Camera Talk

It's been a while I was busy working and didn't shoot any photo with film. I miss it so much. Last week, I found the Ikoflex 1a on ebay, a camera which I always wanted, in a decent shape and price. It even come with an extra German lens filter. I am so happy think about taking it to shoot some photo on the weekend.
But it's not perfect. The low shutter speed under 25 didn't work or stuck. It opened but didn't want to close. Above 25, it fired just fine. The focus control is a bit sticky but it's ok, I still can turn it. Beside that, for $59 I think it's a very nice camera. I found online about a man named Mark Hansen who offer the service. I wonder if any of you here has any experience with him

Well done. It *looks* to be in mint condition -- not bad for $59!

In my experience, a lot of cameras left lying around for decades are a bit stiff, slow, even jammed until you work them a little. And then they can work perfectly. I hope your Ikoflex is like that.

Your Ikoflex is in excellent condition. The shutter and focus issues are typical of cameras that have not been used for years.

My first TLR was an Ikoflex Ib model, very similar to yours, and also with the Novar lens which was excellent. You did really very well for that price!

Thank you very much, Philip!
I was waiting a long time for something like this to show up on ebay. Some of them were sold for a way higher price.
I hope I will able to loosen those controls a bit.

I have always heard that Mark Hama does excellent work at a reasonable price and is a good person to deal with. I would not hesitate to use him.

Wow! Looks like it's never been used.

That is a sweet camera! The Ikoflexes are solidly built. As much as Zeiss Ikon tried, it never came up with a camera that was equal to the Rolleiflex.

Your 1a looks to be in excellent condition - even the case seems pristine. I had a 1a, and it took me a while to figure out why the shutter wouldn't fire. As it turned out, someone had worked on it and put a piece of the shutter in upside down.

I don't know who has the 1a. I sort of remember giving it to someone in Canada on a meet-and-greet up there.

As you remember, my first TLR was the Yashica 12 that I got service at Mark Hama. I love that camera a lot. I always wish to try a Rolliflex but the good working one is still expensive so I am still waiting for a good deal

It was fun in the early 2000s when people were dumping film cameras as quickly as they could. I found a lot of good deals on Rolleiflexes. In fact, I never paid more than $150 for an Automat and more than $350 for a 2.8C. Those were fun days.

Yes, that is indeed truly a great find and in perfect condition too! Enjoy it.