Hand held, old film camera, fast film and I did what most of the old film camera manuals say one should do when taking a photo: "hold the breath". Actually I think I didn't hold my breath, just calmly exhaled and that seemed to do the trick. And I'm glad it did. No stand needed. I am such a lazy ass.
Voigtländer Bessa 66 is a folding camera, manufactured by Voigtländer& Sohn AG, Braunschweig, Germany, and produced between 1938-41 and 1945-50. Bessa 66 and Bessa 46 (4.5x6cm format) series also known as Baby Bessa.
https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Voigtl%C3%83%C2%A4nder_Bessa_66
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The film window knob was stuck. According to Bessa manual it should be easily turned with a thumb. This one wasn't. And no luck after lubricating it with oil and waiting for a while. The oil did dribble a bit to the other side but nothing else happened. And when the knob finally turned with a help of a plastic tool from the other side, it didn't turn back. So there it stayed.
My Voigtländer Bessa is missing a filter holder. The camera seems to have had a close encounter with something tougher than it is. Such a pity, the yellow filter is really handy on cloudy days when you want more contrast. Furthermore, in the 40's or 50's when this camera was made there has been supplementary close-up lenses available for portraits and flower photos. How cool would that be, taking macro photos with an old camera! So let's hope I bump into (gently, that is) one some day and I can repair my Bessa.
The delayed shot does not work but as I'm not going to take selfies, I decided not try to repair it for now. Perhaps later if I'm confident enough that I won't break the camera more when fixing it.
The folding tube seems to be intact and holeless so it's time to take this baby outside.
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Dust, dust, wipe, wipe, film, film, tape, tape. You know how that goes. Black electrical tape, an important thing to remember as the built in film number peekaboo window cover does not want to work with me.
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I had really high hopes for Ilford Delta ISO 3200 because I really want to avoid using a stand and just hand hold my cameras aaaaaaall the time. Although my enthusiasm was a little put down by the internet wise ones who said that the film should perhaps be treated like it's ISO 1600 but I have to say that that's still better than 800 or 400 ISO when thinking about the lack of sunlight in Finland in the winter.
I've started also taping the film ISO text from the film package to the camera because I usually have several cameras ready to be taken outside and it's almost impossible to remember which camera has which film in it.
But let's see the results already!
As usual I've done nothing to the photos. Few of them might be better if post-processed but as I want to know what kind of results does this camera and this film give in different conditions, I've left them as they are and I'll show you the photos with all of my and the cameras flaws in the pictures.
Here we go!
Much better photo than the one I took with Felica. Both photos are sharp, both cameras had Ilford films. Perhaps I've positioned myself a bit better in this photo but it's pretty clear that Bessa has a better lens in it because this photo really looks much better than the one taken with Felica.
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Two indoor photos taken in a second hand shop Ö-mappi at Viiala (a small town) which I mentioned in the end of this post. It is a small place and I clearly had issues with keeping the camera still when I used a slower shutter speed. Also I have no idea what I was thinking when looking out the viewfinder. Not much I suppose. I could have done better.
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Trams, trams, trams. I guess I'll get bored photographing trams someday but that day isn't here yet. I'm not sure if the photo on the right is more about the cyclist or the tram but I sure could have done better. Focus, focus, focus.
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Last two photos, indoors, outdoors. I definitely should take more photos indoors, even if I didn't have a fast film in my camera. I should just make sure not to photograph too much ceiling because it might turn out boring like in the photo on the left. Ceilings are nice but I think in this case I could have tilted the camera down a bit more. And the second picture, same thing, too much space on the top. But this scenery though, the lights and reflections, I definitely have to explore this subject more some day. Perhaps with a 3200 ISO film. It's not too grainy at all. Perhaps the secret to that really is the: photograph like it's 1600 ISO -method.
Voitländer Bessa 66 camera is a pocket size camera and as its largest aperture is 3.5 it's quite handy in many ways. Which I absolutely love. This is my new favourite camera. Cool, beautiful, old, small and versatile. I can't wait to load a slower film in to it and see what I can do with that.
What did all this cost me?
Voigtländer Bessa 66: 0€ (A gift! apparently I like fixing old cameras.)
Ilford Delta 3200: 10€
Film developing: 17,90€
Film scanning to TIFF: 20€
Film cameras
Balda-Bünde Baldixette
1
Bilora Bella 66
1
Closter C63
1
Cosina Flash 35E
1, 2, 3
Felica
1, 2, 3, 4
Kodak Box 620
1, 2
Kodak Brownie Six-20 Model C
1
Halina Paulette EE II
1
ZIAG Colora F
1
Digital cameras
Sony A6400, 16-50mm
1
Sony A6400, Laowa 25mm f2.8
1
Comparison: Sony A6400, Canon EOS 550D, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P32, Canon PowerShot A550
1, 2