Anyone here shooting Medalists? NSFW

[Sanders McNew]

Thanks, Paul. I need to take the Medalist
for a spin this week -- I'll post here if I
make something worth viewing.

[jan normandale]

heh, Sanders you've started quite the 'feeding frenzy' for Medalists !
;D

[Paul T.]

Originally Posted by jan normandale

heh, Sanders you've started quite the 'feeding frenzy' for Medalists !
;D

Oh, I don't know, a Medalist would be nice, but I'd rather have another nipper!

[johannielscom]

Holy cr*pper Steve, that totally s*cks.

Indeed it is only stuff and the family's wellbeing is way more important. Yet, I hope the stuff will be retrieved at some point and the greedy b*stard that took it caught.

May your shots from the converted Medalist be as brilliant as those from Sanders, to make up a bit for your loss.

[Mr_Flibble]

Sorry to hear it Steve,

Yes it just stuff, but it's YOUR stuff. Thieving Bar-stewards need to keep their hands off stuff that isn't theirs!

[Frank Version Two]

I just got my Father-in-law's Kodak Medalist II back from a five-month, $400 stay with Ken Ruth. The 120 conversion and CLA is first class and well worth the wait and expense. I had shot a little 620 with it prior but with the CLA it is much nicer to focus. The magnified rangefinder is wonderful.

I'm real happy with the results, the bokeh, etc. I'm comparing this to Fuji 6x9s, Hasselblads, Rolleis, Mamiya 6s, roll film backs on 4x5s, and vintage folders... I think this camera is as good as any of them. So far my only complaint is how it balances off the strap lugs.

These are from a walk-about near Lake Ontario, not far from where the camera was made.

[Mr_Flibble]

Great shots, Frank!

[lbenac]

A few shots just before I boxed my Medalist II and send it to Ken Ruth for conversion and CLA. I hope his work is true to his reputation because it is some $$$ but the lens on this beast is just worth it.

Kodak Plus-X shot @ 400 developed in Diafine












Now only a few months to wait, I guess.

Cheers,

Luc

[jan normandale]

Frank, I'm impressed with the glass.. the camera seems so primitive/simple that I wouldn't have guessed these results were a Medalist.

Luc, is this around Steveston? It has that look.

[lbenac]

Originally Posted by jan normandale

Frank, I'm impressed with the glass.. the camera seems so primitive/simple that I wouldn't have guessed these results were a Medalist.

Jan,

I had my first shock when I got a Minolta Autocord and my second when I got a Kodak Medalist. These oldies rock and give a run for their money to many newer high end lenses.
I am seriously considering selling my Hasselblad 500CM system!

Originally Posted by jan normandale

Luc, is this around Steveston? It has that look.

The other way around it's going East toward maple Ridge. The dikes on the Pitt and Alouette rivers.

Cheers,

Luc

[lbenac]

Originally Posted by Frank Version Two

I just got my Father-in-law's Kodak Medalist II back from a five-month, $400 stay with Ken Ruth. The 120 conversion and CLA is first class and well worth the wait and expense. I had shot a little 620 with it prior but with the CLA it is much nicer to focus. The magnified rangefinder is wonderful.

I am sending mine to Ken Ruth also for a feed conversion (full conversion is a little bit too much) and a shutter CLA. I hope that I will be as happy as you are and maybe in less than 5 months.....

Originally Posted by Frank Version Two

I'm real happy with the results, the bokeh, etc. I'm comparing this to Fuji 6x9s, Hasselblads, Rolleis, Mamiya 6s, roll film backs on 4x5s, and vintage folders... I think this camera is as good as any of them.

I have not shot my Fuji GW690 side by side but I think that the Medalist with a slightly different look is sharper.

Originally Posted by Frank Version Two

So far my only complaint is how it balances off the strap lugs.

Have you tried it with the original Kodak Field Case, I find that it is way better balanced on the shoulder and easier to hold. I got a really good case at a really good price from Igorcamera.com


Nice and crisp set of your teenage child. I do not know left from right when it comes to portrait and I have quite enjoyed the nude/portrait work shot by your twin on the forum.

Cheers,

Luc

[Frank Version Two]

Thank you Luc and Jan!

I don't think the Medalist is crude at all. It probably was the most advanced camera of its day... a very rugged and accurate magnified rangefinder mechanism, a reliable auto-frame counter, a removable back (with sheet film and ground glass available), and metal work that is simply amazing. And cleaned up, the lens is crisp yet smooth, in a way the Fuji 6x9 could never be.

In comparison it was the German folders that were "crude". In fact the Medalist is almost the opposite approach to solving the same problem, i.e. putting an image from a 105mm lens on a 6x9cm pc of roll film. Where the folder is floppy, the Medalist is rigid and precise.

But it's still a beast, but probably no worse than a Mamiya RB/Press or a Hasselblad 1600F or... it is actually fairly compact with the lens twisted to it's smallest (which also conveniently locks the shutter).

The conversion by Ken Ruth takes a long time and isn't cheap but I consider it worthwhile. But you have to juggle the options -- you can probably find a nice older Mamiya or a fine Rollei for the same money.

