What camera are you lusting after, and why?

[ambaker]

Mamiya Universal Press with a Polaroid back. I've got the 22 super, but it won't take the Polaroid backs.


-They tie Mountain Climbers together so that the sane ones can't go home...

 

[Roger Cole]

Go for the Rolleiflex 2.8 (or 3.5) E model. If you're used to shooting all manual all mechanical cameras, they'll fit like a glove. And an E in decent working order isn't that big of an ask either - both of mine were purchased for under $600. The one needed an overhaul, which was a little pricey at $400, but now that it's done, it's like butter - focusing and setting shutter/aperture are silky smooth, focusing is dead accurate, and exposures are dead on what I set them to (no accounting for user error). The other one was perfectly fine for a couple years before it too needed servicing, but like the first one, now that it's serviced, it's nothing but a joy to use. And they can take heavy use too - I just put 70-ish rolls through one of mine on my Italy trip.

I'll probably take that advice, eventually, and I thank you for it. But note that a $600 camera and $400 CLA means a $1000 camera, and see above about financial recovery from divorce. $1000 cameras, starting with a new 4x5 field camera (because I'm actually well served in MF by my Yashicamat 124 and my M645 Pro) will come first. I also have other, even more expensive, hobbies I am eager to take up again (namely flying, getting current again and starting on training for my instrument training.) So I'll probably get one, but it's going to be a while.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Roger the divorce will pass and soon you will learn to buy a camera without asking for permission first.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

The appeal of the Rolleiflex is that you know a camera like that will never be made again (well, that's true of essentially all film cameras now, but the Rolleiflex still seems special).

For 50 years I had no interest in owning any TLR, ... then *snap!* -- I had to have one.

As mentioned above, a 2.8E or 3.5E is a good choice. You have to balance the features you want or don't want versus the complexity. For example, I bought a 3.5F type 2 (K4E) made in the spring of 1960. I bought it out of a choice of half a dozen other Rolleiflexes simply because it had a healthy sounding shutter, self-timer, bright screen, plus a 1-year warranty (it had just been serviced). I'm concerned that the old selenium meter will eventually fail, even though I have handheld meters. The meter coupling also adds complexity when servicing the camera.

Figuring out what the models are are probably a Right of Passage. Here are some links I've used:

http://www.rolleiclub.com/cameras/tlr/info/index.shtml

http://www.mediajoy.com/en/cla_came/r_history/index.html

http://imagesandcameras.com/buying-rolleiflex-tlr

 

[Roger Cole]

Roger the divorce will pass and soon you will learn to buy a camera without asking for permission first.

Well I never asked for permission when married, and she didn't give a damn what I bought. THOSE kinds of problems weren't our problems. It's just a matter of getting finances back in some semblance of pre-disaster order.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Still not lusting after any bodies, almost 7 years later. The F4 I mentioned in my original post developed metering issues in late 2013, so I purged it. I've stopped buying Nikkormats. Current FM2n is a camera that was built about a month before my first FM2n that I owned long before I joined here. So, that issue has been taken care of. F2A was replaced with an F2AS eventually. Said F2AS got Soverized last year. Have a similar condition F to the one I mentioned in my original post, this time with an F-36 drive with cordless pack. Also have a different, but working F3P.

If I come across a killer deal on a late model regular F4 with P screen and MF-23, and an F5 with MF-28 and L screen, I wouldn't turn them down. But, I'm not lusting after them. Nor will it be the end of the world if I never wind up getting those two items.

-J

 

[darkosaric]

Actually lusting more over some lenses than over cameras: Summitar 5cm f2, any ultra micro nikkor, Hektor 5cm f2,5 ...

 

[skorpiius]

None, I'm not buying any more cameras.. I swear..

 

[Kyle M.]

With that big holiday bonus coming up next week I'm really lusting after an Olympus E-M10 Mark II, yeah I know it's digital but sometimes you just have to have a digicam.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I do not use the Hasselblad 903 SWC [38mm Biogon lens] very often, so why would I want to by the Hasselblad 30mm fisheye lens? I can hardly think of a use for it. ... But the price is just so good, how am I going to pass it up?? I know better than asking the APUGgers to save me!

 

[miha]

Linhof Technorama 612 PC II for those (continual!) moments when my Kardan sits idle in its case.

