F5 deserves a mention. The F5 is a camera that I grab when I just want to enjoy shooting. It's comfortable, it has a great viewfinder, and probably the best shutter sound of any camera I've used to date.
ocean2059 wrote:
Nice! It looks like it's hardly been used. I stopped by our local camera store, District Camera at Burke Virginia, to pick up some film today. The store just got about over 20 film SLR bodies to the inventory, but no medium format bodies.
Yeah I have noticed that medium format cameras are much harder to find in camera stores. It’s either p&s cameras or 35mm SLRs.
Today's favorite camera is the rangefinder sized Zeiss Ikon Contaflex II SLR. It was like getting Cracker Jacks with three quarters of a roll of Kodachrome inside - everything works perfect for just under $25.
Today's favorite camera is the Zeiss Ikonta 520/16 6x6cm that I took apart & cleaned & lubricated yesterday. It's slightly smaller cousin (the Zeiss Ikonta 521 Medium Format 4.5x6cm) will be the next. I was surprised that the Zeiss is not as tall, not as long, but a tad thicker than the 1937 Jsolette, and the Isolette II. This 520/16 has the Novar lens - that by all accounts is just as sharp at f8 or f11 than the CZ Tessar - we'll see. These folding MF cameras are a marvel to me. Shutter is accurate, bellows are light tight. Again from one of those curated junk "Antique Malls" or curiosity shop = $26.25 + tax + shipping - a bargain.
James Markus wrote:
Today's favorite camera is the Zeiss Ikonta 520/16 6x6cm that I took apart & cleaned & lubricated yesterday. It's slightly smaller cousin (the Zeiss Ikonta 521 Medium Format 4.5x6cm) will be the next. I was surprised that the Zeiss is not as tall, not as long, but a tad thicker than the 1937 Jsolette, and the Isolette II. This 520/16 has the Novar lens - that by all accounts is just as sharp at f8 or f11 than the CZ Tessar - we'll see. These folding MF cameras are a marvel to me. Shutter is accurate, bellows are light tight. Again from one of those curated junk "Antique Malls" or curiosity shop = $26.25 + tax + shipping - a bargain.
These things are so under appreciated. I picked up a CLA'd 521 645 in the spring, and it has been a wonderful little camera. I wanted the 75 f/3.5 Tessar that's on my Rolleiflex, just in a form factor and format that I actually enjoy. The 521 has absolutely delivered. It actually turned out to be a great little camera to hike with, since it can offer a nice IQ bump over 35mm in such a small form factor.
When Fred started this new corner of FM, and I found some rolls of 20 year expired Tri-X, but lacked any film camera. My first thought was back to 1989 & the extremely well worn silver body Nikon FM that I started my newspaper Advertising/Marketing career. I ended up picking up two black bodies - a version 2 & 3 - motor winder, and an awesome Nikkor-H.C. 50mm f2 were included.
The v2 shot by the v3 with the expired Tri-X
trying the 105mm f2.5 ais on the v3
The after market waist-level finder
An addon light meter (the v2 meter is "un-repairable")
The bulk loaded expired Tri-X that triggered my current rabbit hole
JohnC wrote:
Another camera I always wanted and once i got one, to love it, but I never liked the images I got from my SWC.
I’ve always wanted one of those. Why didn’t you like the images? Is it the challenge of composing with an ultra wide lens, or something else? The few times I have tried ultra wides I have struggled to find interesting compositions. Its difficult to end up without a lot of clutter in the frame.
Behold the Ricoh 500 GX, my Ricoh 500 GX but it’s a Ricoh ME too, what an odd one, I got to repair it myself.
One of the best budget film cameras there is, talking about those new film cameras that emerge and cost quite a lot, if Pentax were to revive that one it would be so logical. That camera is and has almost everything you need and there is barely no electronic or mechanism inside, they are rarely broken and still cheaply made, it’s crazy.
It wouldn’t cost much if they were to make a reboot of those and if they were to make it f2, my M6 wouldn’t even know why it exists.
