ISO Reporter
The Reporter is a coupled rangefinder camera for 35 mm film, made by Industria Scientifica Ottica in Milan, Italy, in about 1954.[1] It was sold by ISO under the company's own brand, and was also rebranded by the German Hensoldt company as the Henso Reporter.
It is similar to ISO's other 35 mm rangefnders, the Bilux and the Standard. It has a focal plane shutter with cloth blinds. This has speeds from 1 second to 1/1000 second, plus 'B' and 'T'. The speeds are set with two controls; the slow-speed control appears in a window around the shutter release button and sets speeds up to 1/30 second; fast speeds are set on a knob to the left of the release (the sequence of speeds is unusual, including 1/40 and 1/400 second).
The camera uses interchangeable lenses with an unusual 36 mm screw mount.[2][3] The standard lens is a collapsible 5 cm f/3.5 Iadar, f/2.8 Iriar, collapsible f/2.8 Arion or rigid f/1.9 Arion.[4] The Iriar at least is seen with either ISO or Hensoldt branding. There are a few accessory lenses for the camera (again, some or all made by Hensoldt): there is an 8 cm f/2.5 Aglar and a 12.5 cm f/3.5 Iriar.[5] SOM Berthiot also made a 28 mm f/3.3 Angulor for the Standard and Reporter.
The viewfinder eyepiece is interchangeable for different lenses, and incorporates dioptric adjustment.[2]
Focusing is done with the right index finger, turning the knurled wheel on the right hand side of the front of the camera. There is a focus lock (the knurled wheel at the bottom left of the front) which locks the focus in any position. The other similar control on the right hand side is the film rewind release.
The camera has a normal film advance knob at the top right, but also has a trigger advance on the bottom.
The shutter is synchronised for flash, with a PC socket on the front of the body, and a cold shoe. The synchronisation delay is adjustable, using the dial marked 1-10 on the base.
There is no light meter, but the camera has a film type and speed reminder dial on the front of the body.
Notes
- ↑ McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). p449.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 ISO Reporter at Sylvain Halgand's Collection Appareils.
- ↑ An article about the Hensoldt Publica and Reporter at Novacon states that Hensoldt made the rangefinders and all the lenses for ISO's 35 mm cameras, and that the Reporter was made by ISO after Leitz objected to the Publica, Hensoldt's own Leica copy, being made in Germany.
- ↑ The ISO page at Fotocamere Italiane shows several ISO cameras including examples of the Reporter with the ISO and the Hensoldt brands, with three of these standard lenses, and with a Hensoldt-branded 12.5 cm f/3.5 Iriar.
- ↑ Article on the ISO cameras lists the lenses, and includes a picture of the ISO Reporter with a collapsible f/2.8 Arion standard lens, and the Henso-branded Reporter with the rigid f/1.9 lens. There is also a picture of an 8 cm f/2.5 Aglar (with the ISO Standard); all at Mistermondo.
Links
- Henso Reporter with 5 cm f/1.9 Arion; a lot in an auction in October 2005 by Auction Team Breker in Cologne.
- Examples sold at at past auctions by Westlicht Photographica Auction (now Leitz Photographica Auction) in Vienna:
- Henso Reporter serial no. 5127, with 5 cm f/1.9 Arion, sold at auction no. 9 (20 May 2006).
- Henso Reporter serial no. 5287 with 5 cm f/1.9 Arion, sold at auction no. 23 (25 May 2013); several pictures.
- Henso Reporter serial no. 6063, with 5 cm f/2.8 Iriar, sold at auction no. 11 (26 May 2007); several pictures.
- Aglar 8 cm f/2.5, serial no. 1510, offered but not sold at auction no. 19 (28 May 2011); listed as a prototype for an unknown camera, but marked for ISO and accompanied by the interchangeable viewfinder eyepiece, so almost certainly for a Reporter or Standard; several pictures.
- Iriar 12.5 cm f/3.5, serial no. 1106, also offered but not sold at auction 19. Again, this lens was listed as a prototype for an unknown camera, but marked for Henso, and so probably for the Reporter or Standard; several pictures.
- ISO Reporter at Fotocamere Italiane 1946-1964 (in Italian)
