Fiddlefye

Being off work for the nonce I've been busy out walking the neighbourhood, keeping way from my fellow humans and exercising legs and cameras. First off a few shot with Leicaflex SL-2/50 f2 Summicron/HP5 You've seen this car before, but it keeps changing. HP5 SL2 037 by fiddlefye, on Flickr Detroit in fog from a foreign land HP5 SL2 033 by fiddlefye, on Flickr HP5 SL2 027 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

Finally getting to use the Pentax LX after a full service. I shot a roll of Delta 100 earlier this week and started a roll of HP5 today. What a wonderful camera. DSC_6324 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

I also have a Canon F-1n and love it. While they both get the job done well they are definitely different beasts to work with. I was rather surprised to discover how good the Vivitar Series 1 35-85 f2.8 in the photo turned out to be. DSC_6779 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

Similar story here. I was at the time a Contax RTSII shooter, but I bought a F body so I could borrow some of my father's "specialty" glass from time to time. Then came a F2S and FE. I'd played with the F4 in a local shop every time I stopped in, but it was way out of my price league. A half dozen years ago now I found a really lovely F4 on ebay for $68 and it has been perfect in every way. I ended up putting a "K" screen in it as i shoot mostly manual focus glass with it.

I finally got a chance to shoot a test roll with the Canon F-1n I got last Fall. The following were taken on HP5 with a mix of 50 f1.4, 28 f2.8 and a Vivitar 35-85 f2.8.The negs weren't quite as dust-free as I though they were when I scanned them. Forgive! HP5 F1 027 by fiddlefye, on Flickr HP5 F1 025 by fiddlefye, on Flickr HP5 F1 014 by fiddlefye, on Flickr HP5 F1 011 by fiddlefye, on Flickr HP5 F1 008 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

Not the weekend but I was out shooting this afternoon with these friends and some HP5. DSC_7905 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

I bought my example in '85, one of only two lenses I've bought absolutely new. It went all over the world with me for a very long time and still gets out to play from time to time when I don't feel the need for a zoom that goes a bit wider. Image quality is excellent, to say the least.

I'm partway through a roll of HP5 in the Canon F-1 and I'm trying out the Vivitar Series 1 35-85 f2.8 for the first time. Reviews of the lens seem to be mixed, but it makes for a very precise pairing to work with, if a bit hefty (which I actually like). I've enjoyed the time spent with the combination so far and as to results, I guess we'll see when it gets developed. DSC_6779 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

Definitely a deal not to be passed up! Have a look on ebay. There always seem to be a few bottoms plates in nice shape for sale at any given time. Attaching in is absurdly easy - hook it over the tab on one side and the battery cover holds it in place, though it doesn't instantly fall off without the battery cover on (which you need in any case).

The camera can certainly be used without a bottom plate, but they can be had off ebay etc. and aren't horribly expensive. I thought it was worth the money spent at any rate to keep grit etc. out of the works. The completely mechanical nature of the camera is definitely one of its allures and what lovely mechanics it has! With the battery situation sorted out the metering is really nice as well.

Very similar, just a few relatively minor alterations in the F-1n - wind lever tip and throw, film reminder slot etc.

Back from full CLA on Saturday, loaded with Ilford Delta 100 and it has poured rain ever since. :( Well, I tried! DSC_6779 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

Nice! There is something very special about the original F-1. The function is great, but the feel... oh, my. Trip that lovely shutter release and the sound is music. I stopped by to visit my tech today (my F-1/50 f1.4 will be next on the bench) and played with it for a bit. I own or have owned most of the top 35mm SLRs fro the 60s and 70s at some point and the F-1 just has a unique thing going on that I really like. I'm looking forward to having it out of the spa and loaded with film very soon!

I've been enjoying Gene's "Found Photo" site. The replacement for the bottom plate that had gone missing when the F-1 was attached to the winder decades ago arrived in the mail and was dropped off to my tech this morning. Much as it is nice to have the winder I don't imagine I'll use it all that much as it adds considerably to the weight and isn't exactly the soul of discretion when it comes to sound levels. I think my F-1 will get a lot more use without it and it now be an option. If I really want to burn through film my Nikon F4 does it faster and a lot quieter. So I hope to have some pics to post from the Canon before long!

Canon IVs, Jupiter 8, HP5. An old Baptist church near our home suffered complete destruction in a disastrous fire recently.

A lot more choice if you include 6x7 in the mix, but that is hardly the point I guess!

The Canon 7 is a really lovely camera. Even if it had been working properly when you got it a full service should be performed. They're so much nicer when they're freshly lubed and set up! Such a high-quality camera deserves the best treatment it can be given IMHO. The Jupiter 12 needed a reshim as it was clear that someone had taken it apart and reassembled very wrong. The 8 is very nice. I just finished a roll in the IVs so the next will go in my Canon 7. The Jupiter 12 needs an auxiliary finder with the IVs so I didn't use it, but it will do a fair amount of the work with the 7. I'll also use the 50 f1.8 Serenar and 90 f4 Elmar with it.

Very purty and not often seen!

Finally, a couple of shots taken with the OM-1. I had it sitting for half a decade waiting to get around to the battery conversion and now it has finally done some work. It was really enjoyable to work with and both the 50 f1.8 and 35 f2.8 produced sharp and contrasty images.

Canon IVs, Jupiter 8, HP5. Church near me after a disastrous fire.

Modern camera, older lens - Nikon D750/Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 macro. Mr. Chubbs enjoying the sun on a cold afternoon. DSC_6353 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

Hah. The clamping bits were made from sheet metal from an old juice can found in the woods behind my family's cottage. Nice vintage juice can, circa 1965... ;)

My homemade conversion.

Voigtländer Vito III, Kodak Ektar. I'm about done with shooting colour neg film until I find somewhere that does decent developing. This was the best I could manage after some work with the file. The negs were a mess, the colour was shifted... don't get me started. B&W only for me with film for now. Document scans 194 by fiddlefye, on Flickr

I dragged the whole bag full of Pentax goodies over to my tech's shop today. It turns out that he is far more of a Pentax freak than I imagined as I've always known him to be a Nikon guy. He said that if I ever wanted to sell either the LX or the 50 f1.2 he has first dibs!He then dragged out his "A" 50 f1.4 and proclaimed he would never part with it. The LX had the usual mirror sticking issues and for the first while was very sluggish and stuck up most of the time. After working things it got better and much to my surprise it now is perfect on every shot. I think it should still get the lube flushed and replaced, but I'll probably put a roll through before that anyway as my tech is still working on the canon F-1. The other lenses I got with the camera are delightful, each in its own way. The 135 f3.5 is a tiny gem and easy to focus. I'll get a roll of something in there and take it all out for a walk as the weather allows.