What's your latest new old camera ? (Part 2)

removedacct1 · Sep 3, 2018

Toyo said:
They are somewhat like a Leica to use and very easy to manage in the hand. The viewfinder has a built-in diopter which I like.
Film wind-on is an acquired taste as the knob is a little snug. The Zorki 4K has a lever which is easier, but it doesn't look as cool
The 3.5 Industar is a very good lens, but my favourite is the Jupiter 8, which can still be found cheaply if you shop around.
The film take-up spool is not fixed and comes out of course - so make sure it is present. Of course you can buy replacements on ebay if not.
I have a Zorki 4 which I have been using a lot, but have been after a 3M at a decent price for a long time before this one popped up.
I really like the lines of the 3M
Oh - if you do get one, always wind on and cock the shutter before changing film speeds
T

Thank you for that info, much appreciated. I assume you mean shutter speeds in reference to cocking the shutter, yes?

Toyo · Sep 3, 2018

paulbarden said:
Thank you for that info, much appreciated. I assume you mean shutter speeds in reference to cocking the shutter, yes?

Yes - DOH! - don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that.
The Shutter has to be cocked by winding on the film before changing the shutter speed. There is no meter, so no film speed setting of course.
Another feature that isn't obvious immediately is that the rewind knob (for rewinding the film into its canister after shooting the roll) is able to be telescoped upwards to allow purchase for the fingers. Still not as easy as a lever rewind ala SLR cameras - but not that difficult.
Tom

CMoore · Sep 3, 2018

cooltouch said:
It's hard to argue with that. Back when I shot Canon only, my most used camera was an old F-1, and I too used it so much that everything about its operation became instinctive. Interesting thing about that camera is, even though it's been 30 years since I used one on a regular basis, when I pick up one of mine these days, it all comes back to me as if I'd never left.

What are you using now.....for 35mm.?

cooltouch · Sep 4, 2018

Well, when I take a 35mm camera out these days, unless I feel like shooting something different for a change, it's one of my trusty F-1n's.

Europan · Sep 4, 2018

A Specto 88. Runs 67 seconds at 16 fps.

AgX · Sep 4, 2018

First time I learn of this british manufacturer. They were into projecting and sound recording too.

Theo Sulphate · Sep 21, 2018

A few days ago while going through my storage unit, I discovered the Kodak Brownie Holiday Camera I used as a pre-teen kid in the early 1960's. I show it here next to an Agfa Ansco D-6, which is what my father's family used upon coming to the U.S. from Hungary, and also a Kodak Baby Brownie, which is what my mother's family used upon coming to the U.S. from Syria.

and here's my Nikonos V, which I've had for a while:

Sirius Glass · Sep 21, 2018

My latest camera is a new to me used Hasselblad 30mm f/3.5 Fisheye curvilinear lens. An interesting counterpoint to the Hasselblad 903 SWC rectilinear camera.

Theo Sulphate · Sep 21, 2018

Sirius Glass said:
My latest camera is a new to me used Hasselblad 30mm f/3.5 Fisheye curvilinear lens. An interesting counterpoint to the Hasselblad 903 SWC rectilinear camera.

It will be interesting. It's essentially equivalent to a 19mm in 135 format, which isn't an outrageous fisheye perspective. A photographer I know uses 12mm and 14mm on his Nikon, he loves ultra wide angle. He photographs driftwood and rocks at the beach. Looking at his photos, they look perfectly natural, not distorted, and you feel as if you're standing right there at the beach.

cooltouch · Sep 21, 2018

Yep, there's no substitute for the feeling of being placed inside a photo that a good ultrawide can provide.

