Thanks for the review. I’ve just acquired one of these so you talked me through it, camera in hand. One question. I see mine is missing any kind of window on the distance scale of the rangefinder. Should there be one? I’m not going to dive in there to find out. The red window problem is reduced by using Fomapan film and even re rolling Ilford film onto saved Fomapan backing paper. Such bold black print. No obvious number transfer onto images. I do that regularly in the dark bag. Bit of a shuffle back and forth using another 120 spool but worthwhile for the choice of brand. Thanks again.
Hi YY. The little distance window should have a glass protector above the distance scale. Sounds like you have overcome the red window issue. Must be a bit of a challenge changing backing paper in the dark bag, but you have obviously overcome it. Well done! The Perkeo is a lovely camera and I'm sure you're happy with the results. Cheers, Howard
Hi Andrew, I envy you your mechanical frame counter system. No more red windows! If only they could has combined it with the rangefinder. I like your Rollei reference, small but perfectly formed. Cheers, Howard 📷
Hi Malc, it seems only days since I saw you. Ooops, it is. Anyhow, thanks for your comment. See you soon. I'll show you the camera next time you're down. Howard 👍
Thank you very much for this video. I have a Voigtlander Perkeo III as well. Could you help me locate the serial number of the camera? I see there is a 7 digit number on the focus ring. But where can i find the camera serial number? Any help is much appreciated.. thank you!
Another excellent review. Medium format was my shtick. I like your comment about learning with 35mm. That is how my career advanced. I actually learned with 110 - 35 - medium - 4x5. It is interesting to see how Voightlander came up with solutions for patents held by other manufacturers. For example, the mechanism to close off the red window. What a pain. I am surprised they did not use a Syncro-Compur shutter assembly though.
Hi avnostiga. Wow 4x5, you really did get into very slow photography. I noticed you said that it "was your shtick" so I assume you've moved on. Voigtlander made some beautiful cameras back in the day. A friend of mine had one of the very last 6x9 folding Bessa models. It was quite a camera. Thanks for your interesting comment about the patents that hadn't occurred to me. Cheers, Howard 📷
@@howpow I was a commercial studio photographer. 4x5 was standard fare for commercial work. Nowadays, there is nobody left to process medium format film; and I don't have space for a darkroom anymore. I always preferred the folding medium format cameras. Zeiss Ikon was my preferred brand. I still have my cameras. I never used them for studio work, but for pleasure photography they were amazing. Like your collection of 35mm, I have a varied folding camera collection.
@@avnostlga I had a Zeiss 6x6 Super Ikonta years ago, but lent it to a friend to assist him to shoot a wedding. Unfortunately he put It down on a church pew while using his Bessa II and never saw it again. A you tuber you might enjoy is steve o'nions. He shoots everything from 35mm to 10x8. His videos are combination travelogue and photos. Cheers, Howard
@@howpow I use a 6x6 Super Ikonta. That is quite a loss. I'm sorry. Thank you for the recommendation of Steve O'nions. His content looks like something I would relate with. I'm in California. You're in Aus, right? I have something I think you would like; and I do not want. Do you have a PO box associated to your channel?
Thanks for another great video Howard! Was wondering if you could let us know in the comments whether the Perkeo III has the same 13 frame capability as the preceding model after you've had a chance to run a roll of film through it. Thanks again.
Hi Tommy. Thanks for the comment. Unfortunately because the Perkeo III needs to read the number on the film backing paper through the dreaded red window you are stuck with the 12 shots. Cheers, Howard 📷
Based on format and features, I would rate this as a competitor to the Agfa Isolette III. This looks to be better designed and built. It's lens is much better than nearly all the combos made for the Isolette, and as good as Agfa's best option.
Hi Randall. I have never handled an Isolette, but I have heard good things about them. But judging by the build quality of the Perkeo, I'm sure both are excellent compact medium format options. Cheers, Howard 📷
@@howpow The Isolette models, with the possible exception of the later "Super Isolette", have a distinct feeling of being the place used tin cans go to die. They look like they feel. Nearly all of them used either a pretty good triplet, on par with a Zeiss Nettar, or a distinctly lesser triplet and low-end shutter. (Agnar) While that seems odd, given that a more versatile and marginally better Tessar-copy type lens was available for little more cost, we need to remember that the market for these type of cameras was home/consumers, who had their 6x6 cm negatives contact printed for the family photo album. These were the "Instamatics" of their day. 35 mm film didn't catch on as the home user's preference until after the mid-1950's, the same period when these cameras were being discontinued.
Thanks Howard! Beautiful presentation on this camera, am considering descending into the dark world of 120 film and have an eye on a good copy. "This will slow down your photography to glacial speeds." Made me chuckle as I blazed through 20 rolls of film yesterday on my micro four thirds camera!!
Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. 120 film photography is pretty expensive these days but if you're keen it's a format capable of excellent results. If I were you I'd go for the Perkeo II. Cheers, Howard
Thanks for the review. I’ve just acquired one of these so you talked me through it, camera in hand.
One question. I see mine is missing any kind of window on the distance scale of the rangefinder.
Should there be one? I’m not going to dive in there to find out.
The red window problem is reduced by using Fomapan film and even re rolling Ilford film onto saved Fomapan backing paper. Such bold black print. No obvious number transfer onto images.
I do that regularly in the dark bag. Bit of a shuffle back and forth using another 120 spool but worthwhile for the choice of brand.
Thanks again.
