micah_henry

Steve,<br><br>

Nice shots! I'm glad you got your C4 running again!<br><br>

Also, you might already know about this, but there is an Argus Collectors Group (based at Yahoo! groups). They are

passing a C4 around the world and I'm the one with this "World Argus" currently. It's been to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the

United Kingdom, USA, Australia, etc.<br><br>

Here's a <a href="http://www.surprenantphoto.com/argosy3.html">page on the World Argus.</a>

This is actually the third attempt (first two cameras were lost in South Africa).<br><br>

Also, not to hi-jack the thread here, but I had posted some Argus C-44 pictures a while back on this forum, if you're

interested: <a href="http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00CX3O">Post is here.</a> <br><br>

Keep shooting!<br>

--Micah in NC

Raid,

No, I don't know much about Exaktas. I think your adapters are probably just as the other Photo.netters described.

I simply posted here because I know of a bellows for Exakta mount that is available.

--Micah in NC

Raid,

Do you have an Exakta mount macro bellows? I know where one is available (it's made by a third party, not Exakta). Send me a PM or email if interested.

--Micah in NC

Jeff,

Is Fred Lustig the former employee of Graflex who is about 100 years old? I was wondering if he is, and if he's still taking repair work.

Thanks,

Micah in NC

Vick,

I have a few Minox cameras and they are LOTS of fun. Very capable performers.

Here's an old post of mine:

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00F9RR">My Minox IIIS post</a>

--Micah in NC

The 1946 article on darkroom chemistry and tasting the hypo is kind of scary. Isn't that kinda toxic?

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/qf/c/PopularScience/7-1946/chemistry_photo/xlg_chemistry_photo_2.jpg

--Micah in NC

I have the Pony 135 Model C, too, and the Pony IV. They are neat and rather sharp little shooters, often seen for a few bucks at yard sales and thrift shops around western N.C.

I have to be wary of my Model C's 1/25 sec. shutter speed--this tends to drag and then stick open first, before the other speeds do. This happens, of course, if the shutter has been neglected and the lube inside has thickened from years of heat, dust, drying, etc.

One of my favorite shots ever was taken with my Pony IV. It's a close-up (min. focus of 2.5 feet, I think) of a Pierce-Arrow hood ornament from a 1935 sedan. Wish I had a scan of it so I could post it here!

--Micah in NC

August,

You're welcome! Glad I could help.

--Micah in NC

Folks,

I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread! I like these rambling types of threads. Maybe I just like lovely ladies of yesteryear, too!

Anyhoo, long live Gene M. and Kerry Kennedy!

--Micah in NC

(owner of a Rolleicord IV, if that counts, and seconder of motion to send Kerry's book to Mike Butkus, by way of deserving collegiate.)

Ken,

Sorry if this is a duplicate posting.

I wanted to point out that you only need one 2450 battery. These are 3 volts and the original PX825 are 1.5 volts, that's why there were two PX825's needed.

--Micah in NC

Folks,

Wow! I forgot all about posting at Photo.net and wish I hadn't. My job promotion last year left me with less free time for the 'Net.

Andrew: Thanks for the compliments. And you really should look into a pre-70s camera. C'mon, just try it once. What could it hurt? ;-)

David: You are welcome! I need to develop the many Minox cartridges I have sitting on my dresser at home. (We're talking about a dozen, at least! Shame on me.) And thank you for the feedback here and at the Minox and Submini-L Yahoo groups, too.

Ken,

I think I have read of someone using a flat 3 volt lithium battery (like a large coat button in size/shape). The cell is one of the quarter-sized lithium batteries (quarter = U.S. 25-cent coin, for those reading abroad).

I think the battery is type 2450, 3 volt. Use it in one slot of the Reflex's battery holder and an old PX825 as a dummy cell in the other slot. If you don't have an old PX825, use a 2 or 3 coins to make up the difference in space or a wad of aluminum foil, etc. You might also have to put foil around the 2450 to make it stay in the battery holder.

I think the lithium 2450 battery is available in most drug stores and chain retail stores (Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc.) in the U.S.

--Micah in NC

Cassie,

You're quite welcome!

--Micah in NC

Cassie,

I can confirm that Kodak Verichrome is most definitely a B&W film.

Your local lab, if they do B&W, should be able to develop it. However, you might have fogged some or all of the shots when you opened the camera back, so don't have too high expectations.

