Whatever Next?

Untitled

2007-04-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

Shadow

2007-04-25T06:02:00.000-07:00

Econoline

2007-04-24T05:31:00.000-07:00

Blue Shopping Cart with Boat

2007-04-19T05:39:00.000-07:00

Fire Hydrant

2007-04-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

Communication Part II

2007-04-17T05:49:00.000-07:00

Lock

2007-04-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

Photographica: The FED 3b & the Balda Super Baldax

2007-04-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I received my FED 3b 35mm rangefinder camera and I must say that I'm quite impressed with it. My expectations that the FED might be a really great camera have been exceeded. The FED 3b really is a great camera!

The FED 3b is not without it's quirks, however. The manual is here and it's highly recommended that one commit the details to memory. In many respects the operations of the FED 3b are contrary to typical camera operations and failing to adjust the shutter speed or rewind the film correctly could at best ruin a few shots or at worst wreck the camera entirely! I wrote all the necessary details down on a piece of paper and put it in my wallet.

Beyond the quirks, the FED 3b is a super nice camera to use. It fits nicely in one's hand and all the controls are within easy reach. The winding lever is a definite plus. The lack of lugs for a on-camera strap are a bit of a minus. Frankly, the FED 3B just looks swellegant. The f/2.8 Industar 61 lens is truly remarkable for clarity and crispness and easily on par with Zeiss lenses. I've been told that the Jupiter 8 lens excels the Industar and is on par with a Sumicron. Goodness!

These Soviet era rangefinder cameras are pretty cheap, too. Mine was $49 with a worn, but serviceable case. Definitely a bargain for such a nice camera!

The Balda Super Baldax 6x6 rangefinder arrived, too. A truly nice, petite coupled rangefinder medium format camera with an f/3.5 Baldanar lens and ever ready case ( and it's a true ever ready case, too. A triumph of German precision!). The Super Baldax also features an automatic frame counter and double exposure prevention mechanism ... and this is where my learning curve began.

I suppose it would be a good idea to do a lot of research on a vintage camera before loading it up with film. I should have dug a little deeper with my online research and perhaps I would have saved myself two rolls of film, but ... alas! My initial understanding of the film advance/frame counting mechanism was that one loaded the film, advanced the film by ratcheting the advance knob counter clockwise-clockwise until the number 1 appeared in the ruby window, pushed the serrated tab to the right, turned the film advance knob counter clockwise until the number 1 appeared in the frame counting window, exposed the first frame and then ratcheted the counter clockwise-clockwise and the film would be advanced to the second frame, the number in the ruby window and frame counter aligning perfectly. Well, not so. It became evident immediately that there was going to be some severe overlapping of exposures. Two rolls of film down and I was not pleased.

I then did some research. Finding two other Super Baldax users, I emailed them detailing my problem and asking for advice or assistance. One of the Super Baldax users replied saying he'd had similar troubles and assumed the film advance mechanism was faulty. He'd pretty much given up on the camera. A posting in a Balda camera group on Flickr mentioned having the same problem with severe overlapping. Ah, frustration!

But a chance remark pointed the way toward a solution. One user mentioned that in the 1950s, film emulsion and the paper backing on roll film was thicker than the emulsion and paper backing we use today. These vintage frame counting mechanisms are calibrated to expect that thickness and, not getting it, cause the film not to advance properly causing the overlapping. I've experienced a similar problem with my Ikoflex twin lens. This lead me to think: would it be possible to fool the mechanism by adding some thickness to the core of the spool? That evening I cut a piece of typing paper into a strip 2 1/2 inches wide by 8 inches long and tightly wrapped that around the core of an empty spool. Salvaging one of the ruined rolls of film, I rewound it. Loading the Baldax up as per usual, I taped the leader of the dummy roll to the padded spool core and wound the camera up so the number 1 was showing in the ruby window, adjusted the frame counter to number 1 and ...

Before I continue on, I should tell you about something else I learned via Matt Denton's page on his Balda camera. Rather than ratcheting back and forth to advance the film, one should turn the film advance knob counter clockwise until it can't go any farther, then turn it clockwise until it stops. This is the frame-to-frame measurement. It's simple once you know.

... after making the first exposure, advanced the film (see above) and ... success! Frame number 2 in the counter window, frame number 2 in the ruby window. I ran this padded spool test several times until I was satisfied that it truly worked. Like clcokwork every time.

I conducted a similar test with my Ikoflex and it worked there, too. Woo hoo!

Alley Scene

2007-04-12T05:41:00.000-07:00

Untitled (Suburban Scene)

2007-04-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

The High Window

2007-04-09T05:21:00.000-07:00

Untitled Found Composition

2007-04-06T05:50:00.000-07:00

Mannequins

2007-04-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

The Black Door

2007-04-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

Untitled (Alley Scene)

2007-04-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

Concrete

2007-04-02T05:54:00.000-07:00

Photographica: The Lure Of Soviet Cameras

2007-03-31T13:16:00.000-07:00

This week I purchased a Soviet era Moskva 5 from a camera dealer in the Ukraine. The Moskva line of cameras was made by the KMZ camera works as a copy of the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta medium format rangefinder line. The Moskva 5 went beyond mere imitation, adding a self-timer, removing the flip-up view finder and moving the internal view finder off to the far right side of the camera body creating a severe paralax. Despite the paralax, affcianados swear by the Moskva 5 and so I took the plunge, too. I'm looking forward to its arrival.

