Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/11/15

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Subject: [Leica] OT: bronica 645 RF?
From: dlridings at gmail.com (Daniel Ridings)
Date: Tue Nov 15 01:03:30 2005
References: <2klan1l6estp00noo56hr8650p25gfu540@4ax.com> <43759EEA.6080109@wanadoo.nl> <4375F2F1.2010405@hemenway.com> <2fcen1lgl3cbsdj5l03q492aakbqfo3o0k@4ax.com> <43777F61.1080309@hemenway.com> <r39fn1dueb03jtcl4i19ce3iteadlm23du@4ax.com> <a2f8f4470511140458l2987d214h4a547214e9404d96@mail.gmail.com> <22c93b290511141317m5431c3ccka375aa022a52957f@mail.gmail.com>

I like the Iskra just fine, but I thought I'd like it better. I
haven't succeeded to trim in the close focus (wide-open) yet and you
have to use a bit of force to trip the shutter, leading to camera
shake at slow speeds. It's solidly built though.

If you really want a reasonable alternative to a Rolleiflex F you
should really, really take a hard look at the Rolleicords. Anything
from Rolleicord IV and later would fit the bill for me (I want a
Schneider Xenar, not a triplet taking lens). You can probably pick up
one cheaper than an Iskra.

My favorite Rolleicord is the V, but from what I understand the
Rolleicord IV would work for me as well. I like to have the focusing
knob on the right-hand side and the shutter release on the otherside
(left-hand). The Rolleicord Va and Vb have both on the same side of
the camera (left-hand side) and that forces me to fiddle around
(focus, change position of the hands to steady the camera and then
shoot. With the V and IV you do everything without having to change
the position of your hands. With the big flexes it's not a problem
either. They have focusing on the left, but shutters on the right).

The Rolleicords are not "cheap" when it comes to quality construction,
they've just left out a few niceties (feeler mechanism when loading
film, film advance knob instead of crank, no automatic shutter
cocking, but they do have double-exposure prevention). Rolleicords are
real Rollei products.

You _would_ want to pick up a brighter screen from redleica1 on that
auction site (about 30 USD), or if you have money to spare, a Maxwell
screen from Bill Maxwell (I have the latter on a Rolleicord and the
former on an old flex).

It seems even the Rolleicord III has the Xenar: 7561990676 (on that
auction site).

Daniel



On 11/14/05, Matt Powell <wooderson@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 11/14/05, Daniel Ridings <dlridings@gmail.com> wrote:
> > And an Iskra:
> >
> > http://gallery.leica-users.org/album08/05v45_0035
>
> How do you like the Iskra?
>
> I've been looking for a 6x6 alternative to the much more expensive
> Rolleiflex F or a Mamiya 6 kit - the only downside to the Iskra's is
> that I've heard the film advance is fragile. Any problems on your end?
>
> --
> MP
> wooderson@gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>


In reply to: Message from ericm at pobox.com (Eric) ([Leica] OT: bronica 645 RF?)
Message from michiel.fokkema at wanadoo.nl (Michiel Fokkema) ([Leica] OT: bronica 645 RF?)
Message from Jim at hemenway.com (Jim Hemenway) ([Leica] OT: bronica 645 RF?)
Message from ericm at pobox.com (Eric) ([Leica] OT: bronica 645 RF?)
Message from Jim at hemenway.com (Jim Hemenway) ([Leica] OT: bronica 645 RF?)
Message from ericm at pobox.com (Eric) ([Leica] OT: bronica 645 RF?)
Message from dlridings at gmail.com (Daniel Ridings) ([Leica] OT: bronica 645 RF?)
Message from wooderson at gmail.com (Matt Powell) ([Leica] OT: bronica 645 RF?)