Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Speedy is a man of taste and refinement! No better way to finish a long and leisurely summer beach day than with a negroni. Or two.
Speedy
Well-known
zwicko
Established
A Toyo View 45 GX to complement my Toyo Field 45A.
lxmike
M2 fan.
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
Just bought a Horseman VH, essentially the same as my Horseman 985 but without range/viewfinder. Strictly a mini 6x9 view camera for backpacking. I'm in the midst of a passionate new romance with Horseman cameras (also including the Convertible). Exquisite and beautifully engineered, they get nowhere near the attention they deserve. Like everything from Komamura (the makers of the wonderful Topcon line), they were victims of poor marketing and the public's blind worship of the Big Names, Toyo, Nikon, Canon, etc.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Adding to the Hasselblad 1000f kit, among other things…
I just acquired two lenses for the Hasselblad - a 60mm f/5.6 Distagon and a 135mm f/3.5 Ektar. The Distagon is in fantastic shape, the Ektar is in okay shape. The rear element of the Ektar has some separation (rainbow) and focus is smooth but a bit stiff, but overall it's okay for my purposes. It just had a CLA so it’s about as good as it’s going to be.
I also managed to find an elusive item -- an original cable release adapter. These Hasselblads have a special threaded socket on the side of the camera for the cable release, and you either have to use a particular kind of (and very expensive) cable release or you have to use the adapter to take the universal cable release. Luckily I found the adapter, which are still relatively expensive items if you can track one down.
And finally - finally! - I ordered an Epson V850 scanner with the fluid mount. I've been wanting to get this scanner for a couple of years and finally decided to pull the trigger. My only concern is using the Silverfast software -- I know that Epson Scan and other software is much easier to use but from comparison tests that I've seen the results are clearly better using the Silverfast software. So I'm just going to have to knuckle-down and learn Silverfast, like it or not. Oh yeah and make some images that are worthy of scanning!
New Lenses by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
I just acquired two lenses for the Hasselblad - a 60mm f/5.6 Distagon and a 135mm f/3.5 Ektar. The Distagon is in fantastic shape, the Ektar is in okay shape. The rear element of the Ektar has some separation (rainbow) and focus is smooth but a bit stiff, but overall it's okay for my purposes. It just had a CLA so it’s about as good as it’s going to be.
I also managed to find an elusive item -- an original cable release adapter. These Hasselblads have a special threaded socket on the side of the camera for the cable release, and you either have to use a particular kind of (and very expensive) cable release or you have to use the adapter to take the universal cable release. Luckily I found the adapter, which are still relatively expensive items if you can track one down.
And finally - finally! - I ordered an Epson V850 scanner with the fluid mount. I've been wanting to get this scanner for a couple of years and finally decided to pull the trigger. My only concern is using the Silverfast software -- I know that Epson Scan and other software is much easier to use but from comparison tests that I've seen the results are clearly better using the Silverfast software. So I'm just going to have to knuckle-down and learn Silverfast, like it or not. Oh yeah and make some images that are worthy of scanning!
New Lenses by Vince Lupo, on Flickr
Peter_S
Peter_S
Heliopan yellow and green-yellow filters for my new VM Ultron 28mm (M Monochrom)
mpaniagua
Newby photographer
Oh my! It really do resemble the Kiev 88 from up here
Congratz on the scanner. Silverfast is not muy different if you don't use all the bells and whistle (I don't). All the options make it a bit confussing so I suppose starting with the normal options at first
JeffS7444
Well-known
Vince,
That's a swell-looking outfit you've got there! I've had an older 500c sitting in my restoration queue for ages, and I was after a similar vintage vibe. But the chrome on my 500c had blistered in a number of areas, so I ground those areas down to bare metal, with the intent of refilling them with urushi? epoxy mixed with powdered gold? Never got around to deciding.
Your bundled version of Silverfast qualifies for discounted upgrade to Silverfast AI Studio, which is what I use. After countless hours of experimentation, I wound up doing pretty much all of my work using AI Studio + stock Epson film holders. I've tried glass film holders, camera scanning, etc, but came away thinking that sometimes the increase in quality (if any) was simply not worth the added effort. Possible exception would be when scanning highly resolving b&w film like Tmax, but that's it's own rabbit-hole.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Thanks Jeff -- have you ever tried the fluid-mount scanning? I ordered the mount while I was at it, but will have to order the fluid from a source other than B&H. I thought it was about time that I got myself a proper scanner for my medium format and glass plates (not sure how I should scan those, as the V850 is a fixed-focus), as the camera-scanning method has its limitations, at least for me it does.
