Shooting a pre WW2 camera - The Plaubel Makina IIS medium format rangefinder
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ต.ค. 2024
- If you are looking for an old camera that can give you some great results and just looks rad, the Plaubel Makina is definitely up there on the list. I stumbled across this medium format rangefinder in the bottom of a bin of cameras someone was selling and had no idea what I was looking at. After lots of research and cleaning I finally got this pre WW2 camera working and film tested. With the option to shoot 120 film in 6x9 full or half frame as well as 6x9 sheet film with interchangeable lenses, the Makina will definitely turn heads and also provide you with some great results.
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Nothing looks quite as much as photographic tool as the Makina. Such a beautiful camera!
GordonUppercut completely agree
It seems like older lenses focused so well
Amazing camera , amazing find too Graham 💪🏻
Thanks a lot! My favorite medium format camera and the second one I got a long time ago... these were produced between 1936 and 1945. It’s very difficult to date these cameras because bodies were made in batches until they were used up, lenses in different batches, and everything is messed. James Cornwall bought all the company’s papers in the late 1970’ and they haven’t surfaced yet. Your lenshood looks altered or might be a rare version for the Tele-Makinar (very difficult to align again after dismantling if you are not experienced). The normal one is shorter, so you might get some vignetting. The IIS was different from the II in having the lenses only mounted from the front, for the II there are always two lens sets for each lens, one in front of the shutter, the other group inside on the back. The S stand for German „Schnellwechselfassung“, which translates to something like „quick release“ (compared to the older II). The V is for „Vorlaufwerk“ (self timer), the A on the shutter release is „Auslöser“ (guess what, yes „shutter release“). I shot this a lot with slide film, bokeh of the lenses is phantastic. The Anticomar wide open is a little soft, remember, this was the time Pictorialism was still around when it was designed. And I think this is special, if you want knack sharp pictures, use your phone. These images can have a sort of 3d-like effect, very unique. The wideangle is sharper, the Tele is not my favorite. There was also a slightly sharper f:4,2 normal but the difference is marginal, not worth the extra money. Lucky you, that you got all the filters. There are also two close-up lenses which are fun to use with the ground glass. In case you don’t know already the designer was Goetz Schrader, son of the company’s co-founder and also designer of the Japanese made Makinas under the Doi-group. And there is the lovely prewar Auto-Press Minolta, inspired heavily by this camera...
Dude... Thank you. I believe I have that Tele Makinar as my other lens. I was able to date this body to being built within 3 years prior to WWII just based off of forums and random discussions online, Also found a scan of one of the manuals I believe where I discovered a little bit more. Now that you mention it I do remember reading somewhere about the II having a mount behind the shutter as well. I agree with you that this particular lens is a little soft, debating on investing into some other lenses. But all the other background info I didn't find anywhere so thanks a lot! definitely helps. And yeah its kind of a niche camera, you have to want this look.
Graham White - it was a regular alternative for press photogs to the Rolleiflex in Germany, they sold well before the war. Yours has a scratched in serial number on the back frame, later cameras have engraved ones. I have a camera from the end of WW2, lens has a serial no. starting with 100... Forgot to ask: is your rangefinder eyelet also telescopic to ease viewing with the film back attached? Most are. Really, you should give slide film a try...
Senti mental yours is a IIS or later version? and OMG! I didn’t read or see that anywhere in my research. Al I saw was that the eyelet was hard to use with a 120 backing and to me it didn’t make sense why they designed it that way but I just checked and it does telescope which is amazing. I am really desperate to try some slide film on it. You know way more about this camera than you care to admit.
