juan_mcmahon

April 28, 2010

Mmm ... maybe you're right John, I just didn't think in that posibility, but sounds reasonable.

What really call my attention was, precisely, the one on the left, with those two big control wheels "a la Rolleiflex". I wonder where the designer took the idea or the inspiration for it.

April 27, 2010

This are the cameras ...

April 27, 2010

Usually, before I go to work, I turn on the TV for a few seconds to check out the temperature outside, the traffic conditions, the usual stuff. Usually I check this things in one of our many News TV Channels.

Last monday, when I turn it on, the TV was setted in a different channel, one of the open ones, who have talk shows and this sort of programs. What calls my attention was a muppet, a little orange rabbit, who was "talking" surrounded by two MF format cameras!!!

I tried to follow it a little but the TV's director seems to be a person who had not interest in this kind of cameras ...

Intrigued, I try to find more about the rabbit and his cameras (not so very interested in the rabbit, more on the cameras) without result (on the camera's side, of course), only a video posted on YouTube:

<a title="blocked::http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUGbQ_mWhPY" href="

At around the 15 second you could see one of the cameras and later, at 52 second, the two. At the end, one of the guys asked the rabbit "what are this? Cameras? Yes, answers the rabbit, we're always looking at you" (???). And that's it.

I took a (bad) photo of the cameras, maybe you can help me to identify them.

January 5, 2010

Hi Darko.

I understand now why you were thinking on those Yashinon tele/wide lens.

Some time ago I found myself in your position. Finally I decided to left MF to other stuff, not to take photos on the street. You know, I live in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and around here, when you take a MF camera on the street (whatever, TLR's Rolleis, Hasselblads, Mamiya 7, etc.) people stop to watch you and to ask this or that about the camera. Sometimes is funny, sometimes not. There's a lot of street robbering around here and I begun to feel unsafe when I took them out. Same happens when I go out with my old Leica or another "strange" old toy I collected over the years.

The guy who service my cameras suggested me a Rollei 35, you know, very small, very good lenses, a classic. It's so small ans so quiet that it's perfect to take photos incognito. But it hasn't interchangeable lenses, and it's wasn't cheap, so I passed it.

One day I found on a local shop an excellent Agfa Ambi Silette, with their three lenses (35, 50 & 90) for cents and I though: these could be an excellent camera for street shooting. It's only big problem is it hadn't a light meter but, hey, most of my old toys hadn't!!

So, I bought it, and, after a C L A begun to shoot with it. And I was surprised to saw how good pictures it can take! For people in the street, is just an old ugly camera, nobody ask nothing, nobody stops, nobody cares. If some thief want it, hey, take it!! I can buy another for few bucks.

I know, it's not MF, not even a Leica. But it do it's job properly. It have a nice, big and bright viewfinder, a clever bayonet system and a silent shutter. The only thing I dislike is that is a little heavy, but nothing compared to a Rolleiflex!

Probably you are looking something different. 35mm is not the same. Once you tasted MF 35mm feels... I don't know how to say, not so good. But I print basically in 8x10in so 35mm works pretty fine.

Well Darko, I only want to told you my own experience.

Good luck!

January 5, 2010

Hi Darko! Happy new year!

I have both, the tele and the wide angle. I looked for them for a long time, even If I read that they were not good. And believe me, they aren't ... In fact they're so bad that I kept it in a box somewhere, with all the useless stuff I bought over the years, and I never carry them with me when I decide to use my loyal Yashica Mat 124G, just in case I have the bad idea to give them another try!

They vignette a lot and also made some sort of blur that ruined every picture I took with them. And they looks in perfect shape!!!

I don't know what happen when you try to use them on a Rollei, I don't have a Bay 1 Rollei, but, at least for me, it doesn't matter, they're just two pieces of optical junk. Strange that Yashica made them since the regular Yashinor is a reasonably good lens.

If you need a TLR with a Tele and a Wide Angle and you can't afford the Mutar, better get yourself a Mamiya TLR.

Good luck!

December 22, 2009

Well, I didn't use my SL66's with flash very often. Since it's synchro speed is a little low (1/30s) I don't feel very comfortable with it. When I decide to make, for example, portraits in MF or something like that I prefer my old Rollei TLR.

