That camera is in truly beautiful condition and the images turned out well. I have to say though, it's the first camera I ever heard of that stabs you if you use it incorrectly..!!
I have one of these and while its a wondeful little medium format camera, the swingout arm rangefinder soon stopped working. Apparently its a rather common issue with this camera, but the repair quote was almost the same as what I paid for the camera! If you really want a medium format 645 format camera in this small formfactor, I found that the Welta Weltur is a better, albeit more expensive option. Same compact size, 645 negative, more reliable coupled rangefinder and a brighter 75mm Zeiss Tessar F/2.8 lens with the same range of shutter speeds. Excellent review as always, keep up the good work!
By pure coincidence today I finished a roll of film also from an Ensign 16 20 but the selfix version. The one with no rangefinder and I believe the second version with the built in viewfinder and no pin!
Thanks! For cameras from that time, I would never opt for 6x4.5. The advantages for me would be more images per roll and a bit more depth of field. Nevertheless, I prefer 6x6 or better, 6x9. The larger the negative, the more forgiving. Plus that 6x9 gives a landscape view in standard position.
Dang it, now I want one.
That camera is in truly beautiful condition and the images turned out well. I have to say though, it's the first camera I ever heard of that stabs you if you use it incorrectly..!!
I have one of these and while its a wondeful little medium format camera, the swingout arm rangefinder soon stopped working.
Apparently its a rather common issue with this camera, but the repair quote was almost the same as what I paid for the camera!
If you really want a medium format 645 format camera in this small formfactor, I found that the Welta Weltur is a better, albeit more expensive option. Same compact size, 645 negative, more reliable coupled rangefinder and a brighter 75mm Zeiss Tessar F/2.8 lens with the same range of shutter speeds.
Excellent review as always, keep up the good work!
By pure coincidence today I finished a roll of film also from an Ensign 16 20 but the selfix version. The one with no rangefinder and I believe the second version with the built in viewfinder and no pin!
Hi, interesting video, I also have this camera, unfortunately the rangefinder is off target, do you know how to adjust the rangefinder in this camera?
Thanks! For cameras from that time, I would never opt for 6x4.5. The advantages for me would be more images per roll and a bit more depth of field. Nevertheless, I prefer 6x6 or better, 6x9. The larger the negative, the more forgiving. Plus that 6x9 gives a landscape view in standard position.
I luckily found one on eBay today. It should be in in about a week to ten days. I will let you know how it is.