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The Alpa Camera.

post #1 of 32
3/9/07 at 5:41am
Thread Starter 
I like the old Alpa cameras which were made in Switzerland. I recall showing one of my Alpas--a Mod.6--in my vintage goods thread, but the other one I use more frequently is the 9d. These cameras are considered one of the most idiosyncratic cameras ever made with a heavy body, and reversed film rewind; some of them even have a lucite handle. As well, the whole company apparently never made more than 60,000 cameras in its lifetime of 40 years as attested by the serial numbers. It closed due to outdated technologies and an expensive product leading to presumable financial insolvency, which is how all businesses should run. At their height of production they employed 70 people, making 200 cameras a month--I feel Artisan Fan would appreciate this. It was then resurrected in the '90s by another company to produce very expensive medium format cameras. The lenses, in the Alpa tradition, are outsourced to companies such as Schneider. In the past, they used Kinoptik Paris and the superb Kern Aarau. http://www.alpareflex.com/ http://www.alpa.ch
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post #2 of 32
3/9/07 at 12:12pm
The Alpa 12 can also accept digital and Polaroid backs. I think the 12 is probably one of the best, if not the best camera in the world. Sans back: Jon.
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post #3 of 32
3/9/07 at 7:42pm
I had a 9d briefly but it was simply too large to use. Wonderfully made and, yes, excellent optics.

In many ways I find it similar to the Zeiss Contarex, which I have never owned, but is a clunky, but superb camera with a superb suite of lenses.
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post #4 of 32
3/9/07 at 8:34pm
Thread Starter 
The Alpa 12 is one of those rather esoteric cameras which are perceived as a bit of a status object; however, quite beautifully made and rather quirky in the Alpa tradition. I actually feel the 9d is lighter than a Leica M3 with the meter installed. The Leica M is a rather hefty bit of work. And somehow, the Alpa's suite of lenses is in a way, superior to Leica's since they did really have any extraneous lenses. The Kern Aprochromatic Marco-Switar is considered one of the sharpest lenses around even though it's a bit obscure so far as high-end lenses go. People tend to think of Leica or Zeiss.
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post #5 of 32
4/5/08 at 2:14am
As an owner of 5 Alpa cameras (1-9d, 2-11el, 2-11si) I find that they are just fine for using when I want to photograph. I am a big guy and they are remarkably stable in my hands. I find hte reverse film advance really works in my favor when shooting action, as I don't have to pull it from my eye to advance the film. Batteries last forever. (anywhere from 8-22 YEARS each).
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post #6 of 32
4/8/08 at 3:18am
Thread Starter 
Alpa cameras are, I think, Love-Hate cameras. They're quite distinctive and quirky and costly to boot.

I used to have a Model 5 and also a 9D and an 11El. In terms of looks, I like the earlier '50s models, notably the 8b, but there's something quite endearing about the later models. Not the Si2000 though.
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post #7 of 32
4/10/08 at 4:34am
Thread Starter 
Alpa Porn:

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post #8 of 32
4/10/08 at 5:22am
Is it reverse film rewind or reverse film advance?

I've never handled an Alpa and have never even seen anyone using one. The designs always appeared quirky and impractical as well as aesthetically displeasing to me.

If I wanted to use an SLR, the Leicaflex SL2 would be my choice, as I can operate everything without ever taking my eye away from the viewfinder.
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post #9 of 32
4/10/08 at 5:29am
Thread Starter 
The film advance is reversed front to back. Otherwise, it's the same.

I've never seen anyone use one either, but I'm somewhat fascinated by them. They're such idiosyncratic designs that they're almost like someone's eccentric pet project.

Have you seen any for sale in Tokyo? I'd imagine some of the good vintage camera stores would have Alpas, and they have something of a following in Japan from what I've seen.
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post #10 of 32
4/10/08 at 5:43am
I usually make the rounds of camera stores in Ginza on the weekends, and every one has at least one Alpa for sale. Given the prices, though, it's a matter of opportunity cost. For one Alpa with lens, I could get a Leicaflex SL2 and a couple of lenses.
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post #11 of 32
4/10/08 at 5:58am
Thread Starter 
Yes, they're rather costly bits of work, with some of the lenses being quite expensive. The French Kinoptik and Angenieux lenses are very desirable.
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post #12 of 32
4/10/08 at 6:08am
As you know, Angenieux also made zooms for Leica SLRs. I haven't seen many lenses available for Alpa. It seems the ones I see are mainly 50mm, so I wonder how much of a range they offered. To my thinking, the advantage of an SLR is that you can use ultra-wides, long teles, zooms and macros that you can't use with a rangefinder.

Also, what kind of lens mount did the Alpas use?
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post #13 of 32
4/10/08 at 6:15am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nantucket Red View Post
As you know, Angenieux also made zooms for Leica SLRs. I haven't seen many lenses available for Alpa. It seems the ones I see are mainly 50mm, so I wonder how much of a range they offered. To my thinking, the advantage of an SLR is that you can use ultra-wides, long teles, zooms and macros that you can't use with a rangefinder.

Also, what kind of lens mount did the Alpas use?

The Alpas use a very distinctive bayonet mount particular to their system where the shutter release is on the front. There were adapters available for other brands to mount on Alpas, but those are rare and quite expensive. There was also an Exakta adapter to mount Alpa lenses.

I've seen a variety of wide-angles and telephotos for the Alpa. Alpa contracted various high-end lens firms to make special-batches for them so generally they're scarce. Some of the firms are quite esoteric like Old Delft or Kilfitt.
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post #14 of 32
4/10/08 at 6:20am
I always wondered about that shutter release. It seemed to be integrated into the lens, which suggested a Copal shutter. Obviously, that makes no sense with an SLR, but from what you say, the shutter release is integrated with the lens mount and not the lens.
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post #15 of 32
4/10/08 at 6:23am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nantucket Red View Post
I always wondered about that shutter release. It seemed to be integrated into the lens, which suggested a Copal shutter. Obviously, that makes no sense with an SLR, but from what you say, the shutter release is integrated with the lens mount and not the lens.
The shutter release is actually a button that is integrated into the camera body; the lens has another integrated button that when the lens is mounted, literally pushes the actual camera button to fire the shutter. Unlike a Copal or Compur shutter, the shutter and the lens are not one module.
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