subbarayan_prasanna

<p>I like the pictures and tones. B&W film does not seem to age that quickly. Thanks for the post. sp.</p>

<p>These homes/mansions look like they are from the age of the Cotton aristocracy. Girls from these homes used to have a middle name, "cotton." I used to work in Memphis State U [now the U of Memphis] 1975 to 1978. Northern Memphis was yankee and Sothern Memphis was Dixie, even the way they spoke and served food.<br> There was an East-West boulevard of 6 lanes dividing the North and South. I recall a 90 year old lady who used to drive a black Chevrolet coupe 1950s vintage. She drove on the wrong side of the road. Apparently, she was taken to Court by the Police for the violation. At the hearing she told the Judge " I have been driving here for the past 60 plus years. They have changed the rules now; it is unfair to ask me to go round, etc. " on further questioning the Judge found that she was driving out just once a month to visit the bank. So the Judge ruled in her favour that she was permitted to drive on the wrong side of the road "Just once a month...to visit her bank" for life. The traffic cops and the public helped her, in this. I have not come across another humanitarian gesture such as this by a Court.<br> The city has revived a lot.</p>

<p>I have restored several of these Fed 1 and Zorki 1 cameras with retractable lenses. Some of the lenses came with the RED P coating indicator. These cameras are pocketable and delightful to use. Your pictures speak for themselves. Thanks for the post. sp.</p>

<p>Nice work at the gathering. Food fests are always interesting to browse! Thanks, sp.</p>

<p><strong>Kris</strong>, I think that lens is an Industar 26M. It was made mostly for Feds; but also fitted on the Zorkis occasionally. It is a lovely lens with good resolution, sharpness and rendering. You have demonstrated that too in your pictures. I have used that lens to make some excellent portraits too. They seem to have produced some 1.6 Million Fed 2s, all of good quality. Though the standardization and precision in fitment was a bit wanting. I found it easy to dismantle CLA and repair; but the re-assembly was quite a chore, as the alignments were not standardized. Reputedly, the Fed 2 was the best of the Fed series. Thanks for the pics. sp.</p>

<p><strong>Kris</strong>, I like the soft tones in the B&W. They bring out the atmospherics of the watery scene. I used to have a 124G; it was quite sharp and helped make good pictures. Thanks for the post. sp.</p>

<p><strong>Rick</strong>, these are very crisp and colourful pictures. Your empathy with the still objects comes out nicely in these pictures as usual. I think the photographer's empathy is an important aspect of the esthetics of the image. Enjoyed the pictures, greatly. Thanks. sp.</p>

<p>Nice pictures with the Tessar. I have a couple of these folders in 35 mm with Tessar lenses from the East, a Beltica and a Welti. Both very cute and well built. But as observed above their systems are not integrated. One has to set each item separately before taking a picture. sp.</p>

