CoryAmmerman

Hello CMC gang. It's been a few years since the last time I posted here. Glad to see some familiar names (and new ones) are still kicking around the forum. I've been away from photography, other than family snapshots for the most part, due to family obligations and a shift in priorities, but have recently decided to dust off my cameras and get back to shooting whenever time allows. I thought I'd share a few images from a recent outing. Up until about 5 years ago, I was a victim of G.A.S and collected quite a few cameras in various stages of operability, many of which I have yet to even use. My goal now is to get as many of these cameras up and running and use them all. For no particular reason, I decided to start with the Nikkormat ELW I got off of eBay as a rear lens cap for a 50/1.4. Turned out that the lens had oily aperture blades (still does, but used to too). The camera, however, fas in fine working order, aside from some questionable light seals around the film door that have since been replaced. Generic instructions for camera porn: Step 1-place camera on photography book. Step 2- take picture. There's tons of information out there on both the Nikkormat ELW and the 43-86, so I won't go into great detail about either. On the camera, I will mention that the only difference (that I know of) between this ELW and the previous EL version is the added provision for a motorized winder. Functionally, the two cameras are essentially the same. I would also add that I really like the meter display in the viewfinder. Much easier to see than the +/- in my F2 and FTn. As for the lens, I'll mention that my copy is a later AI version of the much maligned 43-86, which is supposedly superior to earlier versions. Despite it's poor reputation, decent quality images can be had from the lens, provided that one stay away from the wider apertures. It obviously can't compete with prime lenses in terms of image quality but is adequate for situations where a single lens with more flexibility than a prime is desired. Also. that color-coded depth of field scale on the top is my favorite thing about the lens. The following images are from a recent bike ride on a rather warm and cloudless morning. Ideally, for a kit to take on a bicycle, you would want something that is lightweight and versatile. Naturally, I chose a kit that is neither particularly lightweight, nor exceptionally versatile. Despite the improved visibility of the light meter in the viewfinder of the ELW, I still managed to severely underexpose the first third of the the 36 exposure roll of Ektar when I mistakenly thought the camera was in Aperture Priority while it was actually set to the top speed of 1/1000th. Those images came out looking something like this: And this: And that's after adjusting the exposure in post. I could have pumped up the exposure more, but the grain was getting pretty chunky. After the image above, I finally noticed what was going on. And I can't even blame my lack of attention to the settings on learning to shoot on digital... because I learned to shoot on film. Anyway... That's a little better. I think they are advocating something with this mural, but I'm not sure what. Despite what the sign says, this is not a liquor store. The second half of my ride included a section of abandoned railway that has been converted to a bike path. My favorite shot from the roll. Testing the performance wide open at 86mm. Managed to miss focusing on the flowers and put it squarely on the uninteresting part of the railing behind them. Overall, the image is pretty soft, and the bokeh is getting pretty funky. A few more from the way back and I'll stop. I promise. Gratuitous peeling paint shot. Are those still popular here or have they become passe' while I was away? If you're like me and you have a camera handy when a train comes by, you take a picture. No need to bother waiting until said train is actually prominent in the frame, though. Practical part of my brain: "Don't take a picture through the fence." Lazy part of my brain:"It'll be 'artsy.'" 10 yr old part of my brain: "FIRETRUCK!" Well, that's it folks. Hope some of you enjoyed my ramblings for a bit. I enjoyed using the Nikkormat and will definitely be using it more in the future. As for the 43-86, I have a couple of third party zooms with more range and equal/better performance, so I see an extended period of rest in its future. Knowing what I now know, I probably wouldn't buy it again, but I don't regret doing so, if only because it was really cheap. Concerning the technical stuff, film used was Extar 100 and the images were scanned by me on an Epson V600. I have tweaked the exposures a bit in post processing for most of the images presented here..

I've been away from the forum for a while and just now seeing this. Very sad news. Tony was an excellent photographer and, by reputation, an even better person. His contributions will be sorely missed.

Lovely work as usual Rick. I especially like the "Planters" and "windbreak" images. That Apotar lens is definitely not too shabby a performer.

<p>I agree that the shutter is likely the cause of your issue. <br /> I will add that, unless you are intentionally underexposing your film, Sunny Sixteen says proper exposure with ISO 200 in bright sun is 1/250 at f16. 1/1000 @ f22 would be 3 stops under, by my calculations. Shutter capping is typically more obvious at higher speeds, so you may be able to get by with slower speeds, if funds are not immediately available for a CLA.</p> <p>Also, it could just be grit and dust in the channels the shutter travels in that may be causing the problem. Particularly if the camera has sat unused for a long time. If so, there is a chance that the problem may resolve itself with use. (Wouldn't get your hopes too high, though.)</p>

<p>It's a shame about the edges, because the compostitions of the images are definitely up to your usual good standards, Rick. I'm not one that tends to obsess about corner performance and so on, but it's bad enough to bother even me.</p> <p>My first thought was to echo what some of the others have said about an element out of place. I seem to remember someone mentioning some time back seeing similar performance after a home CLA and it turned out an element had been replaced wrong side out. Maybe something like this has happened at some point in the past?</p>

<p>Nice work Rick. I particularly liked the last shot. Seems a bit odd to me to see winter-bare trees after being run inside by +90°(F) temperatures at 9:00 in the morning. I'm not usually a fan of colder temperatures, but I wouldn't mind a trip to the southern latitudes right about now. :-) </p>

If it's the same as on my 1.9, then it should be a series VI. I'm not certain, but the lenses do appear to be the same judging from a Google image search.