I've been shooting and processing B & W since the early '70s but drifted away from this about 10 years ago. Nearly sold all my Canon FD gear, (could never warm to the EOS).
On a trip to Japan last October I was given two cameras that belonged to my late father-in-law and I'm getting inspired again. It cost me a small fortune to have them overhauled. A low mileage Yashica Mat 124G needed a good cleanout including oil on the back of the taking lens and fungus on the screen, looks mint now. The other gem is a Pentax S2 which needed new shutter curtains as part of it's restoration.
While transiting through Tokyo railway station I stumbled across the Komura camera store which is loaded with used gear of all sorts. Picked up a couple of SMC Takumars -
28mm f3.5 and 135mm f3.5 complete with original caps, metal lens hoods and Pentax branded Skylight filters for
about $AUD130. All set to go.
Went and bought darkroom supplies yesterday plus 120 film at scary prices. I still have about 20 bulk loaded 35mm films which although being around 8 years past expiry have been sitting in the fridge all this time. Wife thinks, (knows?), I'm crazy taking up the fridge space. I'll see how they work out.
Lots of catching up to do and I'm looking forward to it.
See you around,
Martin
PS What a wonderful time to buy film gear of all sorts. I'll be replacing some of my Vivitar and Tamron FD lenses with the genuine Canon articles as opportunities arise.
On a trip to Japan last October I was given two cameras that belonged to my late father-in-law and I'm getting inspired again. It cost me a small fortune to have them overhauled. A low mileage Yashica Mat 124G needed a good cleanout including oil on the back of the taking lens and fungus on the screen, looks mint now. The other gem is a Pentax S2 which needed new shutter curtains as part of it's restoration.
While transiting through Tokyo railway station I stumbled across the Komura camera store which is loaded with used gear of all sorts. Picked up a couple of SMC Takumars -
28mm f3.5 and 135mm f3.5 complete with original caps, metal lens hoods and Pentax branded Skylight filters for
about $AUD130. All set to go.
Went and bought darkroom supplies yesterday plus 120 film at scary prices. I still have about 20 bulk loaded 35mm films which although being around 8 years past expiry have been sitting in the fridge all this time. Wife thinks, (knows?), I'm crazy taking up the fridge space. I'll see how they work out.
Lots of catching up to do and I'm looking forward to it.
See you around,
Martin
PS What a wonderful time to buy film gear of all sorts. I'll be replacing some of my Vivitar and Tamron FD lenses with the genuine Canon articles as opportunities arise.
!