I've been looking at other Soviet era cameras, too. Zorkis, FEDs, Zenits and such all of which were copies of German Leica or Zeiss Ikon Contax 35mm rangefinder cameras. There are those who swear by the Soviet cameras and the example photos I've seen are truly remarkable. For those who can't afford a genuine Leica or Zeiss Contax, these Soviet cameras seem to be a very good second choice.

Wayne Cornell has an excellent site devoted to Soviet era 35mm cameras and Valdis in the Ukraine has a marvellous site on a wide variety of Soviet cameras ranging from medium format cameras such as the Moskva and Kiev to 35mm cameras such as the FED, Zorki and Zenit.

Communication

2007-03-30T05:36:00.000-07:00

Within the White Room

2007-03-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

Reflection

2007-03-27T05:35:00.000-07:00

Untitled

2007-03-26T05:46:00.000-07:00

Photographica: The Exakta V Returns

2007-03-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

This week I've been photographing more alleys and whatnot with my Exakta V 35mm camera. When I began collecting and using vintage cameras my initial intent was to stay away from 35mm cameras. I still have my Pentax K-1000 and MX ... if I wanted to shoot 35mm why would I need another camera, much less a vintage 35mm? That was a year ago and today I have several vintage 35mm cameras: An Argus C-3, a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super BC, a Nikkormat FT, an Olympus XA and an Exakta V. I certainly don't need any more vintage 35mms!

The Exakta V was the first vintage 35mm I bought. I went to drop some film off at my local camera store and sitting on the shelf was the Exakta V. It looked like something out of WWII, all leather and chrome, heavy and weapon-like. Considering it was made in Dresden in 1950, that's not far off the mark. Like all German engineering from that time the Exakta V is durable, dependable, precise and functional. It does what it does and it does that incredibly well.

I was intrigued by the Exakta V and the camera store owner said I could put some film through it and try it out. The camera was an immediately learning curve. First of all one needs to advance the film before the mirror drops down. That's easy enough, but the second thing was the P. Angenieux 35mm lens. One has to open the aperture to f2.5, focus and then stop down to the desired stop and take the photograph. I was severely perplexed at first but once I got this routine down, it became second nature. In fact, this slow process is actually a help rather than a hindrance since it forces one to properly compose the shot rather than fire off a series of shots and hope that one comes out. In this regard the Exakta V reminds me of a medium or large format camera. The 35mm lens was the perfect lens, just wide enough to get a lot of information into each shot without distortion. One can stand quite close to the subject or get near panorama shots. I really enjoy the 35mm lens (the Olympus XA has a 35mm lens, too. Another reason I enjoy that camera so much).

It didn't take too long to get me sold on the Exakta V and the camera store racked up another sale. And I began to carry it around with me everywhere. The Exakta V has a number of unusual features. First is the left hand film advance a shutter button. This seems awkward until one gets used to it. There's a self-timer on the right hand side of the camera ... I'm not sure why the engineers didn't swap locations for the film advance/shutter button with the self-timer, but they must have had some reason in mind. A question for the ages. There's a small knife blade within the camera which is used for cutting film. The Exakta V is designed with a replacable take up spool ... one could put an empty film cannister in place of the spool, shoot a few frames of film, slice the film, wind it into the cannister, remove it and develop the film. I've read that the Exaktas were the 35mm camera of choice among European press photographers in the 1950s and I assume this curious feature is the reason. All in all, the Exakta V is a spiffy camera and one well deserving of contemporary use!

Thorns

2007-03-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

Barn

2007-03-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

Shadow Of the Street Lamp

2007-03-21T05:55:00.000-07:00

Window

2007-03-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

Stairs

2007-03-19T05:31:00.000-07:00

Photographica: Box, Box Camera

2007-03-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

Is is possible to have too many box cameras? The answer, I believe, is a resounding no. Although the technology is incredibly simple, every box camera has its particular charm. From the luxury of Kodak's Beau Brownie with its leather covering and enamelled Art Deco face plate, to the whiz-bangery of the Conley Kewpie to the minimalist Agfa B-2 Cadet to the efficiency and precision of the Zeiss Ikon Box Tengor, box cameras are, frankly, amazing and once you're under their spell it is impossible to escape. Here's a wonderful site on vintage box cameras.