I have a 500c and a 500c/m but for some reason I'm drawn to the 1000f. Don't know why.
Dogman
Veteran
Nothing breathtaking, just a couple of lenses I've been considering for a while.
First, the Voigtlander 75/1.8 Heliar Classic in like new condition. Second, the AF-S Nikkor 17-55/2.8G DX in seriously good condition.
I'll use the Heliar Classic on my Fuji X-Pro2 for an equivalent of about 113mm--a good length for my uses. The Nikkor will, of course, go on several of my Nikon DX bodies which I have not used much since I also have several FX models. I like the APS-C size, however, and the 17-55 gives my old D2X/D2Xs and the D7100 bodies more useability.
First, the Voigtlander 75/1.8 Heliar Classic in like new condition. Second, the AF-S Nikkor 17-55/2.8G DX in seriously good condition.
I'll use the Heliar Classic on my Fuji X-Pro2 for an equivalent of about 113mm--a good length for my uses. The Nikkor will, of course, go on several of my Nikon DX bodies which I have not used much since I also have several FX models. I like the APS-C size, however, and the 17-55 gives my old D2X/D2Xs and the D7100 bodies more useability.
JeffS7444
Well-known
When it comes to classic cameras, I sometimes think that there's an inverse relationship to the emotional appeal of the hardware versus how efficient a picture-taker it is.
I've only done quick and casual experiments with fluid mounting (Better Scanning film holder) using lighter fluid and sandwiched with whatever clear plastic sheet I could scrounge from around the house. I didn't attempt to gauge whether it made scratches in the film less visible. And my off the cuff impression was that I did not see differences which couldn't be explained by the flatness of the film in a glass holder. But the scanner's optics seem to have a fair amount of DOF.to begin with.
Assuming that the emulsion isn't harmed by wet mounting, I'd think those glass plates would be among the easiest things to scan? In the case of Instax prints, I just place these onto the scanner glass, with a frame cut from thin cardboard acting as a spacer to avoid Newton's rings.
Congrats on the 75mm/1.8 Heliar Classic! I expect you'll like it; it's a favorite of mine. A bit heavy, but performs very well. Interestingly, its optical design appears the same as the Leica 73mm/1.9 Hektor, with three cemented pairs of elements shaped about the same as in the old Leica lens. Sort of a variation on the classic Heliar design, with the Heliar's single central negative element replaced by a negative cemented pair.
Dogman
Veteran
Thanks for the info, Doug. I haven't been able to play with either lens much (just photos of my dog, my standard test subject) but I can tell I'll especially like the Heliar.
Muggins
Junk magnet
Just picked up a Daci Royal box camera on ebay - supposedly the shutter releases but "the button rotates". I don't know what that means but at £10 for a red camera in very good cosmetic condition I figured I'd take the risk. I wouldn't be too upset if I can't fix it at that price as it looks great.
lxmike
M2 fan.
Well a Nikon MB10 for my old F90X
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
Great camera the F90x. I just shot four rolls of film during my summer holidays. It performs so well and is so reliable that I was never tempeted to upgrade to the F100 (breaking back latches and aperture tabs). I didn't miss my F5 whilst away.
hap
Well-known
"breaking back latches and aperture tabs"
It's not that bad.
I've seen some N90 FS....and very tempted to purchase as prices are very reasonable....or at least were.
It's not that bad.
I've seen some N90 FS....and very tempted to purchase as prices are very reasonable....or at least were.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
shawn
Veteran
Rollei A26 picked up cheap. Thought it would be fun to see if it can become usable again. 3d printed a reloadable film magazine for it, took a little extra work to get it to fit inside and then a little more to get the advance working. I have it loaded with cut down 120 backing paper and it is advancing and shooting. With 35mm in it it will likely not advance properly due to the sprocket holes. I will either need to shoot 3 or 4 blank shots between each exposure or remove the sprocket feeler from the camera. I am leaning toward removing the feeler since it fires fine without the sprocket holes. Without the feeler it is going to advance every time it is opened though, with the feeler it won't advance again till it is shot. Spacing will be more uneven without the feeler too.
The auto exposure looks like it is working on the Rollei. Seems like its shutter speed is fixed and it adjusts aperture based on the light. I haven't been able to find anything showing how the ISO feeler works on 126 so I am not sure what speed film the camera thinks it has in it. Will probably try 200 speed first and then go up or down depending upon the negatives. Not going to use backing paper so I will have to keep track of frame number myself.
Shawn