A year ago, on holiday in Cornwall, I took a box camera with me on a coastal walk, and published the results here. One year on, and a camera or two later, here we go again.
This time it was a bit more of a leap into the unknown. The camera in question is an Ensign Selfix 820, from the early 1950s, which I had bought a few weeks before and not had a chance to test. I already owned a Selfix 1620, which had produced some decent images, (sixteen on a roll of 120 film) so I gambled on its big brother. This one gives eight 9cmx6cm shots, which certainly concentrates the mind on getting it right first time. It does come with optional folding frames, to reduce the size to 6×6, but for this trial I went big. It comes with a Ross Xpres 105mm f/3.8 lens, which has a good reputation.
It came from the usual auction site, with only the usual “all seems to be working” assurance. When it arrived, I was pleased to see that it did indeed appear to be OK. I could see through everything I was supposed to, and nothing that I wasn’t. I used a light-to-sound probe to test the shutter speeds, and not surprisingly found them to be slower than they were seventy years ago. The fastest speed of 1/250 was more like 1/100. So, not wanting to risk wasting anything expensive, in went a roll of Fomapan 100, and I hoped for bright weather. When was this camera last used? Who knows. When was it last serviced? Probably never. Could I get eight half-decent shots out of it? Maybe, maybe not, but I’ll give it a go.
The walk was from our campsite near St.Just-in-Roseland, along the banks of the River Fal, to St.Mawes, a place where we have spent many holidays over the years. After crossing a few fields we reached the peaceful creek at St.Just, and what better place for the first shot with a new camera than the beautiful church.
The Ensign was easy enough to use, if a little on the heavy side. The focus was a bit squeaky, but moved freely enough, the aperture behaved perfectly, and that’s about all there is to worry about. Of the films I have tried, I find that Fomapan has the clearest numbers for seeing through the little red window, so no problems there either. All of the exposures were guesstimated using Sunny 16.
Along the way another walker spotted the ancient leather case over my shoulder and correctly guessed what was in there. He had grown up using folding cameras and was amazed to hear that films were still available. My film evangelism over, on we walked.
A few more fields later and we arrived in St.Mawes, with its castle and endless comings and goings of yachts and ferries.
The compulsory shot of a cottage we spent so many holidays in, meant that the film was half finished already. As it happened, due to a tired dog, we didn’t get much further than a bench overlooking the beach, so a few more shots were done from there.
A couple of weeks later, I have the souvenirs of a good day out. I am pretty pleased with the results that the old Ensign has produced, and might even trust it with a more expensive roll of film at some point.
Steve Phillips
Share this post:
Comments
Terry B on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
I have an 820 Special, but although it looks the same as your 820, same Epsilon shutter and lens, Albada finder, I don't really know what "Special" adds to the spec. I've also an Ensign Ranger that uses the same body shell but with a simplified v/f and shutter, but is the rarer model with the Xpress f3.8/105.
I've never used either of them, and the shutter blades of the 820 have an unusual "bounce" at the fastest 1/250 setting, in that when they have fully closed they bounce open a fraction to reveal a very tiny "hotspot" before they finally come to rest.
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
davesurrey on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
I also have an Ensign 820, although with the Ensar 105mm/f4.5 lens but it needs me to give it some TLC when I’ve got some time.
However my Ensign 820 Special with its un-coupled rangefinder and Xpres 105mm/f3.8 is in fine form and your article has encouraged me to take it out next week when we have a few days away.
Too many cameras…too little time.
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
Ralph Turner on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
I bought one of these from a certain auction site recently. In very good condition cosmetically, it also seemed to function reasonably, though the Xpres lens was a little grubby from what I could tell. I decided to take the plunge and have the camera serviced. It now functions consistently and well (though the slower speeds are actually running a little fast, eg 1/10th is nearer 1/15th - I can easily live with this). Decent, sharp results, though there does seem to be a little field curvature. The point of focus seems to draw nearer the camera as you get closer to the edge of the frame. Not sure if this is just my copy or if it’s a characteristic of that lens. Still, with care it is quite capable. I look forward to putting more film through it ????
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
Lee on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
Graham Spinks on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
Paul Elcock on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
Comment posted: 27/10/2021
Michael J on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 28/10/2021
Comment posted: 28/10/2021
Brian Nicholls on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 29/10/2021
Well done!
Comment posted: 29/10/2021
George Rogers on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 24/12/2021
Comment posted: 24/12/2021
David Murray on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 21/02/2022
Comment posted: 21/02/2022
David Murray on Ensign Selfix 820 with One Roll of Fomapan 100 – by Steve Phillips
Comment posted: 22/04/2022