Camera Talk

These are full interchangeable lenses. as I recall. I don't think that Agfa ever took the "Pro-Tessar" approach with its interchangeable-lens cameras. Come to think of it, Agfa only made a few interchangeable-lens cameras.

The set came back from the tech and the test roll is being finished. I hope to post results if they come out.

I can confirm that the leaf shutter is part of the body, as well as the aperture mechanism. No glass in the body; it is all in the lenses.

Regarding weight - took the Selectaflex to a digital kitchen scale. Weight of the Selectaflex body with Solinar lens read 1088 g; the body alone, 886 g. For a comparison, my Nikon F2 with Photomic prism and 50/1.4 hit the scale at 1148 g; body and prism, without lens, were 846 g.

OK, roll is finished, some examples.

35mm Ambion lens, f/11 and f/4





90mm Telinear lens, f/11 and f/4






50mm Solinar, f/2.8 (not really well focused) and f/11





The lenses are quite decent, as expected, although not on the same level of a contemporary Nikkor.

I can see how these cameras could have been attractive for someone coming from simple Silettes or RFs. The handling is crisp, maybe not as silky as a good Contaflex, but easy enough. The lenses are small, easily changed and click into place.

The release needs a lot of pressure; maybe I have to get the tech working on the issue. Autoexposure is not working - no problem for me.

Film was FP4+ in DK-50 1+1, probably not the best developer but it does the job quickly. My DK-50 has a nice, vintage piss-yellow color which adds to the charm of old-time processes.

These look great, Julio, especially number one.

I have no experience with Nikkor Julio, I just can tell your pics have a very good quality, good ranges, nice tones. For me I couldn't ask a better lenses
Nice catch with the camera!

One reason I became enamored with Agfa cameras was the lenses. That first shot, Julio, jumps out and says "Look!" The following ones aren't far behind. It doesn't hurt that in your capable hands, good subject matter will be selected to show off the qualities of that system. A wonderful find for you, and more great photos for us to see.

PF

Yes - they look pretty good, especially the 35mm! I haven't come across the Ambion before. Thanks for posting them!

Thanks for the kind comments, everybody! I also liked the Ambion best, although the Solinar is an excellent example too. Need more testing on the Telinear, maybe some portraits later on.

BTW, my tech said that the Selectaflex mechanisms are very similar to the Ultramatic ones. I had never heard of the Ultramatic before, but that's an idea.

Read about it here http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Voigtl%C3%A4nder_Ultramatic, Julio. Shutter priority Automatic aperture SLR with leaf shutter.

PF