<p>Here are some links. I hope they are useful to you.</p> <ol id="b_results"> <li > <h2><a href="http://www.newport.com/Technical-Note-Care-and-Cleaning-of-Optics/141176/1033/content.aspx"><strong>How to Clean</strong> <strong>Optics</strong> - Newport Corporation</a></h2> <cite>www.newport.com/Technical-Note-Care-and-<strong>Cleaning</strong>-of-<strong>Optics</strong>/141176/...</cite> <p><strong>Glass</strong>-<strong>cleaning</strong> solvents will streak, and tissue paper or a t-shirt will scratch, ... While the above <strong>optic</strong> <strong>cleaning</strong> methods work well for <strong>cleaning</strong> <strong>optics</strong>, ...</p> </li> <li > <h2><a href="http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/lens_filter_cleaning.html">Photographic Lens and Filter <strong>Cleaning</strong> - Bob Atkins</a></h2> <cite>www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/lens_filter_<strong>cleaning</strong>.html</cite> <p>While many metals are softer than <strong>optical</strong> <strong>glass</strong> and won't scratch it, many minerals are harder and will. Sand (quartz) ... <strong>Cleaning</strong> <strong>Optics</strong>.</p> </li> <li > <h2><a href="http://www.astro-physics.com/products/accessories/cleaningproducts/optcs-instructions.pdf"><strong>Cleaning</strong> Instructions for <strong>optical</strong> surfaces</a></h2> <cite>www.astro-physics.com/products/accessories/<strong>cleaning</strong>products/optcs...</cite> · PDF file <p>• Astro-Physics <strong>Optical</strong> <strong>Cleaning</strong> System: ... This will cement the dust particles hard onto the <strong>glass</strong> surface and will make <strong>cleaning</strong> very difficult.</p> </li> <li > <h2><a href="http://www.astro-tom.com/tips_and_advice/cleaning_optics.htm"><strong>Cleaning</strong> <strong>Optics</strong> - Astro-Tom</a></h2> <cite>www.astro-tom.com/tips_and_advice/<strong>cleaning</strong>_<strong>optics</strong>.htm</cite> <p><strong>How to Clean</strong> Mirrors and <strong>Optics</strong> ... Here are two very informative articles on <strong>how to clean</strong> ... Do not use any other type of aerosol product that claims to <strong>clean</strong> <strong>glass</strong> ...</p> </li> <li > <h2><a href="http://www.nexstarsite.com/OddsNEnds/CleaningOpticsGlass.htm"><strong>Cleaning</strong> <strong>Optics</strong> - <strong>Glass</strong> Surfaces - Celestron</a></h2> <cite>www.nexstarsite.com/OddsNEnds/<strong>CleaningOpticsGlass</strong>.htm</cite> <p><strong>Cleaning</strong> <strong>Optics</strong> - Part 1 <strong>Glass</strong> Surfaces. You should first note that it takes a LOT of contaminants before your <strong>optical</strong> views will be compromised</p> </li> </ol>

<p>There are some websites that deal with cleaning optical equipment [lenses] in Hospitals. They are very detailed and reported on by people who do this work as qualified professionals, everyday. I do not have a quick link. But it would be worthwhile for you to search through Google or Bing and obtain these. I found their instructions better than any provided by Camera repair manuals. Best, sp</p>

<p>I was wondering if you got things right on your Praktica, after the suggestions made by people in your last post.<br> It would be good if you if you acknowledge the help and report on the corrective steps you took. Otherwise people may lose interest in responding with help. Your report and problems you faced while repairing will also help people in the future. This Forum has developed by such mutual efforts and considerations. sp.</p>

<p>I photographed these in the first week of March 2014. There was plenty of the ubiquitous Winter haze. That added to the atmospherics. Thanks for viewing and your comments. It is a vast subject in a historic landscape. I am starting only with a minute glimpse. sp<br> </p>

<p>Conserving water has become critical. Old time flow irrigation is limited, as the rivers are rain-fed. They are building minor irrigation works, with local storage tanks [for irrigated and drained water] and lined-canals to regulate water flow.</p><div></div>

<p>Many farmers have small holdings. So they don't own tractors and farm machinery. These are owned by entrepreneurs or big farmers and loaned to small farmers on ploughing, sowing and harvesting seasons. The younger generation of school graduates seek employment in these mechanized outfits. Thus unskilled farm labour is getting to be in short supply.</p><div></div>

<p>I found an esthetic in this ambiance that seemed special. The cattle roam freely here. But, unlike the city bred brats these people don't seem to throw garbage around.</p><div></div>

<p>Built with local materials, mud walls and thatch roofs, some use bricks made in off-season local kilns. The change is in the electricity supply and the TV and other gadgets they use. Some, like school teachers and prosperous farmers use computers to get information on farming directions.</p><div></div>

