Koni Rapid 200 film advance

[crackhead]

I just got one of these and have a question about the film backs. The film advance doesn't retract fully into the magazine for frames 5-10. It reverts to normal as you get to the end. I was wondering if this is normal operation to account for increasing roll thickness as one uses up the roll.

[venchka]

Don't know. It's been too long since I owned mine.

You are creeping up on me inventory wise.

[crackhead]

do you know if the aperture blades stay closed until the shutter release is tripped? It works opposite of the Hassy lenses.

[venchka]

It's a rangefinder camera. I'm assuming the shutter works like a view camera shutter. Closed until the shutter is tripped. Aperture blades move with the ring. They may be behind the shutter blades and only visible when the shutter opens. Try it on bulb. See what happens. Kevin & Westley have MF rangefinder cameras. What do y'all say?

Did it come with the cable release mounted on the grip? Most of the cameras I see for sale now are missing the cable release. That is well worth having.

[crackhead]

no cable release with the camera. Do you know if it takes a standard pin cable style?
also did you use this camera handheld or on a tripod?

[venchka]

Standard thread on the lens end. There was a hold down do-hickey screwed on the top of the grip sized to hold the plunger end of the cable-larger o.d. than a regular cable release. Maybe 6" long. It put the firing end of the release under your thumb.
Both. Handheld & tripod.

One of the few negatives from the Rapid-O that I have scanned. Tri-X & D-76 1:1. Holmesville, MS November, 1973. Tripod for sure. The tripod Westley is using now.



Here's a photo from ebay showing the clamp that holds one end of the release. The other end screws into the shutter release button.

[wclavey]

Originally Posted by venchka

The tripod Westley is using now.

...and loving!

Although I want to get a single QR system (like the Kirk, Arca, RRS, etc.) that I can put an adapter on and use across all 3 tripods - - right now, each tripod has a different head with a different QR and an insufficient number of QR plates to use on all the cameras...

On my Fuji RF, the f/stop aperture is behind the shutter and is always stopped down to whatever the f/ is set to...

[heespharm]

hmm it appears that it doesn't go out all the way until 5 but not by much... I just cycled mine a couple of times it seems about the same

[crackhead]

first few shots from the Koni Rapid 200 (expired 400H, scanned then slight levels adjustment in Photoshop):

[heespharm]

Okay just bought a 220 back for this sucka... and ya know... the lever doesn't retract all the way after about from 12... and it's very very noticeable... so ya i think this is par for the course

[heespharm]

nice pics btw... is that expired 400h from houston camera exchange??? they sellin that stuff for dirt cheap..

[venchka]

Big negatives ROCK! You rock! It looks like a trip to the Gardens is in order.

[crackhead]

yeah, I just bought a grip of expired 400h in 220 for $12 from HCE.

overall I like the Koni better than my Hassie, mainly as I can't seem to compose worth a diddly-f$%^ through a square.

[venchka]

Interesting observation re: 2 1/4 sq. vs. 6x7. I'm wondering the same thing. Perhaps it's due to decades of 6x7 vs. weks of 6x6 in my case.

How many rolls of 220 for $12? That's a deal. What other flavors do they have? 400 is nice in medium format. No grain to fret over.

[crackhead]

it was a pro-pack (5 rolls). Barely expired 12/09. it was the only film I saw offered on a cut rate there.