Theo Sulphate · Oct 6, 2018

There's been so much talk about these cameras lately that when I saw this one for an extremely low price, I just had to buy it. All the features seem to work (including flash and self-timer), but I have yet to develop the film. It is true that this is a fun camera to use. The only weakness is that the battery door on the bottom has a tendency to pop open with those AA's in there - a piece of tape fixes that while using the camera. Not bad for a 33 year old camera - Nikon's first autofocus camera.

cooltouch · Oct 6, 2018

I've never paid much attention to Nikon's P&S cameras. It's nice that it has a 35/2.8 lens. Reasonably fast and 35mm makes for a nice "street camera" focal length. Thus my thinking that it should be a natural as a street camera. Let us know how the images turn out.

So, what, Theo -- you into reading Cyrillic? Like War and Peace in the original?

Theo Sulphate · Oct 6, 2018

cooltouch said:
...
So, what, Theo -- you into reading Cyrillic? Like War and Peace in the original?

My family escaped from communist Hungary; I learned Russian at a young age and my first job (here in the U.S.) was as a translator of Soviet scientific and military documents. I still do it occasionally. I have lots of Russian books, magazines, and newspapers. Naturally, I know Hungarian and a few other languages, because I'm fond of linguistics and language.

There's never been much money in translation work. Lots of time pressure, little respect for doing quality translations, low pay. So, I got a Bachelor degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from UCLA instead. Engineering pays better. Often is fun. I'm retired after over 40 years working.

SteveinAlaska · Oct 6, 2018

Just bought an Argus Model A, serial number indicates a 1940 model. It joins a stable of Zeiss & Voightlander 120 folders dating from early 1930s to 1950.

cooltouch · Oct 6, 2018

Theo Sulphate said:
My family escaped from communist Hungary; I learned Russian at a young age and my first job (here in the U.S.) was as a translator of Soviet scientific and military documents. I still do it occasionally. I have lots of Russian books, magazines, and newspapers. Naturally, I know Hungarian and a few other languages, because I'm fond of linguistics and language.

There's never been much money in translation work. Lots of time pressure, little respect for doing quality translations, low pay. So, I got a Bachelor degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from UCLA instead. Engineering pays better. Often is fun. I'm retired after over 40 years working.

Wow, I doff my hat to you. And here I am, with a BA and MA in Linguistics, and the two degrees haven't mattered to much, employment wise. So you're right enough about that. My specialty language was Japanese, but I never had the opportunity to experience immersion, which is the best way to become fluent, so my understanding these days is spotty. I did some TESOL tutoring (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and SAT Prep instruction, and that was about it. Actually, I enjoyed teaching the math more than the English with the prep classes. I could have probably found a gig teaching at a community college, but the job descriptions available whenever I looked were not very appealing. I'm also a writer, artist, and a musician, and I've tried to make money at these skills. Made some money writing -- about cameras, no less -- but nothing to really bring home the bacon, as it were. Ended up working in the "awl bidness" for a number of years. Retired now also. But I wouldn't mind finding a gig that would interest me, just to stay busy -- like TESOL, for example.

Kino · Oct 6, 2018

Rolleicord 5 - Model K3C. Not here yet, but looking forward to using it...

Besk · Oct 6, 2018

Expecting any day now ----- Minolta 24 Rapid. A consumer grade rangefinder made in 1965 producing square images on 35mm film in Agfa Rapid cartridges.

Skeeterfx20 · Oct 6, 2018

Honeywell Pentax H1a with meter and 50 mm 1.8 Super Takumar. This was my first SIR that I bought in 1971. I always wanted to replace it and regretted selling it later in life.

Theo Sulphate · Oct 6, 2018

cooltouch said:
... My specialty language was Japanese, but I never had the opportunity to experience immersion, which is the best way to become fluent, so my understanding these days is spotty.
...
Made some money writing -- about cameras, no less
...

Yes, I have your 1995-1996 edition - and it's been read many times. I really like that it provides details, such as Nikon F2 slow speeds, rather than just prices.

Japanese - seems perfect for going there, teaching English, and writing about cameras and the camera culture there. I know there are APUG/Photrio people who are Westerners and live there. Then there's Japan Camera Hunter. But - maybe you have commitments or a situation that does not make it practical to live there.

