A lucky find

[riffeym]

 

 

<p></p>

<p >While visiting one of our local thrift stores I saw an old Samsonite ladies travel case with what appeared to be 3 camera cases in it. I picked it up and indeed, the cases contained cameras, a Honeywell Pentax H1a with no lens, a Russian Zenit-B in beautiful shape with a Yashinon f2.8 50mm lens and this little beauty -</p>

<p > </p>

<p >A Yashica A TLR that looked like it was hardly used. After cleaning it up outside and inside, I found that everything works and it now looks like an almost new camera.</p>

<p > <img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4266741352_726e3c256c_o.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="729" /> </p>

<p >The only thing missing on it was the end cap for the film winder wheel. I found a fiber washer that was almost the same size as the opening, sanded it down to a press fit and then covered it with some left over adhesive backed grained leather that I had.<br>

<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4266741636_0acaab4f0c_o.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p >I am so stoked about this little jewel that I ordered 5 rolls of Fuji Pro 160C from Adorama to test it out with. I can't wait for it to get here!</p>

<p > </p>

<p >BTW - I paid $15.00 for the Samsonite case and the 3 cameras, was that too much? :D</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Mike</p>

[hal_b]

<p>That's great. I've seen TLR's at thrift stores a couple times before, but in each case the store is already aware that the value is over $100.</p>

[patrick_mont]

<p>Great deal!</p>

[riffeym]

<p>Thanks Hal and Patrick! I was lucky that they figured they were just old cameras that probably no body wanted.</p>

<p>Mike</p>

[aplumpton]

<p>It's really nice to find these 1950-60 cameras in such great shape and reasonably priced. You may want to use a 160 to 400 ISO film for colour and a 400 ISO fim for B&W, given the need to use an aperture of about f8 for best results in sunlight and given the range of speeds that you can see on the shutter (1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/300 and bulb). I cannot remember if it has a three or four element lens, but it is likely not too sharp wide open (I had an A many years ago, and it gave very good results, if used at its optimum apertures of f8 or f11).</p>

<p>Good shooting!</p>

[riffeym]

<p>Thanks for the tips, Arthur!<br>

Mike</p>

[LenMarriott]

<p>Michael, Nice find indeed! I have one of these little beauties that I purchased new in1959 and I still use occasionally, mainly as a backup camera for my Rollei T and my Bronica SQ Ai. I'll try to post some results taken a few (OK, a lot) of years ago on an ice fishing trip. Post some results when you get them. We all love to see images from 'classics'. Best, LM.</p><div></div>

[LenMarriott]

<p>Michael, and another. LM</p><div></div>

[LenMarriott]

<p>Michael, and another. LM.</p><div></div>

[LenMarriott]

<p>Michael, and one last one showing what it was all about. That fish was worth about $700 in 1975 dollars. :-) Hard to tell from web sized images but I would have no trouble making 16x20's from these negs. (Tri-x, I think) All of these images were scanned on my new Epson V500. Best, LM.</p><div></div>

[riffeym]

<p>Hi Len!<br>

From the looks of those snowmobiles I would guess that those pictures were taken "a day or two" ago! Thanks for the pictures and I will post when I get the chance to run some film though the "A".<br>

Mike</p>

[tim_drake]

<p>Well Michael, after looking at Len's cool snowmachine shots you had better load up the Yashica with some black & white also. I'll be going by one of those big sled resorts in the Black Hills this weekend, think I'll load up the Yashica D with some HP5. Thanks to the both of you for the inspiration.</p>

[riffeym]

<p>Hey Tim!<br>

Don't know how much I contributed to your inspiration but I know Len's pictures sure gave us all ideas!<br>

Mike</p>

[greg_peterson3]

<p>Major dose of nostalgia! </p>

<p>I shot my very first paying photography job with a Yashica A. <br>

That was about fifty years ago. </p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

[riffeym]

<p>Well guys, my Fuji Pro160C came today. It was too late today to get any pictures but, I got the "A" loaded and ready to go for tomorow (I hope)!</p>

<p>Mike</p>

[LenMarriott]

<p>Michael, We're waiting with bated breath. Don't let us down. :-) Best, LM.</p>

[riffeym]

<p>Hey LM! (and everybody),</p>

<p>Got my testshots yesterday and sent out my film today. I haven't anywhere around close to process 120 film so I found Allied Photographic up in Grand Rapids (about 70 miles from me) that will do the job. I called them on the phone and had quite a nice conversation with one of their customer service people. She told me that unfortunately (that was her choice of wording) they were cutting back their film processing to one day a week - Wednesday.</p>

<p>So be patient LM, it's going to take about week for me to get my negatives back. I can't hardly wait myself! I guess I'm going to have to look into the possiblity of developing my own someday.</p>

 

[riffeym]

<p>Hey guys!<br>

Just bumping this up so it don't get lost. I should see my negs back sometime this week and I'll post some scans as soon as I can.</p>

[riffeym]

<p>Well finally, I got my negs back!</p>

<p>I used a cheap Vivitar No. 30 selenium hand-held light meter to read my exposures and, I got to tell you, using the Yashica focusing screen is quite a trip! Trying to compose a picture while trying to remember that the image is reversed is like like rubbing your stomach and patting your head!</p>

<p>Anyway don't judge my content, I feel I'm lucky to even get a picture of any sort.</p>

<p>Here they are -<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/4319867730_5c47d25062_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="619" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4319868210_91099c34eb_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4319134135_5fd4752712_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /></p>

<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2683/4319133651_2c47abdb2c_o.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[LenMarriott]

<p>Michael, Very nice results. You must be pleased. Looks like a workable combo. If I were you I'd stick with this combo; film, camera, & Vivitar meter, for a while before changing films. This way you'll be able to better anticipate how things are going to turn out; fewer surprises, few disappointments. Hard to go wrong with the Pro films from Fuji or Kodak. What are you using to scan with? Best, LM. </p>

[riffeym]

<p>Thanks for your kind words LM!</p>

<p>I am pleased enough with the results to continue on with this combination as you suggested. I still have to tell you though, I do get a sense of vertigo as I try to get used to centering the reversed image on the ground glass!</p>

<p>The scans were done for me by Allied Photographic as part of the developing package and loaded to a CD. If I continue to work with and like this medium format and I am seriously considering doing my own developing.</p>

[LenMarriott]

<p>Michael, Imagine now, using a large format camera and adding 'upside down' to the mix. Looks like decent scans. For about $200, maybe less, you can get an Epson V500 and soon save enough on scans to pay for it. I got the V500 for Chrismas & have been in scanner heaven ever since. (No inexpensive way for me to scan all my medium format negs or slides until then) For a while anyway, I'll keep this thread bookmarked for further input from you or anyone else just in case there's more to be gleaned from it. Best, LM.</p>

[riffeym]

<p>Oh Lordy LM, I thought it was awkward doing medium format!</p>

<p>Thanks for the info on the V500 - I will definitely look into that. Allied did a great job but, between the cost and the turnaround time, I can't help but think I would money (and satisfaction) ahead by doing my own. This test roll cost me $4.00 and change for the film (5 pack with shipping), a couple of bucks for mailing and $14.50 for develop/print/scan so that's over $20 bucks a roll total or over $100 for that 5 pack of film.</p>

<p>I guess I need to sweet-talk the financial director!</p>