Author Topic: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II  (Read 3000 times)

kentish cob

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first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« on: December 27, 2017, 05:58:29 PM »
Results of the first roll through the recently acquired Agfa Isolette II.

The very first shot taken has already been posted in the "show us some bikes" thread... after which, I took a little walk along the beach at Margate where the tidal boating pool caught my eye...
« Last Edit: December 27, 2017, 06:00:04 PM by kentish cob »
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kentish cob

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2017, 06:03:02 PM »
... Ending up at the harbour arm and Turner Contemporary Gallery...

Kodak T-max 100 dev'd in D-76.
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jharr

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2017, 04:07:36 PM »
Nice shots! I love my little Isolette II with its red "Sandeha Lynch" bellows. It is one of my favorite 6x6 shooters.
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Blaxton

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2017, 08:49:27 PM »
Very beautiful pics.  I especially like the boating pool shots—smooth.
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Kai-san

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2017, 08:50:50 PM »
Very nice shots! I do not have any experience with the Isolette, but I love T-max 100!  :P
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jojonas~

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2017, 11:31:11 AM »
another fan here of the boating pool shots! thanks for sharing these :)

Nice shots! I love my little Isolette II with its red "Sandeha Lynch" bellows. It is one of my favorite 6x6 shooters.

red is the way to go. easily the camera that impresses the most that I own right now. the red bellows even outshine the bronica or any tlr :D


agfa isolette III red bellows by jonas lundström, on Flickr
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cs1

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2017, 06:29:28 PM »
Wow, the red bellow is fantastic. How difficult is replacing it? I love the idea how you can repair old cameras. It's in stark contrast with today's planned/engineered obsolescence of devices. The red bellow really gives the camera an individual touch.

kentish cob

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2017, 08:12:16 PM »
Thanks, gents, for the kind comments. Very much appreciated.

Very striking with the red bellows Jonas. Almost makes me wish mine needed replacing... I'm thinking British Racing Green... I just might look for another cheapie on "the bay" just for a little project...
Merveille de Bollwiller.
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cs1

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2018, 02:30:41 PM »
I just might look for another cheapie on "the bay" just for a little project...
I thought the same. I'm going to look for good "bellow making" ressources online.

Francois

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2018, 02:45:43 PM »
There is one, he's called Sandeha :)
Just PM him. He does some pretty amazing work .
Francois

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cs1

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2018, 03:32:12 PM »
Sorry, I meant that I'd like to make one myself. Maybe Sandeha takes apprentices. ;)

kentish cob

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2018, 05:24:37 PM »
I found this page whilst I was researching the isolette...

http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/html/isolette_bellows.html

Even has downloadable templates for the "ribs".
Merveille de Bollwiller.
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Nigel

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #12 on: January 01, 2018, 08:11:21 PM »
I found this page whilst I was researching the isolette...

http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/html/isolette_bellows.html

Even has downloadable templates for the "ribs".

I had a go at making some from those instructions but I struggled to find a suitable material that was thin enough for the internal layer. My Isolette is still half refurbished waiting for its bellows. I should just drop Sandeha an email!
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Francois

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #13 on: January 01, 2018, 09:18:09 PM »
That's the easiest thing.
Big bellows are easy to fold out of just about anything. But once you get to do some delicate ones, materials quickly become an issue.

But you might want to check this out
https://web.archive.org/web/20070113172037/http://www.cyberbeach.net/~dbardell/bellows.html
Francois

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Sandeha Lynch

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #14 on: January 02, 2018, 08:40:48 AM »
Thanks for the compliments, guys.  I don't have a British Racing Green, but the Bottle Green acetate satin is certainly close.


Ensign Selfix 820 by Sandeha Lynch, on Flickr

Finding a suitable fabric for small folders is a challenge and even I cannot make anything smaller than 6x6 with what I use.  But if you have other cameras you might need bellows for (and have hours and hours of free time) then it's quite a cool thing to make your own - even in plain paper and cotton until you get the hang of it.  But I'm here for when the frustration gets to you:

http://www.sandehalynch.com/camerawork/bellows.php

p4portra

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #15 on: January 02, 2018, 01:54:48 PM »
AMAZING.

I found one of these over Christmas; used to belong to my grandad and has been collecting dust in the attic.

I'm really looking forward to getting a roll through it now.

Sandeha Lynch

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #16 on: January 02, 2018, 08:18:51 PM »
Before you load it, fire a flash gun into the open back in a darkened room.  If you see stars, your bellows are shot.   8)

cs1

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #17 on: January 02, 2018, 08:29:27 PM »
I'm wondering if there's a right way to take care of the original bellow to prevent holes. Maybe use a good black shoe polish if it's a leather bellow?

Sandeha Lynch

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #18 on: January 02, 2018, 08:48:46 PM »
The very earliest models and possibly some of the very last were a better quality leather-type.  The occasional hole can be fixed using Liquid Electrical Tape which you can get online.   I would use a drop of that on the inside and a small triangle of 120 paper against it.

All of the main models have a plastic-based covering that eventually cracks in every corner of every fold.  If there are more than two holes already there'll be two more soon enough - it's just not worth it.

cs1

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Re: first roll through the Agfa Isolette II
« Reply #19 on: January 02, 2018, 08:54:42 PM »
In terms of longevity and originality, making your own bellow is probably the best choice.