oscar_h.

National Geographic was and still is my second Bible since 1st grade, 1960. LIFE Magazine was my sister's second Bible. My sister and I cleaned demolition-site bricks for recycling to buy a lifetime subscription for 100 dollars back then. National Geographic and LIFE Magazine lured my sister and I towards getting a full scholarship and out of a lousy hood. She went into the Air Force and served as a nurse anesthetist and I served as a 2nd Marine Corpsman. We both killed thousands of rolls of Kodachrome and Ektachrome while we were in uniform. We linked up many times and traveled together visiting many places we dreamed of in elementary school. All influenced by the great imagery of National Geographic. I've got 57 nations to her 61. We've even done a few Doctors Without Borders together since leaving the military. We have at least two of every hardcover special edition National Geographic ever published, every magazine and every map too. Lucy was a Leica-girl and I was a Nikon dude. We've both been Pentax since going Digital back in 2006-7.

In some of our neighborhoods, athletic shoes indicate drugs can be had. Cross the street under them twice and a seller will come to you from somewhere. Sometimes their color indicates whose drugs are being sold. In some Hispanic hoods shoes, not athletic, indicate a memorial for someone in the immediate area has passed. Kid shoes indicate a child has passed. Out here in my neighborhood the athletic shoe thing doesn't fly. Never been broken into or robbed. That doesn't fly here one bit. The cops know that nobody calls the cops here. Hasn't been a burglary in my Hispanic subdivision in over 30 years. Everybody knows everybody. Kids are safe in the streets because everybody eyes them, even if they're not their kids. Born and raised here, love the security and never leaving. Last I heard even Beverly Hills can't claim that. My photo gear is safe.

The best travel lens is the one you have!

You won't find a better lab out west. They're top-notch and have an outstanding quality control. I've sent them 30 year-old exposed film and have gotten stellar results and outstanding scans. Real people are hard to find that have the knowledge and know-how. They have decent pricing for their services. Give them a try, you'll never go back to any other.

I thought I'd throw out a shout-out to the best publication ever in my last 5 decades of photography. Two of which were as a professional studio. I've learned so much from this top-quality printed subscription in my mailbox and online. Sal Cincotta's Shutter reads like a textbook on the current trends of the business and techniques. Killer tutorials on currently-used software. Sal's contributors are nothing less than stellar. Loaded with proven practical business-sense and technical know-how is the pinnacle of achievement. Cincotta's Shutter Magazine is the eminent killer source for those in or wanting to stay in business. Worth every penny. I have every issue and refer back to them constantly. Behind the Shutter can't be beat!

The main reason I've got about two dozen parts bodies. In 2006 a Nikon and Mamiya authorized repair man, Tom went out of business due to the internet. Long story short. He made me seven F2 bodies and 8 MD-2's. All my bodies and motor drives have 100% new replacement Nikon innards. Winding, take-up and shutter mechanisms are new factory replacement assemblies. Only the shells are used.

RB 67 bought in 1973.

Best advice I can give is buy into something that can get serviced. I have quite a collection if Nikon F2 gear from my Dark Ages that I still use regularly. Seven bodies, 27 lenses, 11 MD-2s and double that on parts bodies and parts motor-drives. Love projecting chromes with Jazz playing on weekends. No stinking monitors for me.

The greatest thing about film photography is that it made the move to Digital so easy. I still get what I want in one, two, maybe three exposures on my dslrs when others make a thousand exposures to get a keeper. The first thing I did when I bought my two dslrs was to put gaffer's tape over their rear screens in 2007.

Nice shot! I'm still using the K10D.

For me it is Tri-X, 150mm Soft lens with 3 disc set on the venerable RB67 Pro SD.

I will still take an RB over a Hassy anytime. Especially when it comes to a doctor bill. Loading either (I have both) is a no-brainer. I converted a 70mm Hassy and two RB backs to 35mm. Mexican panoramas are really great. Bulk load it and have fun!

I will only use Pro SD backs. I've got over two dozen purchased over the last two decades. Got rid of all the earlier ones and have never had a problem with light leaks. I love that they take the dark slide behind the film box label holder.

I'm based out of the Sonoran Desert along the Mexighanistani border where temps hover just below 120. I too have never had a problem.

I too suffered from light leak cancer. All RB users suffer at some point. All came from the magazines and the rotating magazine mount at more than one point. I re-sealed four of the seven rotating backs where it meets the camera body and one where it meets the magazine. I used adhesive foam I got from a mom-and pop fabric store in Mexighanistan. The Narcos put them out of business 3 years ago, sad to say. I ruled out areas by using gaffers tape. One of the reasons I only buy and use the Pro SD magazines. I use my RBs a lot. I also rotate my gear. They're sometimes difficult to obtain in the US in great condition. I've bought about two dozen 120 6X7 and four 645 magazines from Ebay sellers in Japan. I also have four 220 6X8 magazines that have been converted to use 35mm film. I still have tons of non-perforated Plus-x and Tri-X film in my freezers. All have been in perfect condition. Three of my five RB cameras are Pro-SD bodies I purchased in Japan. All in mint condition. All was purchased during the Great Film Dump for Digital of 2004-6.