john_robison3

<p>I have a Zeiss Nettar 6X6 with a pop up viewfinder that is easy to use and that camera is from about 1947. So some early post war cameras were getting useable viewfinders.</p>

<p>This is nothing about keeping people safe. They (whoever "they" are) have no idea what to do but they feel presure to "do something!" So they come up with this idiot plan so they can say, "See! Look how we are keeping you safe."</p> <p>Now where did I put that old nitrocellulose film?</p>

<p>Ah the Pen F. Still have one and still one of my favorite carry every place camera. That 50 to 90 f3.5 is a beast though. I only bring it along if I need a specific focal length that is not covered by one of my primes and that is usually a tripod shot. </p>

<p>Most fungal growth I've seen on lenses is filamentary and thread like. Sometimes it looks like spider webs. The only seperation between cemented elements I've seen is an uneven discoloration around the edges of the elements. That pattern kind of remints me of the way frost sometimes appears on my car windows in cold weather. Indeed, very pretty.</p>

<p>The important thing is that at least some of these students stick with film after the class. Of the thousands worldwide who take classes it would be good if perhaps 10% continue with it as a hobby.<br> There is another thing to consider. Eventually film cameras, or those who service them, will dry up and producing a new camera, say a basic 35mm SLR, that is reasonably reliable would cost so much new that students would balk at the price. I notice that the Nikon FM10 is now over $300 with a plasticky, slow zoom. </p>

<p>I do have afterall a camera with a meter (DSLR) and sometimes I use it for a meter for my other cameras. That and a Pilot and Luna Pro complete my collection of meters. </p>

<p>There are cameras with meters?!!</p> <p>When did this happen?</p>

<p>Where did you see this photo?</p>

<p>Don't know where you are located but these cameras are plentiful and inexpensive on the used market. Just looked at the big auction site and there are a bunch with BIN prices running from $25 to $60 with lenses. Not too many available as 'body only', mostly sold with lenses. Unless you are very handy you probably cannot fix it yourself and a camera repair person would charge more than a working camera. Also look for a Sears KSX1000, same camera as a KR5 Super with a different label. </p>

<p>Don't let you fixer salt out.</p>

<p>I would rather see a resurrected CL with modern SBC metering off the front curtain and a 20mm longer RF base.</p>

<p>Futher research indicates only the Nikon close up lenses marked 2T and 3T were 2 element construction. I see KEH has a 52mm 3T for $49, a bit spendy if you ask me. </p>

<p>Have not come across this brand. I do know Nikon made cemented doublet close up diopter lenses in 52mm and I have a Minolta doublet 49mm close up lens with focal length of about 250mm (+4). If you need the 48mm thread size you could mount Nikons or Minoltas versions on a step up adpter. Of course the Minolta close up lenses are no longer available, I don't know if Nikon still makes theirs but I don't think so. </p>

<p>Nice collection. Being a half frame fan the spring wound camera I've been interested in is the Canon Dial. Never found one working I at a good price though. I have had a little Ricoh Auto Half with the spring motor but didn't like the fixed focus lens so I sold it. </p>

<p>The ME Super is battery dependant. Perhaps the batteries are dead or weak and cannot run the timing for the shutter? I think the sync speed on an ME is mechanical, 1/125 I think. See if the camera works on that speed. </p>

<p>For all practical purposes the CV 50mm f1.1 fulfills the small market for a super speed lens for Leica M mount cameras. Most of these even faster lenses seem to be "bragging" lenses for the camera manufactures, a form of "hey, look what we can do!" </p> <p>Then of course, limited production leads to very high prices which leads to limited market which leads to.....</p>

