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The Zeiss Ikon Box Tengor - King of the Box Cameras? Or Crown Prince of Crap? 

the120ist
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I don't want to ruin the surprise for you. But... it's crap.
That's unfair of course. But whatever. I'm allowed not to like a camera.
I actually don't dislike this camera. But everything I've read hailed the Box Tengor as some sort of god among box cameras, and my findings are that that's not true.
So, here are the caveats - 1. this is an old camera, and there is dust, or fungus, or muck, or whatever, on the inside lenses, that allow for close up focusing.
2. As with all box cameras, this has a slow shutter speed, by today's standards. Something like 1/30 or 1/50. Either of those shutter speed give ample opportunity for camera shake, and motion blur. And I wasn't using a tripod.
3. This was the first time using this camera for me, so who knows how I might have done things differently if I had the chance again.
4. Similar to 1), it's old, there could be other issues with the camera that I didn't spot on first pass.
Ok, that's all the caveats out the way. Now here are the findings - more than half of my images were poor. Blurry, focus or motion problems. Whatever it was, the images aren't really usable. Or maybe they are usable, but they weren't what I intended.
I've had box cameras out before where my expectations were low, and I was pleasantly surprised. But this time around I had higher expectations and I was disappointed. My fault for having high expectations? Or is this just not as special as I thought it was?
What do you think? Have you tried a Box Tengor? Let me know in the comments!

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5 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 29   
@michaelkay3197
@michaelkay3197 9 месяцев назад
I'm afraid there are several problems with your review here. Firstly the calibrations on yours are in FEET not meters, so you have probably used the wrong focus settings for most of your images. Obviously this will cause blur as it was incorrectly focused. The instruction book says the shutter speed is 1/30th second. Now in 35mm that would be rather slow, but this is 6x9, so the camera is moving less in relation to the image. Therefore 1/30 sec is fine if the subject is stationary. I agree about not wanting to use a tripod BUT did you not press the back of the camera into your stomach (and hold your breath) to help steady the camera? That is enough to eliminate camera shake if you operate the shutter button carefully. Practice here helps as it is not the best shutter button. If the internal lenses are not clean, you will get photographs with very little contrast and poor definition. It is very easy to unscrew the 2 halves and clean these supplementary lenses with lens cleaner. Very easy indeed. I did mine in no time at all and no special tools are needed just a screwdriver to undo the obvious external screws. Slow film helps prevent over-exposure. I actually use 25 ASA B&W film in mine. So I don't think it is fair to conclude that the camera 'is crap' if you misfocussed most of the images (the ones that aren't at infinity) due to user error, and your lenses are dirty (they will be at this age). Sorry, but you are leaving your viewers with a misleading verdict.
@randallkroll7937
@randallkroll7937 Год назад
This camera does indeed come in a meters version, but your camera is in feet! 3 to 8 feet for close-ups. 10 to 25 feet wouldn't make sense! The problem was not motion blur. It was focus. Love your videos!
@the120ist
@the120ist Год назад
Yeah I actually had that realisation about a third of the way into the shoot, and recorded myself realising! But trimmed that bit out. You're right, having a 3-6 metres close focus distance, and indeed having a separate setting for 20ft - 65ft would be pretty weird! Thanks for the info.
@michaelkay3197
@michaelkay3197 9 месяцев назад
Totally agree
@david1g1long
@david1g1long Год назад
Definitely give it a clean up. I love mine and those 6x9 negs are good! I do look for places to rest it on or use my mini foldable tripod.
@the120ist
@the120ist Год назад
Have had a few comments similar... definitely worth a full service and a second go when I get back to the UK!
@marxoniomizu
@marxoniomizu Год назад
I envy you so much. Not so much for the box camera, but for being in south africa 3 times in a year (even though it was for work). Maybe the shutter needs some cleaning and is even longer than 1/30th s. Still a nice try and the shoot with the small boat looked pretty good on youtube. Thanks for sharing and whish you lots of fun with the oncoming trips.
@the120ist
@the120ist Год назад
I actually made a mistake, it's four trips this year to SA... and two last year. I do appreciate how lucky I am to have these opportunities. But it comes with a cost, of course. My wife is not currently very happy with me!! Actually the shots of the boats on the lake did come out ok, they're pretty sharp. But I was leaning the camera on a railing when I shot those. So most of the other fuzziness is definitely camera shake!
@nostalgiccameralife
@nostalgiccameralife 4 месяца назад
I was disappointed by the Box Tengor I picked up. The lens was surprisingly soft even after cleaning. If you want a "full featured" box, pick up either the 1st or the 3rd version of the Ensign All-Distance Box camera. Unlike the other box cameras which give zone focus through diopters the Ensign camera has a pull-push lens mount that snaps into one of two positions for focusing (to be fair, there's not really much difference between the two focus zones, but it does give the camera one notch more flexibility than a typical fixed focus box).
@olivermonche5418
@olivermonche5418 Год назад
What's your favourite box camera?