--Micah in NC

Cassie,

If you are in the United States, you might have a professional lab in your town (I don't, because I'm in a small town). If you look in the Yellow Pages or even use Google.com you might find a photo lab in your area. You didn't mention what brand/type (i.e. Kodacolor, Verichrome Pan, Plus-X, etc.) of film you have--this could be significant in who will process it. Some labs do only color processing nowadays and will balk if you bring in a roll of B&W.

--Micah in NC

John,

Hi. There's one more thing which I think no one mentioned here. I had some purple neg problems with Kodak 120 film when I first started processing my own B&W.

I was baffled and frustrated with the purple-tinted negatives until I realized that, in my haste to load the film on the developing tank reel, I had left the adhesive tape on the end of the film which is attached to the backing paper.

During subsequent film processing bouts, I made sure to remove the tape (a purple tape is used on some films) completely from the film. Either pull off the tape (sometimes this could create static electricity and some risk of fogging the film) OR simply cut off the film right at the tape.

However, if there was no tape on the film you put in the developing tank, then disregard my post.

--Micah in NC

Dayne,

I believe the Acmel versions of the Minox MX (Acmel MD) had an accompanying flash unit, the MDX, which has the flash sensor present and functional. I'm not sure what you'd find under that dimple, if anything, on the MX flash.

Does your MX flash on those two units look like this photo?

http://www.submin.com/8x11/collection/minox/accessories/accessories_mx.htm

Also, see Gerald McMullon's webpages on the MX and its Acmel and Fuji brethren:

http://www.submin.com/8x11/collection/minox/cameras/mx_set.htm

--Micah in NC

Joseph,

You might be able to get an new old stock roll of 616 film from eBay or a place like Pacific Rim http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/ which would provide you another spool and backing paper intact. That's what I did. Now I have two 616 spools and one piece of backing paper, which I treat with kid gloves. I hope to get some J&C 70mm film soon.

--Micah in NC

Hi again,

I appreciate the comments! Thanks for looking.

--Micah in NC

Arthur,

I would say that Agfa Scala CAN be processed in standard B&W chemistry. I did so accidentally and got printable (but not ideal) negatives.

What happened was this: I had been shooting Agfa Scala and J&C Classic Pan 200 in the same camera (4x5" Graflex) and I got my 4x5" film holders mixed up in the darkroom when it came time to develop.

I loaded J&C and Scala into my 4x5" tank by accident and got some rather thin negatives--those were the Scala "negs." The developer I used was Rodinal at 1:50, but it has been over a year since that darkroom session, so I'm not sure on the time. But this CAN be done.

Those conditions under which that I developed Scala, however, were certainly NOT ideal. I haven't seen any suggested times for Scala processing to negatives (in any developer), but I haven't really searched extensively for it.

Hope this helps you out.

--Micah in NC

Joseph,

Hey, very nice work. I especially like the Monitor 616 shots. I think (I spoke to you before on Monitor 616 in email or some other bulletin board. I have one and am contemplating a 50' roll of 70mm film from J&C Photo to reload my own 616 film.)

Nice website, too! I like the semi-panoramic infrared work.

--Micah in NC

Folks,

I had the opportunity in December to visit a local high school to

attend a student performance of "The Plight Before Christmas," a

melodrama loosely based on Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." I say

loosely because it's set in the Old West of the United States, circa

1880s.

Why is this pertinent? Well, I had an itching to try some stage

photography that night with my Franka Solida II. Having never been to

the theatre before, I had no idea what to expect. I found a small

classroom pressed into service as auditorium with only two floodlamps

for stage lighting. Luckily, I brought along two rolls of Kodak TMax

400. My Weston Master II light meter barely gave a reading (and it's

tested accurate); however, I trusted the instrument and set my Franka

accordingly. Most shots were at 1/25 sec. and f/4, or 1/10 sec. and

f/5.6.

I rated the TMax at EI 800 and push-processed myself at home in D-76.

Even though I was on the front row, the actors were fairly far away

on the negs, so I cranked the enlarger head up until the image was

about a 12x12" square, using 5x7" paper at that image magnification.

Here is a photo of the camera and trusty light meter:<div></div>

Luis: nice positioning of tree and figure.

Michael: I like the reference to Mark Twain!

--Micah in NC