But when I used it, yes I used it with a sync cord connected to the "X" outlet for Electronic flash.

December 21, 2009

Nice to read someone is using the SL66!!!

I love my SL66's even if I reckon that they aren't very practical, too big and heavy to go around with them.

As John said, I always use them with a tripod so the hood meter isn't a "must" accessory for me. With it I use an old Gossen Luna Six or a Nissin D2001i (for flash) that I bought very cheap. Both do the job perfectly.

June 9, 2009

Hola Fernando!

Disculpa la demora. La primera foto esta tomada usando un Kodak TMax 100, la segunda, un Ilford 125.

Un abrazo!

Juan

Hi Fernando!

The first one I took it with Kodak TMax 100, the second one with an Ilford 125

June 4, 2009

Two examples, one with the Yashica Telephoto (at f16) and the other with a Rolleinar #2:

June 2, 2009

Hola Fernando: Supongo que por tu nombre y apellido, debes hablar en castellano, asi que como me siento mas comodo con mi idioma natal, te contesto en el. Para los demas traduzco luego. Como te dijeron antes, las lentillas de aproximación o close up de Rollei (se llaman Rolleinar) Bayoneta 1 (Bay 1) encajan perfectamente en la Yashica Mat 124G. Yo tengo las tres existentes (Rolleinar #1, #2 y #3) y para retratos, coincido con que la mejor es la #1. La #2 es practica, pero no ideal y la #3 sencillamente no sirve para retratos. El Tele de Yashica es una basura, igual que el gran angular. Viñetean mal y arruinan la buena perfomance del Yashinon. Para lo unico que sirven es para coleccionar ... Los mios estan en un cajón y jamas los llevo conmigo. Tengo entendido que los lentes de close up de Yashica no son tan buenos y, como creo que la diferencia de precio no es importante, sugiero que te inclines por los de Rollei. Efectivamente, en cada juego de Rolleinar, en principio, vienen dos lentes, uno para el lente de toma (finito) y otro para el lente del visor (mas grueso, con corrección para el paralaje). Sin embargo, las versiones mas viejas de los Rolleinar vienen compuestas de tres lentes, dos iguales, finitas, que se colocan en cada uno de los lentes de la maquina y el grueso, que es igual al que anteriormente mencioné, pero sin aumento, que tambien se coloca en el lente del visor, encima del finito. Suerte!

Hi Fernando: I guess, for your name, that you speak spanish like me, so I prefer to write in my native language and translate to english for the rest. As they told you before, the Rollei Bay 1 close up lenses (Rolleinar) fits perfectly in your Yashica Mat 124G. I have the three ones, #1, #2 and #3, and for portraits I found that the #1 is ideal. The #2 is practical but not ideal and #3 simply doesn't work for portraits. The Yashica Telephoto is garbage, as the Wide Angle. It vignettes (is this the right word?) a lot and ruin the fine perfomance of the Yashinon. Mines are always in a box and I never carry them with me. I have references that Yashica close up lenses are worst than Rollei's so, since the price difference is not big. I suggest you to get the Rollei ones. Finally, Rolleinars came in a two set lenses, one for each lens. But old Rolleinar sets came in a three set lenses, one for the taking lens and the other two for the view lens. Good luck!

May 22, 2009

I don't know were do you live. And I said that because the films Bueh B. mention aren't for sale here, in my country (Argentina).

From the films I can buy here, for no special ocassions, in B/W I prefer the Kodak T-Max 400. I found it gave me more flexibilty to choose the desired depth of field for every ocassion without loosing the fine grain looks that is normal in a 100 ISO film (I usually use it in my Rolleis TLR's who had 1/500 maximum shutter speed).

For color, I like the Fuji Superia (ISO 400) or the Kodak Porta 160VC.

No se en que pais vives. Y digo eso porque las peliculas que menciona Bueh B. no se encuentran a la venta aquí en mi pais (Argentina).

