oftheherd
Veteran
Well, it’s been a good week for me. My 85mm f/2 came in along with the universal finder. Somehow I didn’t expect the finder to be that small. Glad it is. Below is a link to a photo of my Kiev and the four Kiev lenses and finder. Now I can use the 35mm lens with the universal finder. My 65mm finder goes back with my Super Press 23 kit. I had thought about a FSU camera often, especially when I used to read more about them in the earlier RFF days. I always wanted a Kiev as I have a thing about Zeiss lenses.
Don’t you think things look a little unbalanced in the photo? I think I need either a 28mm or a 15mm to go with the 35mm. I am thinking about it. If I could get enough for the 35mm I would sell it and get both a 28mm and a 15mm. Well, that's not going to happen.
I have been surprised by the smallness of the 50 f/1.8, and the largeness of the 85mm f/2. It is shorter but heavier than the 135mm. But aside from the imbalance, I think they all look nice. I haven’t figured out for sure what to do with them though. You can take photos with these, right?
As an aside, can any of our Russian speakers tell me what the inscription is on the bottom of the Kiev?
Next was my daughter’s trip to visit my brother. He gave her a camera case to bring back to me. She called me about it and I told her if it was too much trouble to carry it back on the plane to just leave it there and I would make other arrangements. She said after seeing the contents of the camera case, and having heard me talk about it, there was no way she wasn’t bringing it back. Bless her heart!
As you can see from the photos of the case, it has some vintage camera gear in it. There are two flash holders, and some clear and IR bulbs(still good!) in the top of the case to go with them. There are some other odds and ends, filters and a series VI filter holder, a self timer suitable for use with the shutter release cables there. There is a GE meter that doesn’t seem to work, and a GE photo information book(interesting). There is also a dark cloth and two notebooks I used when using the 9x12 folder and 127 insert.
The thing that I have long wanted to get back is the 9x12 camera, and accessories my father made. He took a cheap 127 plastic camera, cut off the lens, and mounted it on fiber board.
He then put a small ground glass on another fiber board. I often marvel at the precise measurements needed to pull that off. But he did it.
In my first year of college I took a lot of pretty good color photographs at the local museum back home with that rig. All on tripod and timed(hence the notebook). Museums aren't usually lighted for photography. The director was even impresed. He had known my family since he had taken over the museum when I was very young. He probably never thought I would ever take such good photos.
Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to share. The philosophy part and the reason I put this post here instead of perhaps in the Folding Cameras forum?
My father died about 1954. Sure wish I could have shared some of my own photography appreciation with him. ... and thanked him for sharing his with me, even when I was so young it didn't mean much. He patiently planted seeds that grew. It is something we can all do.
Don’t you think things look a little unbalanced in the photo? I think I need either a 28mm or a 15mm to go with the 35mm. I am thinking about it. If I could get enough for the 35mm I would sell it and get both a 28mm and a 15mm. Well, that's not going to happen.
I have been surprised by the smallness of the 50 f/1.8, and the largeness of the 85mm f/2. It is shorter but heavier than the 135mm. But aside from the imbalance, I think they all look nice. I haven’t figured out for sure what to do with them though. You can take photos with these, right?
As an aside, can any of our Russian speakers tell me what the inscription is on the bottom of the Kiev?
Next was my daughter’s trip to visit my brother. He gave her a camera case to bring back to me. She called me about it and I told her if it was too much trouble to carry it back on the plane to just leave it there and I would make other arrangements. She said after seeing the contents of the camera case, and having heard me talk about it, there was no way she wasn’t bringing it back. Bless her heart!
As you can see from the photos of the case, it has some vintage camera gear in it. There are two flash holders, and some clear and IR bulbs(still good!) in the top of the case to go with them. There are some other odds and ends, filters and a series VI filter holder, a self timer suitable for use with the shutter release cables there. There is a GE meter that doesn’t seem to work, and a GE photo information book(interesting). There is also a dark cloth and two notebooks I used when using the 9x12 folder and 127 insert.
The thing that I have long wanted to get back is the 9x12 camera, and accessories my father made. He took a cheap 127 plastic camera, cut off the lens, and mounted it on fiber board.
He then put a small ground glass on another fiber board. I often marvel at the precise measurements needed to pull that off. But he did it.
In my first year of college I took a lot of pretty good color photographs at the local museum back home with that rig. All on tripod and timed(hence the notebook). Museums aren't usually lighted for photography. The director was even impresed. He had known my family since he had taken over the museum when I was very young. He probably never thought I would ever take such good photos.
Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to share. The philosophy part and the reason I put this post here instead of perhaps in the Folding Cameras forum?
My father died about 1954. Sure wish I could have shared some of my own photography appreciation with him. ... and thanked him for sharing his with me, even when I was so young it didn't mean much. He patiently planted seeds that grew. It is something we can all do.
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oftheherd
Veteran
Sorry for this post. I finally figured out how to post photos so this isn't needed.
Hope the above post makes some sense.
Hope the above post makes some sense.
