While looking for a way to get the Maximar 207/5 to produce an image, I ‘accidently’ bought this one. I was looking for a roll back where I could use 120 film with the 207/5. I thought I would be able to use the one that came with this camera. Once it arrived I realised how silly that thought was. It was much smaller than the 207/5 and the backs were not compatible.

Well, now I had a new Maximar so I might as well play with it. The first thing I did was to figure out how to load the back and to understand which red window I should align the film numbers with while advancing.

I did that by loading the back with an empty spool which contained the backing paper only, no film. I then advanced the paper while it was not attached to the camera and checked where the numbers landed when enough of it had passed to advance the non-existant film. I then covered the window I didn’t need with tape.

Then it was time to load a film…after checking the bellows of course. I chose a roll of expired Kodak Tri-X which I rated at 50 asa and off I trundled to Manchester. I took 3 shots then remembered the dark slide, oops. As you don’t look through a traditional viewfinder or a focusing screen like with the 207/5, I simply forgot it. Luckily, I remembered before I finished the final 5 shots. I left the camera on infinity as I wanted to know if that was ok before trying anything else. For me, infinity is easier to judge the framing than closer subjects. As I didn’t have a focusing screen, I would have to guess it anyway.

Here are the results.

Well, the film was in a bit of a state, but it proved the camera worked and infinity was perfect.

I loaded another roll of expired Tri-X, basically, I just want to use it up. I took the camera to Tadcaster because I had never been before. I went early on boxing day and arrived to find a strange scene. The road I wanted to walk up was cordened off, there was a forensics tent and lots of police around. I asked an officer if it was real life or for TV, it’s not a scene you expect to wander across. Unfortunately, it was real-life. I moved away and explored the other parts of town.

As it was boxing day, a few places were closed but there were some places open. But, after the above incident, I didn’t feel like going in any of them. The local people were discussing the events and there was a general bleak mood pervading the area. This feeling continued as I walked around. There were many abandoned buildings, boarded up ones. You could tell that at some point, it had been a vibrant town or at least, was on another, sunnier day. I loved the stone buildings and the dominant John Smith’s brewery. I think I will go back sometime and see if I feel the same about the place.

Anyway, here are my shots from the Maximar, this time I did remember to take out the dark slide and I also took a couple of close up shots.

I noticed on these and other photos that I have a tendancy to ‘slope’ to the right…or left as it is reversed. I do have one leg shorter than the other 🙂 but I don’t think that is the reason. I will have to be more conscious of that in the future. This camera has a spirit bubble, so there really was no excuse.

As for the camera, there is a lot more about this Maximar on the net compared to the 207/5. It is also known as the Maximar A in USA. I don’t think I will use it again and even though I have 2 Maximars now, I have no intention of getting any more. They are beautiful, but I think they will be shelf cameras for the most part.

You can read more information about this camera at these sites:
https://pacificrimcamera.com/pp/zimaximar.htm
https://www.mikeeckman.com/photovintage/vintagecameras/maximar/index.html