shawn_rahman

<p>I'll add this to the discussion, for whatever it is worth:<br /> In 2008 I bought a 50 Summicron M Lens (Wetzlar) "Third Version" (I think), in excellent condition from Tamarkin for $799. After about 150 rolls on my M7 with that lens, I sold the lens in 2013 for almost $1,300.<br /> So in terms of several dozen great pictures and the money I made, a fine investment indeed.</p>

<p>Can someone help me identify the flash bracket that these photographers are using in this shot with the actress Blake Lively?<br>

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/14/showbiz/gallery/cannes-red-carpet/index.html?hpt=hp_c3<br>

It seems a very low profile rotating bracket that holds the flash slightly above the lens when the camera is held vertically. But definitely smaller than the Stroboframe I am used to. Thanks for your input!</p>

<p>Hi Frank - I sent a message through photo.net, with my email and mailing addresses. <br>

This is very generous of you. A&I is one of the last great color labs, IMHO. So sad to see this happen.</p>

<p>Thank you, gents. Your advice is greatly appreciated. I will look into purchasing the magnifier and try it with the diopter. Best regards!</p>

<p>Greetings everyone. I am currently using an M7 (.72) with only a 50mm Summicron. My problem is my right eye is getting progressively worse, and while I have a diopter that matches my prescription, I am wondering if the 1.25x magnifier will assist me in focusing and composition better than the diopter? Does anyone regularly use the magnifier with the 50? I would love to hear your experience with it. Thanks!</p>

<p>Wow. I am so glad Eric mentioned Luc Delahaye's Winterreise. Hands down one of the most compelling and haunting essays/monographs ever.</p>

<p>Congratulations! It looks like a wonderful camera, and the reviews are for the most part very, very good. Enjoy it.<br>

Can you comment on the shutter lag time for this camera? Thanks.</p>

<p>Martin - I concur with your choice of the 105/2.5 AIS; I probably have more keepers with this than anything else in 35mm. To your fine list, I will add the 50/2.0 AI - a terrific "normal" lens and IMHO, the sharpest 50 Nikon has ever made.<br>

As for other formats, the 80/2.8 for the Mamiya 645 system is my single favorite lens.</p>

<p>Camus,<br>

The printing and quality of the pages are fine. Some of HCB's pictures taken from the 1930s don't look they are printed well, but that is the case with all of the different books that contain these pictures.<br>

However, you are correct about the sizes of the pictures. Many of them are small, while others are on two page spreads with the annoying book crease separating the pages. Nevertheless, it is the most comprehensive volume of his images, and the only book available today that encompasses all of his different books and periods.<br>

If you are looking for <strong><em>full page reproductions</em></strong> of his most famous pictures, the volume you want is Henri Cartier Bresson: Photographer.<br>

Hope this helps. </p>

<p> </p>

<p>I think I own just about every book released on Cartier Bresson with an english version, and think all of the recommendations so far are good ones. There are three that I think fit what you are looking for more than all others:<br>

1) Henri Cartier Bresson: the man, the image & the world; this is the MOST comprehensive in terms of total images and periods of his work. <br>

2) Henri Cartier Bresson: Photographer; this is the best of the compilations of his most famous work.<br>

3) Henri Cartier Bresson & the Artless Art; this contains a lot of essays on his work, most of which are great, but the essays are really the focus of the book. </p>

<p>Matt,<br>

May I have permission from you to send your survey link to other photographers who I <em>know</em> will be pleased to make their voices heard?<br>

Regards, Shawn</p>

<p>I am aware of and have a copy of Ivor Matanle's book on Classic Cameras. But as this work is now almost 25 years old, I am hoping to find an alternative reference, and perhaps more current one. <br>

What do most people consider the best reference available today, either in print or online, for manual classic cameras?<br>

Thanks!</p>

<p>I concur with the F3 - the advance on my F3HP is as smooth as I can imagine. <br>

But I've recently purcahsed an M7, and am very impressed with the advance on it. A little more friction on the M7 than the F3, but very quiet and smooth in its own right.</p>

<p>I wish I had a dollar for everytime someone took the time to state "the camera doesn't matter", or "the camera is only a tool", or some other slightly smirkish, silly comment like that. </p>

<p>Well - I suppose an increase from $8.50/roll yesterday to over $11.00/roll really is not as bad as can be, but I note that B&H seemingly changed their price right after the news was announced. Although it is apparently out of stock as of this evening, this is not something I would expect B&H to be doing.<br>

<br />I love B&H and will continue to shop there because I've always had great experiences with them, but this is slightly disappointing.</p>

GREAT choice for a camera. Superb lenses, too!

 

The battery you need is a CR2 / 3V. Good luck!

I am such a doofus. Thanks, Michael - it worked like a charm.

BTW - it is on a F3HP. Thanks!

I thought I was a handy person until now. Does anyone know how to install the black triangular neck strap lugs back

on to the camera? I have the traingular metal piece, and can get that on, but how do I attach them with the black

lugs attached to them? This has confounded me for the better part of the past half hour. Can anyone help? Thanks!

My only MF experience is with my Mamiya 645 Pro TL, which doesn't let you trip the shutter if the dark slide is in. I suppose that is not the case with all Mamiya cameras?

John,

 

You've made some valid points about Sontag in response to my admittedly overly harsh and simplistic critique of On Photography. But I am hardly the the first person to believe that this work reeks of pretentiousness and self-importance like much of Sontag's work, and even Sontag the person.

 

OK to criticize my response to Sontag - and I think your response was a good one until you took a shot at me personally. What does my criticism of On Photography have have to do with whether I have proven my worth as a photographer either on this P-Net or any other website, and in your opinion? Will posting 22 more photos than me, as you have, then qualify me to call myself a photographer?

 

What exactly, is the criteria I must meet that will then allow me criticize Sontag, someone who: 1) was never a photographer herself; 2) was very widely considered arrogant and elitist; and 3) very clearly had a personal agenda when she wrote this book, much of which she recants in later work?

 

Okay - faux-intellectual, phony garbage is perhaps too critical. I'll forego the garbage, but I'll stick to faux-intellectual and phony.

I just read Camera Lucida by Barthes. I can only say "WOW" - terrific work, if (and this is a big if) you can get through it. It helps to have a background with metaphysics and philosophy before tackling this book.

 

For the best writing about pictures in general, I'd also recommend Szarkowski's Looking at Photographs.

 

For writing about "seeing" in general, check out John Berger's work titled Ways of Seeing.

 

Other than that, I find writing that tries to intellectualize and theorize photography a great bore.

 

Finally, Sontag's "On Photography" is just faux-intellectual, phony garbage.

I have the latest version of Schneider's 4x loupe. Simply magnificent. I like the Rodenstock loupes as well, but you will not go wrong with the Schneider ones.

Not much luck here in L.A., either. Samy's occasionally has a small selection. The best bet for used gear these days in L.A. has turned out to be BelAir camera.

 

Even in places like New York, Adorama's used lens selection is nothing what it was a few years ago, even though they have a much bigger space now.

 

For used gear, who can compete with ebay?

 

Still, you may want to try the the camera repair shops in your area. I had a lens CLA'd recently here in Pasadena, and was suprised by the selection of used lenses they had for sale. Good luck!

Is all this trouble really worth the $50-$75 dollars you will spend getting the lens cleaned by a professional?