While packing for a vacation to the desert southwest US, I rethought my intention to carry my Pentax 67 and three or four lenses. That’s a lot of weight to lug around and it’s not really a photography-first type of vacation. I looked through my camera cabinet at several other cameras and none of them spoke to me, “take me, take me!” So my wife and I left for the airport with no camera bag in tow.
The desert southwest is beautiful in the fall and by day two, I was seriously regretting my choice to travel light. I found the only used camera store in town and within minutes had an array of old TLRs placed on a glass counter to choose from. I figured in the grand scheme of things, the price of a simple TLR and a few rolls of film would get lost in the noise of the cost of the vacation.
I wasn’t feeling any particular love for the TLRs, but they hit the price point I was considering. When I picked up the one on the end of the lineup, the little gem in the picture above was revealed under the glass. I was hooked. I always wanted one and it seemed like the perfect travel-light vacation camera. It certainly cost more than I had planned, but this wouldn’t be a near disposable camera either. With a few rolls of film and a spare battery I was out the door, happy as a clam.
It’s been my constant companion for nearly a week now. I’m looking forward to seeing the pictures.