[jan normandale]

@Luc, I know about Autocords. ;D

@Frank, I enjoy seeing someone get the most out of the equipment and you do. I'm invested in a Fuji G690 so I'll stay put on the 6x9 format but that doesn't stop me from thinking I'd go for one if I wasn't 'already invested'

[johannielscom]

Originally Posted by JSU

The Medalist / Medalist II is 6 x 9.

I don't have the link but a while back someone demonstrated here a technique of using nail clippers to reduce (slightly) the diameter of a 120 spool still loaded with film such that it will fit the feed side of the Medalist. A very inexpensive alternative to converting the camera to 120.

I'll second props for Ken Ruth and his Bald Mountain operation, absolutely as good as it gets.

Hi Jan,

that would be me, the link is here.

I have sold my Medalist II since then because I kept grabbing the Horseman 970 to shoot 6x9, but seeing the shots from Medalists here regularly makes me doubt the wisdom of my decision...

[furcafe]

The lens from the Medalist II was good enough to be among those offered for the 1st Hasselblad.

Originally Posted by jan normandale

Frank, I'm impressed with the glass.. the camera seems so primitive/simple that I wouldn't have guessed these results were a Medalist.

[Burlap Jacket]

Originally Posted by buzzardkid

Hi Jan,

that would be me, the link is here.

I have sold my Medalist II since then because I kept grabbing the Horseman 970 to shoot 6x9, but seeing the shots from Medalists here regularly makes me doubt the wisdom of my decision...

I tried the clipper method on a roll of 120 on the weekend and it didn't work for me. The trimmed spool was still too tight to advance the film properly. Attempts ultimately led to snapping the backing paper. Now I'm seriously considering the feed side conversion via Ken Ruth. I'm going to send him an email and inquire re wait times.

[Frank Version Two]

Mine took five months, see prior post. Add a month for Canada-US Post ;-(

[lbenac]

Originally Posted by Frank Version Two

Mine took five months, see prior post. Add a month for Canada-US Post ;-(

I look at the bright side. I will have it back before Christmas!
I can use my GSW690 and GW690 in the meantime...

Cheers,

Luc

[Moto-Uno]

Hello
We've hit upon a subject of considerable fun of late.My new to me Medalist 1 has become my camera of choice.The first pics back from my rerolled Provia F have made me a convert to this size of negs.These probably won't do it justice.
Unfortunately since these pics were taken the ship has sunk

[Frank Version Two]

I'm about 10 rolls of 120 into my converted Medalist now and the image quality is great. However, at slower speeds, like 1/25-ish, boy does my sloppy technique hurt. The shutter release is stiff and I tend to rotate the camera when I press down, ruining a bunch of shots.

Now I know why Hasselblad and Rollei have you pull the release towards you....

Anyway I wasted enough film that I will be more careful and brace the camera from the bottom right more than usual from now on. When I shot 620 I only shot it outdoors but I was having fun with the ISO800 Portra in dim light.

It's a great camera but ergonomics is not its strong suit.

[Mr_Flibble]

I think I'll respool some film and take my Medalist along for the "In the Footsteps of the 82nd Airborne" march in the Belgian Ardennes in two weeks time. Should provide some 'historic' images with all the WW2 re-enactors. Here's hoping for snow

My war-time medalist is anything but buttery smooth and is probably overdue for a CLA. It all adds to the camera shake when pressing the release. I might try a cable release, I assume this would work more smoothly because of less moving parts.

[furcafe]

This hasn't been a problem for me, but Ken Ruth suggested holding the camera so that your right thumb is directly below your index finger, i.e., looks like you're making a "C" to someone in front of the camera (probably easier if you have big hands). In theory, your thumb would be bracing the index finger. Might be worth a try.

IIRC, Ken also disabled the M synch on my Medalist II when he did the 120 conversion to reduce the tension in the shutter release.

Originally Posted by Frank Version Two

I'm about 10 rolls of 120 into my converted Medalist now and the image quality is great. However, at slower speeds, like 1/25-ish, boy does my sloppy technique hurt. The shutter release is stiff and I tend to rotate the camera when I press down, ruining a bunch of shots.

Now I know why Hasselblad and Rollei have you pull the release towards you....

Anyway I wasted enough film that I will be more careful and brace the camera from the bottom right more than usual from now on. When I shot 620 I only shot it outdoors but I was having fun with the ISO800 Portra in dim light.

It's a great camera but ergonomics is not its strong suit.

[Dante_Stella]

Congrats - say hi to Melanie!

Dante

[Moto-Uno]

I was going out tomorrow to put a roll of provia 100f thru the medalist until I checked the ebay listings,I think I'm going to have to put it in a saftey deposit box instead.What is going on with these prices?Haven't they heard it's a recession out there?

[Denverdad]

It may not be as bad as it seems. With ebay it is always instructive to click on the "completed listings" box to check out what an item has actually been going for recently. If you do so I think you will find that the Medalists with crazy Buy It Now prices don't actually sell (well, very rarely anyway). But for whatever reason there are certain sellers who seem to list the same cameras - often unremarkable ones at that - over and over again at prices which are two to three times more than the average. I was in the market for a Medalist II about a year ago and encountered that very same situation back then. Fortunately I was able to take my time and held out for a good specimen at a very reasonable price. You should be able to find a good value also - I don't think the actual selling prices have really changed that much in the last year or so since I first picked up mine.