Why DSLRs are superior to classics

[matthew_rusbarsky]

<p>I was lucky enough to be a able to see the Larry Willis trio with Ethel Ennis at a very small venue last Sunday. There were a few professional photo/video guys on hand. I brought an old rangefinder with fast film and a longish lens. I faded toward the back, tried to stay out of everyone's way and blend in with the woodwork. My Argus C3 attracted way too much attention for comfort. I might have to buy a Nikon D3. Much more inconspicuous. I could gut the shell and stick my Argus inside.<br>

Stealth machine no more:<br>

<img src="http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/Proteus617/5Speed.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[SCL]

<p>Ha ha, the title is a good one. Yes, those old C3 cameras just keep chugging along. It is interesting that after being the bastard stepchildren for so many years, they are attracting attention again. I haven't touched one for probably 20 years, but I've certainly had the pleasure of digitizing the wonderful slides my father shot with his C3 in the 1940-1960s.</p>

[yog_sothoth]

<p>I have two problems when I use my crown graphic in public. The first are young people who have never seen anything like it and want to look at it, and the second are older people who get very nostalgic and suddenly want to talk about the 1950's. </p>

[jakenorcross]

<p>My big problems with my Graphic in public are that I feel the need for a cigar and to complain about the Roosevelt administration... </p>

[john carter]

<p>That's funny Jacob. I went to a restaurant with my Ansco Speedex (II), I had on a tie and sport coat I had in college (1964). The waitress took my order and I asked for their meatloaf. She said 'are you putting me on?'</p>

[matthew_rusbarsky]

<p>Jacob-You need to trade that Graflex for a DSLR before it's too late. Stage 1: Cigars and complaints about Roosevelt. Stage 2: Sleeping next to your police scanner and sporting a press pass in the brim of your fedora. Stage 3:<br>

<img src="http://corporate.gettyimages.com/masters2/galleryContent/weegee/img_weegee_bio.jpg" alt="" /></p>

 

[gordon_yee]

<p>Last year, I took a Canon F-1 and my recently acquired Canon P to the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance, one of the premier classic and antique car events. No one showed any interest in my equipment. On the other hand, maybe they were just ignoring me...</p>

[link]

<p>While my recently acquired Rentia IIIc did not attract much attention, I did use it to shoot candid photos of my wife in a restaurant. She hadn't seen this camera before and didn't notice anything strange about it. (had just got it on ebay for $80:) But she was not feeling attractive that day and asked me to immediately delete her photos. When I told her I couldn't, she didn't understand why not...And she was born the same year as my Retina!</p>

[Lou_Meluso]

<p>Hey, I recently saw a guy gut a Canon AE-1P and stick a digital camera in there (and it worked!). Why not the other way? </p>

[john_robison3]

<p>To my surprise my older film gear, including my Kodak folders do not attract much attention. One guy a couple of months ago asked if my Pen F was a Leica. It has about the same profile as a III series LTM body. Some folks get excited and a few seem amazed that I still do my own B&W processing but all in all an hour walk will elicit no comments 80% of the time.</p>

[mfophotos]

<p>and we have stereo...sort of:</p>

<p><a title="heavy metal madness by mfophotos, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4582233616_c2f1c5c995.jpg" alt="heavy metal madness" width="500" height="333" /></a></p>

[JDMvW]

<p>I've shot thousands of images on 4x5 Graphics and 4x5 Marine Combat Graphics cameras (left) and I love to mix old lenses and newer digital cameras (right).</p>

<p>What's there to argue about?</p><div></div>

[luke_kaven]

<p>Do you have any pictures of my friend Larry Willis to share?</p>

[chuck_foreman1]

My experience is more like John Robinson's. The people can't help but notice the camera, but it's considered bad manners to talk to strangers. The people barely bat an eyelash..better to ignore me. I wish you'd posted some results. I saw Ethel Ennis a few times back in the 1980s in fact her percussionist (Carl Brown) was our percussionist too. I've always liked trying to shoot in clubs. Results are a mixed mess. I typically shot Tri-X. The better shots were usually the high contrast

with some directional light on the performer. The average lighting shots where I could get the drummer and keyboard player (often standing in the background a bit) were often just not sharp enough. Either I moved or they moved. I usually went for broke and shot wide open at a 60th all night and worried more about focus! The long lens is only a hindrance for speed.

