Lou_Meluso Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>Today, it was a very foggy day here in Lenexa, Kansas. Even familiar places seemed to take on an eerie look. A good day to take out the Aires 35-V for a spin I thought. </p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>For this outing I am using a 1958 Aires 35-V rangefinder camera with a Coral H 45mm f/1.9 lens. This camera was a kind and generous gift from my friend Clarence Gass. </p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p >The 35-V is the last and best of the Aires rangefinders. It featured an on-board meter and a series of interchangeable lenses that mount in front of a “focal plane leaf shutter”. The Coral-H 45mm f/1.9 lens is brilliant and is the same lens found on the Aires 35-III. See my post here for a discussion of this fine lens: <a href="http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00TLFY">http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00TLFY</a>. </p> <p > <br> This is a beautiful camera to hold and behold. You can feel the quality in your hands. It sports a Seiko leaf shutter with speeds from B,1-1/400. The on board Selenium meter is working and spot on accurate! That surprised me most of all.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>Shooting with the camera you get the sense of old school solidness. The fit and finish seems excellent on my example. The film advance feels positive, if a little stiff, through its travel. The lever is not as beefy as earlier models, but my thumb liked it as well. The focus is smooth, easy and quick. The shutter release has good feel but a very slight mechanical/spring noise accompanies it when the shutter is fired. It has a very bright finder with good eye relief for eyeglass wearers. While a foggy day is not the best to show off the quality of a lens, that’s the weather we have now so….here are some pics on Fuji Superia 400 film.<br> #1 Frozen Creek</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>#2 A Local Antique Shop</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>Not my favorite hangout but the fog adds an spooky element.<br> #3 Lenexa cemetery</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>#4 Old Hoe in the Snow</p><div></div> 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>The gift of a camera is special and this one is special to me. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to make pictures with such a fine machine. I just can't wait for the sun to come out now to see how she performs in better weather. The years of joy this camera will bring have only just begun. Thanks Clarence! <br> #5 Old Barn in the Fog</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LenMarriott Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>Louis, some of the nicest samples I've seen on this forum. Well done! I remember having the hots for an Aries lllC back in the late 50's but my wants always exceeded my bank account. Ask Clarence if he needs any more friends; I'm volunteering. :-) Best, LM.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>Well done!<br> Nice camera too, thanks.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCap Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>Beautiful shots. The camera looks gorgeous also.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_wheatland Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>Images are as good as I get with my 1954 Leica M3 with same age collapsible Summicron. I sold my 3 lens Aire outfit some years ago, before I bought the Leica. By the way even longer ago, I had an Aires Twin Lens Reflex with Nikkor lenses, that too is long gone, I kept my Rolleiflex ca 1939 Automat.<br> Wonderful images from your equally superb Aires V in the capable hands of a skilled photgrapher! Thank you for sharing.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subbarayan_prasanna Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>Thanks Louis! wonderful pictures. The fog makes the snow more romantic! So why are you in a hurry for the Sun shine. Post more fog and snow shots, please! I especially like the old hoe in the snow! Lovely! regards, sp.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene m Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>Well done.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg_adams Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>That is a nice camera Louis. And it looks like the lens performs admirably. I like the snow hoe also. <br /> Are the lenses easy to change? Also you said leaf/focal plane? both or which ? Just curious. <br /> My Speed Graphics have both sometimes, and sometimes not with a barrel lens.<br> Oh, you said Focal Plane Leaf Shutter. Does this I assume means that the leaf shutter is near the focal plane then...</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 <p>Just beautiful, Louis. The combination of snow and mist just has to be a winner, combined with a big dollop of camera skills and a fine camera. The cemetery and the old hoe, particularly, are classic photographs.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_beisigl Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 <p>Great photos from a wonderful old camera.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Collins Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 <p>Absolutely beautiful, Louis! "Frozen Creek" looks all too familiar while "Old Hoe" is a wonderful picture, worthy of a frame and a spot on a wall. The camera is gorgeous and obviously performs quite well (with help from a master photographer), and looks like one I should add to my arsenal. Excellent series...thanks for posting these!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthew_rusbarsky Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 <p>I've been hunting for an Aires. They say "It's the photographer, not the camera", but a finely crafted mechanical camera seems to inspire me to do my best. I love the way that lens renders; razor sharp, but not at all devoid of character. Great stuff.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverscape Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Louis, you've been posting some really fantastic topics and awesome pictures lately. Keep it up! I think the same thing...you shouldn't be in such a hurry for the sun to come back, I love your snowy pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerry b. Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 <p>It is a great skill to overcome challenging conditions and produce art like you have done with this series.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_foreman1 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Well like the others.. I'm very impressed. I like the Hoe shot and the Cemetery too! I hope you reply to SG, because I wanted to learn more about the camera, I guess I could look it up.. but hey talkin' about our cameras is what we do best here! The gift of a camera is a very special thing! I'm glad to see you're doing the right thing.. using it........... and I'm sure Clarence agrees!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 <p>Thank you all for the good feedback!<br> <strong>SG and Chuck</strong> - Changing the lenses is a snap. They literally snap in and take a quarter turn to seat. A release button on the lens allows the process to reverse. The lenses have an aperture but no shutter between the elements. Instead, the leaf shutter is part of the camera. Focal Plane Leaf Shutter may not be entirely accurate as the shutter is not really at the focal plane but slightly in front of it. I guess "behind the lens leaf shutter" would be more accurate. It still maintains all the qualities of a leaf shutter-flash sync at all speeds, quiet operation, etc, but there is only one shutter to worry about. The shutter blades are exposed and easy to get to, from both sides, should they ever need cleaning.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou_Meluso Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 <p>heres the photo</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfophotos Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 <p>Those are wonderful shots! I love getting out and burning some film whenever we have fog like that. I'd say that the Aires is giving you some good results.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now