Oh Man! Plaubel Makina III!

[Arthurwg]

Yikes! Just discovered the Makiflex; an amazing precursor to the Rollei SL66. But I must say, Nokton48, that I dig your obsession.

 

[Nokton48]

Thanks Arthurwg !

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here I've quickly adapted the Arca Swiss 4x5 Reflex Magnifying Hood to the Automatic Makiflex. Hollywood Gaffer's Tape and razor blade (many layers) makes a semi-permanent installation. I love it! No wonder Geoff Berliner at Penumbra modded his and sent me phone pix. What I like about is that it is uber high-eyepoint, there is a one inch wide black border around the 9x9 framing. All my other finders work better with 6x9cm. Geoff told me I am nuts to shoot 6x9 with this camera, square is it. It's rather unique in that aspect. Anyways I have a another of these finders coming from KEH, with the rubber eyecup For 9x9 shooting the groundglass grain is sharp to my eye and I always compose from the edges and move in. So this finder is wonderful to me and my square uses.

These are my shorter automatic iris lenses. On the camera the 150mm Maki Schneider barrel Symmar auto iris, in the center the 150mm Maki f4.5 Schneider Xenar auto iris. Then on the right, the 180mm Maki f4.5 Schneider Xenar auto iris. I have not used these shorter lenses much and am looking forward to this seasons work. Plaubel recommended this camera for Fashion and Reportage. Adding K2 Yellow filter and rubber hood to each of these lenses. Will all fit in an olde Domke F2 press bag. Along with holders

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

Approximate View through new to me 4x5 Arca Swiss Reflex Finder on Auto Makiflex. As you can see there is a nice black border around the 9x9cm full frame glass. Perfect for viewing the entire field without straining

 

[Nokton48]

Plaubel Junior 6.5x9 Monorail Makina Backs by Nokton48, on Flickr

Have 50+ Makina 6.5x9 planfilm holders, and about as many RADA glass and film holders. Also have a good supply of 6.5x9 Makina backs in 6x6cm and 6.5x9cm. Many lensboards here Peco Jr which were my mistake, this stuff looks kinda identical some times. I do have a Pecoflex Adapter for my Makiflex Autos, it's identical to the front end of the Peco Jr so I already like the handling. I have most of the original lenses in the catalog, just need more Peco Jr 95x95mm boards to move them around to. Starting with the 47mm chrome Super Angulon, up to the 180mm chrome Symmar. Should be another interesting system which fits in with my other stuff. And I am contemplating a medium format digital back in the far future and this could very well be the ideal platform for it!

 

[Nokton48]

Yikes! Just discovered the Makiflex; an amazing precursor to the Rollei SL66. But I must say, Nokton48, that I dig your obsession.

Thanks Arthurwg!

BTW last time I talked to Geoff Berliner at Penumbra, he told me that Frank Rubio is starting to make Makiflex boards on his CNC machine. Google "The Camera Doctor" if interested, not affiliated. Also Frank repaired one of my Makiflexes and did a great job. Geoff gave him one of his broken Makiflexes (to study) before Frank worked on mine. So Frank has experience with Makis. Ken Ruth retired just before finishing one of mine. The restoration took a year. Once Ken got a Makiflex (from Italy!) with the HOLY GRAIL Makiflex Apo Lanthar auto-iris. He told me he could not repair the lens seperation and be very wary when considering an Apo Lanthar. Geoff Berliner told me he has a 150 Apo Lanthar. But then he also told me he has over 1500 large format lenses. Then I felt much better. lol

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr

On the left is my Plaubel Makina IIIR, with 100mm F4.2 Rare Orthometar lens (their sharp lens), Makina Hood. Makina Yellow Filter. Also this camera has the Rare Focal Plane Shutter, with speeds to 1/1000 so high speed film can be used under bright conditions. To the right is my new Peco Junior, it's really not any bigger than my Makiflexes. I am delighted. Shown with Peco Jr Bag Bellows, and standard lens, late model 100mm F5.6 Schneider Symmar with Compur Shutter. There's a 6x9cm Makina 120 Back on the camera. Top right is the Magnifier (I think it is Plaubel!) Viewfinder I have tested it with all my Peco Junior lenses from 47mm to 210mm and it's becoming an important accessory. In right front is MX/521 Back for Plaubel Makina Double Rail Backs, I have three of these. A cool pop-up Viewfinder on the back I rebuilt and I also installed a nice fresnel behind the glass. Small and handy, slide the pop-up off, and attach a 6x6 or 6x9 Makina Roll Back.
Finally on the left front is the Standard Bellows, and the three parts (needs final assembly) of the Jim Galvin 120 Back. The board I got from Glenn fits the front of my Pecoflex, but not the Peco Junior. But I have a flat Rear Standard Plate original Peco that will be perfect for finishing this back. I made a spacer plate out of sawn alder wood in my shop, you see that on top. Peco Junior needs new front and back light seals, but in perfect working order. Like the Sinar Norma this camera locks down tight no play at all. And I have a number of original lensboards that need new light trapping.

