1959: the year that the press cameras became dethroned, defunct, defunded

[Paul Howell]

a 2X3 Graphic is made of wood, compared to my Mamiya Universal light, with standard 90 or 100 and matching cam easy to use in dim light, with graflok back choice of roll film or sheet film, want a MF view camera, strip off the leatherette covering, clean up the wood, refinish, grind out the standard for greater rise, tilt, and swing, get a 100 that will cover movement, add a 65 for wide, and a 150 to 200 for short tele.

 

[cjbecker]

Mine gets used on a regular basis... it is still throned, funct, and funded!

My 4x5 Pacemaker crown with 150 f5.6 caltar ii-n is one of my main cameras. At this point, 4x5 is used for all of my black and white work, but it also see some slide film. I have a shutter coming back from getting serviced which will be put back into use on my pacemaker speed. Its for a 135 3.8 xenar lens. The speed will return again be my most used 4x5. I do enjoy having and using the most popular press cameras of the day. Graflex (pacemaker crown and speed) rollei tlr (rolleicord iii) and nikon F (F2 and F3)

Im still hoping someone can give some stories about hasselblad being used for press work!

 

[Paul Howell]

I never a Hasselblad in the field. the Sacramento Union had a very beaten Hasselblad for studio work, as a stringer I wasn't allowed to use it.

 

[wiltw]

I cannot vouch for the process of conversion from medium format film cameras to 35mm. I can tell everyone that in the early 1960s, the 35mm format was still called in the press the 'miniature format' (and 16mm was the 'subminiature format'), and a lot of articles were still being published in magaines educating the public about the 'miniature' format. IOW, it did not enjoy common familiarity although it had existing in the world for about 3 decades.

I recall that my dad made the switch from rollfilm Kodak camera to a Fuji rangefinder in 1960. I convinced him in 1965 to get a Beseler Topcon Auto 100 because it was the most affordable in their line of TTL metering cameras (Topcon RE/Super D being the first one on the market in 1963). How I lusted for the Topcon Super D made of Unobtainium and priced accordingly; no 14 year old could hope to have one!

My understanding is that some pro photojournalists went to Japan and tried Japanese optics on their German rangefinder bodies, comparing the Nikkors to their own Leitz and Zeiss lenses, and were so impressed by their performance that they became converts to Nikon lenses.
I just found a reference in Nikon's history that mentioned that due to the Korean War, Life magazine photojournalists had discovered how Nkon gear did not jam up in the cold Korean winter, so photojournalists had adopted it. And in December 1950, the New York Times published a special article about the superiority of Nikon lenses and the Nikon legend became established. Much of photojournalism had already adopted 35mm rangefinders before the Nikon F made its debut. That then lead to the transition from Nikon rangefinders with Nikon lenses to the SLR Nikon F.

Certainly other 'system cameras' existed, but Nikon became very widely adopted ...perhaps it was the camera repair and customization magic of legendary repairman Marty Forscher in NYC that contributed to the widespread adoption of the Nikon F. by pros Back in the 1960s, US Fair Trade laws, in combination with the rigid anti-discounting practices of the US distributor, Ehrenreich Photo Optical Industries (EPOI) during the early 1970s added to the mistique and exclusivity of owning the Nikon brand SLR.

 

[AgX]

rigid anti-discounting practices of the US distributor, Ehrenreich Photo Optical Industries (EPOI) during the early 1970s

Do you mean by this manufacturer/Importer prescribing the retail price?

 

[wiltw]

Do you mean by this manufacturer/Importer prescribing the retail price?

EPOI was the importer and distributor in the USA. How its prices reflected (or did not reflect) the price in USA (vs. in the home market Japan) was a great mystery, and little discounting could be advertised ty retailers. I am not implying that EPOI did what other importer/distributors did not do! It was the common practice of the times until Fair Trade laws were repealed. Retailer ads in the magazines neglected to mention prices on new bodies; they might mention used prices, or lens prices

 

[David Lyga]

EPOI was the importer and distributor in the USA. How its prices reflected (or did not reflect) the price in USA (vs. in the home market Japan) was a great mystery, and little discounting could be advertised ty retailers. I am not implying that EPOI did what other importer/distributors did not do! It was the common practice of the times until Fair Trade laws were repealed. Retailer ads in the magazines neglected to mention prices on new bodies; they might mention used prices, or lens prices