De los films que puedo conseguir aquí, para Blanco y Negro y sin que se trate de una ocasión especial, prefiero el Kodak TMax 400. Encuentro que el mismo me da la flexibilidad suficiente para poder escoger la profundidad de campo que deseo para cada toma sin por ello perder la definición y el grano de una pelicula de 100 ISO (siempre que la reveles con el revelador TMax, por supuesto). Y ello porque en Formato Medio suelo usar mis Rolleis TLR que tienen una velocidad máxima de 1/500. Si a ello le sumas algun filtro, con una pelicula de menor sensibilidad las posibilidades se estrechan.

Para color, de nuevo, de las que puedo conseguir aquí, me gusta la Fuji Superia (ISO 400) o la Kodak Portra 160VC.

May 20, 2009

I came here just to say if you don't have enough money to buy a very good dSLR you probably get better results with a top line 35mm SLR and then I found new opinions!

I agree with Jack Welsh that a Mamiya 645 works more or less the same way than a 35mm SLR, of course there's a big difference in cost, at least here were I live.

So, if you have the money and you really want to do that trip with a MF camera, I think he gave you a good advice. The Mamiya 7 is probably one of the best MF cameras in the world, so if you have experience with rangefinder cameras, you will also find comfortable with it.

But, if you don't have much experience and/or you don't have enough money to buy, let's say a Mamiya 645 Pro with meter prism and 80mm lens (around u$s 600 at ebay) or a Mamiya 7 (around u$s 2000 at ebay) for half the price of the first one you can buy, let´s say, a very decent Nikon N90 with two or three lenses.

Again, if you don't plan to make big prints, a 35mm camera would do the job perfectly. And cheaper.

So, again, if your budget is around u$s 300, between a mint Yashica Mat 124G or a Nikon N90, I suggest you to choose the Nikon for the trip. But if you have u$s 1000, the Mamiya 645 it's the best option, as Jack said.

That's my modest opinion.

May 19, 2009

Hi Marvin.

I'm wondering what Yashica TLR you have that use Bay II Rolleinars ...

I have a Yashica Mat 124G -the last TLR build by Yashica- and it use Bay I accesories!!

I have pretty good results with Rolleinars 1 and 2, but I found the "1" more useful. I don't have experience with Spiratone lenses.

What I have is the Yashica's Wide-Angle and Telephoto add ons. They're garbage.

May 19, 2009

Hi Johnny.

Frankly, you didn't give us much clues about your previous experience in photography ...

So, remembering that no so long ago I was a "newbie" in MF, sincerely I don't think it's a good idea to travel with a camera you're not familiar with. The chances of do something wrong are pretty high and, probably you will not notice it before ending your trip.

If you don't want to loose the images you will take, get a camera you already know well. If you don't have one and you haven't too much experience in photography, I suggest you a more common 35mm SLR or a dSLR. They are much more easy to use than a regular MF camera and they give more than average results, specially if you don't have plans to make big prints with your pictures.

Then, if you want, after your trip, get yourself a TLR (Mamiya, Rollei, Yashica, Minolta, Ikoflex, etc. etc., NO SEAGULL) and try a couple of rolls. If you get infected with the MF virus, then my dear friend, you'll be in trouble. Prepare your wallet. And enjoy!

May 15, 2009

Just one thing.

As far as I know, Carl Zeiss made a collection ot twelve lenses for the Rollei SL 66 series. The shortest was (or better said "is") a 30mm and the longer is a giant (and heavy, and rare) 1000mm, the "Tele-Tessar" 8/1000.

I saw two for sale at the web, one from KEH and another at e-bay.

One fellow I know, who sold me my SL66, had one of this that Tele-Tessar's. He received it from his father who used it -as he told me- in spy activities here in my country in the 70's!!!

I saw photos of the lens and it looks in -cosmetically- in very good shape, in his aluminium box. Since it's not in use for the last 20 years, it probably had some fungus.

He's selling all his father equipment -you know, crisis- another SL 66 (not working, but probably nothing bad, again, 20 years unused), the lens and an Uher open reel recorder (to spy telephone communications!). He sold me my SL 66 for less than u$s 200 so, if somebody is interested, I can gave him his e-mail adress.

He knows that the Tele-Tessar isn't cheap, but he probably will hear sensible offers.

