Welta Welti I Video Manual

[@spacebalint]

Thank you David for this content! I've just found one Welti I with 50mm Carl Zeiss lens, mint condition. Even though i found an original manual online still, this video helped me to be more comfortable with this camera. Happy to share few photos i've made with it.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@BillPutnamPhoto]

Thanks for posting this, man. I acquired a Welti Ic a few years ago and finally decided to work it. This is the closest I've seen to a manual. Should be a fun dog walking camera.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! That'll be a great camera for dog walks for sue.

[@BillPutnamPhoto]

@@DavidHancock The viewfinder on mine is super cloudy. Would love to track down a repair manual to know how to properly clean it. B that's probably an impossible ask.

[@zepdebruyn]

This is great. I just borrowed one from a friend who only had a short while to explain the specs of the camera to me so I will be watching this video a bunch of times before actually using it. Thank you.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@XavierAncarno]

Man your Channel is Awesome, Thanks for sharing all your treasures !!

[@DavidHancock]

Xavier Ancarno You're welcome. I'm glad to share my cameras and knowledge about photography.

[@noeliap2326]

I'm very grateful for your video. You help me so much to understand my welti camera. I take photos with 90's analogic camera but never with a 40's decade until now!!. I will tell us how goings-on my results!

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and fantastic!

[@Fermiimplosive]

Great review of this rare gem of German engineering. I agree, the build quality on these Welti's are unbelievable. I think I have an older version, mine just says "Welti" on the front leather portion and has a Xenar F3.5/5cm Schneider-Krauznach lens. There's also a different trigger button with a rounded top and an unrefined disc like metal piece that needs to be pressed after each shot to release the film forward (unlike the actual button on your camera.) Mine also has all German writing on the back aperture chart and has distances in Metres instead of Feet ;) Fortunately, all the mechanisms on mine seem to be working smooth. I'm going to buy some film and try it out soon. Thanks for the great share!

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and it;s nice to have one in that condition. These are fun cameras to use.

[@tootsierollgang]

Oh my god this video was amazing you saved me from having a frustrating night I love you so much thank you for taking time to make that

[@DavidHancock]

You're very welcome!

[@H.E.J.S.A.N]

I found a similar camera from Welta Weltini with a Schneider 1: 2 50mm lens. Interesting solutions.

[@DavidHancock]

Nice! That was a super fast lens back in the day.

[@H.E.J.S.A.N]

I think so too. Such a lens at the time was a rarity. Only someone with a thick wallet could afford such a camera.

[@bryanhunt1148]

I also have one with the Schneider Kreuznach F2 lens - razor sharp

[@kendunton1]

Meyer-Optik serial number places this camera lens between 1951 and 1954, according to Camera-Wiki, which ties in with the Germany USSR stamp.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@loishadley2553]

Hi there. I’ve just bought a Welta Welti 1 in Bergen, Norway. It has a Carl Zeiss lens. However I’ve just realised I can’t find anywhere to set ISO. Aperture - yes; shutter speed (B to 200) and focus. What might I be doing wrong? Your video was really helpful and I can’t wait to get out there

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and there's nowhere to set the ISO on this camera because there's no light meter.

[@loishadley2553]

@@DavidHancock Hi David. Thanks for that response/guidance - really appreciated. Am now looking for a handheld light meter … that should solve things

[@richardskipp7900]

Hi, Nice video. I have one that I think is pre-war. The struts are different, the base has leatherette covering. Also it doesn't say where it was made anywhere on the camera, and the depth of field chart on the back is in German. No serial number that I can find. Has a Compur shutter and Xenar lens. Works fine, has case and all.

[@DavidHancock]

Than you and nice find!

[@nowhere1015]

Thank you for your video. Is it right that i cannot see exact the subject how it is through viewfinder? All i can see is blurry light.

[@DavidHancock]

Does that change when you adjust the focus on the lens?

[@bruceblakeslee2751]

This was my first camera I learned on. It belonged to my mother, who inherited it from her dad. I loved this camera, but for some reason it had a tendency to scratch the film as it traveled through the camera body.

[@DavidHancock]

Old cameras can do that, either from paint damage on the inside or collected dirt somewhere.

[@thesterby6556]

Hi, David. I need your help. My release knob(next to shutter button) is jammed. Is it a big problem for shooting photos on this camera? 😕

[@DavidHancock]

It's been some years since I used (and sold) this camera so I'm a bit fuzzy on the interface. Remind me what the release knob does, if you could.