@AnaloguePhoto
@AnaloguePhoto Год назад
Dirty shutter might make for a substantially longer shutter speed. I tried a Zeiss folder the other week, and got overexposed (slightly) and motion-blurry shots. Suppose a tripod would have helped. As would a cleaning of the shutter mechanism.
@the120ist
@the120ist Год назад
Interesting thought I didn't notice much lag on the shutter, just doing a visual inspection. Didn't have any tools with me to test the actual shutter speed, or I would have had a better idea what I was working with. You may be right, a proper service might change my opinion of this camera. So that is planned, and possibly a second chance video soon!
@AnaloguePhoto
@AnaloguePhoto Год назад
@@the120ist I think that if you could open it up and have look at the shutter, it would be quite easy to give it a simple cleaning. Perhaps where the movable parts are hinged, give a minuscle ammount of oil of the type made for mechanical watches. Use an oiler tool not to over do it. There are not all too many of those movable parts in a shutter of this kind. I think your next video will be coming up sooner than expected 😁
@mnoliberal7335
@mnoliberal7335 Год назад
Always wanted a Box Tengor. Now, not so much. I'd like to see a follow up video after the camera has been serviced.
@the120ist
@the120ist Год назад
I may be being unfair to it! Don't write it off just on my report! I do think I need to give it a second chance though, and give it a proper, thorough clean and service before I dismiss it forever!
@michaelkay3197
@michaelkay3197 9 месяцев назад
See my comment of 7/11/23
@paultaylorphotography9499
@paultaylorphotography9499 Год назад
well worth a try mate, clean that lens grab a pod and give it another run.
@the120ist
@the120ist Год назад
Definitely need to clean the whole camera out, service the shutter and rear lenses. But a tripod??? NEVER!
@Casualfulltime
@Casualfulltime Год назад
I quite like the images, Very dreamy
@the120ist
@the120ist Год назад
Thank you! There is definitely an interesting effect. Back in the 80s TV cameramen used to smear vaseline onto lenses to achieve the same thing. Nowadays, with vintage cameras, we can get the same effect from a good dollop of dirt on the lens and a healthy growth of fungus on the filters!!
@robertyoung1777
@robertyoung1777 11 месяцев назад
Does anyone know who can clean the internal parts of the viewfinders and kens on these cameras? Thank you
@the120ist
@the120ist 11 месяцев назад
I don't know of anyone who offers that service professionally. But I intend to take mine apart and clean it myself. The lenses should be accessible, from what I can see, but the viewfinders are notoriously difficult to get at without damaging the brackets that they sit in. If I come up with a solution I'll let you know!
@ganzonomy
@ganzonomy 9 месяцев назад
Put the distance at the center notch, put aperture at 11 (16 on older ones). Unscrew the two little screws Wiggle the front fascia off. DO NOT USE ACETONE! YOU WILL RUIN THE INTERNAL PAINT AND POSSIBLY THE SHUTTER. (Ask me how I know and now have a box tengor at about 1/5 second...) Clean with compressed air, use Teflon in a spray for springs that's applied by qtip. Reinstall. Put the bottom back on first so the aperture selector is poking through the aperture slot. Then with a jewelers screwdriver, poke through the top of the camera and get the focus selector to rest inside the distance slider. Push down on the selector, and push the fascia back on with the selector going through the slot. Everything should move freely. And with minimal resistance. Put little side screws back on. Go shoot. Edit to add: you can, while in there, use a good glass cleaner (Zeiss wipes are good) to clean the close up lenses as well. This is the only camera I ever owned where I had one, it was great but didn't know it, gifted it, bought another one that was flooded, learned A LOT and not using acetone, and then had to buy a THIRD one that works flawlessly. It's become my quirky travel camera, if you will. Jason
@michaelkay3197
@michaelkay3197 9 месяцев назад
@@the120ist It is easy. There are only a couple of obvious external screws. Cleaning the viewfinder is also easy as it is open and easy to reach once you unscrew those screws. You might avoid using liquid products on the mirrors - a gentle wipe is fine or breath on them and gently wipe them. The dirty view will be the glass - which can be cleaned with lens cleaner as it is glass - do both sides. You don't need to send it to a professional. Cleaning the supplementary lenses is also easy!
@user-nr2hd7zc4u
@user-nr2hd7zc4u 6 месяцев назад
How to use this camera?😂 I bought one,but I don’t know how to use it.
@the120ist
@the120ist 6 месяцев назад
Congratulations on your new camera! If you head to my other video about the Agfa Synchro Box - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YXTbSEnDPJI.html - most box cameras operate roughly the same. You usually have to retract the winding knob, by pulling as you turn, then maybe release another catch somewhere and the back half separates from the front half.
@user-nr2hd7zc4u
@user-nr2hd7zc4u 6 месяцев назад
@@the120ist thank you
@carpediem673
@carpediem673 Год назад
monopod!
@the120ist
@the120ist Год назад
Never! I'll never give in!
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