I'm glad that you revisited the Ensign Cupid to right your wrongs. Definitely a fascinating camera design for 1922. Without enthusiasts and collectors like yourself doing all the research into these early cameras - then they are likely to be forgotten over time. Seeing the size of the camera it does look like a small modern digital camera. So much of our current digital technology across many industries is based on the appearance and operation of previous analogue equipment. Thanks again and in your case, once smitten, twice buy.
There was an early Bronica in a pale blue, with great chrome lines with a deco feel. I thought it was the N. But now hard to find it or pics. A real looker. This Ensign reminds me of some of the early French 3-D cameras. Quite tank like, although small and still eye catching. The flip up finder/sight could be found on that tiny Hasselblad..the SMC. . Seemed to have a back and a lens and forget about the middle. Now if this Ensign could just come with the plane it mounted on...
I wish some modern digital camera had a 'sport finder' like that; we are stuck with small, dim EVFs or large back screens that can't be seen in daylight. My fading eyesight requires at least an optical finder, but the wire frame would be great for quickly snapping birds in flight.
An enjoyable summary of a camera I'd never heard of previous to this video. Are you not tempted to run a roll of HP5 through it? It might be a good 'street' camera.
A new avenue to explore. A long time ago, I was going to an art college and I had a roll of film that worked in a brownie which was once used by my mother. I was expecting the images to be rougher and perhaps have that quaint unpolished charm but the n fact they were surprisingly good. Certainly comparable to a twin lens I was using at the time. Let me down a bit because I wanted those happy accidents and didn’t expect sharp clean results.
I’m loving the tour through your old camera collection and thanks for the Art Deco link. I bet I’ll find some great inspirations for design work there. Happy New Year.
Thank you! It's fun looking at the five star rated cameras on that artdecocameras.com/cameras/ site. The Cupid only gets one star :-( but the rating system is only for a camera's art deco credentials.
At first I was like. You don't understand how to appreciate old camera designs. But seconds later you said you've changed your mind. I hope more people will do that as they are truly fun camera's to use. If you know how to operate of course.
The handle doesn’t do anything at all! It’s there so you can hold the camera by the handle but it’s pretty useless. Really, it’s just a decorative thing. Maybe something children would like to hold...dangling the camera from their hand. These almost miniature cameras - including for instance the Zeiss Ikon Baby Box camera - were sometimes targeted at children. Before they became popular with adults.
Another fascinating video - thanks! Can I ask a question about a lens from a previous video? I'm not sure you'll see it if I post it there. I have the gorgeous Auto Revuenon 55/1.2 but I cannot find an adapter that will allow it to focus to infinity. None of them allow the rear element to extend far enough inwards. As you know, this lens has the pin in a "cut-out" position that is at the same radius as the outside of the rear element, so the adapter flange presses the pin appropriately but therefore doesn't allow the full extension of the rear element. Any thoughts gratefully received! Thanks for all your videos - I've had a lot of fun going down various lens rabbit-holes!
Hi Nigel, many thanks for your kind words and apologies for missing this question on the other video. My 55mm F1.2 is a M42 mount. (Perhaps yours is a Pentax K mount?). I use a Pentax made M42 to Pentax K mount adapter for the Tomioka for my Pentax cameras, and the same adapter screwed into a Fotodiox K mount to Sony e mount adapter. Both solutions work well to infinity. I haven’t tried any other adapter for the M42 Tomioka, so can’t advise you I’m afraid. What camera are you using? If all else fails and it’s a M42 mount lens you could try my approach, as long as it’s not actually the camera that is causing the problem. A few M42 and K mount lenses do have issues with some other DSLR mirror Nikon\Canon cameras. But to find that out the precise lenses/DSLRs you’d have to research camera forums, as I only use Pentax, Sony and Exakta mount cameras (to contain my LBA/GAS). All the best, Simon
@@Simonsutak Thanks for replying, Simon, and for your suggestions. Mine is an M42 mount version. I think the problem is that the adapters I have (M42 to Leica M; M42 to Fuji X) all have internal flanges that get in the way of the rear element, preventing its full extension, and I need adapters without this flange. I've found one and it's on its way - fingers crossed! Looking forward to more of your great videos! Cheers, Nigel
I found this with the same lens in M42 mount with an adaptor to the Sony E-Mount. But a few minute's work with a file (the adaptor is just aluminium) followed by a thorough clean with an old toothbrush and some soapy water to get rid of the bits, did the trick. (Edited) I nearly forgot! The M42 part of the adaptor I have is a separate piece of metal, held in with three grub screws. Once taken out the flange is easy to get to.
@@rogerbradbury9713 Many thanks! The flange-free adapter arrived today but it's not flange-free! So I'll take one of them apart and file off the flange - thanks for the tip!
I'm glad that you revisited the Ensign Cupid to right your wrongs. Definitely a fascinating camera design for 1922.
Without enthusiasts and collectors like yourself doing all the research into these early cameras - then they are likely to be forgotten over time.
Seeing the size of the camera it does look like a small modern digital camera.
So much of our current digital technology across many industries is based on the appearance and operation of previous analogue equipment.
Thanks again and in your case, once smitten, twice buy.
