Underrated film cameras

[Don_ih]

To be clear, that other individual called you obtuse last week--not me.

Yes, and I responded to that. Then it was time to more or less stop. There is no point trading insults with someone who hides behind a fake name - you can never reach him.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Wait--I'm confused. Is this where I respond to your elementary school insult by telling you about my advanced degree in engineering? (You aren't the only one with such a degree, smart guy!). Or is this the part where I go find a picture of Weird Al or some other nonsense and insult you that way? Your hypocrisy is shining through once again, so just let me know.

I commented at some length on my opinion of Adams' work. Nowhere were you mentioned in my posts at all. Nothing I said was about you. You came along with completely unrelated, non-sequitur gibberish attacking me. Not the other way around. You had nothing to say about the content of my posts, and instead attacked me personally. And now you're reaping what you've sown, smart guy. Maybe you can find someone smarter than you to explain cause and effect. It really shouldn't be hard to find such a person.

The only outcome will be @Sirius Glass responds. Then you respond. Then he responds. At this point, maybe it should be a private conversation.

Judging by the private conversations that have been initiated with me in recent weeks, I'm far from the only person he gets belligerent with on this site. I'm not alone in these observations, and I see no point in a private conversation with this individual. Just witness any number of other threads where he feels the need to insult people and then folds when challenged, blaming everyone but himself.

(Come to think of it, you yourself were one of those he accused of attacking him last week).

I'm more than willing to poke fun at Sirius because of his Hasslebad fetish, but this is getting real childish real fast.

+

Well, as the old saying goes... sometimes you gotta fight fire....

Yes, but I never attacked him. I disagreed with him. If someone thinks disagreement is an attack, then there's no point continuing to talk, because you'll never convince them of anything.

I highly recommend utilizing the ignore feature to those who just aren't getting along. Putting them on ignore means you can no longer see their posts, therefor any insults or nitpicking is essentially them just yelling into the wind.

Jeremy

"Ignore" is good to use for someone who states opinions that you can't agree with, who seems to be of a different ideology than what you can accept, and who is also not directly assaulting you. Ignore people who aren't actually talking to you, if they are saying things you find idiotic. But if someone is openly quoting what you say and calling you obtuse, ignoring is not something you naturally want to do. The instinct is to strike back, but it's a good idea to let anger wane and then respond. The offender is not the only audience in an open forum. Ignoring can let his position stand unchallenged.
However, when it ceases to be an argument about something and turns into a tennis match of insults, that's when the conversation should go somewhere else.

It can also save your sanity, and leave him looking like a lone idiot in the midst.

To be clear, that other individual called you obtuse last week--not me. My only beef here is with that other guy. Whom, again, I never had anything to do with until he came after me with personal insults, apparently because I don't worship the ghost of Ansel Adams.

Yes, and I responded to that. Then it was time to more or less stop. There is no point trading insults with someone who hides behind a fake name - you can never reach him.

I agree it is time to take this out of the public. Lets get a room, but I will start on top.

 

[MattKing]

This thread has become its own click-bait.

 

[Sirius Glass]

This thread has become its own click-bait.

That is exactly why I am minimizing my number of responses.

 

[Mike Lopez]

That is exactly why I am minimizing my number of responses.

Yeah, I'm sure that's it. Right.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

This thread has become its own click-bait.

but... but.... you can't help but stare when you pass all the flashy lights and carnage.

 

[md_photo]

Ha! I came here looking for underrated film cameras

 

[markjwyatt]

Ha! I came here looking for underrated film cameras

All the people in the big argument bought them all while we were here reading their bickering... You can pick them up second time through at 200% of the last price.

 

[warden]

Ha! I came here looking for underrated film cameras

But you found overinflated egos.

 

[btaylor]

but... but.... you can't help but stare when you pass all the flashy lights and carnage.

Too true!
On another note- I'm sure the K1000 was (is!) a great camera, but the soft spot I have for the Spotmatic never goes away. The classic screw mount- so simple and universal.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I was out shooting with mine just this morning and it's a favorite. My dad bought two of them in '84, one for me - I was headed to design school and a manual camera was required - and one for him. They're as basic as can be, and fun too.

Yes, I still have a K1000. Still use it.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

In the old days it would be photographers I knew. It often resulted in a loan for first hand experience. As for camera stores, if you had a good relationship with the store, it was a good source, also often resulting in a test drive.
I think the feel of a camera is important to the user. Something as simple as the size of one's hands can have an effect on how comfortable it is to use.
I have to admit I haven't bought a camera in a long time. In the last 10 years I think I've added four (Fuji GW/GSW IIs, a Holga Pano, and a 5x7 camera). I'm not a collector, nor do I believe a "better" camera will make me a "better" photographer.

eddie, how do you like the Holga Pano?

