I only shot a roll or two of film in my Anscoflex II when I acquired it in 2012. The camera was interesting because of its unique design features, but in operation it seemed a little too simple for actual photographic purposes. Recently, however, I have seen some pretty sharp images from the camera posted in the PSEUDO TLR group on Flickr. So, I loaded a roll of Fomapan 100 and started it off with another walk around the neighborhood.
 |
| cornered |
The close-up lens option considerably enhances the camera's versatility, though the reputed 3.5-7 foot range may be a bit optimistic. With the normal meniscus lens selected the f/11 aperture provides a good range of focus from 10 feet to infinity.
 |
| bungalows |
I got out the next morning to finish off the twelve frames at the Albuquerque RailRunner station.
 |
| Albuquerque Station |
 |
| Arrival |
 |
| Southbound |
The close-up lens and the yellow filter definitely extend the practical capabilities of the Anscoflex II. The ratcheting film advance is novel, but clunky and slow in operation. The large and brilliant viewfinder screen puts the camera into a class of its own, unrivaled in the world of film cameras.
Like all the brilliant-finder cameras beginning with the Voigtlander Brilliant, the Anscoflex II has a massive biconvex magnifying lens under the viewscreen. In addition to that, however, this camera also has a very large-aperture front-facing viewfinder lens which further illuminates the on-screen image.
While most of the modern-day popularity of the Anscoflex II is likely due to the capacity for making through-the-viewfinder (ttv) digital images, the superb view also greatly enhances the task of composition prior to committing the image to film.
I enjoyed my recent outing with the Ancoflex II and I'll likely take another spin with it some time soon.
2 comments:
This certainly was an odd-looking camera (in my opinion). 1950s plastic fantastic?
Actually an all metal body on the Anscoflex II, but "odd-looking" certainly fits.
Post a Comment