jean_moxhet

<p>No hesitation, my favorite is the Voigtlander Vitessa "barn doors" with it's accessories in original leather cases. A beauty!!! and those leather, waouw! And the Ultron lense gives such beautifull pics! It's truely pocketable and build as a tank.<br>

Now regarding what I use, I have to admit that the VC Bessa T with 15 or 25 lenses or the Canon EF with 85/1.8 are true pleasure to use...</p>

<p>I have and use 2 rangefinders with changeable lenses, both need external viewfinder, both have tiny rangefinder.<br>

On 1 side a IIIf BD, a beauty, so well made, will last for ever (after last CLA, I received with that message "see you in 20 years"), small, so great to have in hand... but what a trouble to load.<br>

On the other hand, the VC Bessa T feel light, cheap, ... but with "inboard" lighmeter and a pleasure to load.</p>

<p>Conclusion: easiness is usualy the winner and it's the "T" that come out with me most of the time.<br>

But my favorite rangefinder ever is my Voigtlander Vitessa "Barn Doors", build as a tank, great ergonomy, the best regarding loading, fabulous lens,...</p>

<p>During last fotokina (Köln, Germany), both Fuji and Cosina people told me that camera were to be build by Cosina. And except cosmetic details as name plate, color,... they have to be totaly similar.<br>

At that time, it was said that Fuji brand was for japanese market only and Voigtländer(Cosina) elsewhere.</p>

<p>Yes, no doubt at all.<br>

It's a Yashica D!</p>

<p>Hello, ok that message is a little bit on the fringe of that forum topics but it's related to (very) calssical photography.<br>

Few w-e ago while having nice time in London, I discover a fabulous new book about a set of british stereo card from mid 19th. A true catcher, I can't leave it. The book is fitted in a box with a nicely made folding stereoscope. It's well writted, interresting at technical, historical, photography point of view. And as you can imagine with plenty a reproduction or recent stereo couples to be seen with the stereoscope. And with these beautifull old 3D pictures, I'm traveling back to the past.<br>

The book is “A Village Lost and Found” writed by Brian May and Elena Vidal. You'll have no difficulty to find info about it on the net because it's writer celebrity. Of course his the guitarist from Queen but also a long time stereo photo amateur and collector.</p>

<p>For sure, I'll be able to find some "new" Ricoh's or Voigtlander's for my collection but as resolution... I see 2 of them:<br>

a) Experiencing stereo pictures, for that I'm working on a basic dual TLR combo to do my own "19th century like stereo cards"<br>

b) The most impiortant, less collecting and more shooting! And in few month, I'll have a great and nice reason to shoot more. My first child is expected for April/May :-) for sure I'll try to shoot him/her (?) with nearly all my camera ;-)</p>

<p>Time for update on serial number data:</p>

<ul>

<li>The lowest s/n is 109438, February 74, microprism (Brian Grossman's). </li>

<li>The highest s/n is 423124, July 77, split microprism (mine ;-)</li>

<li>No news regarding the current dividing point of focus screens, it's still between s/n 2785xx, Apr-75 (Dave Sims) and s/n 2828xx, Jun-75 (Gordon Yee).</li>

</ul>

<p><br />Some other figures, related to Black Beauties and their owners, collected on that forum:</p>

<ul>

<li>52 EF actually owned</li>

<li>39 owners</li>

<li>9 new owners (camera bought in 2008 and 2009)</li>

<li>9 owners having 2 of then</li>

<li>7 owners having 1 model of each version of viewfinder</li>

<li>1 owner having 5 Black Beauties</li>

</ul>

<p>If so many of us have 2 (or more) EF, that's explain why Black Beauties are so rare ;-)</p>

<p>Thanks Jeroen.<br>

Nice, evoluting, site. I'll try to add my first review next w-e.</p>

<p>Welcome in the "Black Beauty" family!<br>

Definitively my favorite SLR and favorite Canon. I have 2 of them, a old one (01/1975) with microprism and a "new" one (07/1977, one of the last it seems, #423xxx) with split screen viewfinder. Regarding lenses or subject, I choose one or the other.<br>

Regarding batteries drain, if you don't forget to switch it off, no problem.<br>

Enjoy your EF!!!<br>

PS: as I know after a search on the net (mainly on that forum) the passing from microprism to split screen was between #2785** (04/1975) and #2828xx (06/1975) bodies.</p>

<p>Few years ago, like you, I was discovering the medium format and what a joy. As many, I started with a old bellow vintage camera (Voigtlander Bessa2) and the result was so fabulous... waouw what a pleasure to look a big neg :-)<br>