 

[skorpiius]

Actually what would interest me is the ability to play with tilt/shift. Possibly one of the press cameras, which are pretty cool looking as well, but what I'd really like to find is a 35mm system that I could use on both my Nikon DSLRs and F100. Not sure if something exists, I haven't looked yet.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Actually what would interest me is the ability to play with tilt/shift. Possibly one of the press cameras, which are pretty cool looking as well, but what I'd really like to find is a 35mm system that I could use on both my Nikon DSLRs and F100. Not sure if something exists, I haven't looked yet.

Nikon did make at least one tilt-shift lens, and I think there are some FSU/Russian-made tilt-shift lenses out there in Nikon mount.

 

[skorpiius]

Nikon did make at least one tilt-shift lens, and I think there are some FSU/Russian-made tilt-shift lenses out there in Nikon mount.

I'm just wondering if there's a bellows style system rather than the solid lenses.. I swear I saw something like that hooked to a Nikon... in the 1980s..

 

[skorpiius]

I'm just wondering if there's a bellows style system rather than the solid lenses.. I swear I saw something like that hooked to a Nikon... in the 1980s..

Looks like there is

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

That's a Nikon PB-4 macro bellows.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I do not use the Hasselblad 903 SWC [38mm Biogon lens] very often, so why would I want to by the Hasselblad 30mm fisheye lens? I can hardly think of a use for it. ... But the price is just so good, how am I going to pass it up?? I know better than asking the APUGgers to save me!

A photographer friend of mine uses the 35mm equivalents of 14-18mm the most often and actually does well with it. I rarely use anything wider than 35mm (in 35mm terms), but occasionally use 28mm. Oddly enough, I do use my SWC far more often than I ever thought I would - and it's 38mm Biogon is the equivalent of 24mm. There's something that just looks right about photos taken with that lens.

Unless you use the SWC reasonably often, or really love wide angle shots, I can't see the appeal of the 30mm unless you just like having it.

Besides the 38mm Biogon, I've got the 50/4 CF FLE, 80/2.8's, the 120 Makro, the 150/4 and the 250 C lens. The only thing I'd like is the sweet 100mm.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

That's a Nikon PB-4 macro bellows.

Indeed it is. I have one and am impressed with the movements it provides. I don't understand why the PB-5 and PB-6 offered less.

 

[skorpiius]

Can it only be used for macro photography?

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

[Sirius Glass]

I could not resist the 20% off from KEH, so I am waiting for the Zeiss glass to be delivered.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I could not resist the 20% off from KEH, so I am waiting for the Zeiss glass to be delivered.

Checking to see what the Hassy 30mm looks like...

...ok, the front element is an impressive surface.

My photographer friend would make these ultra wide photos at the beach - he'd stand about three feet from a piece of driftwood or a rock, get down low, keep the horizon level, and make the shot. The results were good - no distortion or fisheye effect. The photo looked like you were standing right there with your normal human wide vision.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

That's a Nikon PB-4 macro bellows.

Can it only be used for macro photography?

Practically speaking, yes it's really only useful for macro images.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Checking to see what the Hassy 30mm looks like...

...ok, the front element is an impressive surface.

My photographer friend would make these ultra wide photos at the beach - he'd stand about three feet from a piece of driftwood or a rock, get down low, keep the horizon level, and make the shot. The results were good - no distortion or fisheye effect. The photo looked like you were standing right there with your normal human wide vision.

That lens lets you aim straight ahead and get your shoes in the photograph.

 

[Ces1um]

How does a wonderful thread like this go dormant for two years?

I'm currently lusting after a Kodak brownie hawkeye flash model. I've always loved the way they looked and the photos they produce definitely have a dreamy quality about them. I would love to get my hands on one, if for no other reason then to just physically see what they're like. That being said, I'm trying to cut back the number of cameras that I own, not add to them.

 

[Sirius Glass]

How does a wonderful thread like this go dormant for two years?

I'm currently lusting after a Kodak brownie hawkeye flash model. I've always loved the way they looked and the photos they produce definitely have a dreamy quality about them. I would love to get my hands on one, if for no other reason then to just physically see what they're like. That being said, I'm trying to cut back the number of cameras that I own, not add to them.

I have one and two rolls of unexposed Verichrome Pan dated 1978. I am just waiting for the opportunity to use it. I do not know how I will develop it.