2
1/4 x 3 1/4 Speed Graphic
My father purchased this 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Speed Graphic camera
about 1950. This model was more compact and much lighter that the 4 x
5 Speed Graphic which was the standard size for newspaper photography
in those days. The cameras also were made in 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 and 5 x 7 format.
This smaller camera shot sheet film and also could be fitted
with a 120 roll film magazine. The Speed Graphic could use a leaf shutter
lens or a cloth focal plane shutter with speeds to 1/1000 sec. The standard
"Graphic" was almost identical to the Speed Graphic but lacked
the focal plane shutter. There also was a "Graflex" -- a primitive
large format single lens reflex (reversed image in finder) favored for
mounting long telephoto lenses for sports photography.
Zeis
Ikon Signal Nettar 518/16
The Signal Nettar is the "poor man's Ikonta." Zeiss
started making the Nettar in the 1930s and continued after the war. The
518/16 was made about 1959. It has a 75mm f4.5 coated Novar lens (there
is a model with a Tessar). The Novar is a decent performer and the three-speed
Vario shutter (1/25, 1/75 and 1/200 sec. is very reliable.
The
518/16 produces 6x6 negatives on 120 film, The "signal" name
come from the red flag that pops up in the viewfinder after the exposure
has been made, to prevent double exposure. The shutter release on top
of the camera won't work again until the film is advanced. The shutter
must be manyally cocked. The camera doesn't have a rangefinder, focusing
must be done by guesstimate. But at f8 and smaller apertures you have
considerable depth of field. The left shutter also syncs with electronic
flash at all three speeds.
The camera may be the cheap member of the Zeiss but
it is very well made and incredibly compact for a 120 camera--only about
the size of a couple of packs of cigarettes when folded.