[@thesterby6556]

I really don't know, but you are pressing this button, when you are loading new film. You can see it here: 14:00

[@DavidHancock]

@@thesterby6556 Oh yes. I remember. The button there has to be pressed before the knob advances. It's a lock release for the film advance. So if that button is not working then the film cannot be advanced and the camera can't be used. The first thing to try if that button is jammed is to run through the photo taking process as much as you can -- unfold the camera, try the shutter, press that button, and try and advance the film. If the process works then it was just a matter of order of operations being incorrect before. If it doesn't then the point at which the issue arises tells you want to fix. If the shutter doesn't fire then either it wasn't armed or there's an issue with the shutter mechanism. If the film advance lock release button won't depress then there's an issue with that button (likely just some dirt or old grease in the mechanism.) If the film knob doesn't advance then there may be an issue with the film advance mechanism. My best guess is that there's old grease in the advance release button For that, you can try wetting a cotton swab with 91% rubbing alcohol and running it around the outside of the button a number of time. Lighter fluid can work, too. Both of those will seep into the camera mechanism and slightly dissolve any gummy grease. It may take some doing, but that can help unstick old camera mechanisms.

[@thesterby6556]

@@DavidHancock Ok, thank you for help. ♥♥♥

[@thesterby6556]

@@DavidHancock You are awesome.

[@sdkfz351]

Thank you very much for showing us beautiful camera. I have a question this camera how to focus in range?

[@DavidHancock]

Just line up the focal range scales with the aperture indicators and you're good to go. There may be, I forget for sure, indicators on the lens for the hyperfocal range settings. Here's my video on hyperfocal distance, if it helps any: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKrRcpSceaxsmJY

[@sdkfz351]

thank you very much. Because I got Welta ! It is very nice camera and took shoot with Fuji Vervia 100 reversal film. ))

[@DavidHancock]

Nice! I didn't try reversal film with this camera, but I can imagine that the results would be really neat.

[@ΓιάννηςΜανταδάκης]

I want your help... I cant push the button to take the picture... What can i do??

[@DavidHancock]

Your best bet is to use 91% rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs to apply alcohol to the shutter button. That might work if there's grease locking it up. If that doesn't work, it will need professional service.

[@davidmacario5915]

Hi David, great video. This machine can work well with color film?

[@DavidHancock]

Definitely yes. The colors may be a bit muted compared to younger cameras, but it will work.

[@bryanhunt1148]

I've used a prewar Welta Welti with the Steinheil Cassar lens and it worked well with colour film. Your model is a USSR/DDR one, made AFTER the war.

[@nickvanderhout]

I have a Zeiss Ikon Nettar II 518/16. I wanna go start shooting with it but i have no idea how I focus or check if it is focussed. Can anyone help me with this?

[@DavidHancock]

You just have to align the focusing scale with the subject distance. Check out my video on the Balda Juwella (kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4qapYStgM5kqLs). The two cameras function in a similar manner.

[@nickvanderhout]

Alright, great! Thank you for your quick response :)

[@randallstewart175]

Welta sold this basic camera in many combinations of lens and shutter. This particular version has one of the cheapest shutters and lenses, selling new in the early 1950s for less than $40 (1950s dollars). Great collectible; for user, look for other version with Compur shutter and Zeiss Tessar lens. Sort of a less featured, poor man's version of a Kodak Retina of same age, which cost a lot more.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and good points!

[@rentedtux1883]

Those cameras, prewar, had Steinheil lenses.

[@bryanhunt1148]

@@rentedtux1883 some had Seinheil lenses - which is still a good performer. Leitz Elmar lenses were also available, but are rare and thus expensive.

[@livonian]

ussr occupied is post-war, between late 1945 and 1949. Cameras made from 1949 onwards say Made in DDR or East Germany

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you. I said U.S.S.R. was during the war, didn't I. Well, shoot.

[@felixm5890]

I can't close the camera front :-( does somebody know this problem or can tell me how it works? Thanks!:)

[@DavidHancock]

+Noah Rottenecker Check the procedure in the video, if that isn't working, where is the trouble starting? Are you able to collapse the support arms? Is the front latch simply not staying closed when you shut it?

[@felixm5890]

+David Hancock Thanks for your help I solved the problem now! :-)

[@MarcianoenOpio]

wonderful

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@lajoscsillag6160]

I got one. But is broken :( The counter does not stop until the 22.

[@DavidHancock]

+Lajos Csillag It's been a while since I used the Welti I (and I sold my copy), but I thought the counter should go to 36 and then needs to be manually reset, correct?

[@lajoscsillag6160]

+David Hancock I figured out what the problem is. The counter ring is to loose, and it always stuck, when is winded up.

[@dejanejic5169]

how removable lens?

[@DavidHancock]

This camera's lens is not removable.

[@mareksmolny]

I have one but the shutter release button is stuck, even if you press the rewind button and rewind the film you still cannot take a picture.... So im using the manual lever on the lens itself.... Did someone encouter the same problem?

[@DavidHancock]

Oh nice! Good workaround.