What camera(s) are you using this weekend?

Finished film in SRT 101 and hope to process and scan in time for upcoming weekly thread. Starting a new roll of Kentmere 100 in it today. Waiting on more leaves to turn before finishing film in Spotmatic. Also, I have a roll of film in this little rangefinder.

Finished the rolls in the Hassleblad (and put in another of Fuji NPC), roll of HP5 in the Rolleiflex next.

The SRT 101 (with Kentmere 100) currently has an MC Rokkor 55 mm f 1.7 PF. While it is a good performing lens, I think the faster f 1.4 lenses eclipsed its popularity. I have assembled a kit of sorts to keep in my backpack (along with computer and classroom items): in addition to SRT 101 and normal lens I have the compact Celtic 35mm f 2.8 (takes a 49mm filter) and the compact Sigma 135mm f 3.5 mini tele. Maybe this spring when my chemistry class is studying redox reactions I'll teach them how to develop black & white film.

This weekend it's the turn of "The Beast" the magnificent Nikon F4s. While I like solid cameras, with the bulky Nikkor 24-120mm lens fitted the combination is about as weighty as I can comfortably manage. Ergonomically it remains a great camera to handle, though.

 

I got my first camera in 1977 (or was it 1978?), this Ricoh 500G. I used it a lot the following years.

In the early 80's it was replaced by a Nikon FE and I gave the 500G to my parents. They used it until around 1990 were they got a compact AF camera.

After 25 years in a drawer, I got it back when my father died.

I have finally cleaned out the sticky light sealing foam (of which there is a lot on this camera!).

The camera can operate without battery, but gains shutter priority automation when a PX625 is added.

I have a Kanto MR-9 power adapter that takes a current SR43 cell. I hope to find a SR43 cell somewhere so I can check if the CdS meter is still functional.

The advance lever operation has a problem. It seems to move one mm short of completing its action. With a bit of wiggling will eventually complete its operation - a bit annoying, but will at least - with some patience - allow me to shoot a roll of HP5 for old times sake.

 

The Ricoh 500G was a good, solid fixed lens rangefinder that delivered a lot for the price. Shutter priority plus full manual made it a worthy competitor for the Olympus 35 RC. I think the Ricoh was also sold under Sears branding for a while.

The Ricoh 500G was a good, solid fixed lens rangefinder that delivered a lot for the price. Shutter priority plus full manual made it a worthy competitor for the Olympus 35 RC. I think the Ricoh was also sold under Sears branding for a while.

I did have the chance, at the time, to handle a friend's 35RC, and must say it was a next level camera in finish and feel.

The 500G was as far as my parents could stretch their budget. I had wished for an SLR - but looking back I am happy I got a rangefinder.

In yet another guise...

 

I will be finishing a roll of Ektar 100 in my new to me FM2N. I already had one, but saw my newest one at an antique store and had to have it. I had it checked out by my local camera repair tech and he said the meter was just around 1/2 stop over, but the shutter speeds tested good.

Kiev-4 / Jupiter-8 loaded with my 4th roll of Arista.EDU 200 material is my choice this weekend. A few more "bugs" need to be worked out with this "new" film and my pyro staining developers. Aloha, Bill

Just got this back from a CLA so running a roll of Tri-x 400 through it over the next week or two. The rangefinder was beyond repair so I'll use zone for now and maybe pickup a cold shoe Wattman or the like if I enjoy the images I get from her.

 

That Belmira a fairly rare and unusual camera. For any of our members who may not be acquainted with the breed, there's a little information here:

 

A Chequered History of the Belmira.

8000i with 70-210 f 3.5-4.5 i series (thanks Cory for the lens). Running a roll of Kentmere 100 through camera this week.

I rarely know what to do with long focal lengths, but when I found this Nikkor Ai 200mm/4.0 in a Tokyo camera shop bargain bin 8-9 years ago, I had to buy it for a measly 4,000 yen ($40).

Aside from missing rabbit ears and slightly stiff focusing it was perfect. I think I must have shot 2-3 films with it during the following months.

Fast forward to today: Still beautiful but age and lack of use has made the focusing ring close to impossible to turn.

I will give it a little exercise with film over the weekend to see if I feel it will be worth the cost of a re-lube. There appears to be very little demand for the 200/4 thus a service will likely cost more than a functional used sample.

