Topic: The Gakkenflex TLR

[mikeg]

I wind the film on half a rotation and it seems to work 98% of the time for me.

I must admit I can't really focus the thing as I rarely have my reading glasses at hand and even when I do it doesn't help much! So I guesstimate or even bracket my focusing.

Mike

[jojonas~]

okay i know this is an EXTREMELY OLD thread but i thought i would revive this instead of making a new one. I put together my gakkenflex ages ago and never got around to using it. i dug it out my camera tomb and completely forgot how to use it.

how many winds do i do to advance the film? is it one full rotation? also, its pretty hard to focus (for me at least) does anybody know a good way to zone focus with this? any info/tips would be much appreciated thanks.

do you have the original with the magazine? there's a guide there on how you can set up marks on the lens to know where your focus is. I can scan mine if you don't.

I tried looking in the online manual but I couldn't find that particular bit there.
http://otonanokagaku.net/english/manuals/pdf/twin_canera.pdf

[Steven.]

I do but I don't get it at all haha if you could give me a rough explanation that would be great. I don't had a yard stick or anything to measure distance and I have no clue how mark the lens up like in the pics.

And also thanks mike!

[hookstrapped]

I guess I'm not understanding the focus problem.  I find the coupled image on the focusing screen to be pretty accurate.

[jojonas~]

I do but I don't get it at all haha if you could give me a rough explanation that would be great. I don't had a yard stick or anything to measure distance and I have no clue how mark the lens up like in the pics.

And also thanks mike!

well basically if you can find a really contrasty subject to focus against, that'd help. I dunno if the them plate is meant to have the focus point on the top or the bottom of the top lens front or if that even matters. but I'd copy it or cut it out and then find something easy to focus against with the camera, put the template on and see if it works.

btw, what other cameras do you have? if you have an slr or anything with a rangefinder then you could use that to measure distance and compare to instead of a yard stick or you might know how long you are? lie down on the floor and measure up the distance that way

[Steven.]

Oh that a good idea using another camera. I'll do that thanks.

[astrobeck]

is this a snap together type kit, or do you need glue/adhesive?

[jojonas~]

I don't remember much snaping, mostly screws and no glue.. not 100% sure though.

ah, yeah! you can find a guide here on how to build it. that should give you an idea
http://otonanokagaku.net/english/magazine/vol25/description.html

[Ordinal]

No, it doesn't need any glue, it's just clips and one or two screws. It's actually fairly simple to put together though looks a bit daunting to start with.

I find the focussing is actually fairly accurate, given the limitations of the lens anyway. The vignetting is really heavy, but the centres in my pics are generally quite nicely in focus. I took my aperture ring out (and, er, lost it) which makes the vignetting even more extreme - but it's nice for single-subject pics and close-ups. The birdbath pic is with the ring, the coot is without.

[astrobeck]

Thanks for the help, I've got one on the way that should be here Friday!
I'll have something cool to do this weekend!

[charles binns]

I have just bought the Recessky clone & hope to assemple it this week end.  Looks like the aperture ring is surplus to requirements!

[astrobeck]

Mine is assembled and ready for a day trip tomorrow!
It was fun, I had to do some filing of one part to make it fit, but for the most part it went together well.
Including my spaghetti break, it took 3 hours to complete.

Hope the weather cooperates tomorrow!

[jojonas~]

sounds great guys! I'm thrilled to hear that people are still getting these fun fun cameras~

[charles binns]

Built mine, after spending most of the day trying out a Van Nicholas Mistral,  :)It will be mine.

Back to the camera,  it is loaded with expired TriX and I just need to persuade Mrs B to model for me so I can shoot off a roll.

[f6point3]

I bought a Recesky as a Xmas present for my son, but my wife convinced me to hold off on that until his birthday, which is in October!  So for his 10th birthday, the boy will be getting this (a project that we can do together, assembling it), plus a cool "waterproof" 35mm toy camera, because he likes to play in the pool.

This thread has been very helpful with little hints, hopefully the assembly will go well.  Thanks everybody!