Picked this up with a darkroom

remylebeau · Mar 16, 2014

Hey All,

So I been looking around for a good darkroom for a while and I'm glad I didn't move on a few before. I got a really great deal and it came with this camera.

I'm pretty sure it's the Canon IIS2 because it's got X sync but shutter only goes to 1/500th and the serial is in the right range. I've never even come close to a camera of this vintage or one with such a small viewfinder...I think I'd have a lot of difficulty framing a shot. The rangefinder appears accurate and it's fairly visible, but the viewfinder is so small it's almost like viewing into a circular peep hole.

There's a quite a bit of oil on the aperture blades so I'll have to get that taken in for a cleaning. The camera itself seems in great condition, shutter, dials everything works.

vimwiz · Mar 17, 2014

Does that take super old (Leica?) lenses, like the Canon 7, or the much more common FL/FD ?

remylebeau · Mar 17, 2014

vimwiz said:
Does that take super old (Leica?) lenses, like the Canon 7, or the much more common FL/FD ?

Yeah, it uses the pre-m3 Leica LTM(m39) screw mount lenses. When I first looked at it I thought it was a fixed lens camera, because I couldn't find the release lol.

Derrel · Mar 17, 2014

It sure looks like the Canon camera designers were heavily influenced by the designers at Leitz. I like the looks of this camera. It reminds me of the III-series Leicas.

tirediron · Mar 17, 2014

Sweet!

webestang64 · Mar 17, 2014

Don't you just love little surprises like that....? Very nice!!!!!

dxqcanada · Mar 18, 2014

You mean the camera came with a darkroom ? Bonus !!

Yup, looks like a IIS. You are lucky it isn't one of the older models with a smaller viewfinder.
Looks to be in great condition.
You might want to open it up and check the shutter for pin holes.
I've just fixed up a IIF (older model), small viewfinder is usable especially with the magnifier ... though framing does make it difficult as I wear glasses.
Cleaning the aperture on the lens should be fairly easy (have done that numerous times) ... no haze on the lens ?

remylebeau · Mar 18, 2014

Lens looks fantastic, I can't even see dust but I'm sure they're in there. But the aperture blades are really bad. How were you able to get the lens apart? I couldn't find any screws it looks like you need a proprietary tool to unscrew the rear lens element.

remylebeau · Mar 18, 2014

Derrel said:
It sure looks like the Canon camera designers were heavily influenced by the designers at Leitz. I like the looks of this camera. It reminds me of the III-series Leicas.

Yeah that's exactly what I've been reading. Apparently Canon was copying Leica styling quite heavily during that period...they've even using Leica's M39 mount design. I really like it though

remylebeau · Mar 18, 2014

dxqcanada said:
You mean the camera came with a darkroom ? Bonus !!

Yup, looks like a IIS. You are lucky it isn't one of the older models with a smaller viewfinder.
Looks to be in great condition.
You might want to open it up and check the shutter for pin holes.
I've just fixed up a IIF (older model), small viewfinder is usable especially with the magnifier ... though framing does make it difficult as I wear glasses.
Cleaning the aperture on the lens should be fairly easy (have done that numerous times) ... no haze on the lens ?

Yeah, I wasn't prepared at the time to pay $500 for the darkroom so he offered to include one of the camera's he had on the shelf. I cased this one and an Argus(didn't know what it was at the time), there was so much stuff I said I'll come back the next day for the rest of the boxes and the camera. Which gave me time to go home and do a little research...I still really like the Argus but this one is definitely the best of the lot he had.

timor · Mar 19, 2014

Congrads David for the good deal. As goes for the darkroom, what did you get ?

remylebeau · Mar 19, 2014

timor said:
Congrads David for the good deal. As goes for the darkroom, what did you get ?

Hey thanks!

2 Durst enlargers (one is 401, not sure what the other model is) with laborator 1000 condensors. One table stand one wall mount/stand. 35, 120 and 4x5 carriers for both. A ton of filters of which I have no idea how to use properly. 2 easels. Few stainless tanks of various sizes, with 35mm and 120 reels. The coolest thing is he's got a daylight 4x5 developing box with hangers, and a couple of larger boxes to wash/hang the 4x5. Trays, safe lights, etc. So far only got the b&w enlarger working...somethings off with the color one. I'm not sure yet if its the timer, the head, the bulb etc.

I also got a couple of englarging lenses, Nikkor 50 2.8, Rodenstock 60 f/4, schneider 150 5.6, schneider 50 5.6.

The seller said his dad was a photographer for 50+ years, which was why the stuff is so complete and in pretty good condition. Neither of the son's had any interest in photography so the stuff sat in the garage for a while.

timor · Mar 19, 2014

This all for $500 ? Way cool.
When comes to model name and etc. we have to be careful. Durst and others made a tones of different models and naming of them became confusing.
Looks like your Durst is an Laborator 1000 with Pavelle 401 colour head. Is that correct ? If so you maybe do not need those filters.

remylebeau · Mar 19, 2014

timor said:
This all for $500 ? Way cool.
When comes to model name and etc. we have to be careful. Durst and others made a tones of different models and naming of them became confusing.
Looks like your Durst is an Laborator 1000 with Pavelle 401 colour head. Is that correct ? If so you maybe do not need those filters.

Yeah. Originally we discussed 250 to 300 for half the darkroom because I wasn't sure I needed everything. But once I got there and saw all the stuff, I thought I'd be a fool if I didn't try and get all of it. He was really great about explaining what a lot of the stuff does.

Yeah that's exactly right, wow good eye. I read on a few other threads that the head needs a cooling fan?

timor · Mar 19, 2014

remylebeau said:
Yeah. Originally we discussed 250 to 300 for half the darkroom because I wasn't sure I needed everything. But once I got there and saw all the stuff, I thought I'd be a fool if I didn't try and get all of it. He was really great about explaining what a lot of the stuff does.

Yeah that's exactly right, wow good eye. I read on a few other threads that the head needs a cooling fan?

Keep some contact with the seller if you can. After 50 years he must know all.
Cooling fan - yes. I don't know, isn't it built in ? I can't find a manual for this model.