 

[Nokton48]

SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr


On the left back, a Plaubel Makina 35mm Roll Film Back (miniature size) on a Makiflex MX/525 Adapter Back. So 35mm film on the Peco Junior or my Makiflexes or Makinas. On the right back, Sony 16mp Nex3 E camera body attached to another PJ 120x120mm lens board. As you can see the E chip is about 35mm size or so. The advantage of this new digital back is that is weighs practically nothing, and is about the size of my Makina Film Backs, with a lot less weight. Finally in the front left is a Canon Digital rear lens mount, ready to be bolted to another Plaubel 120x120 lens board. With a very short extension tube, the Canon 50D digital camera will clear the back, due to the bulging grip on the front of the camera. All this is quite usuable for photography especially digital testing of lenses and such. And of course the idea can be upscaled with an old Hasselblad or Phase 1 etc for medium format digital photography on the cheap. With the Makiflexes, I have to open the focal plane shutter at the "B" setting, then compose and shoot with the digital backs. Useful for testing and reads out correct exposures in the digital camera. So a quick and easy switch to 35mm or medium format/sheet film and digital back and forth easily.

 

[Nokton48]

Shell Sweep Table Makina IIIR PanF D23 1to1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Shell Sweep Table Broncolor C171 Beauty Light Plaubel Makina IIIR with 100mm F4.2 Orthometar. The sharp, not soft Makina lens. Yellow Makina Filter. PanF+ in Makina 6x9cm 120 back D23 1:1. 8x10 Arista RC #2 Dektol 1:2 Omega DII laser aligned 180mm black Rodagon. Handheld

The olde Makinas are great to use in the studio handheld. The F4.2 lens is the rare one; I see a hundred F2.9 lenses for every F4.2 . Plaubel intended it for commercial work, travel, reportage, and fashion. Very versatile, with Mercedes like build quality. The F4.2 Orthometar is not mushy like the F2.9, sharp as a razor blade. Ilford PanF+ is my go-to film in the Makinas, I am discovering I also like Delta 100 in the Makinas

 

[Nokton48]

I found some interesting Youtubes featuring the original Plaubel Makina cameras. Enjoy!

 

[Nokton48]

This is Ernest Lehdian's handmade Plaubel Makina Instruction Book. It came to me in a Makina bundle. It's so well done I have to share it. This section covers the MAKINA 35MM FILM BACK.
Enjoy

Ernest Lehdian's Makina Book Front by Nokton48, on Flickr

Ernest Lehdian's Makina Book 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Ernest Lehdian's Makina Book 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Ernest Lehdian's Makina Book 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Arthurwg]

Now if only someone would make a book like this for the Mamiya RB67

 

[Algo después]

Now if only someone would make a book like this for the Mamiya RB67

 

[Nokton48]

Ernest Lehdian Makina Film Loading 8 Exposure Back by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here are instructions on loading the Plaubel Makina 8 Exposure Film Back. This is not an easy back to load, it is an acquired skill. Even so surprises do happen. It is highly recommended BY ME to change to using the olde wooden 120 film spools (Agfa, Ansco, Kodak Etc) as the back is designed to work with this type. DOES NOT work so well with modern plastic 120 spools. Buy a set of wooden ones, your Plaubel Makina will then nearly always meter and function correctly. They are quite fiddly and rather odd in design. But they can be made to work nearly reliable. And they are fun to use. Temperamental but beautifully made.

 

[Nokton48]

Plaubel Makina III Foma 200 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Plaubel Makina III 100mm F2.9 Orthometar FOMA 100 Classic Microdol-X Straight Replenished Scanned Epson 4490

 

[Nokton48]

Makina Innis Woods Foma by Nokton48, on Flickr

Plaubel Makina III 100mm F2.9 Orthometar Foma 100 Classic Microdol-X Straight Replenished Scanned Epson 4490

 

[PercyMcfly]

Hello! I loved scrolling through this thread!

