More about medium format & shtrudel
There are some small details I still owe to tell. I arrived to Photo Prizma to buy medium format film, not just to ask about their facilities, which were even greater than finding the film. C'est la vie.
The film is aimed at testing two new used cameras, a Kiev 6c, trimed to 6x45 and a Pentacon Six, square format.
Besides the need to find an outlet for my GAS, this being the main reason, I bought this pair under some deviated kind of logic that led me to start photographing the Old City, and the Old City meaning medium format.
Both the Kiev and Pentacon medium format cameras are extremely controversial ones, not only at RFF, but at The Kiev Report forum as well. Or to be more accurate, they are rather bi-partisan simphaty cameras. Some say this is a gem while the the other will explode like a grenade in my hands and vice-versa. How to approach this controversy ? by majority of votes ? By qualifications of the symphatizer ?
Well, we do know here something about FSU gear after all: it doesn't matter the prototype, but what you actually have in your hands. Spare Kiev 6c body and screwdriver at hand. No spare Pentacon body by now, this is a more complex item to buy at all round reasonable terms.
The Kiev is fully ready for its first performance, with an additional Flektogon 50 and Soviet 2x teleconverter, which will translate into a 180mm focal length with the customary Kiev 6c Vega 12b (90mm focal length). All these lens will mount to the Pentacon Six.
The Kiev 6c brings its original non metering prism, making it slightly less ugly and slightly smaller. The weight difference is disdainable. Another Kiev 6c non metering prism will be mounted on the Pentacon Six, via a costly Baierfoto.de adapter. The Pentacon original prisms, either metering or non metering tend to measurably darken the image.
The Pentacon Six is bringing under its wings a Biometar lens 80mm. Both are waiting for me at the mail It took a long time since the former order at mid December 28th from Slovakia, Cupog-land.
On behalf of the Israeli folks, a piece of our hated customs office info, being part of my logistic test. While gold, diamonds, heroine or camera packages continue to arrive unmolested, quickly and cheap from the FSU to Israel - Slovakia a remote ex Eastern Block country is held as part of the Euro comunity, fully customs applyied, highest time delay not fogotten, no mercy at all, besides the abusive all European mail costs. Cupog out - DVD in.
Now, with this Austrian Hospice shtrudel at the 37, Via Dolorosa St. I have a clear date for my first dual medium format expedition.
Cheers,
Ruben
