New (to me) layout.

Wow, what a change. I think it's been a year or two since I've been on this forum. I had an adventure with my father's dog (since his passing the dog and cat are mine). When Snoop tipped the canoe and killed my Canon digicam, I stayed mainly digital with my new (at the time) Panasonic Lumix. However, since Mike Costea showed me about developing black and white, I've swung in that direction and over the past year's camera shows I've picked up a supply of black and white films. It's kept my FT2 busy as well as an assortment of other dinosaurs. In case anybody was hoping, sorry, no I didn't die. My life has taken me in some different directions the past few years, but I still love the old film cameras. The last year has been an ongoing fire sale and I've sold off a number of power tools, lawn mowers, and most of my firearms, but dammit, only one camera (a Canon EOS battery powered auto-focus which doesn't fit this forum the last time I checked). Thankfully, I sold NONE of my classic manual cameras. Maybe it's because nobody really cared. Maybe it's because nobody really knew I was still using them. Unfortunately the last films I got developed were older than the camera and the colours were all wonky. I'm planning to go up to my trailer and pick up a couple of bags of D76 that I stashed there before winter set in. My truck finally died after 530k. You can say what you want about Fords, this one's service for me was legendary. It went to hell and back and was on the second tour of duty when a connecting rod most likely snapped and locked the motor. I started having trouble with my knees at work and the trouble eventually moved into my hip where it's kept me off work for the past year. I still love shooting the film cameras and I just recently resurrected (again) my Kodak Signet 35 (sorry JDM if you're still around here). I will be posting the films as soon as I develop them. I've fairly recently used the Moskva 2 (just serviced that shutter too), FT2, Fed 5C and Rolleicord IV. The Signet 35 currently has a roll of Kentmere 400 in it. It feels weird being back in this forum.

Welcome back, Rob! I've kept track of you on Flickr but it's great to have you back in the fold.

:)

I too wish you a welcome back.

 

The Chinese have a saying, May you live in interesting times. Some people think it is a blessing, others think it is a curse.

 

Life does take us down many different roads. I have purchased about 20 film cameras over the past year but am almost too busy to use them. I just had a nice Nikon F with plain prism arrive last week. It even has an external working Nikon meter with it. You know I have to run some film through it.

 

Who knew retirement would tire you out? So many projects, so little time. I guess if you are having fun then that is all that counts.

Thanks Marc. I didn't retire. I'm just on disability until the doctors and the post office figure out what they can do to (with) me. It's been a challenge. I've gone from a 40 hour paycheck, flyer money, and overtime to 70% of a 40 hour check. The bills didn't get any smaller. Things got lean. I'm working on a Plan C now so that I may not have to go back to the post in a year and a bit. I have to find a way to improve my cash flow in the meantime. I haven't bought any more film cameras as I have enough (bet you never thought you'd hear that on this forum). Like I always said at work, "One day this will all start to make sense. Today is not that day... tomorrow isn't looking so good either."

In any case, the best to you.

 

One advantage of Classic Manual Cameras is that so many of the little devils cost less than a pizza these days.

 

Unfortunately, the film and development is not so cheap..:oops:

Rob, I only joined a few months ago so I didn't know you from the first go 'round but you sound about as nuts about manual cameras as so many others (me included). I hope you can get past this tough time financially because one thing about retirement that I never thought about was how dumb it seems to ever have worked when you think about how many rolls of film it prevented you from shooting and how many cameras you overlooked or didn't have the time to "put right".

Rob, I only joined a few months ago so I didn't know you from the first go 'round but you sound about as nuts about manual cameras as so many others (me included). I hope you can get past this tough time financially because one thing about retirement that I never thought about was how dumb it seems to ever have worked when you think about how many rolls of film it prevented you from shooting and how many cameras you overlooked or didn't have the time to "put right".

I'm expecting to sell my house in the spring time and with the sale and a few bucks in my pocket, I plan to reclaim my life. I got involved in a company that provides a platform for online shopping that is designed to benefit the collective rather than the individual. It's basically a two to three year business plan designed to provide a residual income. It's not multi level marketing. I checked out one example of that some years back and after four of their meetings, the culture of them had me running for the door. This one is so good it's almost magical. Unorthodox, yes, but magical. A lot to learn, a lot to gain. A lot to look forward to. Just have to get out of this rut first.

Hi Rob.. nice to see you posting again. Classic Cameras Anonymous is still a self help organization . We are more indulgence therapy than cure, but you knew that. Life does deal us the only consistency known to science "change" . Condolences for the loss of your father. Looking forward to your upcoming posts with homebaked film developing. Jump in the water's fine!!