Your FIRST 35mm Camera...

Donald Qualls · Jun 12, 2005

The way to beat shipping is to order as many rolls as you can before you break a weight barrier and the shipping jumps. To do that, you'll probably have to call; I don't recall their online system allowing you to calculate shipping until you're mostly checked out (you have to select the method, which is fairly far down the road). Of course, at $5/roll it's hard to order a lot of 127, too, but I don't recall the shipping being that much -- are you sure you've checked the various options? I usually have them ship USPS Parcel Post, it's cheap and still only takes a few days, most times of the year.

FWIW, I had a Brownie Holiday and a Baby Brownie when I was in high school, they made very nice pictures. I've even recently found two strips of Ektachrome I shot in one of those (they're 4x6.5, so unmounted) -- they still look great even after more than 30 years.

Flotsam · Jun 12, 2005

JandC's shipping calculator allows you to easily check shipping while adjusting your order. I always use it to make sure that ordering that one extra roll isn't going to bump me into the next shipping bracket.

gnashings · Jun 13, 2005

Maybe its because I live in Canada, but I believe the calculator gave me a $24 shipping quote on one roll of 127 (I was just checking, I wold order more if actually going through with it). Maybe I'll get some friends together and buy a bigger quantity of other films and get a couple rolls of 127. I don't think I'll be burning the stuff up, but I can't stand having a camera that has not given me at least one roll of film... just the way I am - keeps me up at night

I also picked up an instamatic - no particular reason, but it was mint and the guy wanted $2 for it. Gave him a buck and now I am wondering what to do with it, hehehehe... I am beyond help...

Donald Qualls · Jun 13, 2005

In Canada, you might try The Frugal Photographer -- I'm pretty sure they carry the same Efke and Maco 127 emulsions that J&C has, and the shipping would be domestic (and thus also avoid the variable delay with Canada Customs).

hortense · Jun 13, 2005

Bolsey 220 half-frame.

gnashings · Jun 16, 2005

Donald Qualls said:
In Canada, you might try The Frugal Photographer -- I'm pretty sure they carry the same Efke and Maco 127 emulsions that J&C has, and the shipping would be domestic (and thus also avoid the variable delay with Canada Customs).

I saw the sight, I ssumed they were State-side - I should never assume

Thanks!

Eric Rose · Jun 16, 2005

Exakta VX, Zeiss Tessar 50mm F2.8 lens.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Jun 16, 2005

gnashings said:
Maybe its because I live in Canada, but I believe the calculator gave me a $24 shipping quote on one roll of 127 (I was just checking, I wold order more if actually going through with it). Maybe I'll get some friends together and buy a bigger quantity of other films and get a couple rolls of 127. I don't think I'll be burning the stuff up, but I can't stand having a camera that has not given me at least one roll of film... just the way I am - keeps me up at night

I asked JandC about that and they said that the software that does the shipping rate calculation is retarted; they ship stuff for 5$+ to Canada, and they will reimburse you the extra shipping before sending stuff.

I'm rather disappointed at the "frugal" aspect of the FF: he doesn't carry efke, and his films are at least 5 USD a piece: I get all the big brands for the same amount in CAND here.

MattKing · Jun 16, 2005

Only partly in Canada

Donald Qualls said:
In Canada, you might try The Frugal Photographer -- I'm pretty sure they carry the same Efke and Maco 127 emulsions that J&C has, and the shipping would be domestic (and thus also avoid the variable delay with Canada Customs).

If you go into the FAQ section on the Frugal Photographer's site you will see the following:

Where are you located?

Our office and showroom is in Calgary, Canada. Our merchandise is stored in a warehouse in Maumee, Ohio, and all orders are shipped from Ohio.

Unfortunately, the volume of business originating in Canada is much too small to allow us to have a shipping facility in Canada.

And all prices are in US Dollars

gnashings · Jun 16, 2005

I kind of like the image J and C projects - one of the fewer and fewer places that does not look at film guys as a pesky annoyance. That's why I was dissappointed with their shipping.. I am glad it was an oversight. One they should fix sooner than later!!! How many people look at that, form an opinion and never go back? Anyone not having the support of a group like APUG. If it wasn't for this great forum and the folks here, I would be one of them!

