A plug for Certo6

[Kenj8246]

Kudos to Jurgen Kreckel!! Got my Super Ikonta working just fine. Was having rangefinder and film winding problems. Think these two pics show that the rangefinder is working as designed. Thanks again, Jurgen.


Ikonta532-Portra160 4 by kenj8246, on
Flickr


Ikonta532-Portra160 by kenj8246, on Flickr

Kenny

[Pablito]

It's great that you are happy with his work but unless you shot wide open and close up you really can't tell if the RF is adjusted precisely.

I found the guy rather unpleasant to deal with and changed my mind about purchasing a camera from him because his responses to my e-mails seemed evasive and unclear.

Of course this means very little, just two anecdotal instances...

[Kenj8246]

Well, thanks for posting.

[Kenj8246]

ps It's precise enough for me: what I'm focusing on is in focus.

[kuzano]

I got along fine with Certo6. Bought one camera, and have had him do two bellows replacements. We chatted some.

Look, he's an old man, I'm an old man. There's a lot of room there for misunderstanding.

the only thing I can come up with is that I'm not a pushy old man. I roll with the situation.

I've heard similar comments about Frank @ Camera Wiz. We're practically buddies with all the work he has done on all my Fuji's.

I'm an old sweetheart and work it out when it needs working out.

It's one thing to complain about someone who wrongs you. It's a whole nother thing to complain about someone whose eMail habits you don't like. Certo6 has occasionally put up on his site that he's not taking more work because he is so backed up. When that's happened, I've waited until he finds more time.

Not interested in firing everybody up here and eliciting a bunch of flame, but cut the guy some slack.

By the way, those distances on the OP pics are perfect distances for seeing the focus accuracy on old folders. The hardest distance to get right are from 5 to 15 feet. Beyond that, you are in a hyperfocal range. Good shots. Quite accurate.

Almost as good as, dare I say it,... a very expensive digital camera.... OOOOOH!?!?

I love the contradiction of the Horse Bronze work and the graffiti on the base. The graffiti is quite well focused and yet subdued under the horses. Nice Shot!

And on the bicycle tires, I love that one dirt tire sidewall that says Firestone.

[Kenj8246]

Thanks. From one old man to another.

[Kenj8246]

Another image from yesterday, a WWII bomber engine, taken with my Super Ikonta. Kodak TMax 400 rated at 250.


Bomber engine by kenj8246, on Flickr

Kenny

[kuzano]

That camera is spot on.. focus.

I'm an aviation buff. If you are, and if you haven't been, I would heartily suggest you take that camera to the EAA Flight Museum in Kenosha Wisconsin. I made it there 4 times when I worked in Cincinnati. Wisconsin was part of my territory.

Another great spot for one reason is the Evergreen Air Museum in McMinnville, Oregon (about 150 miles from my home). Howard Hughes Spruce Goose is hangered there. They move it up from it's big hanger on the bay in SoCal. They hired 8 or 9 of the original engineers during disassembly and re-assembly.

[Kenj8246]

Thanks, friend. The EAA has been on my 'bucket list' for some time now. I guess I'll break my next car in with a drive to Oshkosh from College Station TX. Sounds like fun, no?

[Noll]

Being a Wisconsinite, I.m fairly certain the big EAA museum is in Oshkosh, WI. Anyway, nice results from your folder. I check out certo6's listings from time to time but haven't bit yet...

[Kenj8246]

Yeah, as soon as I typed Kenosha, I knew it was wrong but didn't fix it. My bad.

[Tom33]

Never mind "where is Wisconsin?" (JUST KIDDING!!!)

The photographs are outstanding. I know, I shoot a Super Ikonta 533-16 a bit myself. I'd say yours is working mighty well, Ken. Is it a coated lens version?

Best,

Tom (in Tarrant County, Texas USA)

[kuzano]

Originally Posted by Kenj8246

Yeah, as soon as I typed Kenosha, I knew it was wrong but didn't fix it. My bad.