So like you, I was thinking about what is the kind of "modern" MF camera that I need. A TLR? a "Hassy-like brick"? a RF? or a SLR?<br>

I was lucky to have in test a Bronica S2 with quite great kit of lenses and accessories. Nice camera but quite fast the conclusion was, such type of camera is not for me. No more dream about NASA like camera. I never succeded to feel how to use it correctly but the pics shooted were another proof of the need of MF camera. Next I bought cheap a Lubitel and I discover the TLR. Great camera but not for everyday use. Next step, the SLR and that was a Pentacon 6. A strange "not totaly reliable" uge camera but what a pleasure to use and with some so great lenses.<br>

Conclusions for me:<br>

The uge SLR (still the Pentacon6 but with Baier update) is what I prefer for shooting nature, landscape, ... except for the size it could be a nice vacation camera ;-)<br>

And for portrait, still life nothing beter than the TLR (no more Lubitel -even if I shooted great pics withit- but replaced by a Yashica) ... specialy child portrait because they don't known that you are shooting them and they don't even hear the shuter.<br>

Conclusion for you:<br>

Be sure of what you "really" want before investing too much money. So trying cheap solution can be a good idea.</p>

<p>I have a IIIf (cla 3 years ago and receiving her back, the guy at the shop said me: "See you in 30 years!"), what a beautifull, small, noiseless, well made,... camera. But loading it is not far from a nightmare and the viewfinder is so tiny. Anyway, I love that camera and will keep her forever. As lenses I started with the 50/3.5 Elmar and a 50/2 Summitar. Later looking for wider point of view and because of limited budget I went for the VC SnapShot Skopar 25/4, of course with external viewfinder. Nice lens!!! <br>

Later, looking to wider point of view, I bid for a Super Wide Heliar 15/4.5... that came with a Bessa L "around it". What a cheap, plastic made camera... but so easy to load... with external control of the lightmeter...<br>

And finaly, I discover that I was using more the ugly plastic japanese toy in place of the lovely german beauty. Shame on me ;-) easyness wins.<br>

Now, I'm using a Bessa T anniversary model that I was lucky to find at good deal. That's the good compromise. Because of metal dials it's no more plastic toy, her grey paint is beautifull, the inboard rangefinder great for using all lens (even and mainly the VC 90mm),... It's my favorite everyday camera.<br>

But I still love so much the IIIf... strange</p>

<p>Remark about the BessaT. Of course it need an external viewer what means, as allready said, plenty of limitations (no parallax correction, risk of damaging or losing it, "double targeting"...).<br>

BUT! That's a fantastic camera because:<br>

a) It have the widest Effective Base Length of approximately 53.7, or more than the Leica M .72 finder. In other words, the T is currently the only Bessa able to accurately focus long or fast lenses.<br>

b) With small wide lens, it's a small camera, so you can keep it unnoticed under your jacket. And with some pratice it's very fast to drop it in your jacket pocket while removing the finder (before storing it in your shirt pocket).<br>

c) Finaly, the best characteristic for street/bus/subway shooting is the external 3 LEDS display of the meter. Set the lens on hyperfocus and without been noticed you can see if the light is good or not.</p>

<p>For sure, it have plenty of limitation but I never travel without mine and the 15, 25 and 90 lenses, my wife using her Bessa R2A with 35 or 50 lenses. OK, I have to admit that I borrow her time to time because the viewfinder is usefull ;-)<br>

Last remark, the Bessa T 101 Heliar Anniversary model, is stronger due to metalic dials (plastic on normal version).</p>

<p>Not an answer to your question but a good way (even not cheap) to expend pleasure to use the Pentacon6 is the nice solution from Baier.<br>

They have a kit with Kiev TTL-Metering prism + adapter for P6 (alos adapter for some other medium format camera). Since last year I have that combo on my P6 and that's another camera. So easier to use!.<br>

For more info: <a href="http://www.baierfoto.de">www.baierfoto.de</a><br>

They also hace plenty of interresting stuff ans solution for the P6. example: nicely made strap clips specialy made for the P6. Great to finaly have a serious strap for holding such heavy beast!</p>

<p>Just found in a garage sale, a double cable release from Leitz with one cable with classic screw head and the other with Leica head.<br>

What's name and use for that? For some model of Visoflex (not the 1 because it needs double Leica screw heads)?</p>