 

[eddie]

eddie, how do you like the Holga Pano?

I like it. It's a lot of fun. If you like Holgas/Dianas, you'll like it.

 

[warden]

On another note- I'm sure the K1000 was (is!) a great camera, but the soft spot I have for the Spotmatic never goes away. The classic screw mount- so simple and universal.

They're both great and inexpensive fun! And when you consider a properly serviced and maintained Spotmatic, K1000, or similar rugged, simple camera from another brand will outlast any photographer that buys it, does it really matter all that much if you pay $100 or $300 for it?

I understand that price is important for collectors that quickly flip cameras or need to turn a profit for whatever reason, and for those on a student's budget price is important too, but these are still quite inexpensive little inventions over the long haul even if you "overpay", and the cost of the camera is quickly eclipsed by film and processing if you actually use the thing.

My advice, for what it's worth to anyone looking for advice, is to research cameras and try to get one that you'll keep for the long term joy of using it. Ignore temporary overrated/underrated calculations and focus on what you want to use for the long haul. You'll quickly forget the pain of the purchase price of the camera, but the agony of paying for film and processing is forever. ;-)

 

[Sirius Glass]

It is good to see that the thread is back on the topic. Carry on.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I like it. It's a lot of fun. If you like Holgas/Dianas, you'll like it.

Great to hear. I've got a few Holgas. One is a pinhole wide. Waiting for Holga Pan to get shipped.

 

[Greg Kriss]

Pentax 645. The original 645 model. I used two of these with a complete set of Takumars professionally for probably around 20 years. Not so much as a hiccup did I ever experience with the cameras. Finally sold most of the system except for one body and its 35mm and 120mm Talkumars. Both optics I found preferred to Hasselblad's 40mm Distagon and 120mm S-Planar optics. The 35mm Takumar and the 120mm Macro Takumar I found to be actually a bit sharper than the Hass equivalents.

Agfa Isolette: Small folding 120 6x6 camera. A 10"x10" B&W enlargement made with an Isolette when viewed side by side with one made from a Hasselblad... no difference. It's only when you make 16'x20" B&W enlargements where you MIGHT see a difference. Though chromes and color negatives made with an Isolette don't have the contrast of ones made with a Hass.

 

[takilmaboxer]

I love my K1000 and unlike all my other 35mm SLRs, the light meter still works! Unlike, that is, an MX, an ME, a Spotmatic, two Nikons, and two Canons. Note that with every one of the mechanical cameras, the shutter, film advance and mechanical f-stops still work fine. Auto cameras are all dead. My summer project is to stick to the K1000 and FP4 in D23. Fast, light and accurate focus,and bye-bye Sino Promise.

 

[BrianShaw]

My summer project is to revive and use a Ricoh Singlex TLS. Just completed the revive portion of the project. It seems like a very under-rated camera… whatever that means.

 

[Paul Howell]

I just remember my Pentax FS 1N, very nice first generation AF, not as fancy as top of the line Minolta, Canon or Nikon, easy to use, fast AF for a first generation body, good motor drive, only down side is that F stops are not shown in the viewfinder, only shutter speed. Takes a Lithium 2CR5, there is an AA battery insert which I've never been able to find.

 

[Joseph Bell]

My summer project is to revive and use a Ricoh Singlex TLS. Just completed the revive portion of the project. It seems like a very under-rated camera… whatever that means.

I agree! Mine came with a Rikenon 50mm 1.7 and the lens offers colors/contrast very similar to the Takumars from the same era. The camera is very much like a Spotmatic, but more bricklike and less pleasant! This was my first SLR and I remain fond of it decades later...

 

[btaylor]

My summer project is to revive and use a Ricoh Singlex TLS. Just completed the revive portion of the project. It seems like a very under-rated camera… whatever that means.

I think I remember a review of this camera way back when in pop photo. Basic, but well made, and the lens tests were outstanding. The brand was always overshadowed by the big names.

 

[Paul Howell]

Chinon, Ricoh, Cosina all made pretty good cameras and lens, Ricoh of course now owns Pentax, Chinon was bought out be Kodak just in time to fold up, Cosina is still making lens, don't think they are making bodies.

 

[BobD]

There are "Sears" branded 35mm SLRs made by Ricoh and "Vivitar" branded cameras made by Cosina that are dirt cheap but quite capable cameras and lenses. Most are either K-Mount or M42. Some have various auto modes and even spot metering on a few.

"Vivitar" primes can also be quite good, especially those made by Tokina.

 

[henryvk]

I have one branded Ricoh KR-5 (often found as an XR500) and it's a very nice body. I got the Rikenon 50mm 1.7 to go with it and other than the top speed being only 1/500 it's rock solid.