Am I sad

[TheRook]

Is there a reason you can't use what you collect ?

No more money left to purchase film?

 

[jeremy rundle]

Yeah, I have a collection of bills from buying collections . . .

Instead of being sad, I celebrate small completed collections like these Olympus OM1,2,3 & 4 and the fact that they are marvelous works of industrial art and still perform wonderfully!



Always wanted a 4ti

 

[jeremy rundle]

I always wanted a 4Ti

 

[removed account4]

i use what i collect and collect things to use.
i don't really have a showcase, some things scattered here and there
but it all gets used or i get rid of it ( sell it / give it to a arts center, give it away to someone who can use it )

best of luck with your collections! they look great !

 

[Les Sarile]

i use what i collect and collect things to use.
i don't really have a showcase, some things scattered here and there

Completing a collection of Pentax LX viewfinders serves a good use for the showcase as well as function.

Of course there are others with far less viewfinders that make completion easier . . .

 

[Les Sarile]

I always wanted a 4Ti

The metering system of the OM3 and OM4 are the best of the manual focus variety.

 

[jeremy rundle]

What do you think of the LX

 

[Les Sarile]

What do you think of the LX

I think highly of the LX since it is the only camera ever - past or present by any brand, that can aperture priority autoexpose for as long as it takes while monitoring the scene for changes in lighting and adjusting accordingly. This enables me to take a >45minute shot like the one below on Kodak Ektar 100.

It shares a few design elements as it's peers like robust construction but was the least dependent on batteries and most weatherproof.

It was also about the size of the non-changeable viewfinder variety.

 

[rrusso]

I'm kinda like jnanian, where everything in my 'collection' sees use, even if it's only a few times per year.

I once planned to collect every 'pro' Nikon body, but then realized that all but a couple would likely just sit and take up space.

Any time I go out to shoot film, I reach for the F4, but that will change once I get around to picking up a nice FA. I'd like one for those 'one lens and a compact body' urges I get once in a while.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I think highly of the LX since it is the only camera ever - past or present by any brand, that can aperture priority autoexpose for as long as it takes while monitoring the scene for changes in lighting and adjusting accordingly. This enables me to take a >45minute shot like the one below on Kodak Ektar 100.

That's impressive. Pentax should re-introduce the LX and use that photo of Hoover dam in the brochure.

That's the sexiest collection of four cameras I've seen. Those lenses...

 

[darkroommike]

I think highly of the LX since it is the only camera ever - past or present by any brand, that can aperture priority autoexpose for as long as it takes while monitoring the scene for changes in lighting and adjusting accordingly. This enables me to take a >45minute shot like the one below on Kodak Ektar 100.

It shares a few design elements as it's peers like robust construction but was the least dependent on batteries and most weatherproof.

It was also about the size of the non-changeable viewfinder variety.

The OM-2 also does this as do most cameras with OTF auto exposure. (And the OM-2 did it first).

 

[MattKing]

The OM-2 also does this as do most cameras with OTF auto exposure. (And the OM-2 did it first).

But not for nearly as long a maximum exposure as an LX.

 

[Les Sarile]

That's impressive. Pentax should re-introduce the LX and use that photo of Hoover dam in the brochure.
That's the sexiest collection of four cameras I've seen. Those lenses...

A lot of things have to come together right for these long exposures! Thanks.

 

[Les Sarile]

The OM-2 also does this as do most cameras with OTF auto exposure. (And the OM-2 did it first).

There is a writeup on the OM2 regarding long autoexposures -> http://zuiko.com/web_5__20150924_032.htm

Time exposures in very low light of up to 19 minute exposure can be had at ASA 12. OM-2 low light capability will vary with the ASA the camera is set to. As the asa goes higher, the low light expsoure limit is proportionally shorter. When set to asa 1600, for example, the OM-2 will have an exposure limit of approximately 20 seconds. When using high speed film, you can fool the camera into giving longer low light exposures simply by setting the ASA knob to a lower setting. ​

As Matt stated, the OM's are limited as I have done hours long exposures on both of my LX's and certainly very straight forward with regards to doing this.