July 29, 2008

"I'm not saying to buy the Mamiya TLR, As, I said, at least think about it."

Me too Jack. In my opinion, John should seriously consider a Mamiya as his first TLR. It offers one of the best -if not the best- quality/price ratio in the market.

For me, the main rival of the Mamiya in this "quality/price ratio" race is the Yashica Mat 124 (not the "G" model, their predecessor): it offers good quality with a relatively low price. It have the plus that can use some Rollei gadgets like those excellent close up lenses and even offer those not so good (to say the least) Yashinon Tele and Wide Angle add on lenses ...

I didn't have the chance to try a Minolta Autocord, so I cannot say it's better or worst than a Yashica. I read many articles that said it's an excellent camera, but I really don't know.

Check this opinions John:

http://www.photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/0007eQ

http://www.wctatel.com/web/crye/a-cord.htm

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/autocord.html

July 28, 2008

About TLR's weight, a Mamiya 330 weights around 1800g, my two Rolleis weights 1200g (the 2,8f weights the same than the 3,5f but this one feels more comfortable to use, more equilibrated) and the Yashica even less, about 1000g. Just to compare, my Leica IIIf weights around 600g, about the same that my Nikon N70 without lens.

As you may see, there is a difference. Of course, I heard about people who felt comfortable with Mamiyas TLR's or Pentaxs 67's (another big horse), but this is probably an exception, not the average rule for the average guy.

John ask us about a TLR camera that could be used -comfortably- to take handheld photos. IMHO, in that case, (high) weight could be a problem, not to mention that, if you travel, you have to carry the camera plus the lenses and a tripod.

So, don't misundertood me: I think the Mamiya is an excellent camera, surely one of the best. But it really has this disadvantage, so, if you're not a big or strong guy, you should consider this issue before buying one.

July 25, 2008

John:

Back to your question, my experience is yes, a TLR is a very good starting point to MF.

I often use my TLR's handheld, but I strongly recomend you to have a good tripod and to use it when you want to take pictures below 1/125.

I've heard that the Autocord is a fine camera but, of course, Rolleis are better and stronger. I have two and also a Yashica Mat 124G. All of them take excellent pictures, but from a mechanical point of view, the Rollei stands out, clearly.

If you can't afford one or if you don't want to spend what a good Rollei costs, a good Autocord seems to be a good choice, at least for me.

Mamiya's TLR's are also excellent cameras and have the advantage of interchangeable lenses, but they're also a lot heavier than the rest of TLR's and this could be a problem. Before buying one I suggest you to have one in your hands and see if you can deal with its weight.

Good luck!

June 3, 2008

"Juan, Marty Forscher is not dead"

Oops!

I don't know why I thought that!! Thanks Noah. I'm glad that he's still with us. He must be in his eighties, like my camera mechanic, Walter.

Another interesting concept from him:

"MP: What do you think are the easiest cameras to repair?

MF: Interestingly enough, usually the cameras that are most functional and easy-to-use are the most reasonable to repair. A camera that is usually a nightmare to use is usually a nightmare to fix. Many years ago, there was an Exacta 6x6 camera (1) that never made it because functionally and mechanically it was impossible. Yet the basic concept was an intelligent one; it was a 6x6 camera that handled much like a 35mm"

I don't know, it sound a little controversial to say "itﾴs easy to use so it must be easy to fix ..." but the man knows what he is talking about!

I must say that he is not talking about automatic cameras. He was very critic with them in another part of the interview.

(1) I don't know which Exakta he's talking about. Could is this beauty? http://www.peterlanczak.de/exakta66_52.jpg

June 3, 2008

Sometime ago, "Modern Photography" interviewed the late Marty Forscher, "the

undisputed king of camera repair" as the magazine describe him. He then said:

"MP: What do you think is the best camera you've ever repaired?

MF When I was just starting out in this business, the big battle was between

Zeiss Contax and Leica. There was controversy over which was the best made

and the most functional. I think the Leica tended to be somewhat more reliable

because it was less complicated mechanism. Then there are the classic

cameras. The twin-lens Rollei, for example, was about as well made as anything

I've ever seen. There were things about it that were absolutely exquisite. No one

has ever come close to replicating its film-advance mechanism.

