Introducing the Medium Format camera Zenobia in its luxurious Gold Edition

[Dali]

Question from the OP: "Would you buy a camera that looks like this?"

My answer" "No".

 

[eddie]

Not sure what I was expecting coming on such a conservative platform to share something new and original... at the same time, I'm pretty sure no one under 30 let alone 20 thinks your camera collection looks good or is inspired to take on analog photography looking at it...

I'm curious as to why you think this is a "conservative platform". Personally, I have no problem with what anyone does with their cameras, as long as they're used for their intended purpose. As for anyone under 30 needing their camera to look good, they're seeing the camera as an accessory, rather than a tool for image making. I don't look at cameras for their originality. I'm looking for the originality in the work a camera (and photographer) produces.

 

[removed account4]

Would you buy a camera that looks like this?

maybe .. not sure. I kind of like stuff that is wrecked and falling apart so I might have just coated the remnants with urethane instead of using the covering you picked
I do like the bling and it is nicely offset by the worn top plate its got great contrast of materials... and its manhole / steel plate grip makes it a good self defense tool as needed.

And as far as black coverings go, for some mysterious reason, they're very difficult to find!
If you have links or materials recommendations for a covering you'd think looks more "traditional" please share it here. I have some black Skivertex but although it looks just like ancient camera coverings, it doesn't seem very water/oilproof and since I'm planning on using - not displaying - the camera, I want to be able to hold it for long periods of time and not have finger marks on the leather,

have you looked here >>. http://aki-asahi.com/store/
I have no connection to this seller but they seem to have a large variety of materials and cameras they have kits to cover. a lot of these old cameras were covered with "morrocan leather". im not sure what that actually is, and if it is a pre-curser to "corinthian leather' ricardo montablon used to talk about in the car ads.. if you like non traditional materials. book restoration and book binding supply companies sell a wide variety of materials that cover old books and could probably be double-used for camera skins. I've been thinking of laying and gluing paper to skin a camera one of these days. gotta find the right camera and the right paper though. ..

 

[Vaughn]

I'm curious as to why you think this is a "conservative platform". Personally, I have no problem with what anyone does with their cameras, as long as they're used for their intended purpose. As for anyone under 30 needing their camera to look good, they're seeing the camera as an accessory, rather than a tool for image making. I don't look at cameras for their originality. I'm looking for the originality in the work a camera (and photographer) produces.

Anything old and white tends to lean to the conservative side of the aisle -- and famousrice is not that young themselves...

 

[MattKing]

I'm curious as to why you think this is a "conservative platform".

It is a pretty conservative platform - small "c" conservative - in that it tends to hold in high regard the ideas, approaches, techniques and trends of the past.
On the other hand, we also do tend to be fairly non-judgmental and supportive of those who are interested in new approaches and new ideas, even if many of us have a preference for the tried and true.
All of that being said, and with all due consideration for the opinions of @fabulousrice, I just have to say:
"That gold covering makes that camera look really UGLY"

 

[eddie]

It is a pretty conservative platform - small "c" conservative - in that it tends to hold in high regard the ideas, approaches, techniques and trends of the past.

I see us as being more conservators than conservative.

 

[MattKing]

I see us as being more conservators than conservative.

As long as you are using the small "c" version of both words, there is a lot of "conservator" in a true "conservative".

 

[eddie]

Yes, small "c".
I've read his posts as meaning conservative in an "unoriginal" sense. He seems to believe anyone over 20 or 30 can't create original, unique images.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

He seems to believe anyone over 20 or 30 can't create original, unique images.

I did produce some good images when first starting out in photography but find looking back at those early negatives a significant amount of inconsistency, technically and creatively. There is a learning process and I'm reassured that at least I've learnt something over the years.

 

[takilmaboxer]

There's always been a difference in perspective between generations, but I have come to believe that the appearance of a new generation that is psychologically inseparable from their phones and social media, has created a whole new magnitude of difference. The world I grew up in was radically different from today's. When we oldsters disapprove of the OP's fake gold covering, younger readers probably roll their eyes and say "OK Boomer".

 

[fabulousrice]

Hey, where are the sequins?

That's a good idea! First the idea of fake fur now sequins. I think I'll be busy repairing skinless hasselblads and leicas for a long time! And reaching out to more fun people than this website seems to have in the process.

 

[fabulousrice]

There's always been a difference in perspective between generations, but I have come to believe that the appearance of a new generation that is psychologically inseparable from their phones and social media, has created a whole new magnitude of difference. The world I grew up in was radically different from today's. When we oldsters disapprove of the OP's fake gold covering, younger readers probably roll their eyes and say "OK Boomer".

Absolutely. But old geezers need to understand that if we don't make gold medium format cameras quick, film photography has as much of a chance of survival than the dinosaurs y'all remind me of
Appeal to newer generations... make teenagers blow wads of cash on film... prevent the extinction of analog photography... no matter how many sequins it'll take! Cameras for the people... not just the sad boring white old dudes...

 

[fabulousrice]

Question from the OP: "Would you buy a camera that looks like this?"

My answer" "No".

For someone who calls themselves "Dalì" (mis-spelled...) you're an insult to Salvador, the greatest artist that ever lived!

 

[fabulousrice]

I'm curious as to why you think this is a "conservative platform". Personally, I have no problem with what anyone does with their cameras, as long as they're used for their intended purpose. As for anyone under 30 needing their camera to look good, they're seeing the camera as an accessory, rather than a tool for image making. I don't look at cameras for their originality. I'm looking for the originality in the work a camera (and photographer) produces.

