Hamworthy Park is adjacent to Poole and just off my normal walking route when I visit there. I’ve been to it before, but sort of forgot about it! I had reason to go again not too long ago, and thought I’d take my Zeiss Nettar 6×6 folder with me for a change. I haven’t used it in ages.
There is no automatic winding lock on this camera, meaning that you just have to stop winding at the right spot. This is achieved by watching the “dots/numbers” on the 120 backing paper through a little red window. My first attempt at this was not good, I had great trouble seeing them. This time I made a better job of it, I wonder if the printing on that paper was better or my cleaning of the little window helped? Maybe a little of both! This time I managed 11 out of 12! (Completely missing frame number 2!)
This time I used a roll of Ilford Delta 100, and developed it in D23, fast becoming my favourite developer. I love the tonal range it gives, the way it holds detail in the highlights, and the fine grain. Sometimes I’ve read that people think it’s a little flat, and soft. I think the contrast issue may just be some folk not developing for long enough. As for softness: well they look sharp to me!
It always amazes me the quality that comes out of these cameras. Lets face it, the technology is basic, and the lens pretty simple. Then again the “simplicity” of the lens is also a good thing. The standard Tessar design is a proven winner. Beyond that there is shutter speed and aperture! I think mine is a Nettar II 517/16, early edition, as it has the curved top plate rather than the later stepped one. If that is so, it would date to around 1951 or so. The later and (last?) version was the 518, but that had a film advance warning system that mine doesn’t have! You can read how I got mine going here if you like! The park is a nearly forgotten gem – so is the camera!
I had a lovely wander around the area for half an hour and used my roll. Then had a coffee and sat in the sun for a few minutes. The beach huts are on the promenade and overlook the inner harbour, a part that is known as the Wareham Channel. The view from the park is of Brownsea Island slightly to the left, then across the water the the RSPB Arne Nature Reserve, famous for the recent Springwatch series on BBC TV.
Chatter: Zeiss Nettar, Ilford Delta 100, developed in D23
S.H.O.U.T. 
Since I conquered my film funk I’ve been using Ilfosil 3 and have liked it. It certainly works too. I have a Nettar too. You’re right, it’s simple, but the lens on it is great. Granted, it has no auto focus, and you have to rearm the shutter each time, and it doesn’t go up to 1/4000th of a second, but it gets the job done admirably, and the negs are huge so you really pick up every detail. And doesn’t it look good when you have it around your neck. I might have to look into D23
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Hi Ian, yes the Nettar is simple but good, my type of camera! 🙂 Not that I ever stopped exactly, but when I got back to film in a bigger way, I used Ilfosol, and it’s perfectly good, in fact I’ve used it for years. Then I tried Ilford DDX and that was obviously better, but I didn’t like the price so much! It did open my eyes to the fact that there are better developers, or rather different developers with different properties. I’m going to do a couple of posts soon, about the change I’ve made, how it came about and why, but lets just say for now, for me, I’m loving the results that I’m getting from D23 and wish I’d started using it years ago! Cheers Andy
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I’m just happy when I don’t mess it up…
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Hi Andy – great pics as usual! I still haven’t developed mine from my Nettax expedition of a few weeks ago 😵💫 – but the Nettar (and Nettax) are great to use, aren’t they? Just wish I had a faster shutter. My has top speeds of 1/100 and 1/200s – but when I tested them on my shutter tester they were really only giving 1/60 and 1/160s – so only the fastest speed is really quick enough to hand hold safely. I clicked on your link to read your review of the Nettar – and it threw me out to a ‘log in to wordpress’ screen every time. Odd – I found your camera review list and tried it from there – same thing. Mostly every other review opened fine, but the Nikon F3 did the same thing. Not sure if there is a glitch my end or of there is something wrong with those reviews?
Steve
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Hi Steve! Yes I enjoyed using the Nettar, truth be told I thought I’d put a roll through it before passing it on to someone else, then I enjoyed using it so much that I’ve put it back in it’s case ready for next time! Strange about the “reviews”, but thanks for letting me know. I tried them both, from the post links and the list and both worked ok for me, but I’ll try them from the work PC and see what happens! Enjoy your developing! 🙂 Cheers Andy
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