & experiences are documented all over the web so I won't repeat them here. For all those who are tempted by their beauty and buy online get specific with questions to sellers about condition of the focus ring (ease of movement of the ring itself & does it smoothly move the bellows, etc)

Here's a couple of resource links, as well as a couple of snaps from my former w67:

http://www.nyclondon.com/blog/plaubel_makina_67_review/

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Makina_67

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #9 on:** April 19, 2012, 05:43:10 PM »

Gregor, thanks for the info - I have been pondering the Makina for a while. Thankfully, the prices have made me ponder longer! Perhaps now is the time to stop

gregor · « **Reply #10 on:** April 19, 2012, 05:54:19 PM »

Phil - If you're willing to put up a couple of grand for a camera with a potentially short life span (if regularly used) or if you tap dance around cameras when using them - go for it. The optics are gorgeous and the camera feels great.

Otherwise I see no real benefit other than the cool factor between this and a Mamiya 7 or Pentax 67 (well, form factor is a huge difference between the Pentax and Plaubel) other than a few minor optical nuances of the Nikkor lenses versus Mamiya's or Pentax's. The Nikkor lens has a long DOF even at the lowest f-stops, which is great for certain types of landscape shots, architectural, street, etc. But with the exception of street, a rangefinder wouldn't be my camera of choice for landscape shots, architectural, or other long exposure shooting.

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #11 on:** April 19, 2012, 06:40:32 PM »

Gregor, your post was timely, thank you. I do have better things to spend my money on and really have no need for another camera when I am trying to get rid of them!

Thom Stone · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2012, 10:28:35 PM »

I'm not too into 6x9 and I've got sick of 6x7 tbh. however that is simply a stunning peice of gear for sure.

calbisu · « **Reply #13 on:** April 19, 2012, 10:59:24 PM »

Quote from: gregor on April 19, 2012, 05:54:19 PM

Phil - If you're willing to put up a couple of grand for a camera with a potentially short life span (if regularly used) or if you tap dance around cameras when using them - go for it. The optics are gorgeous and the camera feels great.

Otherwise I see no real benefit other than the cool factor between this and a Mamiya 7 or Pentax 67 (well, form factor is a huge difference between the Pentax and Plaubel) other than a few minor optical nuances of the Nikkor lenses versus Mamiya's or Pentax's. The Nikkor lens has a long DOF even at the lowest f-stops, which is great for certain types of landscape shots, architectural, street, etc. But with the exception of street, a rangefinder wouldn't be my camera of choice for landscape shots, architectural, or other long exposure shooting.

Why I feel like I must have that camera? is because its supposed to be superb? because not so many cameras are left? because its high price...? Strange what we feel attracted to and the reasons to do so. I have the Pentax 67 and I just love the shots it produces and I firmly believe the plaubel won´t be better, well for sure it weights less than half but on the other hand it does not have option to change lenses, waist level finder, extension tubes.. but what it really stops me from getting it is that I know I won´t take better pictures with it or that it will not change my shooting in either way.

gregor · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2012, 04:52:53 PM »

Quote from: calbisu on April 19, 2012, 10:59:24 PM

Why I feel like I must have that camera?

Probably for the same reasons we go out and buy expensive Polaroid 180s & 195s when a 250 or 360 can do pretty much the same (except extreme lowlight conditions of course). The advent of digital and the market getting saturated with cool film cameras certainly plays into our camera addictions !

Francois · « **Reply #15 on:** April 21, 2012, 10:48:36 PM »

Quote from: gregor on April 21, 2012, 04:52:53 PM

The advent of digital and the market getting saturated with cool film cameras certainly plays into our camera addictions !

shuuut! nobody knows

calbisu · « **Reply #16 on:** April 22, 2012, 08:12:57 PM »

From the movie Palermo Shooting..

yes, he uses THAT camera!

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #17 on:** April 22, 2012, 11:11:37 PM »

Damn! I thought I had worked this one through!

gregor · « **Reply #18 on:** April 22, 2012, 11:22:57 PM »

I would say that's an incredibly odd way to hold a Makina 67...like a 35mm RF ! In reality you would be obstructing the movement of, and putting undo pressure on, the struts.

Yes, they look cool, but so do about 45 other cameras ;-)

edthened · « **Reply #19 on:** April 23, 2012, 12:42:07 AM »

Och look, heers anuther wunno rem 111's, onlie cheeper, so ther

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plaubel-Makina-III-two-lenses-two-roll-film-backs-accessories-and-case-/230780041132?pt=UK_Photography_Rangefinders_Accessories&hash=item35bb8ff7ac

Skorj · « **Reply #20 on:** April 24, 2012, 12:45:37 PM »

charles binns · « **Reply #21 on:** April 24, 2012, 01:36:50 PM »

"You would need a heart of stone not to have fleeting moment for this baby"

Indeed - unfortunately the only things in my wallet are stones.

