Andrews' Antipodean Photographic Emporium

Olympia Sonnar The very rare Zeiss Olympia Sonnar 18cm f2.8 with direct Zeiss ikon Contax rangefinder mount and coupling. This lens is the 123rd example of the first 300 production, of the 1936 Olympic Games period. (Nr.1998523). It was surfaced in Melbourne, Australia along with the multiformat Zeiss turret finder (18cm option, in near perfect condition, in Bakelite case). It has lost the bright metal, black lined, screw in 77mm metal hood/shade and the black leather Zeiss push on front lens cap. It also lacks the original leather covered wooden case supplied with all the original and also later Flektaskop mount lenses. It is still useable given the availability of lens adapters from Contax RF external mount to Sony ‘e’ mount and similar mirrorless digital SLR’s and I have shot with it on a Sony a7R III. It now has a reasonable facsimile of the original hood I made up from an aluminium hood for a Tamron 500mm mirror lens, polished up (82mm rather than 77mm and approximately the same profile). This example is one of the third batch, made in November 1936 according to one reliable source. That 3rd batch consisted of 100 lenses from Nr.1998501-1998600. Before that only 100 lenses had been produced in two batches of fifty each – onje justr after the Winter olytmpics in February although some prototypes were used as a test of concept and another fifty in time for the Summer Olympics five months later. It is the extremely rare, original direct Contax rangefinder mount type although made apparently just after the 1936 Summer Olympics for which the lens is famous – or notorious. It was found in a leather case with other Contax mount lenses and the finder but no camera body. It may have been ‘souvenired’ by an Australian soldier immediately after the war (as in traded for food, etc.).

A fascinating Russian press camera from the 1930's, made by GOMZ. Not particularly rare but in this case, it's in RED (of course). That's unusual I think - not seen one before. It also has a commemorative crest embossed in the front cover leather - typically Soviet with the red star at the top and wheat sheaves encircling a globe. Clearly it is a special commemorative edition. It has the ground glass focussing screen and a couple of plate holders - as the GOMZ shutter and lens seem to be fine, it is potentially usable. One problem - the catch is broken so it will not stay closed (but why would you want to keep it closed?) A great display item for the Russian camera collector. $425

A lovely early Voigtlander - the 7298 serial number places it in the 1850's. A simple large barrel lens with no aperture control. Complete with screw on hood but no caps or flange. Approx. 85mm dia. at rear flange, 70mm at hood and 65mm long. Twin mounting screws - approx 70mm (main) and 42mm (small). The glass is remarkably clean for age (one tiny rear mark) with a purplish reflection and the Voigtlander script engraving exquisite - 'Voigtlander & Sohn in Wein und Braunschweig' (before the relocation to Brunswick only). Unpolished so the original laquer is mostly intact except on hood. Usable for wet plate work. ---- $650 ---- Note: this is NOT a Petzval (I think it pre-dates the design). Isn't it annoying that just about every brass lens on eBay is described as a Petzval these days.

An early example of convergent technology. The Tom Thumb Camera Radio is a cheap pseudo-TLR camera for 828 film built into a wooden 4-valve radio. Not so much a camera but rather a radio with the ability to take a photograph. Not exactly small but ideal for taking to the beach just after the war. It was made in 1948 by the Automatic Radio Manufacturing Company of Boston, MA. The camera is a typical plastic twin lens reflex of the time with a metal fold-down top viewfinder cover. It has a 7.5 cm f/5 Maestar lens and a simple 'I' and 'B' shutter. The whole radio needs to be opened to reload. The front and rear of the radio are covered with dark red leatherette in crackle finish; the rest of the body is tan coloured. I have not been able to test it as the big 45V Ray-O-Vac battery defeats me so I can't guarantee that the valves are good. Or anything else! But it is relatively rare and one of very few camera radio conbo's. Fair condition - a few small bruises but the strap is unbroken and the finish is sound. Generally an unusual and attractive display item and conversation piece. AU$650

The Tri-Vision is a bakelite stereeo camera made in Los Angeles from 1946-9. It took 828 film (unsprocketed, 35mm roll film - not available now) and had a negative size of 28mm x 28mm This example is the rich brown bakelite (black was also made) and is the later improved version with a metal back and wrap-around metal band instead of side ribbing. It has twin Lestra-Lite 60mm lenses and two trigger buttons, one for 1/60th sec. and one for B. Apertures available are f8, 11,16. It has a most unusual design, the streamline style so popular in the 1940's and 50's creates a very Science Fiction appearance. $245

Two of the oddest cameras ever sold. The Yashica Samurai is a half-frame 35mm 'bridge' camera But there were quite a few of those. The unique feature of this camera is that the 'L versions were the only dedicated left-handed camera that I have ever managed to identify. Here we have a model Z-L, one of the lefties. Film tested. Not only that, I have a very rare transparent demonstrator and display model. Many manufacturers made transparent dummies to show off the innards but the feature of the Samurai version is that it is functional. It will shoot as the mirror box and film transport zones are light tight. A rare collectible and certainly a conversation starter. Z-L $350, boxed Transparent $425, boxed with display stand

Beautiful teak body Contessa Nettel Tropen 9x12cm plate camera 1919-1926. Carl Zeiss 15cm f4.5 Tessar lens. All good, working and with three matching teak dark slides, ground glass and pack film holder in leather case (bad handle). AU$1200

Rare and highly collectible Heag 12 version 3. 9x12 version. Stenheil Doppelanastigmat Unofocal 13.5cm f4.5

One of the finest American large format folders ever built.