But, clearly, by the early 1960s, large box stores like Caldor, Bradlees, EJ Korvette, and JC Penney were selling these cameras at at least a 20% discount. I was still growing up in Connecticut at the time, so I don't know the extent of discounting in competitive Manhattan at the time, but I will say that the discounts landed at one level, in that FURTHER discounting downward from that level did not occur. - David Lyga

 

[wiltw]

But, clearly, by the early 1960s, large box stores like Caldor, Bradlees, EJ Korvette, and JC Penney were selling these cameras at at least a 20% discount. I was still growing up in Connecticut at the time, so I don't know the extent of discounting in competitive Manhattan at the time, but I will say that the discounts landed at one level, in that FURTHER discounting downward from that level did not occur. - David Lyga

I did not state that discounting didn't occur thru retailers...they did not ADVERTISE the lowered price, the magazine ads said "Call" or some symbol in place of a price reflected that they carried the camera but showed no price in magazine ads.

But back to the topic of your original post...rangefinder 35mm cameras were well adopted by photojournalists many years before the Nikon F came into existence. Two photojournalists shooting for Life magazine were responsible for the shift to Nikkor rangefinder lenses, which led to the NY Times article that I mentioned earlier.

 

[wiltw]

But, clearly, by the early 1960s, large box stores like Caldor, Bradlees, EJ Korvette, and JC Penney were selling these cameras at at least a 20% discount. I was still growing up in Connecticut at the time, so I don't know the extent of discounting in competitive Manhattan at the time, but I will say that the discounts landed at one level, in that FURTHER discounting downward from that level did not occur. - David Lyga

I happened to have a Montgomery Ward catalog from 1963. Discounts were 'it depends'...

• Kodak Retina Reflex III with f/2.8 lens, Ward price $195 (-15%); Kodak f/2.8 ad price in 1964: $230
• Nikon F with Phototomic finder and f/2 lens, Ward price: $375; Nikon F Photomic f/2 price per 1964 Modern Photography product survey, $375
• Rolleiflex F with Schneider 75mm f.3.5 lens, Ward price: $275 (-8%); Rolleiflex F f/3.5 price per 1964 Modern Photography prodct survey, $299.50
• Nikkorex F with f/2 lens, Ward price $199.50; Nikkorex F f/2 price per 1964 Modern Photography prodct survey, $199.50
• Zeiss Contaflex B with f/2.8, Ward $237.50 (-8%); Zeiss Contaflex B with f/2.8 price per 1964 Modern Photography product survey, $259

 

[David Lyga]

At age 13 in 1963, I could not afford even TO VIEW such prices. To get a better idea of these prices, remember that we were still on 90% silver coinage back then. Imagine paying these prices in 90% silver coin. They were not 'expensive' but, instead, 'catastrophic'. - David Lyga

 

[Cholentpot]

At age 13 in 1963, I could not afford even TO VIEW such prices. To get a better idea of these prices, remember that we were still on 90% silver coinage back then. Imagine paying these prices in 90% silver coin. They were not 'expensive' but, instead, 'catastrophic'. - David Lyga

Groceries were less than $2.50 a week according to my elders.

 

[David Lyga]

Groceries were less than $2.50 a week according to my elders.

You would have had to live in that era in order to understand pricing. I remember well. One dollar was 'money'. A Hershey bar (normal size) was 5 cents. At the movie theater it was 6 cents. An ice cream cone (everywhere) was 10 cents, except at Carvel or Friendly, where it was bigger at 15 cents. Admission to Hercules was 50 cents for kids and 80 cents for adults. I am talking about late 1950s and early 1960s here.

In my change I REGULARLY saw Morgan or Peace silver dollars (I had few because that was so much money), Standing Liberty quarters, Standing Liberty or Franklin halves and Buffalo nickels and wheat cents. - David Lyga

 

[wiltw]

At age 13 in 1963, I could not afford even TO VIEW such prices. To get a better idea of these prices, remember that we were still on 90% silver coinage back then. Imagine paying these prices in 90% silver coin. They were not 'expensive' but, instead, 'catastrophic'. - David Lyga

Agree, that is why at age 14, while I might ask my dad to buy himself a Beseler Topcon Auto 100 with f2 lens at $159, and that was achievable,
the Beseler Topcon Super D with f/1.4 lens at $420 was made of Unobtainium and the object of teen lust at the time...it cost the equivalent of 1400 gallons of gas.
Using $3.80 in CA right now, 1400 gallons of gas is $5320. The Nkon F with Photomic T (TTL) finder was very similarly priced.

