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Author Topic: Autoikoblad  (Read 313 times)
joho35mm
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« on: September 30, 2011, 09:17:07 PM »

When I was back in California, I saw a strange camera on sale on Craigslist. It was billed as a "Franken-cord," a TLR cobbled together from a Minolta Autocord III body with the original Rokkor viewing lens intact, a clean prewar Zeiss Ikon uncoated 75mm f/3.5 Tessar from an Ikonta A camera with its Compur-Rapid shutter attached, and a Hasselblad chimney finder. The maker of this peculiar camera is an accomplished photographer in San Francisco - Dan Daniel. We met up, chatted about our work and the camera, and I picked it up - subsequently naming it the "Autoikoblad," after the "sum of its parts." It's a strange camera to use, because the shutter needs to be cocked separately on the Compur-Rapid, the camera needs to be turned upside down to see the aperture reading, but the original shutter release and crank wind of the otherwise gutted Autocord body still work. The chimney finder needs some getting used to; Autocord screen was replaced with a Rick Olsen bright screen, which is a nice improvement in terms of overall image brightness, but harder to focus on compared to a more fine-grained ground glass.  

I shot some photos on Tri-X around my hometown and at UC Berkeley, my other academic home away from home (even though I graduated another UC - San Diego). Here's a photo of the wonderful machine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18067251@N04/5920700367/in/set-72157627171406904 - and here are my photos from it, developed in D76 1:1. This has got to be the strangest and most unique camera I've ever had!













 










« Last Edit: September 30, 2011, 09:24:08 PM by joho35mm » Logged
shadowfox
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« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2011, 10:16:54 PM »

I'm in awe...

Fantastic pictures from such a unique camera.
I wonder how did the maker calibrate the focus plane (lens to film distance) ?
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Dean Williams
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« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2011, 11:18:41 PM »

'

Joseph, what (another) great set from you, and what a wonderfully nerffed up camera.  I sure like the first one
and the last two.  And all the rest. 
Thinking hard, that camera looks familiar.  I'd almost swear I've seen it around someone's neck in a photo somewhere.

I wonder how did the maker calibrate the focus plane (lens to film distance) ?

Will, just some shims behind the shutter will do it, or if it was too far away from the film plane to start with,
the Autocord has an adjustable helical.  You can turn the helical in or out a little and then lock the focusing lever
where it needs to be.  It doesn't focus on a cam like Rolleicords and Yashicamats.
Still, might be some work getting Tessar matched up to the A'cord workings.

Dean 
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Dean W
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Oh, and it's been SIX almost SEVEN years!  Smiley
Larry;  Try to keep up!
Nick Merritt
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« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2011, 04:54:55 AM »

As Dean said, another great set, Joseph!  Cool camera!
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jamesmck
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« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2011, 07:04:12 AM »

What a find, and, as others have said, another impressive set of images.  Well done.

James
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James McKearney
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« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2011, 09:07:39 AM »

I think the camera's a lovely beast.  Your indoor pics are terrific, they're my favorites.
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Pete (Corpus Christi, TX)
Every professional should remain always in his heart an amateur. - Alfred Eisenstaedt (1898-1995)
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Julio1fer
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« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2011, 10:28:24 AM »

The camera looks ugly (too tall?) but it must be quite a pleasure to use, with that finder and a Rick Olsen screen.

Another beautiful series of pictures, and you have a very capable taking lens there. The OOF areas are especially nice.
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br1078lum
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« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2011, 07:43:28 PM »

That is one freaked-out machine, Joseph!  And it truly shows what wonderful talent you have, being able to wrestle great photos from the beast.  I hope you keep this one forever.

PF
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