janice_mackay

P.S. I gather this is meant to be fun rather than highly competitive, so go out and have fun! And may the best photo win.

Happy shooting. :-)

Thanks David for hosting this and Gene M. for the original idea - it's great! I also intend to enter once I get myself organised with these new old cameras I have. :-)

I agree this is a lot simpler than the LF shootout which someone mentioned - I checked that out yesterday, and will be interested to see how it progresses.

I develop & print my own B&W in the darkroom, or get colour processing done locally, and scan the prints on a cheap flatbed. I routinely adjust levels and sharpen slightly after resizing the photos for the web, using an old version of Photoshop - but don't count this as 'digital manipulation', just as a way of overcoming the limitations of my scanner and presenting the print as well as possible on the web. However to each his own... I'm sure an interesting, well-composed but slightly soft image will have more appeal than a technically-perfect but boring shot. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's entries! :-)

Hi Mike

Lovely pics, I especially like the barn shot - very crisp with nice light. I don't have a Contax yet.... ;-)

It worked! :-)

Here are some more pics.<div></div>

Thanks Jan-Oloff. I've got a film in the camera at the moment and have been waiting for some nicer weather to complete it (lots of rain here lately). The frame counter does work, sort of...

I've now scanned some pics of the camera and will try to post them here (first time posting pics in a forum).<div></div>

Gene: 'Mate'? :-)

Glad you like the website. I had to take a lot of stuff off it recently to make room for other things. 10mb is not enough, one day I'll get around to finding a bigger space.

Re the quote, I agree it's excellent, can't remember where I found it but it was credited to Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Every time I read it, I'm inspired to get out there & photograph the things and people I see every day and take for granted.

The camera stories are great, though I'm not too sure about the colonoscopy ones!

I've dropped cameras several times while travelling, so maybe jet lag, or just general stress and tiredness had something to do with it. Once while waiting for a boat in Egypt, I stood up and my Pentax K1000 fell off my knee and hit the ground - either metalled road or concrete, can't remember exactly. I thought the strap was around my neck - wrong! The fall dented the edge of the skylight filter I had on the camera at the time and left a small chip on the filter itself. Later I discovered there was another chip on one of the lens elements (not visible from outside), which only shows in certain lighting and can easily be cropped out of prints. By the way, the boat trip that followed was dreadful - my first and worst episode of seasickness to date. And if I hadn't been so sick, I would have been petrified by the size of the waves compared to the size of the fishing boat we were in. It didn't help that none of the crew spoke English. :-(

While travelling in Canada in 2003, I dropped my Voigtlander Vito CL *twice* in exactly the same way. I use a small backpack for carrying the cameras, and usually keep the Vito just inside the top opening. Thinking the top of the bag was zipped up, I picked it up and slung it over my shoulder and the Vito went flying, landing on it's head. Thankfully the other cameras in the bag stayed secure in their compartments. There is now a dent on the top right corner of the Vito, to show the camera belongs to me. :-) The first time this happened I was in an airport, and had been pulled out of the line to undergo a thorough search of my carry-on luggage etc. The guy doing the search had been commenting about all the camera gear and film I was carrying and how I must be a keen photographer... then I throw my camera across the room as I'm about to leave. *Not* a good look!

The Vito case was already cracked on that corner and had been glued when I acquired it, but after dropping it for the second time the broken bits fell out. I now have a replacement case.

I've learned from my mistakes so far, and try to always double-check that the bag is zipped and/or the strap is around my neck or my wrist before moving on. A friend did the same thing with an unzipped bag while photographing a while back, and dropped a very new expensive lens (not classic) onto rocks. I think she was able to retrieve the lens but the repair was not cheap.

I'm glad to say that in my experiences the camera has continued to function well afterwards. I'm sure the plastic-bodied modern cameras would not have done so well!

At the moment my small but growing collection is out of sight in a couple of plastic storage bins, but when I find a suitable dust-free place I'd like to display some of it. I empathise with those who've said they don't display their entire collection at one time - perhaps it's best to have some secrets!

Enrico, I also have been telling myself 'no more cameras', at least until I'd put a film through each useable one I have acquired so far... I kept my New Year resolution for a whole month, then the temptation was too great (grin).

