From 1959 to 1967 I was using a Agfa Ambi Sillete that was excellent in streng and optics. As a kid (13 at that time) I received the camera as a hand down from a friend of the family that was a photographer... I enjoy it and as a memory for my first camera tried to find one in good condition, but at this moment look that is impossible find one in real good condition
Spot on Brian! I've said it before, and I say it again, german compacts ftom the 50's and 60's are no nonsense, all you need and nothing you don't, well built, very well engineered, great fun to use and even good looking cameras. I think it's an excellent way to learn both film photography and light. And you never find one with a leaking battery inside. Once I even found a fully working Agfa with a Tessar design lens for 10 cent! (They're cheap, but don't expect that.)
I really enjoy this channel. It's full of useful information I would either find out the hard way or not at all. I have especially appreciated the Nikon information. I've been out of the 35 mm hobby for too long, so I have a lot of catching up to do, especially on the plethora of Nikon lenses. This video on German classics is great.
I just took delivery of my first Nikomat! Bought an FTN right from Japan. Price was very reasonable and camera is in excellent condition! Talk about being; "Built like a Tank!" This sure the heck is a solid built gem. Thank You for recommending it
My 2 cents. You can rather easily find the compur service manual online and if you are handy you can restore the leaf shutter to as good a condition as it's main spring allows. I restored a Zeiss contaflex this way. 1/250 is closer to 1/180 and 1/500 is closer to 1/250. All other speeds are spot on after CLA. Moreover, contaflexes are semi fixed lens SLRs. Semi because by changing the front element to a different one or a different lens group you can turn the basic lens to wide/tele. However, these days you can just screw on wide or Tele adapters with the correct step-down ring combination. Great fun shooting mine!
I have a Voigtlander Vitomatic IIa with the 50mm f2.8 colour skopar and it really is a compact tank. The meter is unfortunately not functional but it actually has a coupled rangefinder!
I’ve been getting into these cameras lately. My favorite is my Contaflex - hoping the leaf shutter doesn’t break. I also like my Contina but my Vito C is a little flaky. They all feel great, take really nice pictures, and cost under $30.
Another excellent presentation ! I never understood the issue people have with loading film ! Self loading cameras and the Kodak 126 cartridge were like solutions for non existing problems ! The only exception Barack Leicas,those are tedious at first !
My first camera that my late dad bought me in early 80's, a Beirette vsn, had same or similar features - 45mm f2,8 lens, exposures 1/30 - 1/125 + B, just plain viewfinder zone focussing with no focussing aid whatsoever etc. I learned photography on that camera. However, after just two or three years it literally fell apart from overuse. No wonder considering it was an dinky ultra cheap plastic camera from East Germany. Obviously made for youth. And it served its purpose well 🙄
Great vid Brian! I have a Vito II and love it. I'm actually looking for a camera repair guy in Israel because it won't go down past 1/80th shutter speed. Can you let me know where to find your repair place? Thanks!
Any competent 10 year old of the 50s and 60s could operate one of those with five minutes familiarisation. The later P&S of the 80s and 90s were aimed squarely at the incompetent ones who became stupid lazy adults. Come to think of it, it was the lazy adults of the 50s who often handed the cameras over to the kids because they couldn't operate them.
From 1959 to 1967 I was using a Agfa Ambi Sillete that was excellent in streng and optics. As a kid (13 at that time) I received the camera as a hand down from a friend of the family that was a photographer... I enjoy it and as a memory for my first camera tried to find one in good condition, but at this moment look that is impossible find one in real good condition
I have a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super BC and it's more like a full-size Panzer ...😅😅. I love it despite the non-automatic return mirror.
I love my Vito II. Excellent camera that takes great shots.
Spot on Brian! I've said it before, and I say it again, german compacts ftom the 50's and 60's are no nonsense, all you need and nothing you don't, well built, very well engineered, great fun to use and even good looking cameras. I think it's an excellent way to learn both film photography and light. And you never find one with a leaking battery inside. Once I even found a fully working Agfa with a Tessar design lens for 10 cent! (They're cheap, but don't expect that.)
Well said!
i was gifted a vito cl from my dutch family friend, i love it with all my heart
I really enjoy this channel. It's full of useful information I would either find out the hard way or not at all. I have especially appreciated the Nikon information. I've been out of the 35 mm hobby for too long, so I have a lot of catching up to do, especially on the plethora of Nikon lenses. This video on German classics is great.
Thank you for the kind words.
Is the Pax M4 fall into this catagory? Its very similiar to time. and design. good video.
Perhaps. I'm not familiar with that model.
I just took delivery of my first Nikomat! Bought an FTN right from Japan. Price was very reasonable and camera is in excellent condition!
Talk about being; "Built like a Tank!" This sure the heck is a solid built gem. Thank You for recommending it
My 2 cents.
You can rather easily find the compur service manual online and if you are handy you can restore the leaf shutter to as good a condition as it's main spring allows. I restored a Zeiss contaflex this way. 1/250 is closer to 1/180 and 1/500 is closer to 1/250. All other speeds are spot on after CLA.
Moreover, contaflexes are semi fixed lens SLRs. Semi because by changing the front element to a different one or a different lens group you can turn the basic lens to wide/tele. However, these days you can just screw on wide or Tele adapters with the correct step-down ring combination. Great fun shooting mine!
I have a Voigtlander Vitomatic IIa with the 50mm f2.8 colour skopar and it really is a compact tank. The meter is unfortunately not functional but it actually has a coupled rangefinder!
I’ve been getting into these cameras lately. My favorite is my Contaflex - hoping the leaf shutter doesn’t break. I also like my Contina but my Vito C is a little flaky. They all feel great, take really nice pictures, and cost under $30.
Another excellent presentation !
I never understood the issue people have with loading film !
Self loading cameras and the Kodak 126 cartridge were like solutions for non existing problems !
The only exception Barack Leicas,those are tedious at first !
My first camera that my late dad bought me in early 80's, a Beirette vsn, had same or similar features - 45mm f2,8 lens, exposures 1/30 - 1/125 + B, just plain viewfinder zone focussing with no focussing aid whatsoever etc. I learned photography on that camera. However, after just two or three years it literally fell apart from overuse. No wonder considering it was an dinky ultra cheap plastic camera from East Germany. Obviously made for youth. And it served its purpose well 🙄
I just bought the VITO II on eBay because the name is cool :)
It's a fun little camera and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Great vid Brian! I have a Vito II and love it. I'm actually looking for a camera repair guy in Israel because it won't go down past 1/80th shutter speed. Can you let me know where to find your repair place? Thanks!
מצלמת הזהב, אלנבי 7, תל אביב
@@BriansPhotoShow Thank you
B gives you 1 second or whatever you want.
ur located in tlv?
Where are you?
Where is the Brian?
Any competent 10 year old of the 50s and 60s could operate one of those with five minutes familiarisation. The later P&S of the 80s and 90s were aimed squarely at the incompetent ones who became stupid lazy adults. Come to think of it, it was the lazy adults of the 50s who often handed the cameras over to the kids because they couldn't operate them.