 

[David Lyga]

I well remember gasoline being 29.9 cents per US gallon.

What really makes me laugh is knowing that there are lots of 'newbies' reading this who think that the Internet and mobile phones always existed!!! - David Lyga

 

[grat]

Feeding your Ward's catalog prices through an inflationary calculator yields a range of $1651.13 to $3175.26.

Having said that, today I bought a tank of premium at $2.63/gallon, so there's some variation there.

 

[David Lyga]

Feeding your Ward's catalog prices through an inflationary calculator yields a range of $1651.13 to $3175.26.

Having said that, today I bought a tank of premium at $2.63/gallon, so there's some variation there.

Oh, of course, prices have not all fallen into the same inflationary channel. For example, buying health care today is MUCH more expensive in terms of constant dollars while buying a new Nikon FM10 is cheaper than the original Nikkormat was, in terms of constant dollars. - David Lyga

 

[Cholentpot]

Feeding your Ward's catalog prices through an inflationary calculator yields a range of $1651.13 to $3175.26.

Having said that, today I bought a tank of premium at $2.63/gallon, so there's some variation there.

That's nothing. I got a gallon of regular for less than .99 a few months ago...

 

[wiltw]

Feeding your Ward's catalog prices through an inflationary calculator yields a range of $1651.13 to $3175.26.

Having said that, today I bought a tank of premium at $2.63/gallon, so there's some variation there.

I managed to put myself thru a private 4 year university with $1200 annual tuition in my freshman year. I graduated 5 years later (year off to serve in the military, during the Viet Nam conflict and the draft -- my draft lottery number was #7 !), and my first job was at $12000 annual salary.
That same university today is $50k per year; there is no way a graduate today would expect 10X tuition for first year salary.

 

[David Lyga]

I managed to put myself thru a private 4 year university with $1200 annual tuition in my freshman year. I graduated 5 years later (year off to serve in the military, during the Viet Nam conflict and the draft -- my draft lottery number was #7 !), and my first job was at $12000 annual salary.
That same university today is $50k per year; there is no way a graduate today would expect 10X tuition for first year salary.

The tuition costs are like the health care costs: utterly obscene. This is one of the few areas I commiserate with the young, 'entitled' ones today.

When I was 20, I took a bus from Connecticut to New York to start a life. I rented a tiny room in Yorkville, (86rh and Third Ave) from an old Hungarian woman for $15 per week (YES). The NEXT DAY I got a production job at the publisher MacFadden Bartell for $115 per week or almost $100 after taxes. To supplement this job, I got a part time job at Gimbels department store in Herald Square. The job paid $40 per week after taxes.

That first year I LIVED on the Gimbels salary and BANKED the entire MacFadden Bartell salary. In one year I had saved $5,000, which was a small fortune to me. I had to do this in order to build a barrier to protect me from the cold, cruel world. I have always looked at money as an insurance policy, not a source for indulgence.

What I am getting at here is the fact that today one does not show up in a large city with little money and begin a life. The situation is changed drastically and completely. At the time, LUXURY STUDIOS (doormen) on the upper East Side, where I lived, were going for $250 per month. This world does not exist anymore and anyone who tells you that New York was always expensive is either lying or ignorant of the true facts. I know, I lived through these facts. - David Lyga

 

[Cholentpot]

The tuition costs are like the health care costs: utterly obscene. This is one of the few areas I commiserate with the young, 'entitled' ones today.

When I was 20, I took a bus from Connecticut to New York to start a life. I rented a tiny room in Yorkville, (86rh and Third Ave) from an old Hungarian woman for $15 per week (YES). The NEXT DAY I got a production job at the publisher MacFadden Bartell for $115 per week or almost $100 after taxes. To supplement this job, I got a part time job at Gimbels department store in Herald Square. The job paid $40 per week after taxes.

That first year I LIVED on the Gimbels salary and BANKED the entire MacFadden Bartell salary. In one year I had saved $5,000, which was a small fortune to me. I had to do this in order to build a barrier to protect me from the cold, cruel world. I have always looked at money as an insurance policy, not a source for indulgence.

