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Temptation 2 (Just when your wife thought it was safe from boxes marked e bay)
- Thread starter Marley
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- Oct 21, 2020
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It is indeed ... the 'Tonka toy' of the large format world. Here's my unboxing video
I've wanted one of these for ages and this one came with lots of goodies.
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- Aug 29, 2020
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Interesting video. (I note also that you share my penchant for for Mamiya TLRs.) Looking forward to seeing the output of this box
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- Oct 21, 2020
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The first 'professional' camera I ever owned when I was first struggling to earn a crust as a young photographer was a Mamiya C33 -and I still have a C330, with 55, 80 and 180mm lenses. Instinctive to use, super quiet, I adore mine.
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Over the years I bought, owned, and sold a variety of cameras. In the early years, a lack of funds meant selling one to buy one. Then I discovered that my equipment wasn't the issue ... but I digress.
Trips through nostalgia being the province of us seasoned citizens, I set about to reacquire every great camera I ever owned. There were only two requirements: 1) It had to be the exact same model (color, features, lens ...) I originally owned and 2) It had to be functioning or made to be functioning because I planned to use it.
I hit that target and now have something like 14 different camera systems, all in working order. (Blessings be upon eBay-istan and my one remaining local camera shop.) This did have the effect of teaching me a bit about camera cleaning and repair, which was a reward in its own right. Among that pile is a C-220 system with 55mm, 80mm, 105mm, and 135mm lenses. I am actually selling off an extra C-330 Pro body that I don't need. I learned to use these on a C-33, but I was never much a fan of the C-series autococking system and the weight that came with it.
In keeping with this forum's charter ... Among my cherished reacquisitions is a 4x5 Speed Graphic. This thing had a studio logo attached to it, so it was someone's daily driver .... and it was beaten and in really rough shape. I did a fair bit of cleaning and maintenance and even swapped out the rear element of the 127mm Ektar that came with it. I've also gotten a 65mm Super Angulon and a 240mm Sironar to complete that kit. It's a delight to use and makes very nice images. It was responsible for this one earlier this year:
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- Oct 21, 2020
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There are still a few 'great' cameras I used to own but can't find in good condition: My first 35mm theatre photography workhorse was an old Nikon F 'plain prism' ... it was like a beat up old alley cat with brassing everywhere ... but it fitted under my hands beautifully.
I'd really like a 5x Anniversary Speed Graphic ... I've never owned one, but they are so iconic as press cameras of the 'golden era'. If I had one I'd just have to get out and try some in your face Weegee style street photography.
I'd really like a 5x Anniversary Speed Graphic ... I've never owned one, but they are so iconic as press cameras of the 'golden era'. If I had one I'd just have to get out and try some in your face Weegee style street photography.
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I have both an older chrome F and an Apollo black F, both with working FtN heads as well as a chrome plain prism. All are in lovely shape and were not outrageously expensive. I got them on eBay, but not sure what the situation is in the UK.
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- Oct 21, 2020
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Not seen too many Fs for sensible money here ... probably like Mamiya medium format, anything Canon rangefinder and Fujinon large format lenses ... import from Japan or the US is pretty much the only way to go. All bar one of my large format lenses has come from Japan as has my RB67 gear.
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- Dec 19, 2017
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No, it's a Kodak Specialist, the derivation of the 2D/No 2, and probably more specifically this one is the Clinical model which came with that focussing hood, a special stand (ilting tripod top), also an extension to the aperture control and a large lens hood, filter holder.
The term Specialist seems to have been applied because Kodak Ltd were adding accessories to provide kits for specific sectors, industrial, medical/dntal, police and finally general view camera use.
The Specialist Camera, Model 2, added slight refinements, a Metric scale on the track bed and the extension rail. the edges of the track bed and extension were aluminium. One of the issues of frequent use was wear on the groove the standards run in, the standards won't lock firmly, it's an old issue with many old wood and brass cameras overcome by adding a brass strip during manufacture. The back fits and is locked in place with two thumb screws.
At the time Kodak Ltd made and sold these cameras they were also wholesale distributors through their professional stores in major cities across the UK and in Dublin. They also distributed and sold items made by other companies.
The focussing hood here is very similar to their view camera lens hood and were made by James Sinclair & Co Ltd.
Ian
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- Oct 21, 2020
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Fascinating stuff Ian ... *I appear to have the same 5 1/4 Dallmeyer wide angle as illustrated there in the recessed lens board but also have the the 203mm Ektar in a no2 Supermatic shutter ... which is going into my tame repair shop on Monday to try to get a dislodged aperture blade sorted and a clean and lube. The whole camera is in pretty good general condition, very little track bed wear. Taking it out tomorrow with my 150mm and 250mm Fujinon lenses to test it out. It fits pretty well in a non-photographic rucksack with the lens protected by the front rails (nice design). Yep it's a lump ... but no pain no gain. ;-)
PS ... if anyone has a spare screen for one of these ... mine is usable but has a chunk out of one side.
PS ... if anyone has a spare screen for one of these ... mine is usable but has a chunk out of one side.
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The Specialist Model 2 was released in 1951 initially with the British made Ektar in a Moount 370 Kodak Epsilon shutter/ The ;ater Prontor SVS shutter was used from around 1954. It appears that Kodak used the early Ross Ensign Epsilon shutters which they modified with their unique bayonet sty; flash sync, odd because by 1951 Ross had greatly improved the Epsilon
Your camera is WWII or late 1940's, Kodak were still supplying the basic version of your camera with a 203mm f7.7 Anastigmat in 1940 in a Compur 0# shutter. The 203mm Ektar is just the post WWII coated version of the earlier Anastigmat. It's likely that if your camera came with the Ektar in a Supermatic it's just after WWII. There were very severe Import restrictions after the war and the lens would have needed a special import licence, that wouldn't be granted unless there was no UK alternative.
The US 203mm f7.7 Ektar's were in a Kodak/Wollensack Imperial thread shutter, not compatible with the Metric #0 Compur/Prontor/Epsilon/AGI/Copal/Seiko etc standard. You should be able to put a date to the Kodak Supermatic shutter.
Ian
Your camera is WWII or late 1940's, Kodak were still supplying the basic version of your camera with a 203mm f7.7 Anastigmat in 1940 in a Compur 0# shutter. The 203mm Ektar is just the post WWII coated version of the earlier Anastigmat. It's likely that if your camera came with the Ektar in a Supermatic it's just after WWII. There were very severe Import restrictions after the war and the lens would have needed a special import licence, that wouldn't be granted unless there was no UK alternative.
The US 203mm f7.7 Ektar's were in a Kodak/Wollensack Imperial thread shutter, not compatible with the Metric #0 Compur/Prontor/Epsilon/AGI/Copal/Seiko etc standard. You should be able to put a date to the Kodak Supermatic shutter.
Ian
Here's my whole plate Model B with its half plate back on a rare outing a week or so ago. It's so long since I've used it that I mistakenly thought the DDS had Shanghai 100 in it, but instead it had MGV left over from my paper negatives experiment last year. 
Ah well, I was only playing ..........
Ah well, I was only playing ..........
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- Oct 21, 2020
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And I thought the half plate version was a beast ...Here's my whole plate Model B with its half plate back on a rare outing a week or so ago. It's so long since I've used it that I mistakenly thought the DDS had Shanghai 100 in it, but instead it had MGV left over from my paper negatives experiment last year.
View attachment 2806
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- Sep 4, 2018
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Used to have a C33, quite a bit heavier than the C330, had a crazy sharp lens on it though (80mm).