Hi YY. The little distance window should have a glass protector above the distance scale.
Sounds like you have overcome the red window issue.
Must be a bit of a challenge changing backing paper in the dark bag, but you have obviously overcome it. Well done!
The Perkeo is a lovely camera and I'm sure you're happy with the results.
Cheers, Howard
Thank you for the very well done presentation of the Perkeo III. I have the Perkeo II - which I refer to as the Rollei 35 of 120 film cameras.
Hi Andrew, I envy you your mechanical frame counter system. No more red windows!
If only they could has combined it with the rangefinder.
I like your Rollei reference, small but perfectly formed.
Cheers, Howard 📷
Thanks Howard. I like the fold-out lens, but not patient enough to enjoy the camera
Hi Malc, it seems only days since I saw you. Ooops, it is.
Anyhow, thanks for your comment.
See you soon. I'll show you the camera next time you're down.
Howard 👍
Thank you very much for this video. I have a Voigtlander Perkeo III as well. Could you help me locate the serial number of the camera? I see there is a 7 digit number on the focus ring. But where can i find the camera serial number? Any help is much appreciated.. thank you!
Hi. I've had a really good look but I too can only find a number on the focus ring.
Perhaps there is only one number.
Cheers, Howard
Lovely camera, have a Perkeo II but have not put a roll of film through it yet. Voigtlander made some stunning cameras.
Hi Andrew, time for a film I think. you don't even have to do battle with the dreaded red window so you have no excuse.
Have fun. 😀
Cheers, Howard 📷
I think these have one of the better lenses in folding medium format. A lot of the older examples in this style never sharpen up at the edges at f/22.
Yes, the Color Skopar is highly regarded. As you say, many of the early lenses do have problems.
Cheers, Howard 📷
Another excellent review. Medium format was my shtick. I like your comment about learning with 35mm. That is how my career advanced. I actually learned with 110 - 35 - medium - 4x5. It is interesting to see how Voightlander came up with solutions for patents held by other manufacturers. For example, the mechanism to close off the red window. What a pain. I am surprised they did not use a Syncro-Compur shutter assembly though.
Hi avnostiga. Wow 4x5, you really did get into very slow photography.
I noticed you said that it "was your shtick" so I assume you've moved on.
Voigtlander made some beautiful cameras back in the day.
A friend of mine had one of the very last 6x9 folding Bessa models. It was quite a camera.
Thanks for your interesting comment about the patents that hadn't occurred to me.
Cheers, Howard 📷
@@howpow I was a commercial studio photographer. 4x5 was standard fare for commercial work. Nowadays, there is nobody left to process medium format film; and I don't have space for a darkroom anymore. I always preferred the folding medium format cameras. Zeiss Ikon was my preferred brand. I still have my cameras. I never used them for studio work, but for pleasure photography they were amazing. Like your collection of 35mm, I have a varied folding camera collection.
@@avnostlga I had a Zeiss 6x6 Super Ikonta years ago, but lent it to a friend to assist him to shoot a wedding. Unfortunately he put It down on a church pew while using his Bessa II and never saw it again.
A you tuber you might enjoy is steve o'nions. He shoots everything from 35mm to 10x8.
His videos are combination travelogue and photos.
Cheers, Howard
@@howpow I use a 6x6 Super Ikonta. That is quite a loss. I'm sorry. Thank you for the recommendation of Steve O'nions. His content looks like something I would relate with. I'm in California. You're in Aus, right? I have something I think you would like; and I do not want. Do you have a PO box associated to your channel?
@@howpow I'll send you a letter with my contact info. Take down the P.O. Box info.
Thanks for another great video Howard! Was wondering if you could let us know in the comments whether the Perkeo III has the same 13 frame capability as the preceding model after you've had a chance to run a roll of film through it.
Thanks again.
Hi Tommy. Thanks for the comment.
Unfortunately because the Perkeo III needs to read the number on the film backing paper through the dreaded red window you are stuck with the 12 shots.
Cheers, Howard 📷
Based on format and features, I would rate this as a competitor to the Agfa Isolette III. This looks to be better designed and built. It's lens is much better than nearly all the combos made for the Isolette, and as good as Agfa's best option.
Hi Randall. I have never handled an Isolette, but I have heard good things about them.
But judging by the build quality of the Perkeo, I'm sure both are excellent compact medium format options.
Cheers, Howard 📷
@@howpow The Isolette models, with the possible exception of the later "Super Isolette", have a distinct feeling of being the place used tin cans go to die. They look like they feel. Nearly all of them used either a pretty good triplet, on par with a Zeiss Nettar, or a distinctly lesser triplet and low-end shutter. (Agnar) While that seems odd, given that a more versatile and marginally better Tessar-copy type lens was available for little more cost, we need to remember that the market for these type of cameras was home/consumers, who had their 6x6 cm negatives contact printed for the family photo album. These were the "Instamatics" of their day. 35 mm film didn't catch on as the home user's preference until after the mid-1950's, the same period when these cameras were being discontinued.
Very nice tutorial ❤
Thanks very much 😊
Thanks Howard! Beautiful presentation on this camera, am considering descending into the dark world of 120 film and have an eye on a good copy.
"This will slow down your photography to glacial speeds." Made me chuckle as I blazed through 20 rolls of film yesterday on my micro four thirds camera!!
Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
120 film photography is pretty expensive these days but if you're keen it's a format capable of excellent results.
If I were you I'd go for the Perkeo II.
Cheers, Howard