dexdog
Mentor
Another low production lens, the Canon 28mm f3.5 CT lens that could be mounted on either Contax or Nikon rangefinder bodies. Peter K's book says production of possibly 342 lenses.
dexdog
Mentor
Simmon Brothers Combat Camera, only about 250 made.
Cool camera! I have never heard of that one, will have to search for it on DuckDuckGo. Well that was disappointing, almost no info online about this camera. I even broke down and used google, still only 2 hits, both with minimal info
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
It's not much more than a doorstop for me too as it uses obsolete pack film. That's probably why they show up relatively cheap.
I might bother loading it with a single sheet at some point. Or shoot some expired packs.
From what I've gather from the US Army Signal Corps photographers who used it is that they mainly felt that the body was too heavy for the format it shot, compared to the contemporary Speed Graphic/Combat Graphics.
I might bother loading it with a single sheet at some point. Or shoot some expired packs.
From what I've gather from the US Army Signal Corps photographers who used it is that they mainly felt that the body was too heavy for the format it shot, compared to the contemporary Speed Graphic/Combat Graphics.
dexdog
Mentor
The heavy construction of your camera reminds me of the ones used for aerial reconnaissance.
An earlier s/n than mine, my Nicca Type 3 is 27301. Very close to the one my dad bought when he was stationed in Japan in about 1950 -- 27246.
hilltime
Well-known
Wanted to clarify a couple of misprints in my original text. Obviously, the TV2 (Merite) has a top speed of 1/500 sec and after digging out my T2l (Elite), it does not have a self timer.
Also have a Leotax DIV from the early 50's which has a pretty rare Olympus 4cm/f2.8 lens in LTM, only made for a short time with not many manufactured.
Cascadilla
Well-known
I had to google "Exotic Glass"... and it's not what I thought it would mean...
Those are gorgeous. One of the first Tele-Tessars in Contax mount ever made, and a very rare Orthometer.
This thread has more rare and uncommon lenses and cameras in it than any other that I know of.
Those are gorgeous. One of the first Tele-Tessars in Contax mount ever made, and a very rare Orthometer.
This thread has more rare and uncommon lenses and cameras in it than any other that I know of.
I worked with Digital IR sensors in the early 1980s. The RCA IR Scope was picked up Surplus as a Mascot. It is now 80 years old. I picked up the C-3 off Ebay 7 years ago for $65. Both of these use D-Cell batteries, and both work.
I found the instructions for these, "Declassified". I remember an old WW-Ii movie that featured IR signaling lights.
Project Nancy from WW-II, an RCA C-1 and RCA C-3 Infrared Scope.
http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/Infrar...ncyNov1945.pdf
dexdog
Mentor
Just a few serial numbers away/newer, my 18cm/6.3 Tele-Tessar K lenses is black and nickel. I think that the chrome vs black thing is odd, given that Thiele's book on CZJ lenses shows both of these lenses as part of the same batch of 100 completed in April 1933. I have a chrome one too, but serial number is 218 series, much later
Brian, I used this lens on my Sony a7 when we met at Marine Corps Museum in 2015
dexdog
Mentor
Black and nickel 18cm Tele-Tessar, USMC Museum, 2015. Not too bad for a lens made 72 years from the time that this pic was taken. The second pic is made with a Zeiss-Opton 85/2 in Contax Mount on Sony a7
dexdog
Mentor
My Orthormetar, used it in China 2007 on my Contax II "For Manchukuo". Great Wall at Badaling unit. I shot 3 rolls of fujicolor 36 in about 3 hours
Cascadilla
Well-known
It's interesting that you say that--when Henry Scherer returned the Tele-Tessar K he said that there were some unusual things about it and that he thought that it might have been used for training people in assembly or repair due to some unusual screws. The finish almost looks more like nickel than chrome also. It came to me via eBay from Peru (with some mild fungus) so I suspect that this lens has an interesting history but I will never know what it might be. The Orthometar barrel was a bit beat and focusing was rough when I got it but the overhaul fixed that and fortunately, the glass was in good shape when I got it.
dexdog
Mentor
Another CZJ lens less common outside of former Eastern Bloc countries, CZJ 35mm f 2.8 Biometar
hilltime
Well-known
A couple more earlier Topcons, the 35A and 35B. Looked for a long time to acquire these and certainly a lot longer for the 8CM/F5.6 Topcor which was built for them. The cameras are not easy to find in working condition but the lens is next to impossible. Have only ever seen 2-3 in my 25+ yrs of collecting and using. 
the_hunter
Established
One of the only rare and odd things I own is this Komura 35mm f2.8 Nikon S mount lens and viewfinder. A rare lens even rarer in S mount. Estimating serial numbers from the 2 or 3 other examples I have seen probably only 250 made. A true shame for a great lens that is far better than the Nikon 35mm f2.5.