<div></div>

<p>Great news indeed!<br>

My Bessa's are allready waiting...</p>

<p>The Bessa L and T (quite similar but with lens coupled telemeter) are not trully classic cameras. But they are perfect and efficient tool to be used for shooting with classic lenses and with classic viewfinder.<br>

My "T aniversary model" is one of my favorites camera and she's nearly all the time in my bag fitted with 15 or 25mm lense and sometimes with a 90mm (winder vintage Voigtlander Turnit viewfinder).<br>

Enjoy your new camera!<br>

You can download manual from Butkus and don't forget to reward him.</p>

<p>I don't understand why Olympus didn't made a removable EVF like Ricoh had done for the GX-100 (and now GX-200).<br>

Whit such accessory the E-P1 should be a really great camera!</p>

<p>Caving in tropical area means nearly 100% humidity, and aound 20-24°C... not good for cameras.<br>

No light means only one solution: open flash (the camera in B pose is fixed somewhere and or you have some people and some flashes or 1 guy stay near the camera and hide the lens while the guy with the flash move from place to place).<br>

With my caving club we had done that a lot but usually with old SLR or with waterproof pocketdigital (Ricoh mainly).<br>

You can find many examples on caving club web sites. Here one shoot in Guatemala:http://www.rcae-speleo.be/galeries/guatemala_2004/photos/photo_9.html<br>

That shoot was made with 3 flashes in a main chamber more than 80m wide and the big central stalagmite is more than 15 meter high. I'm hidden from the camera at its base and shoot one of the flash lighting it.</p>

<p>The SLR "3EHNT ET" is a Zenit ET. If I remember well you can open the back lifting up the rewing knob.<br>

For sur you can find manual for that camera (or one of its previous or next version) on-line. Try on:<br>

<a href="http://www.butkus.org/chinon/russian/zenith_12/zenith_12-splash.htm">http://www.butkus.org/chinon/russian/zenith_12/zenith_12-splash.htm</a><br>

<a href="http://www.kozerawski.com/2007/11/26/zenit-et-some-tips-and-basic-manual/">www.kozerawski.com/2007/11/26/zenit-et-some-tips-and-basic-manual/</a></p>

<p>Here is a short story of the Lubitel family:<br>

Bakelite body (with door for storage of 2 filters on the left side):<br />Komsomol(ets) from 1946-1950, 25.000 made. Lens T-21 (or22) triplet F4.5 shutter ZT max speed 1/100, pseudo TLR (no focusing in viewfinder).<br />Lubitel TLR:1950 (49 ?)-1956, 1.334.600 made. Lens T-22 triplet F4.5 shutter ZT5 max speed 1/250<br />Lubitel-2 'aka Kalimar 100): 1955-1977, 2.158.500 made. Lens T-22 triplet F4.5 shutter ZT5 (ZT6 after 1959) max speed 1/250 + selftimer<br>

Sputnik (1955-1973), stereo version what is a 3 lenses camera, 1 as viewfinder and 2 for both synchronized camera.<br>

Thermoplastic body (no more filter storage but lens can be fitted with 40.5mm filters):<br />Lubitel-166: 1977 (76 ?)-1980 (81 ?), 69.120 made. Lens T-22 triplet F4.5 max speed 1/250 no selftimer but frames counter.<br />Lubitel-166 B: 1980-1990; 906.248 made. Lens T-22 triplet F4.5 max speed 1/250 + selftimer + frames counter. Special 1980's Olympic version available with a different front name plate.<br />Lubitel-166 Universal: 1983 (84 ?)-1996; 412.187 made. Lens T-22 triplet F4.5 max speed 1/250 + selftimer + no frames counter but red windows (because possibility to shoot 6x4.5 with mask).<br>

Remarks:<br />1) In russian, "Lubitel" means amateur.<br />2) Even within same version (at least for the Lubitel-2), you can find different bodies and spec. It's surely due to use of different molds -> conclusion it's not sure that you can use the door of 1 camera to repair another one. Info coming from personal experience. <br />3) Most of these Lubitel are available with name writed with roman or cyrilic alphabet.<br>

4) actual version of Lubitel sold by lomographic society are fitted with accessory for use of 35mm film. That accessory is (until now) not available without a new camera.</p>

<p>And finaly a pic of the 500 with Ricohmeter and sky filter installed.<br>

The 500 is the successor of your "35"s, quite similar except the flatter top-plate with film knob missing.</p><div></div>

<p>And 2 more pics, the first one is a Ricoh "35" (without s) and with the lder top plate and the 1:3.5 lens with prtected commands.<br>

It's the direct ancestor of your "35"s.</p><div></div>