charles_escott_new

As we wait with baited breath for the unveiling of the great one which will sweep all before it in the mirrorless scene is it a moment to think back to the Nikon 1 series? At least the new camera will make up for that failed attempt is what you hear most often today. Can we take a moment to remember a fallen system? Actually I admit to using a J4 with two zooms, ever ready case, and Nikon camera bag all in glorious white. What a bobby dazzler! Whisper it, that I like it as a fun bundle to take snaps. Anyone else with kind words before we say farewell. All the best, Charles.

Jason, could you tell us more about your experiences with Dynax cameras? I think the sleek Minolta design you see in the 9Xi and family is very impressive but the Dynax 9 is a bit of a brute but a good looking one, perhaps more Mr. Schwarzenegger than pretty. The manual X700 and lens in Olympic guise is the prettiest camera I own. They were a good company. All the best, Charles.

Thank you Sandy and Wilmarco for your interest. I don,t think the Dynax is a pretty camera but it is a real muscle machine.Wilmarco you must take some credit for me buying this camera as your informative post on Jan 28th in the Sony/Minolta forum helped me decide to go for it. I was interested that you mentioned the question of how long the electronics will hold out but that you thought we should press on using them without worrying what might be and I totally agree with this .If panicked by future failings I could have stuck with my manual cameras only, which don,t rely on batteries to take pictures but that would be to miss out on the sublime experience of the last of the great film cameras. As a last thought would it not have been interesting to see what might have emerged if Minolta had taken over the Sony camera division and not the other way round? ,all the best, Charles.

Dustin, thank you for your comments. You are quite correct, the Zenit is a fine camera and probably would suit me just as well. I have been tempted by a Zenit 12xp currently selling for £49 with Helios 55 at Vintage and Classic Camera Co. rated at 99% and they are another super dealer. It looks the business, like a modern Nikon F. Hope you get to exercise your Zenit this weekend, I,m lucky to have the Roman town of Calleva a couple of miles away so will try to capture some good shots of the amphitheatre and town walls. My wife who is a Yorkshire lass sends her greetings, all the best, Charles.

JDMvW, I am honoured that you have read my silly post. It gets worse I,m afraid, as I took the dynax to bed with me.I explained to my wife that I needed to read the manual and it was easier with the camera in hand, she seemed unconvinced. Why after 60 years of camera ownership should I be so in thrall to the Minolta? 1. You don,t need a strap with this camera, it is as difficult to drop as a Panasonic G9. The cliche about controls falling to hand was never truer. 2. Is is heavy, lovely as my D4 or F5, I find it easier to take decent snaps with a weighty machine, 3. I liked Minolta as a brand, some how they always seemed like a photographers company.4. for £179 for the body and lens in E++ condition say Ffordes(although mint- say I), I could not resist and didn,t try too hard to do so.I suppose I shall pick up a fast 50 and a beercan but that can wait, should be finished roll 2 by the end of the day, all the best, Charles.

Ordered yesterday, delivered this morning, well done ffordes and Royal Mail !. Spent today playing with the new toy, now totally smitten.Usually when a new camera is delivered there is great pleasure but whether a Leica, Rolleiflex, Nikon I know what I am going to get, it is just condition that is the unknown and even then from a good dealer quality is a given. This was different, a camera type of which I had no previous knowledge. A good price attracted me and led to a little research. I am a sucker for heavy pro cameras maybe as compensation in the classic way for my lack of ability, my morning workout is lifting my D4 and F5. So to the new camera, a Minolta Dynax 9, what a machine !. WOW. Everything feels right, is this the best 35mm camera? Being ridiculous now but one roll of film has already gone through it, interesting to see the results from the 24-85 RS zoom. New grandson and new camera (in second place admittedly), both a WOW, what a summer. Anyone else in this sad state or any other fans of the Minolta?, all the best.

Perhaps it was a mis-spent youth reading Kerouac and Hunter Thompson or later admiring the photography of Stephen Shore and Ed Ruscha which filled me with a love for the American road trip which I will never make.It is the road itself and the edgelands that interest me.Inside towns it is too tight and tidy,here things can sprawl.I like to keep to one road that passes quickly through a variety of places rather than a sightseeing meander along B roads.The A1 from London to Scotland is perhaps our nearest to Route 66 as it feels slightly left behind,where else could you see a Georgian rectory following on from a drive in sex shop!It is well covered by Jon Nicholson in the photo book A1.My favourite road is the A303 which leaves my part of Hampshire and travels west, and the magical moment is cresting a rise and seeing Stonehenge up ahead.Now that is worth stopping and taking your time! I prefer film to digital but in a car I chose digital as I can experiment and not worry about wastage.Stuck in the car is a great opportunity to really learn what the camera can do.I used to exclude the interior in my photos but recently I have come to like the inclusion of the window to frame the shot,somehow it seems more honest.

The news in U.K. is full of details of a terrible crash caused by a lorry driver on his mobile ,so no photos when driving for me .Older age means I share long drives,(over 100 miles in our thinking),and I love to have a camera ready to stop me snoozing.I don,t have original ideas so like to photo weather through windscreens, especially heavy rain and spray, it has an immediacy that I like. Portraiture inside the car can be interesting as can shots of other drivers in slow traffic.My favourite is to fix a project for the trip, petrol stations, bus shelters,horrible snack opportunities, interesting retail.It doesn,t have to be sharp ,a bit of blur gives a sense of movement.Sorry the ideas are hackneyed,have just read an amazing book by David Campany, The Open Road,so am looking forward to seeing photos of your road trips which I hope you enjoy.