Medium Format Fracas! Pretty Good and Pretty Bad!

Took two random medium-format cameras out to test. One worked very well, the other — ack!

One is the agfa Isoly I (1960) — 120 film, sixteen 4×4 (yup — not 6×6) images, ??mm lens, f8/f11, B-1/30-1/100 shutter — mainly plastic, but metal shell on top and lens housing. and a focusable lens. Shot Rollei Retro 80s, expired 8/23, but kept in the fridge its whole life.

The other is the cute, powder-blue, Valiant 620 (same as Sabre 620 — 1956) — twelve 6×6 images, plastic/bakelite, one app (f8? f11?), one shutter (1/50?). Shot Kentmere Pan 100 (120 rerolled onto 620 spool by the FPP), expires 9/24.

Shot both at Rockburn Park, Elkridge, Maryland — USA — same day, very sunny.

Here are two examples from the Isoly I (black borders because The Darkroom scanned at 6×6):

And here are the *BEST* two shots from the Valiant 620:

The Isoly shots had good exposure in the sun, a bit underexposed in the shade. Good contrast and I managed to guess the focus distance pretty well. Will definitely use this one again.

Now the Valiant 620 — ack! Lots of vertical scratches (so it can’t be the camera, right?). Light leaks, very poor (fixed) focus, tons of camera shake and a bit over exposed. Maybe some issues were introduced when the film was rerolled onto 620 (like scratches and light leaks)? This guy is going to live the rest of his life on a shelf!

Link to Isoly I album

Link to Valiant 620 album

But I had fun! Anyone out there use either of these before?