This Friday I received a spiffy Zeiss Ikon Box Tengor 54/2 (late 1930s). Cosmetically, it is in gorgeous condition, the only flaw being the missing leather carrying strap. Like most box camera leather carrying straps, it probably broke and was removed by its previous owner. The late 30's version of the 54/2 Box Tengor features a few refinements to the concept of the camera. The late 20's version featured a pull-up tab that changed the f-stops and a second pull up tab that adjusted the focus to one meter for a portrait setting or 12 meters for a group setting. This adjustability is great, but my experience has been that I have to be spot-on with my distance measurement. A few inches forward or back either changes the focal point or puts it out of focus entirely. The late 30's version of the 54/2 has three f-stops: 11, 16 and 22 which one can change by adjusting a dial below the lens. Focus can be adjusted in a similar method by a dial around the upper part of the lens, but now one can zone focus: one to two meters, two to eight meters, eight mters to infinity thus increasing your chances of obtaining an acceptibly focused photograph. Also, the ground glass viewfinders of the late 20's 54/2 have been replaced with a brilliant viewfinder which is a vast improvement in low light conditions. I'm looking forward to putting a roll of film through my new Box Tengor.

Speaking of Zeiss Ikon cameras, Zeiss Ikon Cameras 1926-39 by D.B. Tubbs is a wonderful guidebook on the wide variety of Zeiss cameras produced in the years between the World Wars. My single quibble with the book is that it doesn't explain the infuriatingly obscure numbering system of Zeiss Ikon cameras. For the collector of Zeiss Ikon cameras this is a priceless book.

While at a local Barnes and Noble yesterday I picked up a book of essays on Cindy Sherman's photographs, October Files: Cindy Sherman. I've only read part of one essay, but it looks to be quite a good book. However, beware! Post Modernist theory and critique are rampant within the book and if Roland Barthes, Arthur C. Danto, memes and signposts are the stuff of nightmares for you, stay away! Cindy Sherman's The Complete Untitled Film Stills is now available ... sans theoretical text no doubt.

Blue Door, Blue Window

2007-03-16T05:28:00.000-07:00

Hidden Among the Leaves

2007-03-14T05:40:00.000-07:00

Underwood Typewriter

2007-03-13T05:33:00.000-07:00

Number 185, Second Street

2007-03-12T05:53:00.000-07:00

Photographica: Vintage Camera Repair Forum

2007-03-11T14:41:00.000-07:00

This week disaster befell my beloved Rolleicord V in the form of a jammed film advance. At first I thought the problem was a bad roll of film, but after repeated occurances and jamming at random exposures, I concluded that the problem lay with the Rolleicord. Doing a Google search I came across an interesting forum dedicated to repair and restoration of vintage cameras. A posting of my Rolleicord's problem received a reply which indicates that the jammming may be caused by a faulty release switch within the Roleicord and that it should be a simple thing to fix. While I'm not going to attempt this, at least I know that the problem is most likely repairable.

Behind That Curtain

2007-03-09T05:29:00.000-08:00

The Drain

2007-03-08T05:32:00.000-08:00

Broken Concrete Wall

2007-03-07T05:29:00.000-08:00

Metal Birds

2007-03-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

Zeiss Ikon Cocarette: Superstar!

2007-03-05T05:28:00.000-08:00

Photo Friday: Alone

2007-03-02T06:02:00.000-08:00

Number 108 East First Street

2007-03-01T05:31:00.000-08:00

Macro Experiment

2007-02-28T05:07:00.000-08:00

Green Chair, Red Wall

2007-02-27T05:19:00.000-08:00

Brickwork and WIndow

2007-02-26T05:34:00.000-08:00

Photographica: The Leica Freedom Train

2007-02-25T08:55:00.000-08:00

Here's a very interesting article on the Leica Freedom Train. In Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1939, Ernst Leitz, head of the Leica works, and his family helped several hundred of their Jewish employees escape to America, England, Switzerland and Hong Kong.

Door Panel

2007-02-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Interior: Empty Garage

2007-02-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

The Door Through the Window

2007-02-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

Whatever Next?

2007-02-20T06:17:00.000-08:00

Untitled

2007-02-19T05:43:00.000-08:00

The Harbour: The Approching Storm

2007-02-16T06:09:00.000-08:00

Plato's Cave

2007-02-15T05:31:00.000-08:00

Cheeky Monkey

2007-02-14T05:42:00.000-08:00

Behind The Chain Link Fence

2007-02-12T05:56:00.000-08:00

Photo Friday: Sky

2007-02-09T06:12:00.000-08:00

Merlin's House

2007-02-08T05:42:00.000-08:00

Mystery Of the Metal Poles

2007-02-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

Koi

2007-02-06T05:48:00.000-08:00

Thai Restaurant In Morning Light

2007-02-05T05:32:00.000-08:00

Photo Friday: Strange

2007-02-02T05:59:00.000-08:00

Riddle Of the Chalkware Dalmatian

2007-01-31T06:10:00.000-08:00

The Sign of Three

2007-01-30T05:51:00.000-08:00

Bathing Beauty and Radios

2007-01-29T06:14:00.000-08:00

The Greenhouse At Twilight

2007-01-27T12:35:00.000-08:00

The Small Shoes

2007-01-26T05:53:00.000-08:00

The Blue Window

2007-01-25T05:06:00.000-08:00

Stairway To the Unknown

2007-01-24T05:37:00.000-08:00

Reflection

2007-01-23T06:25:00.000-08:00

Office Number Five

2007-01-22T06:31:00.000-08:00

Electric Sex

2007-01-21T09:49:00.000-08:00

License Plate, Trophy, Hub Cap

2007-01-20T08:07:00.000-08:00