For quite some time i have been interested in starting film photography and am also interested in learning to repair old mechanical cameras.
A while back i found the video „shooting with a 70 year old „tank“…“ on youtube and was totally blown away by how amazing the Plaubel Makina III looked. Since then i have been reading a lot about the Makina and actually got my hands on a Makina IIIR, but it wasn‘t working properly, so i never used it to take photos.

Last month i decided to find one that is in working condition and was lucky enough to find one. It wasn‘t cheap by any stretch, but i got a bonus at work and felt it was a good investment into a camera i became obsessed with within the last few years.

I am now finally able to shoot with the camera, and i must say, i love the process. The camera is absolutely stunning and i love how well thought through it is.

I hope to someday be able to learn to repair and service this camera, in the hopes to learn more about how it works and also be able to shoot with it for a very very long time.

Along with using the camera, i also want to develop my own film. Looking forward to learning all the steps and am excited about the process

One thing im struggling with is finding all the accessories there are. I would for example love to find the wide angle and tele lens, the filters and backs.
Right now i only have a bunch of plaubel sheet film backs, one Rada back with a 6x6 inlay(i don‘t know if the film has the correct distance from the lens with it, or if it even matters, so i‘ll have to test it a bit).

I also have a Makina I(?) which is in very bad condition. Picket it up for a few bucks and hope to service it too one day and bring it back to life!

Also, i found an auction on ebay of Malina III parts on ebay, unfortunately i saw it way too late, but it would have been quite a bargain (just 25$?!) and perfect for learning to repair makinas..:

Plaubel Makina in Teilen wie kein Objektiv lesen siehe Pixel | eBay

Entdecken Sie Plaubel Makina in Teilen wie kein Objektiv lesen siehe Pixel in der großen Auswahl bei eBay. Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel!

www.ebay.de

i‘ll be on the lookout now.. I can see why you are so obsessed with the camera!

 

[Col_001]

Hello! I loved scrolling through this thread!

For quite some time i have been interested in starting film photography and am also interested in learning to repair old mechanical cameras.
A while back i found the video „shooting with a 70 year old „tank“…“ on youtube and was totally blown away by how amazing the Plaubel Makina III looked. Since then i have been reading a lot about the Makina and actually got my hands on a Makina IIIR, but it wasn‘t working properly, so i never used it to take photos.

Last month i decided to find one that is in working condition and was lucky enough to find one. It wasn‘t cheap by any stretch, but i got a bonus at work and felt it was a good investment into a camera i became obsessed with within the last few years.

I am now finally able to shoot with the camera, and i must say, i love the process. The camera is absolutely stunning and i love how well thought through it is.

I hope to someday be able to learn to repair and service this camera, in the hopes to learn more about how it works and also be able to shoot with it for a very very long time.

Along with using the camera, i also want to develop my own film. Looking forward to learning all the steps and am excited about the process

One thing im struggling with is finding all the accessories there are. I would for example love to find the wide angle and tele lens, the filters and backs.
Right now i only have a bunch of plaubel sheet film backs, one Rada back with a 6x6 inlay(i don‘t know if the film has the correct distance from the lens with it, or if it even matters, so i‘ll have to test it a bit).

I also have a Makina I(?) which is in very bad condition. Picket it up for a few bucks and hope to service it too one day and bring it back to life!

Also, i found an auction on ebay of Malina III parts on ebay, unfortunately i saw it way too late, but it would have been quite a bargain (just 25$?!) and perfect for learning to repair makinas..:

Plaubel Makina in Teilen wie kein Objektiv lesen siehe Pixel | eBay

Entdecken Sie Plaubel Makina in Teilen wie kein Objektiv lesen siehe Pixel in der großen Auswahl bei eBay. Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel!

www.ebay.de

i‘ll be on the lookout now.. I can see why you are so obsessed with the camera!

They are really simple cameras to repair, behind the front plate is a compur shutter with linkages to the front plate. So be brave and take the front plate off to have a look, even if you just put it back together again. There are plenty of videos on youtube showing how to service a compur shutter, check out Chris Sherlock. Get a good set of screwdrivers, and a lens spanner, and watch repair videos as many cameras are very similar. Also shout here if you want any advice.

