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People often ask, what is an old photo camera with an Accordion folding lens worth?
Let’s find out!
What Is an Old Photo Camera Rangefinder With Accordion Folding Lens Worth?
The old photo camera rangefinder with accordion folding lens is a kind of classic and traditional camera.
These old camera rangefinders are worth around $50 to $100. The price of these cameras varies according to the quality, brand, and model.
The Pearl II & III – Best Camera Rangefinder with Accordion Folding Lens
The Pearl line of cameras was produced by Konica from 1938 to 1953. They include the 1938 “Semipearl” (non-rangefinders), the 1948 “Pearl I” (coupled rangefinders), and the 1952 “Pearl II” (single lens reflex).
The Pearl II was one of the first 35mm SLRs designed by Konica. Its built-in depth of focus (DOF) calculator was also its most notable innovation.
The Pearl III was one of the first 35mm SLRs with an automatic shutter release. It also lacked a double-expose preventer. This meant that it was very easy to shoot two photos at once accidentally.
The Pearl IV is a unique and interesting model because it has a completely different design than its predecessor but also maintains the same basic features as. its predecessor. It is one of today’s most sought-after cameras among collectors.
Specifications
- Format 6×4.5 (120 Film Only)
- Weight 715g Lens 75mm f/3.5
- Hexar Filter Thread 30.5mm
- Minimum Focus 1.20m
- Shutter Seikosha MXL Shutter Speeds B to 1/500 in Click Stops
- Aperture Range f/3.5 – f/32 in Click Stops X Flash Sync
- All Speeds Parallax Correction Etched in Viewfinder
- Operation
The IV’s most notable improvements over the III are its completely redone rangefinders with actual frame lines and etchings for closer focusing, an improved and reliable auto-adapter mechanism, a perfectly placed cold shoe, double exposure protection, and a traditional frame counter mechanism.
Viewfinder/Rangefinder
The camera features a large, bright viewfinder. It also comes with a rangefinder patch and a framing line projection system. These make it one of the best cameras ever made.
Film Loading
This is an excellent beginner’s camera because of its ease of use. It also has a large viewfinder which helps when shooting photos.
Operation
You must first set the lens assembly to its correct position and then take the picture. Next, turn the dial to begin the timer. When the shutter release is pressed, stop the timer. Then, move the dial to rewind the exposed frame.
If the camera’s lens is wide open, then everything in the photo will be in focus. But if you stop down the lens, the depth of focus decreases. That means if you shoot something really close, you can make it blurry.
Cable Release
Most digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera models include a standard 3.5 mm audio jack for attaching an external mic. What the camera’s internal mic does is mechanically trigger the pop-up flash when the camera detects sound.
EV Coupled Exposure (ECE)
With the Seiko MZ-MX1 camera, you can set the exposure value (EV) by turning the two dials together. You can also change the aperture and/or the shutter speed independently.
Traditional Film Counter
Unlike the III, which had no film counter window, the IV has one on its top cover.
Advanced Film Advance
Unlike the III, which had a more traditional film advance system, the IV uses a more modern film advance system that is both immune to the III’s “backing paper” problem and also stops the camera from shooting when the film hasn’t been advanced to its next frame.
Centered Tripod Mount
Unlike the III, which had a centered standard tripod mount, the IV has a conventional centered standard tripod mount.
The Optics
Most all classic folding camera use variations of the 4-element Tessar-type lenses. For 645, these designs are more than adequate for producing sharp images on 120 films. A 50/1.4 645 is equivalent to a 50/1.8 35-millimeter (35 m) prime.
A 45-millimeter (1.8 inches) lens is basically a compromise between a 35-millimeter (1 4/5 inch) lens and a 50-millimeter (2-inch) lens. It’s neither too wide nor too long.
Shutter Speeds
The IV uses the newer technology of electronic shutters. These shutters can open and close much faster than mechanical ones, allowing for shorter exposure times. For example, 1/1000 second is equal to one-thousandth of a second.
Shorter exposure times allow for higher ISO settings, which means lower noise levels. In addition, the smaller aperture size allows for greater depth of field, meaning that objects closer to the camera will be sharper than those farther away.
Pocketable
It has a slightly longer focal length than most 35mm cameras of the time, but it’s not quite as long as some of the lenses used by SLR cameras.
What is a Old Photo Camera Rangefinder With Accordion Folding Lens Worth?
Missing Features
The IV didn’t have an “Auto” shutter cocking function. The M6 did have a great function where the advance of the film also cocks the shutter for the next shot. It would be nice if the IV included this function.
Traditional Shuttering
The IV lacks a traditional Shuttering mechanism. Instead, it has a socket for remote control. This is odd because both the Konica III and Pearl IV had a traditional Shuttering mechanism (as did the earlier II). Adding such a mechanism would have been simple enough.
Accessories
Case
The Pearl IV has no built-in carrying case, so if you want one, you’d better get it from the manufacturer. If you don’t care for the included case, there isn’t really another option than finding a compatible camera bag.
Lens Hood
Pearl IV with a Koni clamp on “Konishield” which is the exact same one as that on the Pearl III. Any aftermarket 30.5 mm threaded mount will fit. However, any threaded mount must be removed before collapsing the lens into the camera body.
The Pearl IV on Its Built-In Perch with the Konihood
Konifilters
It was during the period when Konica produced a set of 30.5mm thread lenses that they introduced the concept of using multiple coatings for different purposes.
However, nowadays, we prefer to use modern multi-coated lenses rather than those from the 1950s because they offer better performance. The advantage of having a lens that can be opened up is that you can attach any single coating to it.
Close Up Lenses
Like most rangefinders of the time, the Pearl IV was able to use two different close-up attachments. Pleasant made two different accessories for the camera that allowed it to focus from 1.0 meters (3 feet) to 0.4 meters (1 foot).
These Pleasant close-ups, regardless of the system they’re used with, are fascinating because they allowed the rangefinder to focus so closely. With a medium format camera, these attachments can be extremely useful.
Today, these attachments are incredibly hard to come by as they were proprietary to just one manufacturer.
Flash
Konica made a foldable Koniflash camera that could be used with any regular electronic flash. Because it no longer uses flashbulbs, the IV works with any standard electronic flash at all shutter speeds.
Conclusion
We hope that this article was helpful. If you have any queries feel free to reach out in the comments section below.