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chippy
foo was here
Hey oftheherd what a nice nolstagic peice, full of fond memories--certainly has to rank high on the list of when people say--'hey my first camera was only a ____' lol
theres an old saying here ;'give an Aussie a length of fencing wire and he can fix or make anything'...came about becase in the ol days with generaly most people not well off for money they had to make do with whatever they had.
i think we can make Mr Oftheherd Senior an honourary Aussie haha.
interesting isnt it...he made the camera more versitile by being able to use a cheaper film, also turned it into a tele lens on the smaller format. presumably he liked the lens on the 9x12 and couldnt afford another camera (127) with an equally good lens(or didnt see the need to waste the money when he had the ingrediants-a by product of the generation living through the depression) , and the roll film backs that were imerging on the market for these cameras may have been expensive (not that i recall off the top of my head a 127 roll film back!) .it would of been a fiddle to use i am guessing with the need to slide the lens closer to the film plane and more so without a darkslide or does it have one?
it would be interesting to know what camera (cameras) is it,, do you remember? what lens is on it also? i take a wild guess and say ihagee but i cant really tell from here and they are all so simular as well.
its provides a good lenson and an inspiration how wonderful it is inspire our own children into this great hobby and instill some fond memories to look back on
theres an old saying here ;'give an Aussie a length of fencing wire and he can fix or make anything'...came about becase in the ol days with generaly most people not well off for money they had to make do with whatever they had.
i think we can make Mr Oftheherd Senior an honourary Aussie haha.
interesting isnt it...he made the camera more versitile by being able to use a cheaper film, also turned it into a tele lens on the smaller format. presumably he liked the lens on the 9x12 and couldnt afford another camera (127) with an equally good lens(or didnt see the need to waste the money when he had the ingrediants-a by product of the generation living through the depression) , and the roll film backs that were imerging on the market for these cameras may have been expensive (not that i recall off the top of my head a 127 roll film back!) .it would of been a fiddle to use i am guessing with the need to slide the lens closer to the film plane and more so without a darkslide or does it have one?
it would be interesting to know what camera (cameras) is it,, do you remember? what lens is on it also? i take a wild guess and say ihagee but i cant really tell from here and they are all so simular as well.
its provides a good lenson and an inspiration how wonderful it is inspire our own children into this great hobby and instill some fond memories to look back on
alliv
Member
The inscription on Kiev says: Anatoliy Nivnatievichy[? second name not clear - I cannot decipher] from co-workers [of] regional station of preservation (guard, defence) of plants (i.e trees, grass etc..)
oftheherd
Veteran
Thanks alliv.
oftheherd
Veteran
You are very correct about "product of the generation living through the depression." They certainly learned to make do with what they had, and learned to repair many things themselves. My kids are often surprised at what I will attempt to fix.
The 127 camera as modified was put on a film sheet holder, with a sheet of wood behind it, as a spacer and probably for extra strength. So indeed it does have a dark slide. I have no idea what brand the camera was.
The 9x12's lens is a Rodenstock Trinar, in a Compur shtter from T to 1/200 of a second, and an f/4.5 aperture. The camera had rise and fall, and shift, but no tilt. The mirrored viewfinder is still good, as is the red colored bubble. It also still has 3 sheet film holders. I have acquired 2 9x12 cameras of my own just beause I remembered this one so fondly.
My father was the only one in his family to attend and finish college. Partly paying for it by catching and selling snakes to one of the college departments. He taught school in the Missouri Ozarks for a while before becoming a government meat inspector in several meat packing plants. Still, he remained the country boy he was born. He was accomplished in carpentry and car mechanics.
He definately enjoyed photography and was accomplished enough that he was often given access to the museum during after hours to photograph difficult exhibits. I remember several hours he spent photographing an exhibit of flourescing rocks. He had to bracket his exosures, but was very successful in the end.
I think he would have been proud to know someone nominated him to be an honourary Aussie.
Windscale
Well-known
Wow. For what it's worth, I think you ought to do it up and take some pics and show them to us. We are sure Mr. oftheherd Sr. will be very happy if you did that.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
This is my kind of thread. Thanks for sharing that lovely story and a tribute to your dad.
oftheherd
Veteran
Thanks for yours and others kind thoughts.
I really do believe in passing along hobbies to kids if they are interested. Or at least sharing as much as they will absorb. Planting seeds, as I said.
My oldest daughter has something of an interest in photography. Or had. She doesn't do much but a new boyfriend who has a degree in photography and that may change her mind.
My youngest likes to snapshoot the family and has often talked to me about what camera to use. My 4 year old grandson wants his own digital. I mentioned my father's old enlarger. It looked very much like this one on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ndexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting I am not so sure I would call it a professional enlarger, but it wasn't bad and got the job done.
R
ruben
Guest
Perhaps communication is the main in Photography, and what communication can be greater than that between fathers and sons ?
Oftheherd, I am happy you are happy.
Cheers,
Ruben
Oftheherd, I am happy you are happy.
Cheers,
Ruben
jan normandale
Film is the other way
@ OTH, the 9x12 folder looks cool and the story is wonderful. Like opening a present on your birthday I'll bet.
The Kiev 4am is a fine camera, I had one and it bit the dust. To replace the shutter tape was going to cost as much as I paid for the camera so I gave it away. I regret I couldn't afford that at the time. However someone else has a nice camera now. You'll like the glass it is similar to Zeiss.
The Kiev 4am is a fine camera, I had one and it bit the dust. To replace the shutter tape was going to cost as much as I paid for the camera so I gave it away. I regret I couldn't afford that at the time. However someone else has a nice camera now. You'll like the glass it is similar to Zeiss.