Vintage camera porn (Bored...)

[StepheKoontz]

I thought it would be fun to post pictures of some of our favorite cameras. I will likely add more of mine soon.

To me the first Pentax (original AP) is just a lovely camera. It's very simple with it's preset lens, but operates so smoothly, feels nice to hold and is a joy to use. The separate low speed dial is a throwback to the Barnack Leica style which I appreciate. The 58mm f2 pre-set was an interesting lens as it's the shortest focal length Sonnar design made, and was only made I believe for one year.

The picture is of a Pentax AP with a 58mm f2 pre-set lens.

 

[Ariston]

Beautiful. I almost picked one of those up at a flea market recently.

I'll post a photo of my twins later.

 

[BradS]

Keeping with the Pentax theme...

 

[BrianShaw]

 

[Ariston]

Here are my twins. The Nikon FM and FE. I love the clean look (no "FM" or "FE" badge on front), and the feel of the film wind and mirror. I have an FM2 - the mirror slaps much harder, and the winding is not nearly as buttery smooth. They are best in black.

 

[mgb74]

In keeping with the title of this thread, I love the gentle, graceful curve, the sleek arm and the smooth but firm tip of the naked....




Pentax rewind lever.

Seriously, the shape of that lever has always impressed me. There might be a cure but so far none has worked (other than having a couple of Spotmatics).

 

[StepheKoontz]

Seriously, the shape of that lever has always impressed me. There might be a cure but so far none has worked (other than having a couple of Spotmatics).

After the CLA, this AP is by far the smoothest winding camera I own. And as you said, that wind lever!

 

[BradS]

 

[Andy38]

2 Miranda slrs with the "Cadillac grille", a Sensorex C and an Automex III.
In working order except stifft focus on Automex lens.

 

[mgb74]

Perhaps of interest only to me, but my first camera. Literally the same camera (though I've since lost the flash). Received as a gift in 1963. I had thought long gone but turned up at my brother's house when he moved.

 

[StepheKoontz]

This was my first camera, a Tower 41 made by Mamiya. Sold in 1961, it was handed down to me when I was around 10 years old after being used by my Dad to take a lot of family slides. It's always been taken well care of and still works today!

 

[BradS]

2 Miranda slrs with the "Cadillac grille", a Sensorex C and an Automex III.
In working order except stiff focus on Automex lens.
View attachment 244051

I've always admired these for their very handsome design. How are they in use?

 

[rubbernglue]

My bronica's

My Bronicas by Johan Lindgren, on Flickr

 

[pentaxpete]

My 1956 Agfa Isolette III with 75mm f3.5 Solinar -- a Gift from a Lady Member of Brentwood & District Photographic Club -- the Solinar is SO SHARP !

My Asahi Pentax Spotmatic -F set, given to me by an Old Gent and I went back and took some Portraits of him and his Wife on the gear for their Kids

My Mamiya C220 given to me by a Camera Club member before he Died -- I used to e-mail him results -- the Sekor lens is SO SHARP !

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Oh, oh, camera porn. Danger, danger - GAS follows. Here is my stepdad's Leica M2 with 50mm ƒ/2 dual-range Summicron.

 

[Ian Grant]

Real SLRs the first fully featured camera to have motor drives and bulk film backs, and best of all a 58mm f2 Biotar T coated lens (or a tessar).

Ian

 

[BrianShaw]

I’m not bored at all... working from home has resulted in longer hours with fewer breaks... so pulling out some of the less frequently used cameras for when I need to step away from the computer.

At the moment... this one, a Kodak Retina IIIC. Recently back from an international journey to be overhauled by The King of Retinas, Chris Sherlock.

 

[BrianShaw]

... and for any fellow Retina users... I just remembered that the big-C has viewfinder markings for the 35 and 80mm lenses in the viewfinder. So I can stow the auxiliary viewfinder until I use the small-c again!

 

[StepheKoontz]

For something a bit newer, an F5 with a Zeiss 135mm f2 ZF2 APO Sonnar lens mounted.

 

[Finny]

my fathers Exakta Varex from Ihagee Dresden

 

[Finny]

It is a "Zeiss Contessa Nettel Sonnet Tropical" from my grandfather (ca. 1923). (From photo "Prien" in Kiel)

A 6.5 x 9 cm plate chambera in a wooden box with a viewfinder on top (adjustable according to distance) and with "sport rangefinder"?! The front side (cover) is covered with leather.

 

[mgb74]

... and for any fellow Retina users... I just remembered that the big-C has viewfinder markings for the 35 and 80mm lenses in the viewfinder. So I can stow the auxiliary viewfinder until I use the small-c again!

And the big-C viewfinder is great if you wear eyeglasses. The only thing about the IIIC that detracts from being the perfect pocket camera is the weight. All brass, steel, and glass. No plastic.

 

[4season]

 

[Ian Grant]

The Duchess . . . . .

 

[Andy38]

I've always admired these for their very handsome design. How are they in use?

The Sensomat has TTL metering, not the Automex.
Both have a superb viewfinder, close, imho, to the F3 HP I use.
Lenses are correct, no more.
Shutter and meter work on both but I don't use these cameras now.

Edit :
Oh, Ian, the Duchess...
It's a pleasure to see !