What have you just BOUGHT?

My search for the perfect 35mm rangefinder lens continues …

I just bought a Konica UC-Hexanon 35 f2 LTM.

I am not yet sure, what I did there … It seems a massive 35mm comparison is overdue.
 
On a whim I bought an old FED S with it's original 50mm f/2 lens. I assumed that the camera and lens would be junk, and when I opened the box I wasn't disappointed, at least at first.

Upon taking the camera out of it's case, none of the controls were functional, everything was locked up tight. After a little disassembly and soaking in solvent, the dried grease dissolved and revealed a remarkably intact and relatively unused camera. I had to take apart the lens and remove the dried grease from the aperture blades so they would move. After putting the lens back together, I took some test shots with it attached to my X-Pro, and found the lens to work beautifully.

After removing the grease and relubing the shutter and winding mechanisms, the camera now works fine as well. I am working my way through the first roll of film, I hope it comes out well.
 
A custom, hand forged, stacked birch-bark handled Finnish puukko, from a wilderness guide and blacksmith in northern Finland. It is ever-so-slowly making its way through US customs on its way to me.
 
Just pulled the trigger on a Canon EOS 3. For my digital work(weddings) I shoot Canon so I figured I'd grab the EOS if I ever wanted to shoot a little film at a wedding.
 
There isn't a good camera shop nearby, so when I get into the "Big City", I try to stop into a camera store just to look, Yah, Right!
I found a Fuji X100, Manager's Special, $200 off!
I had a bit of room in my bag, so I now carry a Retina IIa, Fuji X100, a light meter, and a couple of rolls of film.
...Terry
 
A beautifully mint Franka Solida (120) folder finally arrived in yesterday's mail. It has a Frankar-Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 lens and Pronto shutter. Looking forward to using this gem for capturing my Newfoundland landscapes.

Still to come; a flawless Ensign Ranger folder and equally pristine Pentax K1000. Here are a couple pics of my little Franka Solida, taken today.

Glen


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Today I found some Olympus gear at a flea market. First was a Pen S in good shape, then a Pen D3, and then an Olympus Ace interchangeable lens rangefinder camera.

The mailman is bringing me another M3SS with a 50mm Elmar, and a IIIF as well.
 
Its been a busy month for gear. I've not purchased anything significant for about 18 months. A major project crossed my path, that I have since backed away from, but preparation set wheels in motion for a series of upgrades.

Some upgrades have been waiting for a 'trigger', others were specific to the project (GigaPan for one). I recently upgraded to a lightly used 7D, 24-105 f4 L, new 'open box' 5DmII that only had 10 frames, G1 X with under 1,000 frames, demo GF2 with 14mm f2.5, Panasonic 14-42 kit and paired 4?-200 f-slow-as-tar, a spotless E-PL2 with spare battery, VF2 & 14-24 pancake and the GigaPan Epic has not arrived yet...

The M4/3 and G1 X were a mix of testing, an IR project and preparation for this now defunct project. However nice its images are, I'm pretty sure the G1 X is about to hit the road. The M4/3 is not quite done yet and some of the kit is slated for other shooters, once it loses its colour-vision (IR converted). Some I'm going to try as my next travel kit for Sept.

Unfortunately, when looking for used gear, a guy often finds more than he bargains for. So a spare Bronica ETR with 75mm lens and odd trinkets, a Contaflex 3.5 E Planar noted in another thread, and another P&S Lumix FH2 to replace the ones that have been taken by friends (with permission) after becoming colour-blind themselves.

Then yesterday, I tripped upon an OM1 in dusty but otherwise fine condition, including a working meter. Came w/50mm f1.8, Oly. case and two Tokina lenses; 28 f2.8 and 80-200 f3.5-4.5. The push-pull zoom had a skylight filter with more bond than the front element assembly... that was "fun", all good now. An Agfa flash, original books, handful of filters and a tidy bag that just fits it all.

Seller didn't know what he had, after a couple attempts for details I found out he works about 10 mins away. I met him in the off chance he had a 50mm 1.4 or 1.2 but sadly not. I asked for a piece of paper to write down the details so he could properly get values and advertise it; it was worth more than I had with me (even if he had a 1.2, didn't have time to grab more before meeting him)... and he didn't care. Wasn't going to let me leave without taking it, just wanted to be sure it got a good home.

I wasn't looking for the OM1 kit, already have an OM2 plus, and have spent a bundle so far (understatement). I had my eye out for some earlier M4/3 gear for IR. A friend picked some up for me today on a business trip. An E-PL1 w/14-42 and the DMC-GF1 body I'd been watching in a neighboring city. So I now have almost enough to complete the present M4/3 projects, just waiting for some accessories to arrive by mail and to see how one of the kit performs with my M-mount and OM-mount lenses.

I guess I'm not done... sat down to check email and it appears I'm about to own a Pen-EE 1/2 frame for a compelling price. I've been watching it online for a month, hoping someone else would relieve me of the temptation. Finally sent an email asking the price and, well, its rather down to a decision of when can I drive over and give it a new home now...

... pretty much time to stop watching the classifieds I think.
 
Just grabbed a Yashica MAT 124g from the auction site that appears to be in good shape. The price was right ($150>) so I took a shot in hopes that it doesn't need anything beyond a fresh battery and some film.
 
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