Late Developer · « **Reply #22 on:** April 25, 2012, 12:22:09 AM »

It's clearly an impressive piece of kit and is used by some exceptionally talented photographers. However, it would be interesting to know why we all use the cameras we use. Is it the cachet of using something valuable / esoteric / highly regarded by the cognoscenti or is it to make the best photos we possibly can?

I'm interested in who used / uses what but I don't regard myself as good enough to think if I use the same camera as photographer X I'll be able to produce anything remotely as good. I buy what what takes my fancy and what I can afford at the time.

ChristopherCoy · « **Reply #23 on:** December 30, 2012, 09:54:00 AM »

Quote from: gregor on April 21, 2012, 04:52:53 PM

Probably for the same reasons we go out and buy expensive Polaroid 180s & 195s when a 250 or 360 can do pretty much the same (except extreme lowlight conditions of course). The advent of digital and the market getting saturated with cool film cameras certainly plays into our camera addictions !

Yes, I resurrected an old thread - save the trees... errr server space, or whatever.

I just picked up a 360 this evening, complete with its original case, flash, and charger - so I'm in research mode now.

Is a 360 really that comparable to a 180 and 195? I've owned a 250 in the past and ended up selling it because I found it to be overly finicky. I'm hoping this 360 is going to be more fun.

(and for the record, I also own an EE 100, Reporter, and a 420 - and I've owned a 100, 104, and two other 420's in the past as well. I do love me some pack film.)

Chalky · « **Reply #24 on:** December 30, 2012, 09:20:04 PM »

Christopher, personally (I am sure others will disagree) I think that the automatic cameras, whist brilliant, are not quite comparable to the manual ones. Yes you can do some aperature tweaking by working with the scene selector and film speed, but it is far from fully manual. also shooting into the sun will always fool the electric eye of the auto pack cameras and often cause underexposure most of the shot.

since buying my 195 I have barely used my 340 other than when going to somewhere I don't want to risk taking the 195, for example a party at the beach.

but I used the 340 for about 4 years and have shot some of my favourite photos with it so I'm not saying they are bad, I just enjoy the control the manual ones offer. and the 360 is generally thought of as the best of the auto pack cameras. ed certainly gets good results with his.

hope that is useful.

Francois · « **Reply #25 on:** December 30, 2012, 10:32:10 PM »

I too noticed the same thing with all the automatic cameras I have. They tend to work well if they are placed in the condition they were designed to work in.
While I do love using some of them, there always comes a point where I know the automation simply won't cut it.

ChristopherCoy · « **Reply #26 on:** December 31, 2012, 03:50:31 AM »

Maybe one day I'll sell all my current models and pick up a 195.

sapata · « **Reply #27 on:** December 31, 2012, 03:56:32 AM »

What a camera... and the world record of pictures showing an single item on ebay is broken!

ChristopherCoy · « **Reply #28 on:** December 31, 2012, 04:16:47 AM »

I was just searching eBay for a 195. There are a few 'buy it now' listings, but at $695 and $795 I'd have a hard time dropping that kinda of cash. Especially when a.) fuji is the only maker of film available for the camera and who knows how much longer its going to hang on, and b.) for $800 I could buy another Hassey setup and/or nearly a used Nikon 70-200 VRI.

Chalky · « **Reply #29 on:** December 31, 2012, 09:40:53 AM »

Yeah the prices have gone crazy lately. Could always look at modifying one of your other pack cameras with a manual shutter and lens...

ChristopherCoy · « **Reply #30 on:** December 31, 2012, 10:35:27 AM »

I've thought about that too...

Modifying an original 100 with a 110/a/b lens/shutter? I just don't know enough about it, and which one is the best to use.

Chalky · « **Reply #31 on:** December 31, 2012, 11:22:12 AM »

ideally you would use a 114mm shutter/lens, as that is the focal length of the auto cameras. but they are hard to find. so you can either mount a 127 mm on the front panel of the lensboard (but the 127 mm lenses are sought after, more expensve, and hard to find) or, mount a 105mm lens on the back panel of the lensboard. not quite as pleasing to the eye but you can find 105mm lenses on many of the old 620 folding cameras for peanus on ebay.

it will never be spot on wide open up close, but works well stopped down a little and is a fun project. this was my first go but could be tidier, but get some good results with it http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattchalkysmith/6446017861/#in/set-72157624571882771

we've hijacked this thread a lot, but there is a lot of info out on the web, or start a new thread here, or feel free to mail me questions (But I'm not an expert!) good luck.

jojonas~ · « **Reply #32 on:** January 01, 2013, 11:47:57 PM »

an earlier issue of newly started, 100% analog, german magazine photoklassik had an article on plaubel makina -the modern (and japanese?) versions.

http://www.photoklassik.de/

a mag worth supporting, I say

ChristopherCoy · « **Reply #33 on:** January 02, 2013, 12:03:54 AM »

I wish I looked that cool holding my camera! LOL