Since I am in Toronto, I don't think FF has any adventages for me over J&C - I will just have to get on the phone and order the old fashioned way!

Thanks for the input guys,

Peter.

ChrisC · Jun 17, 2005

When I was 7, I remember seeing a cool looking toyish camera at the local toy store, and saying "I'd like that for Christmas!". I got it, and although it didn't last for terribly long, I had fun using it.

gnashings · Jun 17, 2005

ChrisC said:
When I was 7, I remember seeing a cool looking toyish camera at the local toy store, and saying "I'd like that for Christmas!". I got it, and although it didn't last for terribly long, I had fun using it.

And here you are, all these years later - I think that camera was pretty priceless in retrospective!

ChrisC · Jun 17, 2005

gnashings said:
And here you are, all these years later - I think that camera was pretty priceless in retrospective!

It did start me pretty early. My second camera came at the age of 12, 2 and a half years worth of setting the table and doing the dishes every night. 9 years later I'm working harder and still spending too much of what I earn on camera gear

PCGraflex · Jun 17, 2005

gnashings said:
This place was looking a bit dead...not much doing, so i thought this might be fun. Lets see what all you folks cut your teeth on - what was your first 35mm camera!

Here is me: this little East German thing that you had to walk ten steps away from your subject to be more less in focus! Then you wound the little wheel until it stopped. As far as I recall, your legs were the only adjustment.

But the first real 35mm (I had a Lubitel after that) camera was a Zenit ( I forget which letters - I think MF - it had a photo-cell light meter over the lens). It still works although the rewind knob broke and I cant locate the pieces to fix it (and I just realized that I can't locate the camera... wife cleaned the place...it can be anywhere... it may be in YOUR house!). Pretty good for over 20 years of use!

Hope everyone has fun recollecting!

Peter.

Why just 35MM? I see that alot of people started out with other formats, as I did. BUT, my first 35MM was a Nikonos II with bulb flash.
I started with a kodak instamatic, took (I think) 126. Various other 126 format kodaks then I moved on to a disc camera after they came into vogue. After that, I started to actually learn photography on my dad's Mini Speed which he gave to me about 20 years ago. Today, I use 35mm, 2x3 and 4x5 Graflex.

I still use the Nikonos II but not too deep as the o-rings haven't been serviced in awhile. I submerge the camera before I load film to see if it works beyond say, ten feet. So far, it hasn't flooded yet. Bulb flash worked well but too much task loading at depth inserting bulbs, shooting, then collecting spent bulbs in a ditty bag. Other divers thought I was crazy but they always loved watching me and wanting to dive with me. I also have used it doing some white water rafting while on vacations and that was perfect for that environment.

gnashings · Jun 18, 2005

PCGraflex said:
Why just 35MM? I see that alot of people started out with other formats, as I did. BUT, my first 35MM was a Nikonos II with bulb flash.
I started with a kodak instamatic, took (I think) 126. Various other 126 format kodaks then I moved on to a disc camera after they came into vogue. After that, I started to actually learn photography on my dad's Mini Speed which he gave to me about 20 years ago. Today, I use 35mm, 2x3 and 4x5 Graflex.

I still use the Nikonos II but not too deep as the o-rings haven't been serviced in awhile. I submerge the camera before I load film to see if it works beyond say, ten feet. So far, it hasn't flooded yet. Bulb flash worked well but too much task loading at depth inserting bulbs, shooting, then collecting spent bulbs in a ditty bag. Other divers thought I was crazy but they always loved watching me and wanting to dive with me. I also have used it doing some white water rafting while on vacations and that was perfect for that environment.

Well, that is certainly one of the more exotic firsts here!

And just as a side note, I just bought an instamatic - $1 at a garage sale, along with the Brownies. I might run a roll of film through it just to see what gives.

