chris_bradley4

<p>Yes Wayne I agree with you 100% I have owned so many film cameras, especially rangefinders, and ended up with a collection that only contributed to taking up space in my wardrobe. Every camera had its own particular attraction and feel, and I just love the precision engineering that goes into a quality 35mm and medium format camera. Especially if you compare them to the Carbon Plastic bodies of todays DSLR. Even if they do have a 'magnesium' frame. So What!<br /> I decided to sell all of my cameras and settle for one digital and one 35mm and one camera case. For my latest digital camera I chose the Fujifilm XE-1 Compact but great on performance. For my 35mm film camera there was no competition, and although I do love rangefinders the Nikon F2A was the chosen one. <br /> Holding a Nikon F2A just makes me feel good. And it fits well with my 1971 Series IIA Land Rover.<br /> <br /> Regards<br /><img src=" alt="" /></p>

<p>I belive they can, I should certainly ask them. Regards, Chris</p>

<p>They had my prism for about two weeks. Price included shipping in the UK special delivery. The prism's not so heavy that postage world wide would be a concern. It's a cheap fix for a finder of this calibre. The only problem I had stripping down was getting the small plate on the finder release off. I used a needle but still scratched the alloy. You need to take it off as there is a screw in there that needs to come out. 1 screw behind asa dial, 3 behind shiutter speed dial. 2 behind covering below Mamiya badge. 4 on prism cover in each corner and 7 on the two cover plates underside of the finder. make sure you know where the asa dial is set, you will need to put it back exactly. Inside, remove 2 screws holding meter switch and lift to one side, wires connected. Remove 2 screws holding viewer prism that sits over the main prism and some black tape light seals. 2 screws holding the shutter speed dial and lift to one side. Then 2 screws that hold the bracket that locates the prism and is cushioned by the offending foam strip which has now turned to black gunge. remove prism and etc,etc. assemly is reverse of the aforementioned. Good Luck.</p>

<p>I have recently had a repair done to my PD finder by a company called <a href="http://www.scientificmirrors.co.uk/">http://www.scientificmirrors.co.uk/</a> Vacuum Coatings Ltd.<br /> There is a foam strip that sits under the metal locating bracket for the prism which deteriorates over time, just like the light seals on old cameras. A chemical reaction occurs and destroys the coating on the prism leaving a speckled band accross the view through the finder window. <br /> My prism was recoated and sent back to me for a mere £20 and is now installed back into service. A fantastic job from this company and well worth some praise.</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks guys, I have just been offered another lens that had been dropped and rendered inoperable. Hopefully I will be able to make a good lens from two duff ones. I was surprised to see a simple coil spring used for this purpose however. I suppose there is not a lot of room for much else. Once again I appreciate your help and hope I never need to trouble you again. Unless of course I cannot manage to put the PD prism finder back together which is lying in bits on my desk at the moment. Best Wishes, Chris</p>

 

<p>Thanks guys. Closer inspection shows two threaded holes on the assembly plate and a groove machined in the brass pin to locate the spring. Blades now move freely when I move the brass pin. I use brake cleaner to clean these. A can of brake cleaner aerosol gives a great pressure to wash out any residue and evaporates totally. It's very cheap to buy from any car accessory shop. I have cleaned many lenses this way with great success. Back to my 80mm Sekor C. Do you think it is a scrapper? Chris</p><div></div>

<p>Hi Rodeo joe, you grabbed my attention. I have just stripped my recently purchased a Mamiya 645 with a standard Sekor C 80mm f1:2.8. Iris was sticking as was focus. I have the blades freed and focus smooth now but the iris does not return to fully open. I suspect someone has already been inside this lens but would ask your advice please as to the spring that returns the iris to fully open. I am about to try and post an image of the lens dismantled and showing inside a blue circle where I suspect a spring may have been.<br>

I would appreciate any advice and help in locating any parts I may require to get the lens working again. Many thanks in advance. Chris.</p><div></div>

<p><img src="http://www.flickr.com/photos/33843082@N08/4624713041/in/set-72157623968807352/" alt="" width="370" height="144" /><br>

I have a Zeiss Ikon Contessa S310 and like it a lot. It takes great pictures and feels like it is bullet proof.</p><div></div>

<p>Well, firstly I am a newcomer to this forum. I do not consider myself a knowledgable pgotographer, although I have had a positive compliment or two from my best friend who is an acclaimed professional, no names mentioned. <br />However I do not go out and seek subject matter and I live in the North East of England where light is largely at a premium eight months of the year ( with exception), and I say light, because this is what its all about. <br />I take pictures for record largely, with a modecum of creative experimenting. I do try and frame the image as best I can though. <br />Perhaps when I am retired I will be able to make an appointment with the weather and at 5am go and get some real street stuff in the town.<br />I have just purchased an Agfa Super Silettte from a charity shop for £7.50. Included was a Sekonic 85 light metre and manual. Bargain? I think so.<br />I bought my Agfa Super Silette camera because I thought it looked nice! Good quality of build. Comfortable and easy to use and nice looking. OK it doesn't have a huge 1:1.4 lense but it worked.<br />The viewfinder is bright, yet no frame lines, but the focusing falls easy to the finger and the finder is bright and clear. I know little of contrast and the technology to provide this with more elemnts and better lens coatings etc etc, but I do know this....<br />I bought my last motorcycle because I liked it! I married my wife because I liked her! I bought several sailing boats because I loved what they did to appeal to me. And so on. I avoided like the plague what the magazines wrote about motorcycles, and bought a Moto Guzzi Daytona Racing. Not a Honda? <br />Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder. If you are looking for the best, pay the most, and you will not be too disappointed. If you want to extract the features of a camera, analyse and compare in order to get the best for hour money, then fine. I paid £7.50 for my camera, which included a Seconic light meter. The camera works fine and I will take some pictures with it, then probably sell it on ebay, as you do. I have Nikon's, Yashica's and Canons. I love my G10 digital, and you know what...the pictures that mean the most to me, will mean nothing to you, or anyone else for that matter. <br />I am constantly reminded of the monochrome image taken by Robert Cappa of the dying soldier. The most famous crap picture ever taken. Crap if you consider sharpness, contrast, exposure, etc. However, the picture captured the moment. It left detail to the imagination, and thats fine with me. Great Image! Paintings can inspire so much emotion but yet do not come close to the accuracy of a modern photograph. Does that mean that the painters brushes were not made by Leica?<br />Some of my most memorable pictures were taken with my first camera. A "Zeiss Ikon bellows camera". I still have it! Even more poignient, are the pictures my father took sixteen years earlier....with a "Zeiss Ikon bellows camera". 1955 Singapore. I still have it! Different camera!<br />Moral of the story................ go and take some great pictures with your Agfa Super Silette camera. Pictures of your family, wife and dogs and anything else you come across and wish to remember. Thats what Agfa meant for you to do when they built it!........... Or did you think they had something more grand in mind? Take on Leica perhaps?<br />Actually, I think I am becoming attached to my Agfa Super Silette. It speaks to me and says " please do not sell me me on ebay" Hmmm?</p>