First off, until the owners of the wbsite release transparent demographic data, I'll have to go with my gut feeling of most users of photrio being old white straight dudes... I mean, it's very striking how different a community this is from all the other analog communities I belong to... where most of the screen space is dedicated to sharing out art, not our vain discussions...

Secondly, you're a fool if you think all these old geezers don't worship their leica or hassy gear. Go to a photo meetup with a hassy or leica and you'll see their looky-loo eyes prey on your gear... it's ALL ABOUT being seen with the gear for some of these peeps... and their photos... are shit sometimes.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

And the Rudeness Award goes to...

 

[fabulousrice]

maybe .. not sure. I kind of like stuff that is wrecked and falling apart so I might have just coated the remnants with urethane instead of using the covering you picked
I do like the bling and it is nicely offset by the worn top plate its got great contrast of materials... and its manhole / steel plate grip makes it a good self defense tool as needed.

have you looked here >>. http://aki-asahi.com/store/
I have no connection to this seller but they seem to have a large variety of materials and cameras they have kits to cover. a lot of these old cameras were covered with "morrocan leather". im not sure what that actually is, and if it is a pre-curser to "corinthian leather' ricardo montablon used to talk about in the car ads.. if you like non traditional materials. book restoration and book binding supply companies sell a wide variety of materials that cover old books and could probably be double-used for camera skins. I've been thinking of laying and gluing paper to skin a camera one of these days. gotta find the right camera and the right paper though. ..

Urethane? Can you share a link on a commercial website of the material you're talking about?

Thanks for the website but it's the third website recommendation I receive that looks like it was designed by a pre-teen 30 years ago and never updated... How would I trust someone who wants to help me make something look good if their own website looks like trash garbage? Lol... If my eyes don't peel of trying to make sense of what looks like the whole phone book rolled into one single home page, I'll try to search again for decent alternatives for future projects!

 

[fabulousrice]

Anything old and white tends to lean to the conservative side of the aisle -- and famousrice is not that young themselves...

Age is a number I'm sure you can find conservatives under 30 on here...

 

[fabulousrice]

It is a pretty conservative platform - small "c" conservative - in that it tends to hold in high regard the ideas, approaches, techniques and trends of the past.
On the other hand, we also do tend to be fairly non-judgmental and supportive of those who are interested in new approaches and new ideas, even if many of us have a preference for the tried and true.
All of that being said, and with all due consideration for the opinions of @fabulousrice, I just have to say:
"That gold covering makes that camera look really UGLY"

So you're saying that you're not a conservative before proving that you really are a hardcore one...
Just because someone owns a camera doesn't mean that they will ever have any taste... it's the sad truth of websites like this one where opinions are shared more often than quality work...
At the same time, it is america's most blatant insult for the european immigrant. The astounding lack of taste and absence of aesthetic standards... there's a reason why great artists were never americans...

 

[fabulousrice]

I see us as being more conservators than conservative.

I see people who fight against what is new as destructors of what they think they are conserving.
Completely out of touch with what products makes today's markets. Completely unable to put their beliefs into question. Completely devastated when Fuji or Ilford stops making film...
Yet completely incompetent at sharing their passions with younger generations... which in turn could very well solve that problem.

 

[Dali]

For someone who calls themselves "Dalì" (mis-spelled...) you're an insult to Salvador, the greatest artist that ever lived!

Who told you that it is related (even remotely) to Salvador? Looks like you are making a lot of assumptions without much knowledge.

Welcome to my "Ignore" list.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Who told you that it is related (even remotely) to Salvador? Looks like you are making a lot of assumptions without much knowledge.

Welcome to my "Ignore" list.

Yep, I was trying to give him a chance, but that last spate was it. Plonk!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

... your mom?

She taught me good manners and to be respectful of others, unlike you. Sadly, she has stage 4 cancer and is fighting for her life. You just earned your way onto my ignore list. Lots of other have done the same as well, I see.

 

[Andrew Patteson]

I wanted you to get approval for the shiny gold camera. You got some love, some respect, and some opposite. I don't love it, for what *I* would want, but the shininess made me smile, and I think it's cool if you rescued it and it makes you happy and makes you or someone else want to shoot more film. I hope you keep using it or can sell it to someone else who likes shiny cameras! Keep doing your thing! I approve!

But on the other hand your responses to those who didn't like your camera are obnoxious (I think if you re-read them you might see this?). Maybe I am wasting my time saying this, but it seems like you have interesting stuff to contribute here if you don't alienate anyone who might want to interact with you.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I wanted you to get approval for the shiny gold camera. You got some love, some respect, and some opposite. I don't love it, for what *I* would want, but the shininess made me smile, and I think it's cool if you rescued it and it makes you happy and makes you or someone else want to shoot more film. I hope you keep using it or can sell it to someone else who likes shiny cameras! Keep doing your thing! I approve!

But on the other hand your responses to those who didn't like your camera are obnoxious (I think if you re-read them you might see this?). Maybe I am wasting my time saying this, but it seems like you have interesting stuff to contribute here if you don't alienate anyone who might want to interact with you.

You're wasting your time, just like me. Don't feed the troll.

 

[eddie]

Secondly, you're a fool if you think all these old geezers don't worship their leica or hassy gear. Go to a photo meetup with a hassy or leica and you'll see their looky-loo eyes prey on your gear... it's ALL ABOUT being seen with the gear for some of these peeps... and their photos... are shit sometimes.

I own neither Leica or Hasselblad gear. (Funny, though that you write about "looky-loo cameras on a thread about your "looky-loo" camera.)