What I am getting at here is the fact that today one does not show up in a large city with little money and begin a life. The situation is changed drastically and completely. At the time, LUXURY STUDIOS (doormen) on the upper East Side, where I lived, were going for $250 per month. This world does not exist anymore and anyone who tells you that New York was always expensive is either lying or ignorant of the true facts. I know, I lived through these facts. - David Lyga

As a relative youngster these stories are eye opening.

There are still opportunities out there, but you need to work for yourself and work the 'system'. The barrier to the cold cruel world as I stand is the community I'm part of. I know they have my back and I have theirs. I have a 'We' when this is not as common as it once was.

As for my obsolete camera. I have a new lens/shutter coming in and a GG. Now I need some holders, some film sheets and a decent tripod. I'm going to neglect getting the rangefinder calibrated because that's how I do.

 

[David Lyga]

As a relative youngster these stories are eye opening.

There are still opportunities out there, but you need to work for yourself and work the 'system'. The barrier to the cold cruel world as I stand is the community I'm part of. I know they have my back and I have theirs. I have a 'We' when this is not as common as it once was.

As for my obsolete camera. I have a new lens/shutter coming in and a GG. Now I need some holders, some film sheets and a decent tripod. I'm going to neglect getting the rangefinder calibrated because that's how I do.

Your definition of 'barrier' is far more appropriate and meaningful than is mine. I am embarrassed to state that I have achieved 70 without one true friend. But, since I am used to that abyss, I try to make up for this deficiency by remaining tethered to at least a modicum of ethics and integrity. I do not know what will happen, whether a nursing home will eventually be my demise or not. But, I wanted to tell you that your investment in people was not only sound, but filled with intellect. I can only envy and wish you the very best. - David Lyga

 

[Cholentpot]

Your definition of 'barrier' is far more appropriate and meaningful than is mine. I am embarrassed to state that I have achieved 70 without one true friend. But, since I am used to that abyss, I try to make up for this deficiency by remaining tethered to at least a modicum of ethics and integrity. I do not know what will happen, whether a nursing home will eventually be my demise or not. But, I wanted to tell you that your investment in people was not only sound, but filled with intellect. I can only envy and wish you the very best. - David Lyga

Well thanks.

It's not easy, it's a full time job maintaining a full relationship of community. Balance that with family and work and it can feel like a burden at times. However, the feeling of security and fulfillment it provides is unmatched. I'm not monetarily wealthy by any means, quite the opposite. However, I'd never consider myself poor.

 

[wiltw]

The tuition costs are like the health care costs: utterly obscene. This is one of the few areas I commiserate with the young, 'entitled' ones today.

When I was 20, I took a bus from Connecticut to New York to start a life. I rented a tiny room in Yorkville, (86rh and Third Ave) from an old Hungarian woman for $15 per week (YES). The NEXT DAY I got a production job at the publisher MacFadden Bartell for $115 per week or almost $100 after taxes. To supplement this job, I got a part time job at Gimbels department store in Herald Square. The job paid $40 per week after taxes.

My story, in brief: I went to college in San Francisco, starting in Fall 1968. By my senior year, I was sharing a 2BR apartment with two other students and rent was $180 per month (total rent, split 3 ways) Later that same year, my first job was $12000 per year....which happened to be the median household income in 1973. So a month's rent in total was 18% of my gross income later that same year.

Today in SF the mean for 2BR is $4300 per month. Can you imagine being a college student finding an apartment to share? Today the median income in US is $63600. So rent of a 2BR apartment requires 81% of median gross income!

To put a roof over yourself, 18% of gross in 1973, to 81% of gross in 2020. Horrid.
Rent now is 24x what it was 50 yrs ago; tuition now is 42x what it was 50 years ago. Median income is only 5.3x what it was 50 years ago.

 

[David Lyga]

As a relative youngster these stories are eye opening.

There are still opportunities out there, but you need to work for yourself and work the 'system'. The barrier to the cold cruel world as I stand is the community I'm part of. I know they have my back and I have theirs. I have a 'We' when this is not as common as it once was.

As for my obsolete camera. I have a new lens/shutter coming in and a GG. Now I need some holders, some film sheets and a decent tripod. I'm going to neglect getting the rangefinder calibrated because that's how I do.

I shall be moving into your basement where I will spend the rest of my days (or daze) for $50 per month. - David Lyga

 

[Les Sarile]

That's nothing. I got a gallon of regular for less than .99 a few months ago...

Gas . . . I bought a used all electric car to save about $4600 in gas bills commuting to work annually where they provide free charging!