Nettar 515/16

[Julio1fer]

I got a neat Zeiss Ikon Nettar 515/16,  to use it as a carry on camera. The lens is just a Novar Anastigmat 75 mm/f 4.5 but will do for me. Shutter is Pronto (B, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/200). I do not know about the year of manufacture but Web sites seem to give 1937-38. Lens is not coated. No rangefinder.

This camera is very small and light, it fits easily in a pocket. It  is in excellent general condition, lens clear, shutter fires at all speeds, no bellow leaks. I like the mechanical precision and the simplicity of design which I find quite remarkable.

I paid about 23 USD after bargaining a bit with the seller.

Before running film I would like to install a new light seal, which seems to be in the body just next to the backdoor hinges.

Question: is this the only light seal?

Someone has experience with this camera and is able to send a tip or two?

[nelsonfoto]

I didnt think those came with seals... perhaps somebody added one later to correct a warped back? Run a test roll through it (color film, cheap stuff) and see what comes back. Might be fine as is.

[mdcarma]

Cool, I also have one of them. I think Craig is right, I don't remember any light seals in mine. Need to shoot another 6 pics before I open it.  The foam light seals seem to be Japanese additions, most of my German cameras have a light trap/baffle setup. I'll give you more info next week after the roll is finished.

[Jerevan]

Yeah, I got one of these beauties too (by the name of Lady Netta). :wink:

It's in very good condition, with a f6.3 Novar in a Vario shutter. Everything works as if new. And I prefer the pre-war ones to the post-war 515/18s (I think that's their designation).

Dead simple stuff this but that's why I like it. Very little to go bad. I have done handheld work with APX25 with it...

Done some cheap-skate panos with it too. Stuck a 35mm roll in it, together with some foamy stuff (not the squirrel kind) and did some tests. Need to soup that roll to see what gives. Gonna pick it up again now, when I see others using them.  

Share some photos, it's always nice to see what's possible to do with them.

[Jerevan]

...BTW, mine has no light seals. But mine is also a 6x6. The 6x4,5 might differ in construction if that's what you have.

[Julio1fer]

Thanks everybody. This is the camera:



and in the area marked in red below there is a narrow strip of black hairy material, seems original to me. Iit is out of focus, I could not get the darn digicam to focus where I wanted, my excuses:



Anyway I will follow CE's recommendation: run a roll and see what comes out. With paper backed rollfilm there should be no problem.

This is really a neat camera, with very few parts and good handling, an outstanding design. Will post what is usable of first roll here.

[connealy]

That's a great little camera, one of the nicest compact 6x6 ever.  I have the very similar 521/16.  Mine has the add-on double exposure prevention feature, but also sports a Novar.  I think running a roll through before doing anything to the hinge seal is a good idea.  I don't recall seeing any of the old German cameras with seals anywhere else.

[Glenn Thoreson]

I've found that most cameras with this velvet light seal have no problem, even if it's a bit ratty. As suggested, burn some film first. It will probably be fine. Enjoy!

[miztli]

Hi Julio,

I have a very similar model 517/16 with the same lens and is capable of taking great pictures. As it is scale focusing, practice distance estimating and use depth of field scale to make sure your subject is in focus. As always play a little with it before loading film, test every speed and take a test roll before taking something important. Buena suerte (good luck)

[Julio1fer]

Thanks for the encouragement,  my Lady Nettar is now loaded up with an expired Fuji 100 Superia (so expired I actually got it for free, don't ask the date). Hope to post results in a new thread in a few days.

Miztli, gracias! I visited Guadalajara a year ago for a few days and would have loved to test this camera there - what a place!  maybe show us some local color or BW with a classic, what?

[miztli]

Hola Julio,

Next time you visit Guadalajara please let me know and can spend some time using classic cameras, Tequila town is a great place to visit and make photography and is less than a hour driving from Guadalajara among other places. This invitation is open to everyone coming.

You can see some pictures here:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Cv96

I just returned from Zacatecas, one of the most beautiful cities that I know and I am preparing some pictures to post.

Saludos,

Moisés

[Julio1fer]

Moises, I actually visited San Pedro Tlaquepaque for a few hours...our local hosts took our group there...did not get to see much else of the city except the main square and standard sights (i.e. mariachis)

Thanks for your kind offer, I hope I am lucky enough to come back some day.

[Julio1fer]

Two shots from the first roll, handheld, just to try the camera.

First a view of Green Beach in the Montevideo coast.



Second, a car moving near to slanted trees.



I can't scan for my life, the negatives are sharp.

The light seal seems to work OK as many here forecasted. I managed to get a light leak into the roll, anyway, but it is not the camera.

I managed to get 13 photos on the 120 roll, unfortunately two of them on the same frame (forgot to wind after shooting... )

Thanks for all the coments. Lady Nettar is back to work!

[ImageMaker]

Wow -- those are on the "so old it was free" test roll?

I guess Fuji film keeps well...

[melek]

Those shots look good. You could always pull the felt seal from a couple of rolls of film, then slice it in half lengthwise and use that to replace the existing felt seal.

Most of the older cameras were designed particularly well and do a very nice job and keeping out light.