rangefinder – Page 2 – John's Cameras. A collection of interesting and old cameras.

Montanus Rocca

This camera was made by a German maker that I have never heard of before. This is not really any cause for concern as they bought in both the lens and the shutter from established suppliers – the lens from Ennna in Munich and the shutter from Gauthier in Calmbach. The maker is Montanus whoContinue reading “Montanus Rocca”

Franka Super-Frankarette

I have two other Franka cameras – both folding Solida cameras, models II and III. They are both medium format cameras. This is a Super-Frankarette, the name indicating a smaller camera. It is, in fact, a 35 mm camera which were still known as miniature cameras in the 1950s. The ‘Super’ part of the nameContinue reading “Franka Super-Frankarette”

Agilux Agima

This well designed 35 mm camera was made in Britain in the mid to late 1950s. I would like to say that it is an example of superb British design but it is, in fact, a close copy of a German Paxette camera from Carl Braun in Nurnberg. lens: Anastigmat focal length: 45 mm apertures:Continue reading “Agilux Agima”

Ars Acon 35 model II

<p class="has-drop-cap" value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">This is a small Japanese rangefinder camera from 1956 to 1958 (according to Interweb sources). The general styling is very like a Zeiss Ikon of the period – square with heavily champhered corners. The camers measures 117 by 77 mm and by 60 mm deep. It weighs 588g withoutContinue reading “Ars Acon 35 model II”

Taron Auto EE

This is a fixed lens rangefinder camera made in Japan by Taron. Taron were not a major manufacturer but seem to have made respectable cameras. The basic outline of this camera is much the same as the offerings from Yashica and Petri, etc. In fact, there is little to set it apart. There is aContinue reading “Taron Auto EE”

Voigtlander Vitomatic IICS

Another derivation of the Vito B from Voigtlander – the last of the Vito B line.

Phenix 205DS

This is a Chinese camera made by Seagull. The only Chinese camera I have come across before is my Hakin Halina 30 5X. This has been prejudicing my opinion of Chinese cameras. I have never heard of the Phenix brand before but looking at a Chinese auction site, it seems that they made a rangeContinue reading “Phenix 205DS”

Voigtlander Vito CLR

1960s fixed lens rangefider from Germany

Fed 4 (ФЭД 4)

This Soviet Feed 4 is a camera with an impressive pedigree. The original design was by Oskar Barnack and the Leica 1 introduced in 1926 by E.Leitz (Leica = LEItz CAmera). An orphanage in Karkiv, Ukraine set up a workshop to produce copies of the Leica II as a training exercise for teenage boys. ThisContinue reading “Fed 4 (ФЭД 4)”

Kiev 4 (Киев 4)

My most recent acquisition is this Soviet Kiev 4. It is a straight copy of the Zeiss Ikon Contax III (with only very slight changes). Kiev 4 – front view At the end of WWII, the Soviet army had Zeiss Ikon rebuild their production line for the Contax and then, once the line wasContinue reading “Kiev 4 (Киев 4)”