What have you just BOUGHT?

KoNickon said:
Thanks for the comments, all, on the slide rule. My father (an actuary and math major in college) of course had one and used it, pre-calculators. I will see what I can find out about using them -- they seem brilliant. Hopefully I will be able to figure them out. Alpsman's comment is encouraging.

Regarding the typewriter -- no, I don't speak Portuguese at all, though I can figure out a little, just because it's a Romance language and I can "triangulate" from French/Spanish/Italian. I have a collection of typewriters and am embarrassed to say I focused on the typewriter itself and not the keyboard -- what are the chances it would be so different? So I didn't even notice until later.

First I had to figure out what the keyboard was; fortunately I have a reference guide. Of course it's fully usable for just the English alphabet, but touch typing is out of the question, considering how very different it is from the standard QWERTY keyboard. Apparently (according to Wikipedia) the keyboard layout dates from the mid-20th century, maybe instituted during the Somoza regime? Portugal long ago adopted the QWERTY keyboard, so this typewriter is a bit of a time capsule. I haven't checked the serial number but I doubt it's newer than the 1960s. I have no idea how it would have come to be in Hartford, CT (though there is a sizable Portuguese community of long standing here).

Yes, several of the diacritical mark keys are "dead keys" -- they don't advance the carriage (so a little planning is required, as you mention). One key I can't figure out -- it has a and o (underlined just as shown). I don't think I've ever seen these before.

Oh, I got the meter, slide rule and Olivetti for $40 total. The hunt was good -- the gods are pleased!
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If it's mid-20th Century, it was during the Salazar regime.

Portuguese keyboards that I know are mostly QUERTY, with most differences under the right small finger and in the symbols over the top-row numerals.

Slide rules, as I recall are accurate to three decimal points.

That is a helluva bargain! I couldn't have passed it up, myself.

- Murray
 
I have a massive Induro monopod and wanted a lighter version that could also be self standing to use with the Sigma fp L.

Just finished putting together my own take on this, it is the monopod on the left.


IMG_6790.jpg

Combination of an Induro CM24, Benro DJ90 tilt head, a Koolehaoda D2-221 base and a couple of 3d printed parts.

Turned out that the Induro didn't have a screw in foot so I removed the existing foot and 3d printed an insert with a heat set 3/8" screw thread for the bottom. Also designed/printed a belt clip to replace the wrist strap that the Induros come with.

The Koolehaoda base has a sleeve that slides to either lock it vertical or to let the locking ballhead move. Not nearly as stable as a tripod but it does stand upright and holds the Sigma fp L. Won't be leaving it unattended but it should be handy for longer exposures.

Full extended it puts the viewfinder at eye level and it weighs 1.8 pounds, 3.8 with the camera and lens on it.




IMG_6792.JPGIMG_6794.jpg
 
CMur12 said:
If it's mid-20th Century, it was during the Salazar regime.

Portuguese keyboards that I know are mostly QUERTY, with most differences under the right small finger and in the symbols over the top-row numerals.

Slide rules, as I recall are accurate to three decimal points.

That is a helluva bargain! I couldn't have passed it up, myself.

- Murray
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Wow -- I confused Antonio Salazar with Anastasio Somoza (Nicaraguan dictator). Careless. Thanks for not pointing it out. 🙂
 
Godfrey said:
Won a very attractive looking Leica IIIc body.
I have a very nice Elmar 5.0cm f/3.5 that will suit it beautifully, and a Color-Skopar 28mm f/3.5 as well.
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The camera arrived today and is just a delight to hold.







Everything seems to work well, so I've fitted my Elmar 5.0cm f/3.5 and loaded up a roll of film. Testing begins in the morning.

G
 
Just got hold off the new Fuji Instax Wide 400 - massively impressed but then again I’ve already got a nons back for my Hasselblad…they’re so much better than Polaroid in terms of development and colour rendition 90759533-8842-42FC-8ECC-96E0B032DB45.jpeg
 
girdwoodINC said:
Just got hold off the new Fuji Instax Wide 400 - massively impressed but then again I’ve already got a nons back for my Hasselblad…they’re so much better than Polaroid in terms of development and colour rendition
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That example looks a little cyan to my eye, but I know ... how you digitized it and such, never mind the differences in our displays, can easily account for such things.

I use a lot of both Instax (SQ and Wide) as well as Polaroid SX-70 and 600 films. Instax has had the benefit of Fujifilm big development money for decades, and Fujifilm was the only certified licensee of Polaroid's instant film patents since they started doing instant film, so it makes sense that their products are slick and professional. Polaroid Corporation crashed hard, was barely pulled out from the grave by The Impossible Project, and has had to reinvent the whole process essentially on a shoestring budget. Their film products have progressed, nearing the level of Polaroid of old, but not yet the utter consistency and reliability. Their color films seem well-finished now, the very latest B&W is finally getting to be where I'm happy with it.

I get good results with both with various different cameras (original and modified SX-70s, NONS Instax back, MiNT RF70, etc etc). As I look through the several hundred combined packs of both, I'd say my keeper rate (personal satisfaction, not necessarily high quality) is probably around 50-60% with all of the films, because all of them seem to have the same basic issues of limited exposure latitude and dynamic range, independent of the specific consistency of each individual pack.

Which reminds me: I'm down to my last three packs of Polaroid, time to order again. 😀

G
 
Godfrey said:
That example looks a little cyan to my eye, but I know ... how you digitized it and such, never mind the differences in our displays, can easily account for such things.

I use a lot of both Instax (SQ and Wide) as well as Polaroid SX-70 and 600 films. Instax has had the benefit of Fujifilm big development money for decades, and Fujifilm was the only certified licensee of Polaroid's instant film patents since they started doing instant film, so it makes sense that their products are slick and professional. Polaroid Corporation crashed hard, was barely pulled out from the grave by The Impossible Project, and has had to reinvent the whole process essentially on a shoestring budget. Their film products have progressed, nearing the level of Polaroid of old, but not yet the utter consistency and reliability. Their color films seem well-finished now, the very latest B&W is finally getting to be where I'm happy with it.

I get good results with both with various different cameras (original and modified SX-70s, NONS Instax back, MiNT RF70, etc etc). As I look through the several hundred combined packs of both, I'd say my keeper rate (personal satisfaction, not necessarily high quality) is probably around 50-60% with all of the films, because all of them seem to have the same basic issues of limited exposure latitude and dynamic range, independent of the specific consistency of each individual pack.

Which reminds me: I'm down to my last three packs of Polaroid, time to order again. 😀

G
Click to expand...
Always had better results with Fuji pack film over Polaroid (just finished my last couple of packs in Feb). The black and white packs for me seem to give the most inconsistent output but haven’t tried it through this yet…I find it’s more consistent than my Polaroid 600 and has the choice of 3 different focus settings…but hey it’s essentially a fun point and shoot that will be used for club nights and parties
 
The Werra is so cool, especially the green/gray one without rangefinder, it is such a minimalistic design. The lens cap that is a hood, the film advance… 👍
 
It followed me home, can I keep it? It is so cute.....

IMG_6809.jpg


I was not expecting it to feel so solid. Click stops on focus at 2 and 5 meters. Viewfinder is crystal clear, projected frameline is good. Lens looks clear and the shutter looks like it is at least in the ballpark.

Printing a lens cap and hood for it now.
 
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