It fulfills Cupid's mandate: to reveal the beauty of something you'd seen and never noticed.
There was an early Bronica in a pale blue, with great chrome lines with a deco feel. I thought it was the N. But now hard to find it or pics. A real looker. This Ensign reminds me of some of the early French 3-D cameras. Quite tank like, although small and still eye catching. The flip up finder/sight could be found on that tiny Hasselblad..the SMC. . Seemed to have a back and a lens and forget about the middle. Now if this Ensign could just come with the plane it mounted on...
Well, you've not made me fall in love with it but you've certainly moved me further in that general direction.
I've just bought the later model cupid, still in working condition, I can't wait to throw a roll through it!
Great video 👌
Many thanks. Hope it's all going well, and please share the results if you can..
I wish some modern digital camera had a 'sport finder' like that; we are stuck with small, dim EVFs or large back screens that can't be seen in daylight. My fading eyesight requires at least an optical finder, but the wire frame would be great for quickly snapping birds in flight.
An enjoyable summary of a camera I'd never heard of previous to this video. Are you not tempted to run a roll of HP5 through it? It might be a good 'street' camera.
A new avenue to explore. A long time ago, I was going to an art college and I had a roll of film that worked in a brownie which was once used by my mother. I was expecting the images to be rougher and perhaps have that quaint unpolished charm but the n fact they were surprisingly good. Certainly comparable to a twin lens I was using at the time. Let me down a bit because I wanted those happy accidents and didn’t expect sharp clean results.
Fascinating stuff!
I always loved the 1940s ensign ful-vue
I’m loving the tour through your old camera collection and thanks for the Art Deco link. I bet I’ll find some great inspirations for design work there. Happy New Year.
Thank you! It's fun looking at the five star rated cameras on that artdecocameras.com/cameras/ site. The Cupid only gets one star :-( but the rating system is only for a camera's art deco credentials.
fun! such a strange shape
At first I was like. You don't understand how to appreciate old camera designs. But seconds later you said you've changed your mind. I hope more people will do that as they are truly fun camera's to use. If you know how to operate of course.
Hello Simon. Are you aware Meyer Optik Gorlitz released a new Biotar f1.5? I hear it's an exquisite lens. Would love to hear your opinions on it.
Simon, if you can, please explain how the handle worked. Thank you.
The handle doesn’t do anything at all! It’s there so you can hold the camera by the handle but it’s pretty useless. Really, it’s just a decorative thing. Maybe something children would like to hold...dangling the camera from their hand.
These almost miniature cameras - including for instance the Zeiss Ikon Baby Box camera - were sometimes targeted at children. Before they became popular with adults.
Lovely content !
Thank you!
I just got mine this morning ❤ would have to try it outdoors soon
Nicely done. Thanks.
Another fascinating video - thanks! Can I ask a question about a lens from a previous video? I'm not sure you'll see it if I post it there. I have the gorgeous Auto Revuenon 55/1.2 but I cannot find an adapter that will allow it to focus to infinity. None of them allow the rear element to extend far enough inwards. As you know, this lens has the pin in a "cut-out" position that is at the same radius as the outside of the rear element, so the adapter flange presses the pin appropriately but therefore doesn't allow the full extension of the rear element. Any thoughts gratefully received!
Thanks for all your videos - I've had a lot of fun going down various lens rabbit-holes!
Hi Nigel, many thanks for your kind words and apologies for missing this question on the other video.
My 55mm F1.2 is a M42 mount. (Perhaps yours is a Pentax K mount?). I use a Pentax made M42 to Pentax K mount adapter for the Tomioka for my Pentax cameras, and the same adapter screwed into a Fotodiox K mount to Sony e mount adapter. Both solutions work well to infinity.
I haven’t tried any other adapter for the M42 Tomioka, so can’t advise you I’m afraid. What camera are you using?
If all else fails and it’s a M42 mount lens you could try my approach, as long as it’s not actually the camera that is causing the problem. A few M42 and K mount lenses do have issues with some other DSLR mirror Nikon\Canon cameras. But to find that out the precise lenses/DSLRs you’d have to research camera forums, as I only use Pentax, Sony and Exakta mount cameras (to contain my LBA/GAS).
All the best, Simon
@@Simonsutak Thanks for replying, Simon, and for your suggestions. Mine is an M42 mount version. I think the problem is that the adapters I have (M42 to Leica M; M42 to Fuji X) all have internal flanges that get in the way of the rear element, preventing its full extension, and I need adapters without this flange. I've found one and it's on its way - fingers crossed! Looking forward to more of your great videos! Cheers, Nigel
I found this with the same lens in M42 mount with an adaptor to the Sony E-Mount. But a few minute's work with a file (the adaptor is just aluminium) followed by a thorough clean with an old toothbrush and some soapy water to get rid of the bits, did the trick. (Edited) I nearly forgot! The M42 part of the adaptor I have is a separate piece of metal, held in with three grub screws. Once taken out the flange is easy to get to.
@@rogerbradbury9713 Many thanks! The flange-free adapter arrived today but it's not flange-free! So I'll take one of them apart and file off the flange - thanks for the tip!