<p>Nice series Kent. I lived in Chicago from 1969 to 1978 and did not return for a visit untill 2008. Sadly, my perspective was that 'my Chicago' was just gone. Part of that came from the fact I had spent my 20's in the city and when I returned as a 60 year old man....well you cannot go home. When I had moved, with a young wife and 1 year old child, the Loop had 5 or 6 camera stores. Now there is only Central Camera. My favorite place to visit, The Adler Planetarium, had replaced the quiet, dimly lit astronomical instrument museum and other astronomy related displays in the lower level with a greatly expanded, flashy displays for the current young generation who have a 2.5 second attention span. It was also $12 for admission, yikes, what family can afford to go to a museum these days?</p> <p>Well, the missus and I visited a few of my old haunts, rode the "L" a lot, and visited the new (to me) Chicago Public Library, that was nice. Of course we had to see 'The Bean' and the surrounding plaza. </p> <p>I was both glad and sad to see the city again. I did very much enjoy your presentation. You made good use of a lovely III series Leica. </p> <p> </p>

<p>Another thing to consider is the weight. The 35B is so light weight that you will hardly notice it in a pocket. The regular 35 with the f3.5 Tessar and the 35S with the Sonnar are 3 or 4 ounces more and you will really feel that in a pocket. I had a 35B back in the 70's when they first came out and it was a neat little camera. </p>

<p>I thought the prop for the monolith scene in '2001' was a Hasselblad underwater housing. Looks like one anyway.</p>

<p>A 50mm, not too long not too short. <br> When I bought my OM-1 in Feburay, 1974 a 50mm f1.8 was all I had for about 2 years. I then purchased a used 28mm f3.5 Zuiko. In the meantime I had bought a Vivitar 2X but I didn't consider it a lens although with the 50 1.8 it gave me a 100mm f3.6 that was plenty mushy wide open. But for those two years I went everywhere and photographed almost everything with that 50 and I didn't feel deprived at all. Of course there were sometimes when I ran out of space to back up to take more of the scene. That informed my decision that the next lens would be a 28mm. </p> <p>Now a small kit is a body, 25mm f4, 38mm f1.8, and a 100mm f3.5, all Zuikos. </p> <p>That's right, it's a Pen F. </p>

<p>Yeah, attention to detail. Watched "The Odessa File" where Jon Voight is useing a Leica M4....in a scene that is suppose to take place in 1964. My wife thinks I'm crazy. "How many people would know that?" she wants to know, "enough to matter" say I. </p>

<p>Since I already have several 43mm filters for my Pen F Zuiko lenses and a Pen D, I bought one of those 43.5 to 43mm step down rings from Hong Kong. It fits fine and I just leave it on the camera. With a filter attached the meter cell still reads the same as without so although a small step down saze it does not block anything. </p>

<p>That e-bay vendor, 'villagegoodies' tends to have fantasy pricing on a lot of their items. Then they can say "Oh look, now 20% off" Yeah, 20% off a price 2X to 4X current market value. I'd pass on this just because of the seller. Take a look at some of the pricing on the other stuff they have. No connection to the real world. </p>

<p>My first camera was a Kodak Brownie Bullet: http://www.brownie-camera.com/13.shtml<br> About 1960, I was 11 at the time and it was obtained by sending in box tops and 50 cents or some such. I had no idea I could not take pictures indoors and was sent back some very, very thin negatives. The next camera I bought was a Minolta Hi Matic 9 purchased at Marshall Field & Co. on State St. right downtown in Chicago. That would have been in December, 1969. I have toyed with the idea of obtaining another Hi Matic 9 but at this time in my life I just want to reduce clutter (and "collectables"). Of course, my actions do not always back up my words, I just bought another Zuiko for my Pen F. <br> Shortly after getting the Minolta I learned how to develop and print from a friend and a short time later got a used Miranda D with a 50mm f1.9 Soligor from Altmans. It and the Minolta are both long gone. <br> </p>

<p>A gossen Pilot or Pilot2 are nice compact meters with their plastic case and not expensive. The limitation is low light sensitivity but since I shoot hand held when the meter cannot read the the light is too low to shoot hand held. </p>