Auction News:

It's a 1955 focal-plane focusing model with agood lens and shutter. Last issue of McKeowan's Guide puts the expectation at $350-$600.

So maybe.

It's on my watch list so I'll check in a week or so to see if any feedback has been left on the sale

Consider how rae this might be - but early Pentax stuff is even rarer. Largely I suppose because therer were severe import restrictions in the UK, following WWII and right through until the end of the 1950s.

Only professionals with a licence to import could have an imported SLR of quality, hence the rise of the Praktica and Russian models that were sold in their thousands right through to the 1960s. Where camera were available, we usually had the lowest price options anyway. The Compur Rapid shutters and multi-element lens versions were very, very expensive.

Things to dream about. We don't see many Asahiflex lenses on offer. But via the Asahiflex adapter to 42mm screw thread, plus a K adapter I don't see why we couldn't use one on a K-5!

"Camera was passed down by the family sorry I am no expert

This item is untested."

I wonder if the seller is feeling somewhat amazed?

K.

I've got a Ross Selfix 16.20 and Selfix 820 , which I got as part of job lot.

Crikey, wonder how much they are worth?

About three-quarters of b****r all unfortunately. The Selfix models are neither rare nor particularly sought-after, but they are actually very good if you get a working one (the Epsilon shutters aren't always very sturdy).

You should put a film through them - the 820 in particular can give excellent results. Even the 16-20 with a Rosstar (or better still, a Ross Xpres) will give you results that will blow any 35mm camera out of the water (even Leicas) simply because of the comparatively huge negatives. Cheapest way into medium format you'll find.

Ensign Autorange 820 with the superb 105mm Xpres f/3.8 has always been a camera that I fancied owning. A folder that does 6x9cm and will almost fit in your pocket. That's bigger negs/trans than say Pentax 6x7. They used to go for around £200, but I never came across one. I almost bought an Ensign Commando from Haggerty's in Southport in the 90's that was the closest I ever saw to the Autorange 820. I actually came out of the shop with a Super Ikonta instead

They do go for high prices for some reason nowdays, probably collectors I can't imagine anyone actually wanting one to use paying £828+ The bellows look a bit iffy?

London isn't the model..... It's where it was made

I might just do that at some point.

the 820 is looks well worn, but the 16-20 looks in pretty condition.

can you still get film that is in date?

Ross Ensign Autorange 820 London Xpres - £1,789.00

I just spat my tea out at that news too!

It's just regular 120 film for either of them, I get mine from 7dayshop.com and have it processed at Genie Imaging (£1.99 a roll). It's still in production and there are even new emulsions being launched.

Thanks I've made a note of that.

I'm glad I gave up on ever owning an Autorange 820 in 1999 when I bought my first digital £1,789

I kept the test report from AP dated 22/29 Dec. 1990 (Xmas Edtn.)
I've just dug it out to look at the lens test Puts most others to shame. It's 6x9cm and the edge is as good as the centre at f/11 and f/16 + it's almost the same at the lower apertures, only 3 lpmm dif. at f/8

The resolution is almost the same as 1990 AP 35mm lens tests.
Reaches 100 lpmm at f/8 from 80 wide open, so it's sharp wide open
Peaks at f/16 with 110 lpmm which was normal for a pre-computer design. (I mean a peak at f/16 was normal not 110 lpmm more like 50-60 lpmm normal).

I'm quite sure non of the German 6x6, 6x9 lenses would have been this good. This was a pre-war design as well

The focusing was unusual the lens was fixed and everything slid back into the body.

The only thing I didn't like about Ensigns was that they had too many screws showing on the bodies, where the Germans used to hide them.

I get Shanghai GP3 ASA100 B&W film from Hong Kong, it develops well in just about anything!

Samples are HERE, the scanns don't do the negs justice.

EDIT.

Forgot to mention my favorite Ensign at the moment is a tatty Pocket 20 that takes great shots!