The Werra III, a minimalistic masterpiece? Oskar Barnack vs the world part 4

The Werra III, a minimalistic masterpiece? Oskar Barnack vs the world part 4 - the East Germans

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Күн бұрын

Review of the tiny leaf shutter rangefinder camera Werra 3 from Carl Zeiss Jena, as well as the Werramatic, compared to each other and to the Barnack Leica. For a more in depth view on the Leica II design, and other design choices in rangefinder cameras, the earlier episodes (especially part 2) are recommended.
0:00 Channel Intro
0:48 Werra cameras
1:15 Leaf shutter use and advantages
1:50 Leaf shutter disadvantages
2:14 Gripping the Werra
2:32 Viewfinder/rangefinder described
3:15 Minimalistic design
3:32 Lens cap/hood
3:48 Shutter/aperture control
4:20 (limited) Lens selection
5:24 The Werramatic
5:52 Rewinding film
6:15 Film loading
6:27 Viewfinder/rangefinder in depth
7:15 Viewfinder rangefinder in use
8:34 Short conclusion
8:46 Summary and final conclusion
Filmed with magic lantern raw (Canon 5d and/or EOS M) as well as the Canon m6ii (viewfinder parts).

Пікірлер: 15

@andrewinaustintx 4 ай бұрын

For the mid 1950's - this is a very clean, modernistic design when compared to the West German Retinas of the period.

@ahoyhere8113 4 ай бұрын

Great video! I knew nothing about the Werra and now I want one. I really enjoyed your calm & peaceful presentation.

@dlyon9673 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for your review of the Werra 3. For the utmost in simplicity and beautiful clean design, take a look at the Werra 1. It has no light meter, a fixed lens, and I believe only zone focusing.

@extremebanding2748 4 ай бұрын

Yes, you are right, that one is the prettiest and the one that really epitomises the concept. But I do like the rangefinder for focusing. It depends on how far you want to go in minimalism I guess.

@stratopastor_uk 4 ай бұрын

I had a Werra 1 in my teenage years. It was stolen. I still miss it.

@spookisghostly4619 4 ай бұрын

This feels like the Carl Zeiss equivalent to the Argus c3 (the brick) simple, heavy and beautiful

@extremebanding2748 4 ай бұрын

Yes the Argus is a beauty, and it takes the box design in more of a steam punk direction, which is quite cool of course. I would say that the Werra is a much better user camera though, which can be both a positive and a negative, depending on what one is after. Quirky cameras can be good fun, if they are quirky in the right way.

@thomasjosiger5789 4 ай бұрын

I own a Werra 3 from the last series. This also has the higher design of your Werra matic. Usually the Werra has a different shutter installed than yours. The Synchro-Compur was usually only installed in the export variants. Mine has the Prestor, a GDR development.

@extremebanding2748 4 ай бұрын

Interesting, didn't know they changed the body design for the III later on. Yes, the shutter on mine is an uncommon type, with 1/500 as top speed. The Werramatic in the video has the shutter with 1/750 top speed. Does your Werra 3 have the other upgrades, like a rewind crank, cold shoe, and small window in the finder for aperture and shutter speed? Or is it the same in all other respects, besides the newer body design?

@bernardkealey6449 4 ай бұрын

Thomas, does your one have the classic minimalist front or is it emblazoned with WIRRA and 3 under the A, with metallic stripes along the front plate, and the leatherette on the back with horizontal ridging? Just seen one like that offered on eBay and it is kind of jarring and very capitalist bling compared with the classic look…

@thomasjosiger5789 4 ай бұрын

@@extremebanding2748 yes, my Werra has the rewind cranc and a cold shoe. But you can not see aperture and speed in the viewfinder. This is only a feature of the Werra matic.

@thomasjosiger5789 4 ай бұрын

@@bernardkealey6449 elekm.net/zeiss-ikon/art/werra_250.jpg

@thomasjosiger5789 4 ай бұрын

My Werra is the same like the picture.

@fergusfitzgerald977 27 күн бұрын

This looks very interesting and is aesthetically very pleasing ? Love to see some photos ?

@extremebanding2748 27 күн бұрын

The standard lens is a coated tessar from the 60's, and it is a nice performer. Apart from that the cameras influence on the look of the photos is minimal. Any 35mm film camera with a similar tessar lens will look basically the same. As the look of the image is mostly influenced by the photographer, and the image quality (besides from the lens) mostly depends on type of film, exposure, developer and (in digitized form) scanning with digital post processing, I do not think random photographs are of value when evaluating these types of cameras, potentially more confusing really. It is always nice to look at photos, of course, but it is not the purpose or aim of this particular series.