I'll be using my F3 loaded with HP5+ and the DE-2 finder mounted - it provides a higher magnification than the more popular DE-3 (HP) finder - 80% versus 75% - and is therefore slightly easier to focus.

 

I'm making my way through a collection of Minoltas, and I'm currently exercising the basic but capable X-300. I found this little 28mm Minolta MD f/2.8 lens that I can't recall ever using, and if the rain ever stops I'll see what it can do. It's the later version with the 5+5 optical design, so it will be interesting to see how it compares to the earlier 7+7 version.

 

\

Just got this back from a CLA so running a roll of Tri-x 400 through it over the next week or two. The rangefinder was beyond repair so I'll use zone for now and maybe pickup a cold shoe Wattman or the like if I enjoy the images I get from her.

 

Belmira - interesting East German camera with a very good lens. I had to get two copies so I could get a functioning one. It's quite the brick for what it is and quality is not on par with their western counterparts, or Japanese rangefinders of this era, nevertheless an enjoyable oddity

I'm making my way through a collection of Minoltas, and I'm currently exercising the basic but capable X-300. I found this little 28mm Minolta MD f/2.8 lens that I can't recall ever using, and if the rain ever stops I'll see what it can do. It's the later version with the 5+5 optical design, so it will be interesting to see how it compares to the earlier 7+7 version.

 

\[ATTACH=full]1362862[/ATTACH]

Hey Rick, nice camera, I hope you checked it before you loaded it, I have a couple of Minoltas from the same family (X370 or x-570) which are prone to shutter capping with half exposed frames at 1/250 and faster, found that out the hard way.

ralf_j said:

Hey Rick, nice camera, I hope you checked it before you loaded it

 

Thanks for the warning... I do fire a few test shots, with and without a film, if I haven't used these old cameras for a while. I also have a couple of X bodies with the dreaded capacitor problem, which plagues these Minoltas, and that can arise with or without use, in my experience.

ralf_j said:

 

Thanks for the warning... I do fire a few test shots, with and without a film, if I haven't used these old cameras for a while. I also have a couple of X bodies with the dreaded capacitor problem, which plagues these Minoltas, and that can arise with or without use, in my experience.

Agree, have a small ziplock bag with spare capacitors, but have yet to venture on replacing one, think i have a XG-A and and XG-M with the crazy led indicator in the viewfinder, just have not found the time yet to pick up the soldering iron.

Rick- here in the USA the X-300 was the same as the X-370. Before the Maxxums hit the market, the X-370 was the best selling Minolta in the family camera shop for several years. Most buyers opted for the 50mm f 1.7 and usually added a tele zoom such as the Soligor 80-200 f 4.5 or Sigma 100-200 f 4.5. We later had the kit with the Cosina made (Minolta branded) 28-70 f 3.5-4.8. While we stocked Olympus, Canon, Contax, Fuji, Konica, and Yashica at the time, the ergonomics of the X-370 won a lot of customers. Being a family business, I got to play with all of them, of course.

Off to the Markets & Honolulu, with this Fed-2 workhorse. Arista EDU 200. Aloha, Bill

 

Edited October 31, 2020 by James G. Dainis

Somewhat Surreal!! Someone just dropped this camera in my lap with the 80mm N series lens to boot. Hockey Stick Learning Curve in front of me

 

chuck_foreman|1 said :

Someone just dropped this camera in my lap

 

Congratulations, Chuck! That's quite a windfall. One of my favourites, and a great camera when you've mastered it.

Somewhat Surreal!! Someone just dropped this camera in my lap with the 80mm N series lens to boot. Hockey Stick Learning Curve in front of me

 

[ATTACH=full]1363429[/ATTACH]

Nice beast Chuck and not too heavy as medium formats go. Enjoy it.

This camera caught my attention when I recently purchased some camera parts from an online shop.

I try to bring a film camera with me everywhere but sometimes an SLR or even a rangefinder is a bit bulky. The tininess and lightness of this Minox 35 EL from 1975 could be a great relief in those cases, if it works as advertised after 45 years!

The camera shop allegedly tested the exposure system to be within specs and supplied a fresh battery. I have another week to return it if I am unhappy, so I'll run a roll or two through it during the coming days.