Graham White - Thanks, I have been collecting catalogs since many years, information about these cameras is really hard to find... I have two IIS, one like yours and another from the end of the war, maybe from wartime. They sold them off until about 1947-9. The III actually has only a added flash sync for a giant proprietary flashgun instead of the selftimer. The IIIR stands for „Rapid“ and has the faster shutter speed. I checked again and maybe was wrong about the serial number. I think the scratched in number might come from a repairsperson. The number on yours should be on the right frame side besides the below, facing the camera. I found this lens always nice for soft portraits, looks really vintage like large format. If stopped down to f: 9-11 it’s not that bad. Later lenses have different scales, I think instead of f:9 they show f:8. Thanks again to you for making this video and bringing this forgotten beauty to attention! Really enjoy your channel!
Senti mental you wouldn’t happen to have that paperwork scanned somewhere so you? It’s definitely something I can see myself investing more time into and gathering more accessories. They are special and something you won’t see much anywhere. it would be nice to have that extra shutter speed with the IIIR. Could be repairman. I did notice a scratch alignment mark on the inside of the tele lens so would make sense I think. Thanks again! Would have loved to have all this information prior to making this video. But always learning I guess.
Great Graham,
thank you soo much for this video.
I`am a seller with old cameras.
Best greetings from Vienna, Erich
Thank you Erich. Love these old cameras. And Vienna is a wonderful place.
@@graham_white Thank you Graham.
Never heard of this camera. Very interesting design and cool that you have all those accessories.
I had only heard of the Makina 67 when I found this, and yes it is a very interesting design. I got lucky all the accessories were in the bag. Thanks for the comment!
@@graham_white Lucky sod :-)
Hello again :) Can you also please make a another video for this type of camera on how to load film in it? Thank you so much!
I’ll see what I can do. I need to shoot with the other lens anyway
@@graham_white Keep up the great work man!
Greetings from Frankfurt! Where the elusive cameras of Plaubel were created in.
Lucky guy. Such a great camera. A lot of great cameras made in your area.
Ricthig gut! lovely kit you have there. great review btw! Thank you
Danke Schon! Ich habe viel Gluck. I was very surprised and pleased to see everything that was in the bag. It definitely took some digging to find information on this old camera.
Great video Graham. Always inspiring
Thanks Jahnoi
I need another video about this camera when the lens will be 😍
For sure
I recall some years back when I found someone selling one of those for $300 with a 47mm lens. It also came with a 21mm Leica finder. He came to my office to sell it and he backed out at the last minute.
dang, can't blame him. I love this camera.
This is very strange. First of all Plaubel never made a 47mm lens, and even if this was a custom job, a 47mm lens would have had trouble covering a 6x4.5 frame, let alone a 6x9.
can this camera take large format lenses ? if yes, you can convert this to a portable 4x5 camera just like the polaroid 110a/b
With some sort of adapter i would assume something could be worked out. The shutter is built into the body not the lens but there is a focusing glass for the backside so theoretically you could put it on bulb or simply remove the front end and replace with a custom made lens board. The range finder focus would have to be completely re calibrated though im sure.
Hello Graham and thank you for this fun and informative video. I actually got the Makina IIIR and noticed that the "big square frame finder (wire)" in the front panel is missing. Otherwise the camera functions perfectly well. My question is - Does this missing piece really affect anything in the functioning of the camera, or shall I return it back to the seller? Danke schon! :)
The Wire frame finder is for all intents and purposes useless. The rear aperture is too close to the eye and too small to help in any way in allignement of the two components and thus the camera, and the front wire frame is so big, you'll get the same field of view just looking over the camera anyway. Its a vestigial feature, included more for the heritage and probably expectations from the customers of the era, but of little to no use, especially today.
@@imvisier9925 Ah thank you so much for this, I was actually very puzzeled by that wire frame finder and was not understanding its role in the camera. You seem to know much about this camera.
Does the whole frame of the composing viewfinder match with the 100mm Anticomar focal length lens?