MP: Any other favorites?

MF: There is something so basic about an M3 Leica. When you pick up an M3,

itﾴs a sensual experience. Jason Schneider will appreciate that - he's devoted to

classic cameras. Holding an M3, yo get a feeling of substance and weight. It's a

no-nonsense, no-frills camera" (Modern Photography, January 1988, page 37).-

Two weeks ago, Mr. Walter Ruedt, "the undisputed king of classic camera repair

in Argentina" (he's now in his happy 80 years or so and he's still working,

amazing!) said to me exactly the same, not knowing the words of the legendary

Forscher ...

May 27, 2008

Kevin,

There's no chance I can put myself in your mind, so my advice is based purely in which cameras I want to have if only I could have one, two or three ..., or four!

My first choice will be a Rolleiflex, for me, the best camera ever made and one I can use whenever I want.

The second one will be a Leica, a Barnack's or an M model, both of them are excellent, easy to use and truly classics. Also, they're a lot more practical than a TLR!

The third one will be, probably, a Hasselblad. Why? Well, when I think "Hasselblad" I think "quality pinnacle", just that.

Finally, if I can choose another one, I probably want to have a 35mm SLR. Somehow, 35mm SLR's become the icon of photo cameras. I don't know how, but ask anybody to draw a camera and probably they will make a 35mm SLR sketch. Simple as that.

What camera? Well, there's a lot of choices here. I love classics and pioneers, so probably I will choose an Exakta. I really like the one Jimmy Stewart use in Hitchcock's "Rear Window", remember?

http://dearcinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/rear-window.jpg

Or, going another way, why not choose a Japanese camera like a Nikon F, a Canon F1 or an Olympus OM-1? They're also truly classics and a joy to use.

As somebody said before, so much cameras, so little time ... :-)

Go for it Kevin, and use it and enjoy it as an homage for your friend! That's the best way to remember somebody.

May 27, 2008

As Fred, Rodeo Joe and SG Bono said, you're not loading the film properly on your Yashica.

It seems that somebody who have a Rolleiflex said you to load that way, cause in the Rollei you actually have to slide the film under one of the metal rollers, but not in the Yashica's where the loading operation is pretty simple: the only things you have to check is that the pressure plate is in the proper position and that the arrow of the film is pointing the red or green signal of the left side before closing the camera, nothing more ...

Try again and let us know if that strange problem disappear.

May 27, 2008

Miffy: Only one more thing. If you want to take a bunch of portraits, as Chauncey said, I recommend you to buy a set of Rolleinars instead (be careful to buy the ones that fit in your Rollei, bay 1, 2 or 3).

I took a lot of portraits with my Rolleis, even if it seems a little weird and not too orthodox to take portraits that close!<div></div>

May 26, 2008

Hey Miffy!

No, I don't have the Rolleikin, I had it in my hands two or three times, while thinking ... "should I buy it?".

Of course, I never did.

Why? Easy: I have a Leica IIIf and a Voightlander Vitessa to shoot on 35mm when I want, they're are far more practical and more purposal than a Rolleiflex for that!

So, don't waste your money. There's no valid reason to have it, only if you're collector and you want to have all the Rollei's accesories.

May 18, 2008

I have a Yashica Mat 124G (Bay 1), a Rolleiflex 3,5F (Bay 2), and a Rolleiflex 2,8F (Bay 3) and I use them all.

Usually, when I go out to take pictures I carry two of them (the Yashica and one of the Rolleis) plus my grandfather's Leica or my Vitessa. Add the tripod, the additional lens of my Yashica, the filters, the flash, etc. ... A heavy bag as you may see!

My camera's mechanic always said to me why I don't sell one of the Rolleis and buy a SL 66 (he tempted me with a pristine one for u$s 600 with a Planar and two backs) but I just can't let go one of my "babies".

I feel that adding another camera to my small collection is a little insane, so I decided sometime ago to stop buying them, even if a SL66 or a Mamiya 7 or both makes perfect sense.

So, here I am, with three different TLR's that don't share additional lenses, nor filters, but what can I say, I can't let go.

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