baisao

<p>Thank you both, and Barry too. I really appreciate your generous invitation. This group means a lot to me and I value your wisdom and talent more than most of the other photographers I know. The good people of this thread have helped me grow as a photographer and begin to come into my own. There's no other place quite like it for me. Thank you!</p>

<blockquote> <p>As shown below, I use a 12 year old DigiFlash and adapter shoe with my 124 and Minolta Autocord. These can be had all day for well under $50.</p> </blockquote> <p>Now that's a clever solution! I looked around yesterday and couldn't find one close to being under $50 but admit to having limited access to the web. </p>

<blockquote> <p> I have no problems getting very accurate readings with my 124G's built-in meter.</p> </blockquote> <p>I've heard this a few times now, while for most people they are junk. I have wondered it a certain number of them, like 1 in 10, actually worked, or if the claims that they worked were a product of film latitude. This isn't to say I doubt you, but I've seen many that were operational but only as good as a guess.</p> <p> </p>

<p>The meter on the 124G is a bit of a joke. It is almost certainly less accurate than if you were to guess your exposure based upon the instructions on the box of film.</p> <p>A battery is not needed on the 124G for it to be meaningfully operable. Despite feeling like it is made of bubble gum and beer cans, the glass is excellent. </p> <p>You can use a meter on your smart phone or get a Gossen Luna Pro-SBC. I would stay away from other old meters. The Luna Pros-SBC, despite its age is rugged and remarkably accurate. As Arthur said, slowing down can be a good thing.</p>

<blockquote> <p>Why buy elsewhere?</p> </blockquote> <p>I do purchase from B&H but prefer to buy locally. I have three locations to choose from and the prices are reasonable. These stores know me by name and we have developed relationships that are mutually supportive. Because I support local stores I am helping to ensure that our film options remain locally available. I can a diverse selection of films and get them developed within a couple of hours. These local stores keep me from having to ship my film cross-country to be developed.</p> <p>When I want to buy a used big ticket item from a local store I can inspect the item and I am treated with dignity and respect. We negotiate a price that's equitable and can both feel good about the transaction. I've felt very good about every transaction (but one) from my local shops.</p> <p>When I have purchased lenses or cameras from B&H it felt like I was dealing with a sleazy car lot, complete with the "let me go ask my manager" bit. It left me feeling icky about the purchase and the company.</p> <p>B&H has its place... filters or film in a size I can't get locally.. but I always go local when I can.<br> </p>

<p>What an exceptional week!</p> <p>Knut, I have been shooting large format the past two months. I also switched to rotary processing which has forced me have down-rate my films and find new development times. I have less to share lately because of this but hope to get back into the swing of things this spring. </p> <p>I think Barry said I could post my large format images if I pretend to have used a rangefinder on my field camera. I'm joking, but seriously: thanks Barry!</p>

<blockquote> <p>"Prove me wrong and point me to her self portrait in which she is holding Rolleiflex T." - Mateusz Broughton</p> </blockquote> <p>For the sake of clarity: I never said she took a self portrait of herself with a Rolleiflex T, only that she used one. The Rolleiflex T did not exist when she acquired her first Rolleiflex in 1952 but it is documented that she used many over the years.</p> <p>If you scroll halfway down the page of the Vivian Maier website you can see several of the cameras she used, with the text "Some of Vivian Maier’s various cameras". Did she own it but never use it? Only the dead can say... and they won't talk.</p> <p>http://www.vivianmaier.com/about-vivian-maier/<br /><br /></p> <p>In the <a href="http://www.vivianmaier.com/frequently-asked-questions/">FAQ section of the same site</a> is this quote (added emphasis):</p> <blockquote> <p>"Vivian Maier’s first camera was a modest Kodak Brownie box camera with one shutter speed, no aperture and focus control. In 1952 she purchased her first Rolleiflex camera. Over the course of her career she used <strong>Rolleiflex 3.5T</strong>, Rolleiflex 3.5F, Rolleiflex 2.8C, Rolleiflex Automat and others. She later also used a Leica IIIc, an Ihagee Exakta, a Zeiss Contarex and various other SLR cameras."</p> </blockquote> <p><br />I have not seen a self portrait of her using a Rolleiflex T. If you feel strongly enough that she didn't use a Rolleiflex T, you should take it up with the Maloof Collection. As the chief promoters of her legacy they play an essential role in crafting the history of the picture taking nanny. It's important that history be set straight.</p>

<p>I'd like to congratulate everyone on the terrific photos this month. There are many nice photos and more than a couple are exceptional. Great job!</p>

<p>I guess you are right, Roman. It was shorts weather here up to this last weekend. We've had color but the sycamores are still holding their leaves. Of course, Central Texas doesn't truly have much diversity of seasons: there's August and the rest of the year. East Texas gets some color but that's 5-6 hours away. </p>

<p>Good stuff, my friends!</p>

<p>I thought I would pitch-in for E. this month and start us off. It's always exciting to see the medium format work all of you contribute each month. Fall is in full swing so I am sure there's lots to share. Let's see what you've shot.</p> <p><em>Mamiya 7ii / 80mm / FP4+ / Pyrocat-HD</em><br> Please click <strong><a href=" to view larger on Flickr.</p><div></div>