Hi Gene,

It doesn't snow in my current place of residence, and I've never lived anywhere long-term where it did, so it's still enough of a novelty for me to appreciate. Enjoyed your pics, thanks for posting. :-)

Janice M. (NZ)

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the URL, very helpful, though definitely a more up-market model! My version has a screw-on lens and there's a piece broken off the mount where the aperture lever is - there must have been symbols for sunny, cloudy etc on that.

Janice M. (NZ)

Hi all,

Firstly I'd like you to know that I visit the forum nearly every day

to see what's new, even though I've participated very little so far.

I enjoy the helpfulness and humour here and find the photos

inspiring - thanks!

My collection of old cameras is growing rapidly - I made a New Year

resolution not to buy any more until I'd put at least one film

though each (useable) one I already have, and so far have kept to

that - but friends and family are getting to know of my new-found

interest, and have started giving me cameras...! :-)

Tonight I was given a 35mm camera that would probably be categorised

as a junkstore or toy camera rather than a classic, so may not even

belong here. It's marked Howay (or Houay) Anny-35, made in Japan.

The name is written in a distinctive font (script) that reminds me

of something else I've seen, but I can't place it at the moment. The

lens is a plastic fixed-focus Utacar 50mm 1:8. It's very basic - one

shutter speed (don't know what it is), a lever for changing the

aperture but no numbers, and a frame counter which looks like it has

to be moved manually each time a shot is taken.

I can't find much info on the net, except here:

<http://www.makinghappy.com/archive/000178.php>

There's a Hoei Anny 44 here which might be related, but they look

quite different:

<http://www.ksurf.net/~photocam/H.htm>

And I've read there's a Diana clone called Anny that also takes 120

film.

Has anyone else ever come across one of these Anny-35's, if so I

would love to find out more. I'll put a film through it and see what

happens. Will also take some pics of the camera itself in the next

day or two.

Janice M. (NZ)

P.S. So far I've put one film each through the Agfa Billy, Agfa

Isolette and Franka Solida Jr. and produced contact prints. No

prints yet, due to lack of the appropriate equipment - but was also

loaned some enlarger lenses tonight that I can use for the 6x6 and

6x9 negs. Progress! :-)

I've posted some pics of the camera here:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=451662

Thanks Winfried. I'm pretty sure one link I found that said '620' was a comment by you on another Photo.net thread. The 120 version is here (perhaps he means *he* uses 120 film, adjusted to fit?):

<http://vieilalbum.321webmaster.com/kinax2.htm>

Sorry about the link, I tried using html to make it clickable but then lost all my paragraphs. I need to learn more html...

What's the Kinax like to use?

Janice M. (NZ)

Hi all,

Maybe someone here owns, or knows about, the Kinax II (a French-made

folder). I'd like to know whether it takes 120 or 620 film, as I've

found conflicting information in my search so far. I'm being tempted

by a very low price, but I'm not sure I want to hassle with making

120 film fit the camera. Other than that, I'd be interested in

personal recommendations (or not). :-)

Thanks again,

Janice M. (NZ)

I've taken some pics of the camera and will post them in a few days, as soon as I can get the film processed and scanned (I don't own a digital camera). I don't think this Billy is as old as 1936 but am happy to be proved wrong!

I was interested to read the 'M' setting is only 1/25 sec. I didn't think Peter's recommendation for 400ISO film sounded right but hadn't taken the time to check it out. On looking at a couple of my old light meters in today's late afternoon sunshine (5.30pm), they were giving a light value of 13-14, with 100ISO film that would be f16-22 at 1/30 sec. It's nearly summer here, so assuming I can get the shutter fixed, looks as though I won't be taking the camera out too much on bright days!

Janice M. (NZ)

Hi all,

As mentioned in a couple of other threads, I now have the Agfa

Billy. It is in really good condition, better than I expected. The

bellows look new!

I haven't worked out exactly which model it is yet - of the ones

I've seen on the net it comes closest to the 'Billy 1 postwar 1950'

model on this page:

<http://home.hetnet.nl/~agfa/billy.html>

but it has a two-piece fold-out viewfinder (?) like many of the

others pictured there.

The previous owner told me it was from 1956 and he'd had it for

20yrs, from what he said he may have put one film through it during

that time.

The lens has 'Agfa Jsomar' (Isomar?) written on it but no mm

measurement. It has apertures of f11 and 16, two distance settings -

5-20 ft and 20ft-infinity - and two settings at the top of the lens

that I think are shutter speeds - M and B. Can anyone explain these?

