WITNESS Rangefinder Camera With DALLMEYER SUPER-SIX ANASTIGMAT F/1.9 2 Lens. This is a WITNESS Rangefinder Camera & DALLMEYER SUPER-SIX ANASTIGMAT F/1.9 2 Lens. Comes with lens cap. No additional accessories included. The Ilford Witness was initially a design exercise in 1945/47 by two German-Jewish refugees; ex-Leitz employee Robert Sternberg and ex-Zeiss employee Werner Julius Rothschild. At this time, the high end camera of the time were just resuming production after WW2 and all new cameras were very scarce and expensive. In the late 1940’s, SLR cameras were still under development and not in general use, so 35mm rangefinders, TLRs, and 5″x4″ Speed Graphics were the photographic’tools’ of wealthy amateurs and serious photo-journalists. Sternberg and Rothschild approached Ilford in 1947 with their advanced 35mm rangefinder design. Ilford wanted to develop a range of cameras and thus agreed to manufacture the Witness. Initial examples were manufactured by designer Rothschild’s company, Northern Scientific Equipment Ltd (NSE) at Bark Street, Bolton, Lancashire. But NSE were unable to handle bulk production. Early examples were offered with a f2.9 Daron lens, also made by Rothschild’s company. However, production delays set in when the camera went into mass manufacture and by the time the camera was truly available (1953), manufacture was being handled by Peto Scott Electrical Instruments. The standard lens was then the f1.9 Dallmeyer Super-Six. But sales were slow and Ilford soon decided to concentrate on less complex, lower cost, cameras, like the Advocate. Thus, production of the Witness ceased in 1953. The camera was not a commercial success partly because of poor marketing, partly because of under-development e. Production difficulties led to less than 350 cameras being made, and the line was scrapped in favour of the Ilford Advocate. Mechanic Focal Plane Shutter. Top mounted shutter button and controls. Max 1/1000 Shutter Speed. Dallmeyer Super-Six Anastigmat Lens. Focal Length: 2 /25mm. Max Aperture: f/1.9. Designed by Ilford in 1945/47. Manufactured by Peto Scott Electrical Instruments in 1953. Only 350 ever made! (This was due to the expensive and complicated manufacturing process). Camera body is in a worn cosmetic condition. The leatherette panels have been removed from the front o. There’s heavy tarnishing to the metalwork and marking to the leatherette on the back panel. Traces of internal residue are visible in the viewfinder. The focus system is discoloured (green) and is out of focus. The shutter curtains do not travel across the film gate. One of the cloth drums is jammed and the edge of the curtain has become derailed, therefore the corresponding curtain doesn’t work either. The shutter button can still be pressed and film advance winder still turns but these have no direct effect on the shutter curtains. The rewind button is missing – leaving the camera unable to rewind the film after use. Lens body is also in worn cosmetic condition with. Heavy marking present to the paintwork. The internal elements have noticeably yellowed from age. Optics have patches of fungus, haze and internal dust/residue throughout the lens. The front element has a fine crack which extends from the external element to the internal element. We believe this will affect the quality of the photos. Support the British Heart Foundation’s life saving research. As the UK’s number one heart charity, the cutting edge research we fund has already made a big difference to people’s lives. Every penny you spend or donate with us takes us closer to beating heart disease for good. The item “WITNESS Rangefinder Camera & DALLMEYER SUPER-SIX ANASTIGMAT F/1.9 2 Lens L34″ is in sale since Tuesday, June 19, 2018. This item is in the category “Cameras & Photography\Vintage Photography\Vintage Cameras\Rangefinder Cameras”. The seller is “bhf_shops” and is located in Leeds. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Colour: Silver
- Manufacturer warranty: None
- Brand: ILFORD
- EAN: Does not apply