Oh, the reason why I said "35mm" is simply this: this is the 35mm forum, and it waslooking a bit dead at the time - I enjoy the stories and the inevitable tidbits of knowledge that I pick up with them, so I thought I'd give some folks an excuse to relax and stroll down memory lane while more pressing 35mm related issues came up for discussion. By no means anything against the other formats, just a time and place coincidence, that's all. I really, really enjoyed having a peek into all your recollections! Thanks,

Peter.

benjiboy · Jun 18, 2005

A Zeiss Contax, my dad traded for two pounds of coffee while serving in the army in Germany just after the war, he gave it to me when I first became interested in photography at about thirteen, with three rolls of Zeiss Ikon film ! I still have the camera and when I occasionally use it, I'm amazed by how much, after more than fifty years, it's improved.

jamesdak · Jun 18, 2005

A Minolta 7000i was my first camera. I bought after seeing the wonderful pictures my girlfriend was getting from her Yashica SLR. Since then my kit has grown a bit. I now have 2 Minolta Maxxum 7s, a 7xi, a SR-7, a SRT-101, a SRT-101b, a XE-7, a XD-7, a X-700 (for my son), 2 Minolta Hi-Matic 7sIIs rangefinders, and a Olympus 35 RC rangefinder. I also have an old Mamiya 645 1000s that sees some use and an old Polaroid Land Camera that see no use. All the 35mm gear sees regular use by me as the AF gear is used for sports and the MF gear for general shooting. I really prefer the solid feel of the old bodies over the new plastic stuff. Oh yeah, I also own a Panasonic DMC FZ10 digital P&S.

brimc76 · Jun 19, 2005

My first camera was an Agfa Click 120 which I still have and use ocassionally. My first 35mm was a Canon FTb which I bought in the mid 70's. I had taken a year off college to hitchhike around Europe with (probably) hundred's of other college or university kids. At the time the only camera I owned was a Kodak 110 Pocket Camera and I shot lots of those little film cartridges over the year. When I got home and had the films developed and then found out how restrictive those small negatives were for enlarging I decided to look around for a 35mm. The Canon FTb I bought was one with the Montreal Olympic symbol on the lens cap.

mjs · Jun 20, 2005

After a misspent childhood using various plastic 126-format things and early family life with a Disc camera, I bought a Minolta SRT-101 with 50mm f/1.2 lens at an estate auction. It had never been used (original batteries were still in their package in the box -- all corroded and nasty looking.) Makes me misty-eyed, it does...

mjs

JG Motamedi · Jun 20, 2005

My first was my grandfather's Contax IIa with a 50mm Sonnar and a 28mm Biogon. I still use it.

chuck94022 · Jun 21, 2005

Rolleiflex. Damn I miss that camera. It was so long ago I have no idea what happened to it...

-chuck

dkapp · Jun 23, 2005

I bought my first 35mm camera in January of this year. It was a Nikon FG & 50/1.8 E lens for $40 off of the local Craigslist.org.

It's an awesome camera, and for that price, I'm not afraid to take it anywhere. I had it in Hawaii last week, and it got completely soaked in water several times, and it never missed a beat. I know my digitals couldn't have survived it.

Since the FG, I've picked up an FE2, and a F3 HP (my favorite).

Dave

George Papantoniou · Jun 26, 2005

shyguy said:
my first 35 was a old nikon if i recall, that my father used in ww2.

S

Sorry S, but Nipon Kogaku (Nikon) only started manufacturing cameras in 1948. Before that, they only made lenses (that Canon used on their cameras !!!)...

My first 35 was a Minolta XG-1 (I was 13) that I later sold to get my A-1 that I still own (but don't use).

I also for a short time had THE first 35mm camera, the Richard Homeos (http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/early_135.html) that I had borrowed to do some 3-D shots, but had to give back to its owner (I didn't know how expensive this camera was, nor that it was the first 35mm still camera ever produced...) !!!

André E.C. · Jun 26, 2005

My first camera was an RF Yashica J, I still have it perfectly functional.

Cheers

André

Russ - SVP · Jun 27, 2005

Black Nikon FM with 50mm f/1.4 lens.

Kiron Kid

Your FIRST 35mm Camera...

Donald Qualls

Flotsam

gnashings

Donald Qualls

hortense

gnashings

Eric Rose

Michel Hardy-Vallée

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