What camera(s) are you using this weekend?

Don't have an XE-1, but do have an XE-5, XE-7, and XE. Really like the quiet shutter and smooth film advance.

Although big and heavy compared to some SLR'a, I sometimes combine it with compact lenses. Here's a shot of my XE (with 45mm f2 Rokkor-X mounted) with a pair of Sigma's- 24mm f2.8 mini wide and 90mm f2.8 macro.

[ATTACH=full]1237197[/ATTACH]

This one gets some use as soon as I finish film in Konica Auto S1.6.

Mike, the XE/XE-1/XE-7 is one of the nicest cameras ever! The smoothness of the film advance and the shutter button is magnificent! For me, a similarly nice camera is the XD11 (which I'll be shooting this weekend, along with my Vivitar XC-3), with a wonderfully smooth film advance and shutter button. Minolta created masterpieces with these two cameras.

Hopefully the weather will improve tomorrow and I'll be able to get out and about with one of my favourite cameras, the Canon T70. I'll use the 35-135mm Tamon lens as pictured below, with a load of FP4.

Canon T70

Hopefully the weather will improve tomorrow and I'll be able to get out and about with one of my favourite cameras, the Canon T70. I'll use the 35-135mm Tamon lens as pictured below, with a load of FP4.

 

Canon T70

 

[ATTACH=full]1238221[/ATTACH]

Gorgeous shot, as always :) I'm quite surprised to hear that the T70 is one of your favorites. I have not run across anyone singing its praises and, with you having so many excellent cameras, this is not one I would have predicted would be one you would like. It isn't even very manual. What do you like about it?

I got a head start, this week, and went out yesterday with 4 cameras, and finished off the rolls in 3 of them, including my first roll of 120 in the Mamiya RB67. I sure hope I didn't completely mess everything up on that roll. I haven't worked much with the RB67, or any other medium format body, and it has so many safety interlocks that it's often a struggle to figure out why the @#$%^& thing won't let me take a shot. On the other hand, it's very satisfying when I manage to figure it out and make an exposure.

I also finished off the rolls in my Minolta Hi-Matic 7S and my Fujica Auto-M 35, both of which have bottom-mounted advance levers, but on opposite ends of the camera. I think I like the Fujica a bit more, in terms of ergonomics. Unfortunately, I forgot to mark which roll was from which camera before dropping them off for developing, but I should be able to identify them from the contents because yesterday was the only day that I shot both of them on the same day, so the subject matter will be different.

The one that didn't see any action was the recently "refurbished" Konica SII I posted about, and got lots of help with. That will be the next one up, but I ran out of time before I got to it, yesterday.

I'm quite surprised to hear that the T70 is one of your favorites. I have not run across anyone singing its praises and, with you having so many excellent cameras, this is not one I would have predicted would be one you would like. It isn't even very manual. What do you like about it?

Well, for a start, it has probably the best viewfinder of any SLR I've used, very bright with both microprism and split image focusing aids. It's a very simple camera, with a choice of shutter priority or manual mode and spot or average metering, both very accurate. It's dead easy to make adjustments to exposure or ISO with two buttons, "up" or "down", with a good clear indication on the small LCD screen and a bright display indicating aperture selected, or recommended, in the viewfinder. The camera is powered by two AA cells which run the single-shot film advance and rewind, and metering. The camera has a great grip and handles very well, and it's just the right weight for a photographer who likes a solid camera. Overall, it does everything I want, with no fuss, and lets me get on with the job of composing and shooting. And then there are those nice old Canon FD lenses...I managed to shoot some film late yesterday so I'll post some samples in the current "Weekend" thread.

I'm quite surprised to hear that the T70 is one of your favorites...

I failed to mention that the T70 does offer a couple of program modes (which I've never used), one for wide-angle lenses and another for telephotos. Another great feature is the super-smooth electronic shutter release, which will allow the camera to make multiple exposures if held down, in a very leisurely fashion. I can't recall having ever used this function, either...

Whenever possible I like to find a use for accessories that are no longer used. I found the "Compact Camera Stand" that was offered as an accessory for Kodak's Pocket Instamatic is a great support for the Olympus XA.

Well, for a start, it has probably the best viewfinder of any SLR I've used, very bright with both microprism and split image focusing aids.

That's probably enough, right there, to elevate it above average but I appreciate all the information. I'll have to check out the next one I see.

A camera that goes with me every week day as well as the weekend.

no battery required

Currently the Rollei B35 is enjoying a roll of Ilford FP4+

I was dusting this odd little camera the other day and it occurred to me that I'd put only one film through it since I acquired it several years ago. I recall that I was quite impressed by the results, and made a mental note at the time to take it out again, but time passed and other projects intervened. Anyway, I've loaded it with some Kentmere 100 and, if the weather is kind, I'll put it through it's paces again this weekend.