Maybe one of those "creepy" Feds would cause less attention than the funky Argus! I'm amazed at how physically long some of the DSLRs lenss are. Is this a status symbol now? By the late 80s a 2-300 lens could be offered in a relatively compact package....what happened?!?

[matthew_rusbarsky]

<p>Luke and Chuck- Usually I'm a few weeks backlogged with developing, so I'll post when I get them. Lighting was difficult as the band was set up against a bright window with the afternoon sun streaming in. I asked one of the pros for an EV to help me out. Instead, he was nice enough to take me up to the stage to get an ambient in between sets.</p>

[maderik]

<p>On a recent trip to some western parks I brought a HuaZong TLR, a Kodak Stereo camera, a Certo Dolly Vest Pocket, and a Rollei 35. All of them attracted a number of interested looks and even quite a few conversations (amazing how many people think you can't get even 35mm film anymore). However, they were also the only film cameras I saw other than a few disposables, one Olympus P&S, and one poor soul who brought a 4x5 field camera into that zoo they call Antelope Canyon during rush hour.</p>

[enric]

<p>Exactly the other way around here: I have found that some people like tram drivers or Marechausee at the airport suddenly approach you or ask you not to take pictures if you use a DSLR, once they took me for a press guy in the airport and while there are constantly hundreds of people taking photos I was asked by a an officer not to take them with my Pentax K20D... another day I was in the tram trying to take a portrait of a friend of mine with the same camera and a controller invoked an unexisting "privacy" law by which a private person can't take photos of his/her friends... My strategy: Using a classic!!! A soviet rangefinder, like my Kiev 4M, a folder, like my Zeiss Super Ikonta or my Moskva-5... and even SLRs like a Spotmatic... they look so weird that there minds do not associate it with photos, at least not fast enough to wake the little Stalin that many have in them, lol. (And now I have a Diax IIb ready to rumble!!!)</p>

[SolaresLarrave]

Last weekend I showed up with a Nikon S2 at a party with friends... and since they know my weakness for classic cameras they were nicely attentive and asked questions about it. The best I heard was someone asking me about getting film for it, and having it developed. And another friend who was very surprised upon hearing that the camera was made in the mid fifties.

 

It was fun... 'cuz otherwise, I almost never get any attention when I carry a Leica with me.

[capitalq]

<p>I agree with you, Enric. If you use a 'vintage' camera, the photo-gestapo have a harder time reacting -- even in public galleries and museums. </p>

[CosteaM]

<p>From a photo shoot at the Univ of Toronto last Sat</p>

[CosteaM]

<p>Trying to upload something again</p><div></div>

[mark_tate]

<p>I get a bit of attention when out with my Bronica SQ though I do have a laugh when asked how many MP it is</p>

[scott_szymanski]

<p>I brought my Ricoh Diacord TLR to a classic car show and got a lot of comments, but only from the older folks. "I haven't seen a camera like that in years" or "Honey, look at that, remember those".<br>

The younger crowd looked confused. I'm sure they were wondering "What the hell is that guy doing with that thing" as they stepped in front of me so they could get their shot with their cell phone.<br>

I saw one DSLR and this guy had a high end setup. Mounted on a bracket with big lens, shade on the lens, flash, and carrying a pretty impressive gear bag. Looked like a pro. He smiled and said,"Nice Rollei".</p>

[rdm]

<p>Wow nice Argus C3.<br>

What kind of finder is that on there?<br>

can you show a couple more pics of it .. i never seen that type for the telephoto lens before</p>

[flatulent1]

<p>I still have my dad's C3, in like new condition, but I've never used it. Still have the flash with the collapsible reflector too. I'd love to find some different lenses for it; that tele looks nice.</p>