As far as the accessories go, many are available, but at massively inflated prices, especially on ebay. The tele 19cm and 21cm are available on ebay, the other lenses less common.

To check focus, get some frosted scotch tape, and put it in the film plane of the rada back, with and without insert to assess focus, it might need adjusting anyway, it can be done from under the brass plate on the viewfinder.

check out Jo Lommen's website for repairs and rangefinder adjustment.

Main Page

rangefinder adjustment

repair

 

[PercyMcfly]

They are really simple cameras to repair, behind the front plate is a compur shutter with linkages to the front plate. So be brave and take the front plate off to have a look, even if you just put it back together again. There are plenty of videos on youtube showing how to service a compur shutter, check out Chris Sherlock. Get a good set of screwdrivers, and a lens spanner, and watch repair videos as many cameras are very similar. Also shout here if you want any advice.

As far as the accessories go, many are available, but at massively inflated prices, especially on ebay. The tele 19cm and 21cm are available on ebay, the other lenses less common.

To check focus, get some frosted scotch tape, and put it in the film plane of the rada back, with and without insert to assess focus, it might need adjusting anyway, it can be done from under the brass plate on the viewfinder.

check out Jo Lommen's website for repairs and rangefinder adjustment.

Main Page

rangefinder adjustment

repair

Hello,

I am actually regularly watching the videos of Chris Sherlock! I was planning to use one of his videos to service a camera step by step. While searching, i also found out that some service manuals are quite easy to come by on the internet. I am currently getting a few tools and preparing for servicing some cameras i have that use a compur (synchro) shutter.


A few weeks ago i bought a set with a lot of accessories: film backs, plates, filters, Wide angle and 190 mm tele lens, but the lens unfortunately had a bunch of scratches, so i‘m still looking for a tele lens..
It one film back had still some film in it, and a few sheet film backs too. Unfortunately i opened one sheet film back and exposed the film, but i will try to develop the rest and see if there are some photos on them.
It all also came with a suitcase, which i‘m very happy about.

The set also came with some old magazines and infos on accessories by plaubel. One of the accessories i have never seen and wasn‘t able to find anything on the internet. It‘s an external shutter you can add in front of a film back to archive speeds of 1/1000.
Does anyone own one of these? I would love to find out more about it!

For the rada film back, i will shoot some film with and without the 6x6 plate(i‘ll try to add it after about 6 pictures in a changing bag..) What i notices way too late was that you can only see the picture counter on the 120 film for 6x6 and 4,5x6 film.. So it probably is intended to be used with the plate only.

I have actually contacted Jo Lommen about advice in where to start and how to learn to fix the Makina. He offered to repair it and record the process on his website for everyone to learn from it!

 

[PercyMcfly]

Hello,

I am actually regularly watching the videos of Chris Sherlock! I was planning to use one of his videos to service a camera step by step. While searching, i also found out that some service manuals are quite easy to come by on the internet. I am currently getting a few tools and preparing for servicing some cameras i have that use a compur (synchro) shutter.


A few weeks ago i bought a set with a lot of accessories: film backs, plates, filters, Wide angle and 190 mm tele lens, but the lens unfortunately had a bunch of scratches, so i‘m still looking for a tele lens..
It one film back had still some film in it, and a few sheet film backs too. Unfortunately i opened one sheet film back and exposed the film, but i will try to develop the rest and see if there are some photos on them.
It all also came with a suitcase, which i‘m very happy about.

The set also came with some old magazines and infos on accessories by plaubel. One of the accessories i have never seen and wasn‘t able to find anything on the internet. It‘s an external shutter you can add in front of a film back to archive speeds of 1/1000.
Does anyone own one of these? I would love to find out more about it!

For the rada film back, i will shoot some film with and without the 6x6 plate(i‘ll try to add it after about 6 pictures in a changing bag..) What i notices way too late was that you can only see the picture counter on the 120 film for 6x6 and 4,5x6 film.. So it probably is intended to be used with the plate only.

I have actually contacted Jo Lommen about advice in where to start and how to learn to fix the Makina. He offered to repair it and record the process on his website for everyone to learn from it!

