First B&J Press Camera photos...

[DougGrosjean]

Hi all,

Recieved my Ebay B&J press camera with the Heliar lens.

Overall, rough cosmetics. Lens is perfect. Shutter is probably inaccurate, as I can't hear much difference between the settings. Except at slower speeds when it sticks open indefinitely....

But I wanted to use the camera anyway, so I loaded up some film backs and shot some pics around my home - just a couple long-exposure (15 seconds or so) of my kitchen, and then an open-shutter in a dark room combined with a flash to photograph my son.

Made maybe 5 exposures. 2 were overexposed, my fault entirely. The 2 of my kitchen were technically correct, though uninpsired. The shot of my son turned out great, he's clowning for the camera.... I didn't expect much so I told him to just do whatever he wanted, be himself.

Oh, and one of the filmholders had film in it. I found out when I opened it... So I checked all the other filmholders. Only one other piece of film. I gambled that maybe there was an image on it, and tossed it in the Yankee tank with my own film. No joy - neg was clear. Ah well, the other neg that I ruined went to a good cause, allowing me to learn how to load the filmholders.

Overall, I'm thrilled. Processing went well, though the Yankee tank is a thirsty son-of-a-gun. I just followed directions, agitated to-and-fro as the arrows said, and all was well.

Thanks, folks, for the tips along the way..! Rest is up to me - get a CLA on the lens / shutter, practice, and get my Polaraid back and load it up....

Rather fun shooting with such a battered piece - it's the ugliest looking camera I own, but does fine.

Doug Grosjean
Pemberville, Ohio

 

[athanasius80]

Woo hoo! Remember that ugly cameras are like ugly vintage cars: you can have more fun with them when you don't worry about dents, scratches or rust holes. :0)

 

[DougGrosjean]

Yup, agreed 100%.

Taking the lens in today for a CLA at local repair shop. Hope it goes OK.... it's like turning an ugly baby loose at daycare for the first time.

 

[athanasius80]

Eh, you'll be fine. Lets see some pics from this ugly baby now!

 

[MattCarey]

Well, if you did a 15s exposure, it sounds like your bellows are probably good!

And so the addiction begins...

Matt

 

[DougGrosjean]

Eh, you'll be fine. Lets see some pics from this ugly baby now!

Here's the one of my son, taken with the shutter on B in a dark room and firing a handheld flash. I'm amazed, even *he* liked it..! That single photo probably has me hooked:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h...12y04m-Christmas-01-Revised-.jpg?t=1167672012

 

[DougGrosjean]

Well, if you did a 15s exposure, it sounds like your bellows are probably good!

And so the addiction begins...

Matt

Bellows seem OK; I've since taken some shots outdoors at a local museum, a display on NW Ohio's oil boom of 100 years ago, and nothing on the negs that I could blame on stray light.

I've since taken the lens to Midwest Camera Repair for a CLA of the sticky shutter. Downloaded directions to adjust the rangefinder (it was WAY off, at least now it's close and I can finish dialing it in when I have the lens back), and cleaned the viewfinder and rangefinder windows. So looking through them, it feels like a decent camera.

By the way, if anybody in Detroit metro area needs small screws for a similar project, Nankin Ace Hardware on Ford Road near Canton MI does a bang-up biz in RC cars, planes, and Lionel trains - they've got piles of that weeeee little hardware / fasteners used on the old cameras. Some of the fasteners on my camera were rounded by previous owners, and I replaced as needed.

Big clunky fun camera so far.

Oh! I loved being able to shift the lens up when shooting the oil display. No more falling-over buildings! Just level the camera, and put the horizon where I want it...