I always try to visualize those little bib overalls they sell for Toddlers... That's OshKosh... EAA Yeay~ Little toddlers in bib overalls and four lanes of planes landing at the same time to visual hand signals mere seconds apart. Radio guidance is not possible.

Be sure to catch the landing phase of the annual "Fly In". It's a once in a lifetime memory.

[farlymac]

I'd say Jurgen got it right. Great photos.

PF

[Ezzie]

I´ve hear this and that about Jürgen, but personally I can´t complain. The 523/16 I got off him some time ago was very nice. Clean and tidy. No RF of course, but the shutter worked a treat, even in -20C (a test of a leaf shutter if there ever was one), and the optics were clean.

With respect to mails and correspondence, I would say he´s as good as the next guy. No complaints. In this day and age people tend to expect instant response to any and all requests, forgetting that one man businesses, are... well... operated by one man. Either you are working on cameras, or you are answering mails, you can´t do both 24/7.

[Kenj8246]

Originally Posted by Ezzie

...forgetting that one man businesses, are... well... operated by one man. Either you are working on cameras, or you are answering mails, you can´t do both 24/7.

He was in Germany when my Ikonta was sent to him...I didn't mind waiting for him to return. Once he got to it, it took him not long. If the need ever arises again, I'll use his services again.

Kenny

[KenR]

I ordered a Zeiss Ercona from Certo 6 earlier this year and am quite pleased with it. It is fine shape for a 60 year old camera and all speeds work well. It came promptly and was well packed. This was exactly as specified. No complaints from me.

[Godfrey]

Love that aircraft shot! Looks like the Super Ikonta is nicely sorted.

I'm a "getting old guy" too, and happily considered a curmudgeon, so I laugh and have a great time with other old curmudgeons. The two guys at the shop that does the work for me are also old guys and we have a great time.

I haven't done any business with certo6, but I blame his website for getting me fascinated in the Voigtländer Perkeo II to the point where one is winging its way to me now. Thanks, certo6! ;-)

I tell ya, this Magpie Syndrome has to stop sometime soon.

[Kenj8246]

Ah well, Godfrey, I just rationalize it by saying I'm doing my part to make sure the film manufacturers stay in business.

[Keltic_Tom]

Jurgen has done three cameras for me.
1) An Agfa VF - a Billy 0 Zero c. 1933, Solinar 3.9/75, Compur shutter, 4x6.5 format, excellent shooter, 33 roles of 127 left.
2) An Agfa VF - Record II c. 1950, Solinar 4.5/105, Synchro-Compur shutter, 6x9 format, sharp results.
3) An Agfa RF - Super Silette-L c. 1958, Solinar 2.8/50, Synchro-Compur shutter, 2.4x3.6 format. The pre-CLA test roll impressed me and now that everything is working I will have some fun. Presently at 14/36 of the first post-CLA roll.

[Adso]

I've received back a Bessa II I sent Jurgen Kreckler for CLA. The camera now is a complete joy to use, it's smooth and focuses accurately. When I've asked him questions by email he has always replayed within the same day answering all my questions.
I'm very happy with the experience and I'll be repeating in the future when needed.

[Krosya]

I just have to say one thing - all these old folders are amazing cameras, capable of superb results. I love mine. And looks like everybody else is enjoying theirs.
Its sad - modern cameras will never have this appeal or following years down the line.
To OP - great images! Keep them coming - there is a whole thread dedicated to pics from old folders in 120 folders section.

[charjohncarter]

I have had four good experiences with him, but I got a blue bellows (thin) which was crap. I assume that he does not use this vendor anymore, but don't ask for blue.

[jwanerman]

I had purchased a Zeiss Super Ikonta 532/16 from Jurgen and needed a rangefinder adjustment. He was pleasant to deal with and did a proper adjustment, no charge. Just used the camera today, smooth as ever. Great guy to deal with.

[Godfrey]

Originally Posted by Krosya

... Its sad - modern cameras will never have this appeal or following years down the line. ...

I'd say it's probably best to wait a few decades before making that statement. ;-)

G