99 cent box camera/Ektar samples

[paulfish4570]

Tower No. 1 box camera; bought on ebay for 99 cents plus too much shipping; 120 Ektar 100, lab development, scanning; camera was rested on all shots on a tree trunk or curb or pier or such:

This next one is slightly cropped at bottom to remove a double-exposed strip:

Now for the ones in difficult lighting:
Straight up a hackberry tree; camera bottom on trunk:

Straight up from concrete curb, camera on back:

Into the evening sun:

At sunrise:

 

[paulfish4570]

Yes, it is a TLR model. Single shutter speed estimated to be between 1/50th and 1/100th second; aperture estimated at f11-f16. The mid-day sun shots are so well exposed, I will guess exposure is close to sunny16 for 100 ASA film like the Ektar.

 

[johannielscom]

Oh boy.

I'm gonna bring my pre-war Zeiss Ikon Box Tengor with me to Switzerland, no doubt about it.

Brilliant shots, Paul!

Tell me, this camera probably has three distance settings and three apertures only? No adjustable shutter speed? Or is it the bakelite model?

 

[paulfish4570]

Thank you, Johan.

It is a bakelite model with a single speed, plus time; single aperture, set focus which I figure is good from about 8 feet on to infinity. The shutter cocks when film is wound. It is well built and fitted. a flash came with the camera. I got a partial double exposure as noted by not winding a number precisely into the middle of the red window.

 

[jesse1dog]

I think the railroad shot is stunning. Great reflection off the top of the rail.
I'm inspired to clean up the JB Ensign - a Houghton-Butcher camera - that I was given and have a go with that.
Who needs a range-finder camera when you can get pictures like yours? Pick the weather and you have winners all the way.

jesse

 

[chris00nj]

While I think the composition is excellent, I won't be rushing out to buy a Tower box camera.

Photos 7-10 looked washed out and the detail is extremely weak. I'll take a folder with a triplet lens instead.

 

[paulfish4570]

Thanks, Jesse. Who needs a Holga anyhow? 🙂

 

[paulfish4570]

Chris, of course. 🙂
Washouts and wipeouts are expected, especially when composing straight into the sun, on 7-10; I reckon the computer driven scanning process, in trying to make a better print, further washed out 7-10. But I figure within the camera's very narrow limits, it did better than OK.
Besides, I have a Yashica A, as well that i am getting to know ... 🙂

 

[totifoto]

Nice 🙂

Love thread like these, 99 cent camera and the pictures look great, makes me wonder why I bother with a 1000 dollar + in digital gear :bang:

 

[kknox]

Yea, I think I can sell my Leica and get one of those and save some money.

 

[Maiku]

Lovely, photos. The train track is great, but even better are the kids in the dingy. WOW! Lovely.

 

[Paulbe]

Oh my!! Love the BNSF shot--hope you didn't get run over by the pumpkin power!
An interesting case where the film costs more than the camera.
I wonder how much we really need.
A friend was by last night with his Rebel set on "night portraits"--he took some great pix...
So why DO I really NEED a Leica??? 🙂
Thanks for the lesson in minimizing...!
Paul

 

[colyn]

These old cameras did pretty good with the ancient film of their day. It's obvious they do an excellent job with todays film.

The rail train photo is my fav...

 

[charjohncarter]

Like most of you, sometimes I wonder why expensive gear isn't better than it is. This is my Kodak Duaflex with Ektar100:

And even with a flipped lens my BHF gives up there results, also Ektar100 (I'll wait for criticism):

 

[paulfish4570]

Thanks for sll of the fine compliments, guys. It was a hoot to be liberated by the confinement of the tower's parameters. Really, how many guys are going to put an M5 on its back on a concrete curb to look up at some crape myrtle blossoms, or sit it on a dock within splash distance of a bunch of kids on a gigantic tramp-o-float or whatever that thing is.
Charjohn, I like your photos fine. Got a pic of the camera you mentioned?

 

[paulfish4570]

Paulbe, I call that switching yard where I shot the rail pic the pretty trains crossing. There are usually 3-4 locomotives sitting there, all shiny ...

 

[charjohncarter]

Actually it was two cameras:

Kodak Duaflex (box, but two lenses)

And the BHF, this is not my image it is on Flickr (BFH group):

 

[paulfish4570]

I have an almost new BHF in box, with all of the flashbulbs.

The Tower is much sturdier - and uses 120 ... 😉

 

[charjohncarter]

Right it is a real pain to use 620, darn Kodak. Maybe I'll look into a Tower. I made a lens cap lens out of a BHF for my Pentax 6x7 (it is flipped):

And one of the images:

 

[paulfish4570]

That is incredibly sharp in the center ...