A well made German post-war folder. Not a Zeiss or Voigtländer but still a great camera. It’s a bit chunky and the aperture lever is on a very awkward position, just below the lens. It has a nice depth of field table over the top plate.
The Radionar Triplet can deliver VERY sharp images from F=8 to F=16. the large F=2.9 aperture is interesting and not very usual for this class of lens, especially for triplets from that era. Corners at larger apertures are soft and this makes it cool for portraits, especially with black and white film. It also shows a reasonable light falloff (vignetting) at apertures larger than F5.6.
This is not an expensive camera and you can surely have a lot of fun using it.
This is not an expensive camera and you can surely have a lot of fun using it.
Lens: Schneider Kreuznach Radionar 80mm F=2.9, single coated, 3 element
Shutter: Synchro Compur (B,1s to 1/500s) X-Sync
Film type: 120 (6x6 frame)
Filter: 40.5mm x 0.5mm thread
Shutter: Synchro Compur (B,1s to 1/500s) X-Sync
Film type: 120 (6x6 frame)
Filter: 40.5mm x 0.5mm thread
Hello and thanks for the review of the Franka Solida III. I have one question. Modern flashes can be used? I read that is X sync, so it should work. Have you tested it? Many thanks. Jean-Marc
ReplyDeleteHi ! You can use any electronic flash with it. Just be sure to set the shutter for X sync.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reply! There's no X sync selector on many old cameras, unfortunately. The problem with vintage cameras made for flash-bulbs is that that modern flashes are too fast and fire before the shutter is open (or completely open). I have a Dacora Digna which no matter how slow the shutter tempo is (even bulb), the flash fires simply too soon, leaving 1/3 of the frame dark. BUT I tested the FRANKA SOLIDA III and it does work with modern flashes. So if you had doubts as I had, this camera can X sync, no problem.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was what I meant about the Solida. They're cool cameras and very cheap. I like to use them with black and white film like Kodak Tri-X or Ilford HP5 and usually an orange filter for landscapes or a green one for portraits.
DeleteI run HP5 and results are great. I also think the Solida gives negatives a "certain look", a texture which is what I was looking for. It is also good to shoot with and carry.
ReplyDeleteOnly ergonomic problems are: it has the release trigger in a quite uncomfortable position, in particular if you have a flash mounted on the cold shoe (long finger needed!). To fold it flat, lens must be on infinity or so. If you leave it on closer distances camera cannot be closed.
Well, no camera from this era has good ergonomics =)
ReplyDeleteThe look you like is called triplet look and can be wonderful if well used. Have you ever tried a box camera with a 2-element achromatic lens ? But if you want a better performer at a very low cost, try to find a Voigtlander Perkeo with a Vaskar triplet. It's my favorite triplet fitted camera.
Thanks for the hints! I tried the achromatic lens only on a Dacora Digna with its cheap f1/8 "Achromat" lens, and I really love it, great personality.
ReplyDeleteI posted few images on Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/jmcaimi/albums/72157677147295466). I wish I could find an achromatic fitted camera with x-sync since I love flash photography. By now the only way to use flash on these cameras is with the bulb trick in dark situations (open the shutter and then fire the flash manually).