<p>We made a small tour of the historic Chola Landscape in Tanjavur District. It is on the Delta of the River Kaveri [aka Cauvery]. The Delta was created by an early Chola king Karikala around 2000 years ago. He built a check dam of stone masonry on the river and split it into six dis-tributaries and had dug extensive canals for irrigation of these lands. The Dam is still functional, was restored in 1920s with mechanical control gates. More about this later.<br /><br />On our way to view these monuments, great Temples of the Chola Empire, we came across many pretty village scenes. I am posting a few shots here; all the pictures were taken with one of my favorite Praktica Nova 1Bs with the Meyer Oreston 50mm f/1.8 lens and scanned in my old HP 3010 scanner. The film is ORWO UN54 developed in my home brew.<br /><br />This village, Pandanallur, is close to the banks of a major dis-tributary called Kollidam [Coleroon in the Latin maps]. Most villages in the Delta are famous for their talented people. Pandanallur was famous for its classical dance school. Most of the famous dance stars of Bharat Natyam camped in this village under primitive conditions and learnt their art, since 1900s till the 1970s. They came from all over the country.<br /><br />I would visit the place again and do a more detailed photo essay. <br /><br /></p><div></div>

<p>Yes, I do. I have one built into the Praktica Nova 1B. Still works well. I also use a Leningrad 7 [has two scales, High and Low] and a Gossen Pilot. All work well. sp</p>

<p>Mark Hi!<br> Just checked my L-series cameras. I think that you may not need to remove the top plate. Just slide the small cover over the hot shoe and it should reveal three screws. These screws are anchored to a plate underneath. Try tightening them and that should set things right, unless the anchoring plate inside has fallen loose of the screws. In such a case you may have to remove the top plate fully. Best, sp.</p>

<p>Hi Mark!<br> Yes, please do look up Morris's report. He was in touch with Steve Shepherd and me when he was confronted with the Praktica problem. He is a great mechanic, very intuitive and precise.<br> To answer your questions; (1) on the lens mount plate. There is a black flat ring [made of plastic in most cases] around the threaded mount. Just flip that out with a sharp needle. Then you will find the mounting screws. I think there will be four of them. You can tighten them with even pressure and then set the Black plastic ring again. <br> (2) For tightening the flash shoe you need to remove the top plate after removing the wind-on lever, the speed selector and the rewind knob. <strong>Be careful not to shut the back door after you remove the rewind knob.</strong> It snaps shut and the lever is operated by pulling the rewind knob. in case it gets shut accidentally, you will have to remove the bottom plate and then reach the snap lever to pry it loose. Not an impossible job; but it can be irritating and cumbersome. <br> Once you remove the top plate you will be able to reach the screws to tighten the hot shoe. Some hot shoes have a sliding plate on top of the screws. you may have to lift the front of the plate and push it back. In some the screws will be accessible even under this plate. It depends on which screws are loose. if they are just under this plate then try them first. You may not need to remove the top.<br> I am writing all this from memory. The Praktica L-series, though similar have small variations and can differ from batch to batch. They are said to have turned out one camera every 30 seconds on their assembly line. So their could be differences on the input side and between parallel assembly lines too.<br> All the best; let me know if I can be of assistance any more. Regards, sp</p>

<p>I am eternally surprised that good quality products do not survive in the market, or that their entrepreneurs just give up and close shop. Yashica seems to be one such. Perhaps that is how the saying developed that "all good things must come to an end." At some point they must have thought that the Contax name would bring them more market share. Short lived. sp</p>

<p>Nice shots of old cars. Good old camera too! The TLRs hold their own even after decades of stopping production. Thanks for posting. SP.</p>

<p>The pictures look impressive with the soft tones merging nicely at the edges. Thanks for the post. sp.</p>

<p>Lovely clouds and conifers. Keep more coming. Thanks. sp.</p>

<p>I took a casual walk along a stretch of Bangalore-Mysore Road this morning. One side of the road is an old village Nayanda Halli. The other is more contemporary and is developing modern uses and structures. The word Halli is the South Indian version of the Greek word Polis, meaning a school or gathering or community etc. I noticed that in Greece they pronounce it similar to the Tamil word Palli.<br> The village is changing a lot due to the strip commercial bordering the Road. The road is being expanded into a 4-lane divided highway. So a lot of strip encroachments are being removed, now. Here are some samples taken around 9:00 a.m. I used Lucky 100 from Hongkong; it is an okay film for bright day light. Does not seem to have much tolerance for dark shades or very bright highlights. I hope it is interesting.</p><div></div>