Coming from a film background over the years I’ve shot with a variety of cameras and camera formats, however, there is one aspect ratio that’s escaped me and that’s square format. Whenever I think of square format I think of album covers and David Bailey’s 60’s black and whites. I’ve heard some folk find it a difficult size to compose for and was keen to find out for myself thinking limitations are often spurs to creativity.
As this was going to be a bit of an experimental indulgence I set myself a low budget of £100 to find a suitable camera. Immediately this discounted pro level cameras like Hasselblad and Bronica, I figured if I really got into it I could always upgrade to one of these…maybe. So, this left old twin lens reflex cameras, Yashica, Seagull, Lubitel etc. I quickly found that with these antique cameras condition counted more than any technical ability. Many had mechanical issues and getting one with a clear lens was difficult, especially when relying on eBay where you can’t handle the goods. Looking through the ads I was amazed by the number of brands of TLR cameras made in the 50’s and 60’s, seems like every country had a go at making them. Eventually I took the plunge and bought Meopta Flexaret iia for a princely £61. The advert said it had had a CLA three years ago and had been owned for eight years so I figured it must have been enthusiast owned. I also recalled using Meopta enlargers way back and from what I remember they were reliable and worked well.
The Flexaret iia dates from circa 1948, nearly eighty years ago! The lens is a triplet rather than a later four element Tessar design, so not as sophisticated technically. This didn’t bother me as I wanted character, swirly backgrounds and softer edges rather than razor sharpness. I’d even toyed with the idea of getting a plastic Holga 120 but went against it seeing as a one trick pony, similar to using Instagram filters, but I reserve the option to change my mind!
In the field and on the beach
I chose to shoot some Kodak Gold 200 as the first film to see how it handled colour, I had a feeling black and white would work better but I wanted to use it as a yard stick.
Loading the film was straightforward a case of threading through the take-up spool, turning the advance knob, and closing the back. However, viewing the frame numbers through the red window was another matter, I couldn’t see anything, In the end I resorted to using the torch on my phone angled to view them!
This was my first time using a TLR and dealing with a reversed image, certainly easier than a 4×5″ camera as the image is the right way up but you have get used to moving the camera the opposite way to normal when levelling and composing. The camera is simple to operate with clear controls, focusing obtained by a lever under the lens which previous reviews had praised but I found awkward compared to being on the side.
The Prontor SVS shutter worked very well including the self timer. As I took more shots I got into it, focusing was easy but I think to be precise might take practice.I also completely forgot the taking lens is not the lens I was looking through so that is something else to bear in mind in future.
Being a bright sunny day in June my choice of ISO 200 film wasn’t the best on a camera that only goes to 1/300 second, hence most my outdoor photos were at f16. When the camera was made ISO 50, or even ISO 12, would have been the norm. For taking light readings I used my little Sekonic light meter having having checked its calibration with my Gossen Luna F, but I think sunny 16 rule would have worked just as good.
The film was processed by Proper Photography in Newquay, I may start processing my own colour film if I shoot enough. The negs were copied on a lightbox with my Fujifilm X-T4 and a trusty Nikkor 50mm f2 HC lens with 6mm extension tube. They certainly came out having a retro feel about them!
Conclusion
I enjoyed the square format, for composing objects it was very satisfying but you had to work harder for landscapes – I found having a view with fore, mid and distance point of interest worked the best. Will I keep the camera? Probably not, I found it in between two extremes, not a high quality medium format camera like a Bronica SQA or as wild and unpredictable as a Holga 120. As mentioned I also found the focusing lever annoying as was viewing the frame numbers. But I enjoyed loading roll film for the first time in thirty years!
Proper Photography Newquay
