Film Fun Folio #26: Franka Solida (2.0) and Rollei RPX 25

Periodically, I'll be posting scans of some complete rolls of film on here, showing both the good and the bad, and giving some basic information as well a little write up of the shoot as well as the reasons why I selected each camera and film. Enjoy the trip!

Feature #26:

Camera: ca. 1952 Franka Solida II with Schneider Radionar 75mm f/2.9 lens.

Film: Rollei RPX 25

Locale: Central Maryland and nearby.

Though the camera is called a Franka Solida II, I'm calling this camera a Franka Solida 2.0, as it is a replacement for my original unbadged Franka that I got in late 2014. The original gave great results, but had a extremely fidgety shutter whose stickiness resulted in far too many lost shots. I had a replacement on my radar for months, and finally found one with the same Schneider Radionar lens in January. The shutter works great, though the lens shows some signs of internal fungus. I elected to give it an initial try before seeking to remedy the issue on this camera (or trying to switch lenses) and here are the results.

1 - Frederick, MD - f/2.9, 1/25 - Looking like some sort of photo taken on an Arctic expedition a century ago, I can't speak of what didn't quite go as expected with this image.

2 - Walkersville, MD - f/2.9, 1/100 - Yeah, I swear I focused upon the iron wheel in the foreground, but it seems my focal point is well beyond that based on the results. Something seems amiss.

3 - Washington, DC - f/6.3, 1/100 - Stopped down a bit more and focused to a longer distance, the Radionar on this 2.0 works fine, though there is something else amiss in this image, namely some grit in the film emulsion that corrupts what is otherwise a decent image.

4 - Washington, DC - f/5.6, 1/100 - Good results, albeit with still some grit from the emulsion. Ugh.

5 - Frederick, MD - f/2.9, 1/2 - A dramatic sky after a rain seemed like a good chance to give this film a try in a tough lighting situation. The results came through all right, but not with the drama that the original scene presented.

6 - Boyds, MD - f/5.6, 1/100 - I have passed this odd little pair of old stone driveway markers for months on the train, and finally had a chance to get a photo of them. Unfortunately, they don't stand out enough in the image to make them the true focal point.

7 - Dickerson, MD - f/5.6, 1/100 - At only f/5.6, the images from the Franka are certainly pretty sharp, despite the distraction from the grit in the emulsion.

8 - Doubs, MD - f/8, 1/100 - One of my favorite nearby scenes rendered well at this aperture on a sunny day.

9 - Buckeystown, MD - f/5.6, 1/250 - A test of near focus at some fascinating grave stones south of Frederick didn't quite go as planned. The scene in the near foreground seems to be what is in focus - not the stone.

10 - Muddy Creek Forks, PA - f/8, 1/100 - Scenes of the old Ma & Pa are of special interest to me, and I really enjoyed passing through this area to see a small swatch of trackage restored to enable this early Spring scene for the Franka.

11 - Sharpsburg, MD - f/5.6. 1/250 - Ok, so this at least worked. A scene of the battlefield at Antietam picked up pretty much just what I was looking to focus upon.

12 - Sharpsburg, MD - f/5.6, 1/250 - Another Antietam scene rendered with sharp detail and a deliberately unfocused center post of the fence protruding into the scene.

Thoughts: Not feeling quite the same warm and fuzzy Franka feeling from this first roll that I did from the first roll of the first Franka, though much of that may be distraction from the gritty emulsion. Further tests are definitely needed though!

This is the article Film Fun Folio #26: Franka Solida (2.0) and Rollei RPX 25 this time, hopefully can benefit for you all. well, see you in other article post.

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