The OM2 was the first to implement OTF and TTL flash as well as the smaller form factor but Pentax improved on the concept with a single cel in the mirror box that the OM4 also incorporated. Then they added the interchangeable viewfinder while keeping the same form factor as well as the more traditional control locations. Canon patented and tested OTF in 1969 and Minolta did as well in 1972 but I am not aware if they developed this any further. I don't know what patents Pentax used for their implementation.

 

[darkroommike]

On the other hand at 19 minutes you're already so far into reciprocity land that it really does not matter. And there's a lot of difference between "the only camera that ever did this" and one of many cameras that did this but IMHO did it best.

 

[railwayman3]

Whether you're a serious collection with dozens of cameras, or (like me) have a small accumulation of interesting items acquired casually over time, it's always a good idea to actually use them from time-to-time, just to keep the mechanisms free and in good order.
I sometimes wonder how many valuable cameras seen in museum collections still actually work. (I was at an open-air museum where there are various period "shops" with windows done out in 1950's/60's style. One was a "photographic" shop with some quite nice cameras, projectors, etc.,....the problem to me was that the window faced south, and the exhibits were cooking nicely in direct sunlight every day of the year. )

 

[Les Sarile]

On the other hand at 19 minutes you're already so far into reciprocity land that it really does not matter. And there's a lot of difference between "the only camera that ever did this" and one of many cameras that did this but IMHO did it best.

Yup the LX's aperture priority mode routinely goes far beyond reciprocity land that no camera has - or ever will, go . . .

You will have to patiently conduct your own testing yourself as no film datasheet accounts for these. Fortunately all of the color negatives I have tried so far are unaffected.

When conducting these extremely long autoexposure shots, I always have to check by looking into the viewfinder to see if it is open again - indicating end of exposure. Royal PIA so I device a gadget that would let me know without having to constantly look in the viewfinder. It is simply an LED, battery connected to the LX's X-synch terminal that closes the contact when exposure starts and opens back up when it is done.

Now I can glance over and know exposure is done when the LED goes out. I can attach a buzzer for audio alert but I am figuring out a way to attach a stop watch timer to accurately know the length of exposure. BTW, this seems to work on other cameras I have tried.

Took it out to the Wharf one evening and got this >20 minute autoexposure on Kodak Ektar 100 and at a glance I could see when the exposure was completed.

Looks like a normal exposure on its own so as a reference, I took a shot of the scene on my not so smart phone and you can see how bright the LED is - right pointing to the back, and how dark that scene was that I took.

BTW, the LX's ultra bright and huge viewfinder made that focusing simple.

Also took other shots on the same roll of the boardwalk but these were only of short duration of about 10 minutes.

Someone shot an aerial firework to the right during the exposure.

 

[mshchem]

I had a Pentax ES II screw mount . That little camera was unbeatable for auto time exposures of city lights skylines at night, I have slides that I took in the 70's that look like they were done with a fancy digital camera. I didn't even bracket. It was amazing. Then I bought my first F2, I must have a dozen Nikon pro bodies F through F5, and finders and more. Medium format, RZs, SQAIs, crown graphics, V8 deardorff, 5 beseler enlargers sinks,dryers colorheads. Takes up a floor in my house. I have a very understanding wife. I just walked out to the dining room. My wife keeps getting after me, there's a RZ 67 II, two Bronica SQ-AIs, an F5, and a D800. I've used every one in the last 10 days
Best Regards Mike

 

[mshchem]

I think highly of the LX since it is the only camera ever - past or present by any brand, that can aperture priority autoexpose for as long as it takes while monitoring the scene for changes in lighting and adjusting accordingly. This enables me to take a >45minute shot like the one below on Kodak Ektar 100.

It shares a few design elements as it's peers like robust construction but was the least dependent on batteries and most weatherproof.

It was also about the size of the non-changeable viewfinder variety.

I've always thought that the LX was one of the most handsome cameras ever, and that's coming from a Nikon man. Pentax Spotmatic (my first real camera) is still a great looking and functional camera. I'm gonna have to save up for a pristine LX. MIKE

 

[jeremy rundle]

When i go out today I will take my Nikon F Photomic FTn and Ilford film in the car as usual

 

[fstop]

"I think highly of the LX since it is the only camera ever - past or present by any brand, that can aperture priority autoexpose for as long as it takes while monitoring the scene for changes in lighting and adjusting accordingly."



Not true.