Anyway...

I've been going through my storage unit looking through boxes that've been packed for decades. Maybe my old Instamatic will appear.

cooltouch · Oct 7, 2018

Theo Sulphate said:
Yes, I have your 1995-1996 edition - and it's been read many times. I really like that it provides details, such as Nikon F2 slow speeds, rather than just prices.

Japanese - seems perfect for going there, teaching English, and writing about cameras and the camera culture there. I know there are APUG/Photrio people who are Westerners and live there. Then there's Japan Camera Hunter. But - maybe you have commitments or a situation that does not make it practical to live there.

Well, I'm glad the book has been of some value to you. It wasn't just about prices, after all.

Yeah, unfortunately, I'm too old to go abroad to teach. They practice age discrimination in Japan. And China. And Taiwan. I'm seriously thinking about getting a teaching gig locally though, where I can't be discriminated against -- openly, at least. Where I live we have about a bazillion folks who could stand to learn more English, so it shouldn't be all that hard, I'm thinking.

On topic (sorta): No new cameras to report, but I did score a minty Canon Motor Drive MA for my AE-1 Program. It arrived a couple days ago. Perfect condition.

Theo Sulphate · Oct 15, 2018

The solidity, the metal, the chrome, the heritage... I couldn't resist it. Nikkormat EL:

The EL is essentially a robust Nikon FE with real mirror lock up and a real battery test button. It will meter pre-AI lenses wide open. It lacks the FE's aperture readout, lacks an explicit 8-second delay (*), and lacks an explicit EV compensation dial (adjust ASA instead); it also has its battery in a compartment at the bottom of the mirror box. However, the feel and workmanship on this camera is outstanding. So, this is my substitute for an FE; I already have an FE2.

Also, for some reason, I'm addicted to the meter readout in the viewfinder of the EL/FE/FE2/FM3a. It's pleasant and not distracting. The Canon EF/F-1/F-1N readouts are nice, too.

(*) it's been said you can get 8 seconds by selecting the gap between 4 seconds and B; I haven't tried it.

r-brian · Oct 15, 2018

Picked up two cameras at an estate sale this weekend A 1951 Exakta VX with a 58mm f2.0 Biotar in perfect working condition. And a 1955 Minolta Autocord MXS in excellent cosmetic condition but (the big but) the shutter release is not working. Will probably have if overhauled.

Marco Gilardetti · Oct 16, 2018

Theo Sulphate said:
The solidity, the metal, the chrome, the heritage... I couldn't resist it. Nikkormat EL

Well, there was no reason to resist it at all, old fellow... It would actually be a sin to leave there a Nikkormat in such outstanding conditions!

I also own a Nikkormat FTn, a very late model with "Apollo-style" film advance and self-timer levers. Despite owning other 35mm cameras, this is the one that I pick up and have fun using when in travel most of the times!

Technically, what strikes me about Nikkormats is that they have a mirror lock-up feature which is actually way better than that of the blazoned Nikon F.

wyofilm · Oct 16, 2018

Last two new, old cameras are the Bronica 645 (65mm lens) and a cla'd/new bellowed Agfa Isolette II from certo6. Both cameras are to allow for hiking, skiiing with a smaller medium format camera. First few rolls out of Bronica show the camera to be excellent. I have completed the first roll from the Agfa yet. The Agfa is beautiful: certo6 made it look new. Can't wait to see images from the first developed roll. I'm excited that the Agfa can slip into a jacket pocket.

Toyo · Oct 17, 2018

Another Nikomat FTN.
I use these with students as they are near bulletproof and so reliable. This one is so nice I might use it myself.
I have been buying copies as good ones come along, because they are so cheap - although I am noticing that prices are going up. Perhaps word is out on their value for money.
T

What's your latest new old camera ? (Part 2)

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