I think I read it somewhere recently, but can't find the info at the

moment.

Everything seems to work properly except the shutter, which isn't

closing at all. I don't *think* I'm missing anything obvious, eg. a

shutter-cocking lever?

Again it's a pretty basic model - an entry-level folder I guess,

well suited to my level of knowledge. :-)

Maybe someone here can shed some light on the shutter problem and

speeds?

Thanks again,

Janice M. (NZ)

Thanks Brian and Paul.

All the practical suggestions are much appreciated - this forum is great!

Paul wrote:

"You realise this camera will be the first of many more folders?"

Hmmm, I now have the Agfa Billy and there is an Isolette due to arrive any day... but my next step is to get hold of some 120 film and make some pictures. :-)

Janice M. (NZ)

P.C. - Yes, a friend recommended TradeMe about six weeks ago, and I discovered the vintage camera section. It makes a nice change from the latest, greatest and most expensive digital technology, which seems to be rapidly taking over the camera club I belong to (and most forums)!

I agree it's nice to meet a fellow Kiwi here, doesn't happen often. :-)

Hope the temptation of the camera show is not too great!

Lynn - what camera did you purchase for yourself?

Janice M. (NZ)

Follow-up: I picked up the Agfa Billy yesterday, and it's in great condition. The lens says Agfa Jsomar, and it doesn't have a screw thread - looks like it would need clip-on filters of some kind.

I have more questions about this folder but will start another thread.

Thanks again,

Janice M. (NZ)

Thanks all for the great advice.

I'm not in the States so won't be dealing with B&H, but have a good mail order place here that stocks a variety of 120 films. I will find out if I can get 120 colour neg processed locally, if so will get hold of some Fuji Superia as recommended - I use the 35mm version already. Otherwise will order some B&W - I do my own B&W processing so that's not a problem. I'm used to loading 35mm film manually but I understand 120 is a bit different, so tips will be appreciated. Yes, there is a takeup spool in the camera.

I've been using fully-manual cameras for some time - Pentax K1000's and a Voigtlander Vito CL - so my learning curve is not nearly so steep as it might have been! (I'm not familiar with the Nikon FM2 Francois mentioned). I have to guess the distance on the Vito but it has a good meter. The Franka came with a rangefinder which I'm sure I'll find helpful, and I have recently acquired a couple of older light meters to use with these classic cameras.

The shutter doesn't appear to need cocking on this model (Franka). The challenge will be remembering to wind on between exposures. :-)

Janice M. (NZ)

I also like the idea of laying out all the cameras on the table when I'm tempted to acquire another - I'll have to try it! :-)

I don't frequent eb*y as I don't live in the States, but have recently discovered my own country's equivalent of that auction site. I have two folders now with a third on the way (I might stop there)... also a pair of Olympus Pens, one of which I have a film in currently, a Bierette, Retinette, Canonette, and two Voigtlander Vito CL's - I've been using one of these continously since I picked it up about 18mths ago, and the other is new to me. Some of my family members have been giving me a hard time about the growing collection, and one asked this evening if I could have bought a new digital with the money I'd spent on the others. At the moment I don't want a new digital! :-)

I'm doing my best to be selective, and say no to anything that's not in pretty good condition and useable - I want to use them, not display them. Unfortunately the Canonette and the Agfa folder both have shutter problems so I might have to pay for some repairs. I don't know enough to DIY yet.

I agree about the fun side of it - the novelty of these old, interesting and well-built cameras is great! It's also addictive, I'm obviously in good company here - you did well to say no. :-)

Janice M. (NZ)

Thanks Raid, I've found the lever - its quite small and well hidden beneath the lens, would be difficult for anyone with large fingers to operate! Seems to be working great though.

Am I likely to have a problem with flare no matter which direction I'm pointing the lens? I'm sure flare and lens hoods have been discussed here before, so will see what I can find in the archives.

Another question: There's a small button (?) on the back of the case that slides from side to side, to open or close a red circular window. From what I've read, this is so you can see the frame numbers when winding on the film. Do I need to close it to avoid light leaks? I've never used 120 film before (not to mention old folders) so this is a learning curve. :-)

Regards

Janice M. (NZ)