"it's just the sound of history repeating..."

I started out learning how to develop film in the basement darkroom with my dad back in the 1950s. When I got my first 35mm camera (an Ansco Super Memar that I still have) I thought that was about the neatest thing ever. Up to 36 photos without reloading ---WOW!
In the '60s and '70s photography helped put food on the table.

When I got back into photography after a 20 plus year absence it was to take pictures of my daughter's wedding so I found equipment I was familiar with -- Nikons from the 1970s. Then I stumbled across the Russian Leica clones and thought boy -- it would be neat to have some momentos from a society that no longer exists. But then I started thinking of the Mamiya TLR I once owned and had to have one of them. Then I remembered the Koni Omega I once used to shoot a rodeo and had to have one of them. Then ......

I like the mechanical cameras because they are unsophisticated enough that they make you stop and think a little before you shoot. I like the feel of the metal and the leather or vulcanite coverings. I like the the heft of mechanical cameras. I like the idea that I am using a 50-year-old "precision instrument" rather than a plastic box filled with computer chips that is designed to be obsolete in 18 months.

I. . . .well. . . if you are reading this you probably already understand. It doesn't need to be explained.

And one other thing. Here's to my partner in life of 38 years who almost never says a critical work about my affliction -- probably figuring there are many obsessions that would be a lot worse!
 
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kiev4a said:
And one other thing. Here's to my partner in life of 38 years who almost never says a critical work about my affliction -- probably figuring there are many obsessions that would be a lot worse!
LOL! Yes, cheers to the spouses/partners who tolerate us! 😀

Gene
 
For me it is the 1930's, photos, photography the hole 9 yards . I have always been into periods, 30's 40's and 50's and go into them hole hog... But photography is definitly the 30's... That reason I buy uncoated lens and also the reason I am insearch of Ortho film.
period stuff. i love it.. sometimes when I have the time If you took a photo of me taking a photo you could not date it.. I love that. aaaaahhhhh romance.
 
"Sound of history repeating.."

"Sound of history repeating.."

Style, price and the challenge. Many of the photographers I admire started or shot at some point with rangefinders. Seeing the great images they got using such an advanced camera (ha ha, it's true from a certain standpoint), I decided I'd better try to emulate. But how?

First there was the Canonet. Inexpensive, had a door on the back, a great lens, small, quiet, and not a big loss if I dropped it (which I have).

Then the Contax G1. Contax just to be different, and because I still could not afford a Leica.

oh, if only I could get medium format too...so then came the Zeiss Super Ikonta. And the reactions I got from people when I popped open the lens was pleasure enough. It opened a lot of doors.

re: challenge- With an RF I just had to get faster manually and learn sunny sixteen (and low light) to obtain likeable images. Still working on it, naturally....but being battery free is a prime advantage over most SLR.

Chris
canonetc
 
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