Agfa Isolette Zeiss Ikon Voigtlander Folder Camera Showcase

[@jeremykeller211]

Thank you, sir! I look forward to more of your posts.

[@tgchism]

Wonderful collection!

[@keeszondervrees8787]

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WITH US! I AM A COLLECTOR MYSELF AND I NEVER PAYED MORE THEN 20 - 30 EURO'S FOR THESE TYPES/BRANDS CAMERA'S. SUPER SIMPLE AND RELIABLE.

[@rafamorenoc]

Great collection!!!!

[@karstenj.7311]

OMG, you got three super isolette!!! I have a Isolette III and always fancy a super isolette. I really love the solinar 75/F3.5 lens, and yes the Isolette & super Isolette are very compactly designed and made. Great video!

[@vangstr]

Karsten J. Thanks for your kind words. Yes they are great cameras!

[@randallstewart1224]

His Isolette III is the rarer version with the Solinar lens, which is a 4-element Tessar copy. It's a very basic design, but quite functional. This version is more expensive for its lens and shutter. Most Isolette III versions use one or another of a 3-element triplet lens design. The Solinar is much better at wider apertures, but the triplets do very well at f 8.0 or smaller, and they are much less costly. Optically, all Isolette III versions are a bit compromised by front-cell focusing, where the front lens elements screw out of the lens to focus. This impairs close focus performance. The Super Isolette looks similar, but it is in a whole different class of quality. Its used price in the range of $500 reflects that difference, making it one of the most expensive 6x6cm medium format folders.

[@xavisabater]

Nice collection. I would like to one buy, i think isollete iii is my choice. But I always wonder how it is composing with this small viewfinder hole with glasses, and if the metal can’t grate them

[@vangstr]

All these old folder cameras were never friendly for eye glass wearers. If you do, please be careful to not scratch your glasses. However, having said that I would recommend the Zeiss Nettar as having the best viewfinder for eye glasses. It is clear and bigger than the rest that I showed in this video.

[@jeremykeller211]

Good work, Teng--thanks. I have a Super Ikonta III from Jurgen. It has the superior f3.5 Novar lens which for my purposes is just as good as the more expensive Tessar. It's my favorite camera; 6x6 is far easier to use than 35mm. One issue: the lens is focused by moving the front element only. Optically, this is not ideal, particularly at close range. It looked to me as if your Super Isolette lens moved all elements together. Is this true? One problem with the Certo: it looks as if the shutter speed tops out at 300. If one is using the sunny 16 rule and Kodak Tri-X film at ISO 400 (in my opinion the finest B/W film) this could be a limitation in bright sunlight.

[@vangstr]

Jeremy all these folder cameras are not good for close focusing. Yes the Super Isolette moves the whole lens front to back when focusing as opposed to the Novar lens with the front element rotating. I have used TR-X 400 speed film on the Certo even though that camera has a top shutter speed of 1/300s without any issues. Remember film is forgiving for slightly overexposure than under exposure. Compur shutters that have 1/500s settings are never accurate they really are about 1/300 and1/400 in reality. The prontor shutter at 1/300 is accurate. Thanks for your questions.

[@neilpiper9889]

I love folders. I have a Kodak Retina 1a 35mm with a Schneider xenar 2.8 50mm lens. I have a Moskva 4 6x9 coupled rangefinder camera which can shoot 6x6 too. It has a wonderful 110mm 3.5 lens. It looks awesome too. My Soviet Beast.

[@randallstewart175]

The Super Isolette is built better, with better precision, better lens, better shutter, than any of the other 6x6 cm folders shown here. In nice condition, fully working, they are also far and away the most expensive on the used market, and not that easy to turn up. While the Solinar lens is a copy of, and similar to the Zeiss Tessar on the Certo 6, IMO the Agfa copies are usually better performers than the Tessar itself. Afga and Voigtlander always excelled with their lenses. Owning three Super Isolettes (or Ansco equivalents) is just greedy.

[@henrybn14ar]

The Solinar lens is very sharp. Voigtlander and Super Ikonta 6x9 cameras, though nicely made, have a not very secure system for holding the lens in place and are not particularly sharp. My beaten-up Agfa 6x9 with scratched Solinar lens is still sharp. The most solid of the 6x9 folders is probably the Ensign with Ross Xpres lens, though the Epsilon shutters are not so good at slow speeds.

[@vangstr]

I have also found that the bessa I have here in this video is more stable than the later version bessa ii. Ensign is nice but it's very faulty shutters put them in my 'do not want' list. The best lens for all 6x9 would be the Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 105mm f4.5.

[@lucydempsey1202]

@@vangstr LP look.

[@d30gaijin]

Very nice collection you have. But you still need an Olympus SIX.

[@vangstr]

Thanks for your comment. I tried loving the Olympus and Fujicas but they proved to be too problematic for maintenance and unreliable longterm usage. Thirdly their shutters proved less reliable than the german shutters. Knowing is half the battle.

[@d30gaijin]

@@vangstr Thank you. I am new to the folding format 6x6/6x4.5 cameras. So far I only have a Zeiss Ikon Nettar and an Olympus SIX. But I do have an Agfa Isolette I on its way to me. I have yet to actually try any of them out but will soon. Your video is an excellent inspiration.

[@frakaelectrosonparis7819]

sold two for others

[@SIRafiq]

Guess-o-matic!

[@alessandrocastellanistudio]

How much do you think is a reasonable price for the Agfa Super? Thank you

[@vangstr]

Honestly, if you find a excellent one that has been overhauled by certified/well known technicians like Jurgen Kreckel, sellers will demand anywhere from $900-1200. $800 is being lucky for an excellent, fully tested, overhauled condition. Just remember that BROKEN/UNTESTED Super Isolettes still command $400 USD dollars because people buy them for parts. One way you can tell if a camera is rarely used by looking near the black paint near focusing tab. If it shows no brassing that means the camera was rarely used. If you see brassing and the black paint is missing ---> it was used a lot. Lens and viewfinder conditions factor into price as well. These are getting harder to find even in excellent condition because collectors are not letting them go as easily. STAY AWAY FROM SELLERS WHO HAVE PERSONALLY NOT TESTED CAMERAS WITH FILM or CAMERA THAT HAS NOT BEEN OVERHAULED BY WELL KNOWN TECHNICIANS.

[@alessandrocastellanistudio]

@@vangstr Thank you!

[@MyMuschilover]

How were you able to find so many super Isolettes?

[@vangstr]

MyMuschilover Buy from collectors where you can test the camera out. Otherwise if you’re buying online be sure it’s a reputable dealer who allows returns for any reason. I highly recommend buying from Jurgen. He should be your first option. I’ve sold one of my prized Super Isolette already and only have two left now - feeling pretty bad with sellers remorse.

[@kinwingyeung4000]

Will you want to sold 1 super isolette?😏

[@ScreamingEagleFTW]

whatever film is still left? what are you saying? Is film going to disappear? I hope not!

[@jeremykeller211]

Eagle! Not to worry: film is making a strong comeback. Old formulas are returning, e.g. Ektachrome. More people are switching to a hobby that does not involve computers--film!

[@ScreamingEagleFTW]

@@jeremykeller211 I hope you are right!!