<p>Terrific mood, Knut!</p> <blockquote> <p>Jim, I thought it was obvious, but as nobody referred to it: cropping the upper line of the cast iron nipples out, and you count fifty...</p> </blockquote> <p>That's a fine point, sir. I am loath to crop but may have to make an exception. It would strengthen the image and symbolism. I had thought of it as a kind of flag so your suggestion is in line with my sense of the image.</p>

<blockquote> <p>poison ivy????? yikes.</p> </blockquote> <p>Yes, and lots of it. I gets hidden by the Turk's Cap but that area is full of poison ivy. I would probably have to climb up and balance on the log to get the shot. It's a great area for testing out lenses.</p> <p>A month ago I encountered the most unpleasant family. They saw me (not wearing a ranger's uniform, as I was) and started asking me where the "real trails" were. They were bickering and complaining about there not being any "real trails". I was kind of beside myself. I see trails everywhere yet I didn't know what a "real trail" was. I still don't. I enquired and they told me that they just moved here from Oklahoma.</p> <p>Last weekend, I'm framing up a large format shot further along in the same area when this Chinese woman comes up to me and asks the very same question: where are the "real trails"? I had spent a considerable amount of time framing and focusing this shot (I am a large format neophyte) and was just about to trigger the shutter when this shockingly unpleasant woman begins shouting this question at me, right in my face. "Where are the real trails at?!?!? Where are the real trails at?!?!"</p> <p>It's the damndest thing I've seen. I took the photo and it came out but I've been rattled for days. I swear I left my Smokey Bear hat at home.</p>

<p>Truly lovely, Brad.</p> <p>Skeeter, I've tried half a dozen times to get a photo of that tree that I liked and have never been successful. Between the poison ivy and height of the knot, I've had a devil of a time getting into a stable enough position to get a good shot of it. I am drawn towards how it opens up like a flower. It was a terrible storm that brought it down but I'm glad it's been left there. </p>

<p><em>Mamiya 7ii / 80mm / FP4+ / Pyrocat-HD</em><br> <em> </em><br> Please click<strong> <a href=" </strong>to view larger on Flickr.</p><div></div>

<p>Aw, Knut, the first Nikonos has a special place in my heart. My entire childhood in the bayou was photographed with that camera. While not specifically the Calypso, there were not many changes between the first Nikonos and the Calypso. I have many pool photos too of my childhood that look just like your photo. I took it diving in Cozumel in 1989 and it did remarkably well even at 90'. My only problem was that every time I tried to change a flash bulb, it would zip away from me like a dart. </p> <p>When I was 4 my father took me on a cave tour. At one point in the tour the guide would turn off all the lights to demonstrate how disorientingly dark a cave without light can be. My father, I suppose he assumed I would find the darkness unnerving, tapped me on my tiny shoulder and I could suddenly see his hands in the dark. He was gesturing to me to look at the glow-in-the-dark tape he had attached to the dials and bottom of his Nikonos. It was a warm moment that I'll never forget. </p>

<p>Thank you, Knut! I love to learn new things<br /><br />I think this week had more than made up for the dearth of photos last week. The quality of images is very high as well. I love this group. </p>

<p>Thank you, Barry. I'm really enjoying large format. It's contemplative and a great companion to my rangefinder meditations.</p> <p>We lose a few people every year to these flash foods (1 fatality and two missing today). Our swift water rescue teams have this almost to an art, so rescues are very often successful. We were fortunate that this event happened during the day. The Halloween Flood of 2013 occurred at night and killed 4. The Memorial Day Flood of 2015 was at night and killed at least 10. Some places have earthquakes or hurricanes. We have flash floods.</p>

<p>We had over 14 inches of rain in parts of Austin today. One location received 9 inches in just 2 hours! This is a cell phone pic I took today of the same location as the image above.</p> <p> </p><div></div>

<p><em>Chamonix 045F1 / 90mm Grandagon-N / Orange Filter / FP4+ / Pyrocat-HD / N+1</em><br /><br />Please click <a href=" to view larger on Flickr.</p><div></div>

<p>Looks like a 35mm. That expression is priceless!</p>

<p>Thanks, E! I'm getting more adept at operating the camera. I can't stop the strange looks folks give me though. I'm willing to bet that <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/17vo3i/the_thong_cyclistaustins_punxsutawney/">Thong Guy</a> gets less stares than I do! One thing that has happened is that I am getting spoiled by movements and wish all cameras had them. </p> <p>That's very generous, Barry. You know, if I'm not thinking about rangefinders I'm at least thinking about my rangefinder droogs.</p>

<p>I confess to not knowing much about this camera but the first thing I would troubleshoot would be interlocks. Whenever I have a camera that won't shoot but everything seems to be right on it, it has been some interlock. These are especially pesky on Mamiyas. While they prevent us from doing something stupid (like exposing a roll with the dark cloth over the film) they can be annoying.<br> Good luck!</p>

<p>Thank you, Charlie! I have an affinity to this group because this was my earliest and primary source for photo & camera information. I don't really know folks in the other groups unless they cross post here. This group has a warm, even chummy, feeling to me.</p>

<p>So, yeah! I may not have potatoes and carrots to contribute to the soup, but I have these two stones...</p>