New York February Meet-Up: Third Annual Rangefinder Beauty Pagent

[Calzone]

1. Are we limited to 35mm format?

Phil Forrest

Phil,

As long as its a rangefinder almost anything goes. I was thinking of buying a Rolleimeter (rangefinder) and attaching it to my Rollei TLR, but my Rollei "Whiteface" is too new a camera to be compatable.

Plan B now is bringing the Fuji G690BL named the "Streetfighter" by Andre because it looks like it got into several brawls, has diagonally dented corners, and looks like it saw combat. I will pair the Streetfighter with a rather clean Fuji GL690 as the complamentary camera, and for entertainment value so that these two 6x9 cameras features and updates can be compared, but somehow I need to bribe enough judges so that I can include all three of the interchangable lenses I own. Basically by this year's rather open rules the winner can be selected by an assembled kit or an individual camera.

Anyways, JSROCKET makes fun of my heavy "MONSTER CAMERAS," but ever since I bought the old Fuji's I started doing pushups to the extent that I added an inch to my chest.

Two things scare me though: What crazy large format cameras may enter the competition; and what surprise crazy Christian might perform this year.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Cal, you went? I was there for only fifteen minutes or so around 3:00 or so. I was with my girl and had to do other things during the day. By the way, I won't be needing any Rolleiflex stuff. It's not for me... waist level that is. They are beautiful to look at and fondle though... but just not my thing for actual work. If I decide to stay with film at all, I will go Mamiya 6. However, I'll probably go back to ignoring film again.

Anyway, I volunteered to judge, but there seems to be some push back on that. So no hard feelings, I'll just be a spectater instead again.

I got there around 3:30 even though I left my apartment around noon because I walked there via Central Park.

Anyways, being a spectator is the most fun, also to my benefit is that I have one less judge to bribe. No hard feelings, just lots of laughs making fun of ourselves.

Anyways I failed to mention some of the prizes; and just to be clear there is only one winner and they get all the prizes. Damaso, the originator of the New York Meet-Up is donating a print to the winner, but Damaso will still be away till March.

I have a old Weston meter with leather field case that our judge Barrett gave me. It seems to work, but I'd send it out to Quality Light in Hollywood for a calibration.

Cal

 

[Particular]

Cal, there will be no surprises from me. I'm just bringing an M3 with a 50mm. Life can be simple sometimes.

 

[mervynyan]

what? I spent the last 6 months to play with big gears. recently acquired arca discovery on the cheap and calumet c-2 6x7 back. I need the definition of rangefinder, I guess the range and focus on the matt screen-🙂

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Ah, so that cuts out large-format guesstimation focus then?

If I can make it, maybe I'll bring "it" anyway.

Phil Forrest

 

[Calzone]

Cristian has Linhoffs with rangefinders.

Cal

 

[amateriat]

Barrett,

Please take my position as a judge. I feel that I cannot be fair and impartial like you because I have an agenda and strong bias for large and heavy cameras. Also know I am planning a big campain this year. Also I hope you don't mind me recycling that Weston light meter you gave me as one of the prizes.

Cal, I would be honored. (Damn, I almost clean forgot about that Weston!)

Thanks John for the nomenation, but since bribing is allowed I feel that also being a judge is an unfair advantage, especially since I intend to take advantage of bribing the judges to my advantage. Already this weekend, I had a Rollei Bay 1 Hood and Rollei Bay 1 mirrored lens cap to bribe John (JSROCKET) at Georges reception Saturday, but we did not cross paths.

Well, that was close...

BTW for those who are new to our annual specticle, Barrett has been our Judge and MC for the two previous events, and clearly only a few bribes are needed to enter his Hexars.

Well, I've been called cheap, and I've been called easy (depends on which ex-GF you ask), but both at once? Let's not get ahead of ourselves here!

(Beware: 35mm partisan that I am, I'm in something of a Texas Leica mood this month.)


- Barrett

 

[jsrockit]

Hmmm, how about a rule that says that nothing that you bought in Feb 2012 can be used for the pagent? 😉

 

[Calzone]

Hmmm, how about a rule that says that nothing that you bought in Feb 2012 can be used for the pagent? 😉

So far this month I haven't bought any new gear. Looked at a Nikon 28/2.8 AIS yesterday at Adorama, and also a very clean 28 Elmarit-R 3-camwith hood E48. I'm thinking that I may go Leitax F-mount adapter so that I can mount a 28 Elmarit on my black Nikon F2. Love the square hood.

I gotta maintain my reputation for building "monster" cameras. LOL.

BTW I have a bag full of cameras to give away. One of my friends did some dumpster diving for me, and he gave me a8 megapixel Canon Powershot A720-IS; a Nikon Coolpix 5400; a Nikon Coolpix 995; and a Nikon Coolpix 950. He also has some Minalta SLR that he has yet to give me, but he states it has a cracked mirror.

All the above cameras are without batteries or chargers so they are only really useful to those who already own these cameras. Two of the Nikon Coolpix (995 and 950) probably use the same battery/charger.

The New York Meet-Up goes green, and this is my attempt to recycle. I have no need for any digital cameras.

Cal

 

[Particular]

Hmmm, how about a rule that says that nothing that you bought in Feb 2012 can be used for the pagent? 😉

Does that also exclude things made in Feb 2012? Perhaps there are two categories, 'History of the world up to and including 2011' and '2012'. That way you can still enter that Hello Kitty Leica that you so badly want.

p.s. Unless you already have it but have so far been embarrassed to show it.

 

[Calzone]

It didn't take long, but I just bought a retro-grip for my Nikon F3 that's huge. Its about the same size as the grip on a MD-4 motordrive. I seem to be compelled to build my "monsters." LOL.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The cameras are likely to be loud enough.

I think as a group we already are kinda loud and obnoxious, you know, typical New Yorkers.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

p.s. Unless you already have it but have so far been embarrassed to show it.

I'd proudly wear that around my neck...

On another note, I haven't been drinking lately... so I'm coming off the wagon for this meet-up! beware... 😉

 

[JeffNYC]

Judge Influence

Judge Influence

I forget..... Did we once try to influence the judging?

ah....... Barrett........ (did you get that nice watch i sent?)

🙂

 

[andredossantos]

As the reigning 2011 winner, I will of course be there. I'm definitely unveiling my M6 .85x "Zebra". No, not Panda, ZEBRA. Bow down, vulgarians! The title is mine! Bwahahahaha.

 

[gdmcclintock]

Leica schmeica. If I can make it, the Weltur will rule. Such graceful elegance!

As the reigning 2011 winner, I will of course be there. I'm definitely unveiling my M6 .85x "Zebra". No, not Panda, ZEBRA. Bow down, vulgarians! The title is mine! Bwahahahaha.

 

[andredossantos]

GD: All joking aside, I agree. If you bring the Welta you will be hard to beat. Those things are mega-drool worthy. And in reality, I'm a MF shooter 90% of the time. Last year I was the Jeremy Lin of the Beauty Pageant: Winning with a lowly Chrome M5.

 

[gdmcclintock]

I hope to make it and will bring the Weltur. I have been using it more lately. It's the first folder I ever used!

 

[finguanzo]

Wont be making this one.. take some pictures of the winner....

 

[rf1552]

I cant believe you guys are actually doing a camera beauty pagent.