I just went back a few pages and saw that the „Focal Plane Shutter“ has already been discussed. Very interesting, hope i can get my hands on one. Definitely seems useful

 

[Nokton48]

The advantage to me Percy (owning one) is that I can shoot high speed films outside, and freezing fast action. I was discussing this with Geoff Berliner on the phone, and both agree it's an important accessory I've been told mine has shutter pinholes (so do Geoff's he has two of them), I'd like to get that replaced out. Also mine only fits my IIIR, which has a separate focusing scale for use with the shutter. You get your distance reading using the usual rangefinder, then transfer that distance to what I call the "FP Scale" on the IIIR. Then you are set to shoot. Using the trigger button on the shutter means you hold the IIIR completely differently to balance the rig. Fiddly to use (like lots of Makina Stuff!) but once you figure it out, you are golden. Quite a hoot to use, I've shot a few tests so far. Bracing myself for light leaks, we will see. And now that I can get 120 size Eastman 5222 XX film, I will need faster speeds. Especially if I went to shoot more wide open, instead of a pinpoint aperture setting.

Could you scan and post your Plaubel literature if it's unusual? There is a lot of it "out there".

And Welcome! to the wonderful world of Olde Plaubel Makinas "The Reporter's Camera"

 

[PercyMcfly]

That sounds very interesting. On the Makina IIIR there is a distance adjustment for the wide angle lens, which ends up being closer to the film back. Is the distance adjustment equal to the distance added by the focal plane shutter?

I have a german price list from the 1st of February 1956, not sure if it‘s unusual but it‘s definitely interesting!

 

[Nokton48]

I'm enjoying shooting XX in medium format. Have done some with Hasselblad 6x6, and Plaubel Makina II 6.5x9cm.

Using 120 XX in the Olde Venerable Makina II, is a lot of the buzz you get with Olde Leicas, but in a larger format.
Even buzzier than Barnacks. It's not lightweight but it does fold up for traveling. EI 200 film speed XX in the Makina is a very good thing.

 

[Nokton48]

That sounds very interesting. On the Makina IIIR there is a distance adjustment for the wide angle lens, which ends up being closer to the film back. Is the distance adjustment equal to the distance added by the focal plane shutter?

Focal Plane Shutter Distance Scales Makina IIIR by Nokton48, on Flickr

Distance Scale on the Makina IIIR for use with the Focal Plane Shutter. Quite precise first you find your distance using the standard rangefinder setup, then transfer to this distance scale which compensates for the thickness of the shutter. Works perfectly in practice. Fits well on the IIIR as it takes all the lenses and attachments. *Never noticed this scale before, until, I got the shutter*. There is a trigger button sticking out of the shutter box, that fires the FP shutter. Speeds from 1/100 to 1/1000 great for close range sports or reportage. Anything requiring stop action with fast film

On my Makina IIIR I added a piece of scotch tape, with "FP" added with Sharpie Marker. So I don't get confused using it out in the field. :/

 

[Col_001]

I've a question about using a shutter release cable, standard cables seem a little too small and don't stay in, does the plaubel Makina use a different thread or is it just worn?

 

[Nokton48]

I've a question about using a shutter release cable, standard cables seem a little too small and don't stay in, does the plaubel Makina use a different thread or is it just worn?

Col_001,

I just tried a cable release from Japan (standard tapered one), and Yes, it does NOT fit. So some type of release, (with a different threaded taper), will be required. If you have a shoppe around you with boxes of olde releases, you should be able to find one with the correct taper. I suspect it will be German in make. Let us know what you find out.

Makes me wonder if Plaubel made a release specifically to fit the Makina? I'll wager that they DID.

 

[Col_001]

Col_001,

I just tried a cable release from Japan (standard tapered one), and Yes, it does NOT fit. So some type of release, (with a different threaded taper), will be required. If you have a shoppe around you with boxes of olde releases, you should be able to find one with the correct taper. I suspect it will be German in make. Let us know what you find out.

Makes me wonder if Plaubel made a release specifically to fit the Makina? I'll wager that they DID.

Thanks for trying. Good to know that it's a different size rather than being worn. Unfortunately camera shops are a thing of the past where I live in the UK, a small city but we had a camera shop that had been in business since 1796 close just before film got going again, it started as a chemist that supplied photographic chemicals. Anyway, I stray from the topic. I couldn't find a reference to a Plaubel cable, the manual just mentions attaching 'a cable'. Good call on trying a German make, I've ordered a German AGC prontor brand, I'll report back if it fits.