Addendum: Photo taken with an Heliar 50mm 1.5, the sharpest lens I own.
andrewd01 wrote:
I’ve always wanted one of those. Why didn’t you like the images? Is it the challenge of composing with an ultra wide lens, or something else? The few times I have tried ultra wides I have struggled to find interesting compositions. Its difficult to end up without a lot of clutter in the frame.
Love ultra wides, just did not love ultra wide square with guesstimate composition, focus, exposure. The form factor was hand holdability but you had to use it on a tripod with a separate meter and ground glass to nail your shot, might as well use an RB or LF.
This Nikon N90s is my "odd bird" favorite. I shot well over 500,000 frames with 3.5 of these camera bodies - BEFORE I ever shot film in one of them. All were attached to the Kodak & Associated Press digital back to create the very first professional, portable, digital camera. They wrote to PCMCIA drives (mini hard drives), and had a large built in NiCad battery. Shutters always failed at about 150,000 actuations. When I considered another film body that had excellent auto focus, metering, auto bracketing, a decent FPS rate, and very configurable options I thought of the N90, and N90s. When I saw today's online prices I was amazed. I bought 6 of them from $15-45 each (most about $20) and got a vertical grip, three lenses, and a great small bag thrown in. I've given two away, and if no more of my kids are interested - will sell the rest. The two I am keeping are on their 2nd and 3rd rolls, and the first rolls were technically perfect exposures - though one roll was a tad dense due to my leaving the exposure compensation at +1/3 stop after showing the feature to my son. There are a bunch of junk N90s bodies online. If the back and battery tray are missing - they likely were used up castoffs from a digital back. Corrosion to the battery compartment and tray, and sticky residue to the back are things to watch out for.
Lounging out on the picnic table
Laying on desk - btw, the modified TC-16A work great on these bodies - just like on digital Nikons. Makes MF Nikkors into semi AF Nikkors - sweet
Desmolicious wrote:
Yeah I have noticed that medium format cameras are much harder to find in camera stores. It’s either p&s cameras or 35mm SLRs.
Come to Vienna. I dropped off some film a few weeks ago and discovered this block with a bunch of used camera gear stores. Tons of stuff. They’re hardly ever open, though, since 80% of the business is online.
James Markus wrote:
This Nikon N90s is my "odd bird" favorite. I shot well over 500,000 frames with 3.5 of these camera bodies - BEFORE I ever shot film in one of them. All were attached to the Kodak & Associated Press digital back to create the very first professional, portable, digital camera. They wrote to PCMCIA drives (mini hard drives), and had a large built in NiCad battery. Shutters always failed at about 150,000 actuations. When I considered another film body that had excellent auto focus, metering, auto bracketing, a decent FPS rate, and very configurable options I thought of the N90, and N90s. When I saw today's online prices I was amazed. I bought 6 of them from $15-45 each (most about $20) and got a vertical grip, three lenses, and a great small bag thrown in. I've given two away, and if no more of my kids are interested - will sell the rest. The two I am keeping are on their 2nd and 3rd rolls, and the first rolls were technically perfect exposures - though one roll was a tad dense due to my leaving the exposure compensation at +1/3 stop after showing the feature to my son. There are a bunch of junk N90s bodies online. If the back and battery tray are missing - they likely were used up castoffs from a digital back. Corrosion to the battery compartment and tray, and sticky residue to the back are things to watch out for.
Sonnar-7 wrote:
Behold the Ricoh 500 GX, my Ricoh 500 GX but it’s a Ricoh ME too, what an odd one, I got to repair it myself.
One of the best budget film cameras there is, talking about those new film cameras that emerge and cost quite a lot, if Pentax were to revive that one it would be so logical. That camera is ans has almost everything you need and there is barely no electronic or mechanism inside, they are rarely broken and still cheaply made, it’s crazy.
It wouldn’t cost much if they were to make a reboot of those and if they were to make it f2, my M6 wouldn’t even know why it exists.
Addendum: Photo taken with an Heliar 50mm 1.5, the sharpest lens I own....Show more →
Great looking camera. And I also don’t understand why Pentax didn’t just reintroduce one of their old film cameras instead of the P17. There are a zillion Espios they could have taken apart and recreated.
Instead we have the “spend $500 to save you money on film costs but ignore the fact that labs charge you double to scan 1/2 frame” P17…
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