Samoca 35 Super

Friday promises to be sunny so maybe I'll have a few photo opportunities.

May get this combination out again.

Minolta SRT SCII with Tamron Adapta-Matic 105mm f2.5

This heavy little lens was the ancestor of the later Tamron Adaptall of the same focal length and speed. FYI, the Adaptamatic mount is completely different from the Adaptall. It took a while to find one (Minolta SR mount) and because it is SR mount, I have to use stop down metering.

Well, for a start, it has probably the best viewfinder of any SLR I've used, very bright with both microprism and split image focusing aids. It's a very simple camera, with a choice of shutter priority or manual mode and spot or average metering, both very accurate. It's dead easy to make adjustments to exposure or ISO with two buttons, "up" or "down", with a good clear indication on the small LCD screen and a bright display indicating aperture selected, or recommended, in the viewfinder. The camera is powered by two AA cells which run the single-shot film advance and rewind, and metering. The camera has a great grip and handles very well, and it's just the right weight for a photographer who likes a solid camera. Overall, it does everything I want, with no fuss, and lets me get on with the job of composing and shooting. And then there are those nice old Canon FD lenses...I managed to shoot some film late yesterday so I'll post some samples in the current "Weekend" thread.

It was a free and semi-broken T50 that reignited my interest in film cameras about 2 years ago. That camera essentially only had program mode and it wasn't long before I wanted something that provided more control. So I found a broken AE-1 Program, - also for free. I did get it to function but in spite spending lots of time in the guts of it and pouring over the service manual, I could never get the meter to give accurate readings. It came with a nice 50mm 1.4 so it was not a total loss by any means. I sold it for parts.

At this point I was hooked enough that I was willing to spend a little of my fun money on a working SLR but not much. What I really wanted was a fully functioning AE-1P but people asked real money for those, - well... $100 anyways. ;) So I bought a T70 for $35 shipped. Came with a box and everything.

I liked it for all the reasons you mentioned. Since then I have also picked up a bunch of other cameras for very little money including a Canonet QL 1.7 GIII for $10 and and an Elan II for $15. And those cameras showed me why the T70 doesn't generate as much interest as other "Classic" cameras or modern film cameras. Although the T70 has a motorized film advance and rewind, it's loud and slow. On the Elan II it was whisper quiet in comparison. The shutter on the Canonet was also very quiet and though the film advance was not motorized, it was a pleasure to use. The up-down buttons on the T70 were fine for setting something like ISO, but not so great for shutter speed since you have to hunt for the buttons while looking through the viewfinder. They don't work as well as a dial right under your fingertip or a big knob you can't miss.

And finally, there's the aesthetics. I know that seems unfair. The T-series were the first SLRs where Canon made no attempt to hide the plastic nature of them. But they still had the same blocky look of classic SLRs rather than creating something with smoother lines that the plastic made possible. So in a way the T70 is kind of like an awkward teenager. It fits in the transition period between classic manual cameras and modern film cameras.

Eventually I sold mine but I agree that if you want a no-fuss SLR with capable, reliable AE plus simple manual controls and easy to find batteries, it's a solid choice.

So in a way the T70 is kind of like an awkward teenager. It fits in the transition period between classic manual cameras and modern film cameras.

Well put, Tom. And we shouldn't forget those flashy 1980's graphics plastered all over the front! As for the up-down buttons, my finger finds then quite naturally in their position right next to the shutter release, so I've never had a problem in that respect.

I went out today for a 1 mile stroll through the surrounding neighborhood with my F2A. I shot a roll of Tri-X and expect I got some really nice shots of ornate front doors, weathered wood fences with some bizarre wood grain, as well as a few abstracts taken in a parking lot.

Tomorrow, I'll go out again with another F2A. This time, I'll shoot my first roll ever of T-Max 400. I want to see how it compares/contrasts with Tri-X.

Went down an old country road with the FM2n and shot about 1\2 a roll of Ektar. Never realized how much I passed by so many times before.

After 2 days of rain the moss was like bright tufts of carpet around old curious looking roots clinging to the high clay banks.

Funny how the lens focuses the mind's appreciation for the little things most often missed.

Photobliss on the way home from work today.

I have an F2 Photomic loaded with Delta 3200 and an F2sb with some "original" TMZ(TMAX P3200). I shot a roll of "new" TMZ earlier this week out of another F2 Photomic.

Hopefully, I'll be able to get both the loaded rolls finished and all three developed.

BTW, this is my first time using the F2sb-I'm really enjoying it. Of course, it works just likes my F2AS but it's nice to be able to get open aperture metering with pre-AI lenses.