@@erioneri2366 Yes, the galilean viewfinder matches the view of the 10cm anticomar when used with a 6x9 back. Similarly, the smaller central rectangle formed by the etched parrerel lines matches the view of the 19cm Tele-Makinar when used with a 6x9 back. The same smaller rectangle along with the top and bottom adjacent rectangles form the 6x4.5 frame for the 10cm anticomar. To get the view for the 73cm orthar you need a special viewfinder mask that includes a correcting lens. A similar mask also exists for use with the 35mm back. For 6x6 a simpler mask exists, similar to those for 6x4.5 and the Tele Makinar featured in the video, though it is much more useful, since as I said the 6x4.5 and Telemakinar frames are readily deduced using the parrarel etching on the standard viewfinder.
@@imvisier9925 this is great man! I appreciate you! Very very helpful explanation since it is not an easy camera to use without any first directions. Cheers buddy!
@@imvisier9925 I have a question about the Anticomar 100mm 2.9 close focus range. Is it 1.5m the closes point allowed to focus with this lens?
What is your actual opinion of the Anticomar lens?
Honestly Haven't used it enough yet. Ive been testing so many cameras I haven't gotten back to using it. I do like the huge format but I need a few more test rolls to see if the sharpness etc is good enough with that lens. I have got a couple nice images with it though.
@@graham_white Thanks, please keep us in the loop (Makina lens foto samples!).
BRAVO!!! Hi it's Alex, and guess what that person that said that the lens that came with it as the lens is not sharp-Lies, My Makina model II that dates from 1933, as the lens on mine is TACT SHARP, as I think that your model is a Model III and is your lens Coated Slightly? due to that my Makina is a fix mount lens, and it is the one that has the Aniticomar 100mm F/2.8. When I first received my Makina it was abit heavy but I hand held it as I shot one roll of Portra 160 at a house with clouds, and every scene in the shadows, and highlights were on the button, as the meter that I use was a meter Sekonic meter set it at 100 ISO (Remember Kodak VPS as it was not a 160 ISO) As I slightly underexpose, and then scan them as it was again Tact SHARP. I can see that the lens that I have has some coating, and for a 6x9 model that I love it. I also place a red gel over the viewing to focus. God I wish that this model would have a feature to take Polaroid back, or if someone made a Instax Wide Back like they did to the Belair camera that Lomo makes... As for the 6x9 sheet film holders that Ilford film makes film for that size of 6x9 or 2"x3" in both 125, and 400 ISO. Is there a possibility that the film back or the sheet film backs might have a light leak? Check the Bellows... Hey I will be taking my makina to Japan as I have to double Double check the shutters, bellows, focusing, film back, and transport system... Shit can happen. as you said that this model can be or not be a street photography camera, but Vivian Maier did it, and so did Margaret Bourke White, and Dorothea Lange. Thank You - As I say MORE MORE MORE....
Wow, thanks for all the great info. Vivian Maier used this as a street camera? How did I not know this? I would really like to become knowledgable on 3d printing then I could use an existing Polaroid backing made for other medium format cameras as a template and print one out for this. that would be great. Yeah I will have to go through all the parts more diligently for light leaks. Keep me posted when you get those Japan photos!
What exactly do you mean by "sheet film" is it 4x5 film or peel-apart-polaroid film?
definitely not polaroid film. I am assuming its 4x5 but honestly its so old I could be wrong, haven't looked closely at measurements since I have yet to be able to use those.
@@graham_whiteIt is actually 6.5 x 9 sheet film
6:30 Answer to the question about those viewfinder cover plates?
Yeah I was thinking the portrait oriented plate might be for half frame and the smaller one for the tele photo. Seems to be the only thing that makes sense with the accessories that I have.
@@sentimental7167 oh I didn't know they had that option, that would be rad. Assuming it shoots almost like a panoramic? or is there a plate that goes into the film back like the one I have to size it down to just a single 35mm frame?
Senti mental so good to know that
Senti mental really? That’s crazy
So again, looking at your masks once more, I think the straight forward answer is the bigger opening is for the normal lens when you use the 4,5x6 inlay for the film holder, the smaller one for the Tele-Makinar with this setup. Both for the front. Ugh.
they are getting crazy expensive 😢
really? hmm I will have to look them up and see, its been a while.
I do not see a S3
first!