Kodak Medalist street photography

[monemmer]

I carried my Kodak Medalist around Santa Fe, NM, the other day and attempted some street photography. That camera is not exactly what you would call a street photographer's dream, but one of the images turned out o.k.



(click the image for the flickr image page)

- Markus

 

[bmattock]

Curious to know in what way the Medalist doesn't cut it as a 'street camera'. Not an attack, I'd actually like to know. Always wanted a Medalist, never had one.

 

[monemmer]

The thing is pretty heavy and also fairly hard to focus because the rangefinder is really small and not really integrated into the finder (you have to peer down a bit to look through a really small window below the finder). The shutter release is typically very stiff, too, so to avoid camera shake you have to put the right thumb on the bottom of the camera and then squeeze the shutter button with the index finger (it is about as awkward as it sounds).

 

[bmattock]

Good to know, thanks!

 

[Blake Werts]

Medalist II side-by-side with a Fed2

Medalist II side-by-side with a Fed2

This thing is quite a chunk of metal. Check out these side-by-side shots of the Medalist II and a Fed2. The Fed2 weighs 643 grams and the Medalist II comes in at 1336 grams. ;-)

<sorry for the crappy digital shots...>
- Blake

 

[mbisc]

This thing is quite a chunk of metal.

Yeah, but look at the size of the negative....😀

 

[kuzano]

very "oafish" camera...

very "oafish" camera...

being a Kodak, you have to find, or respool, 120 film. 120 rollers don't fit easily. It's a real tank, as in heavy, and clumsy to hold, focus and shoot. It's claim to fame is the excellent lens and the fact that it garnered a contract to be the press camera for the U.S. Navy. Creates a big 6X9 image.

I really like mine, but am getting too frail to pick it up and hold it to my eyes to focus.

However, respooling the film fills the long, empty evenings (I don't have cable television, nor family or pets).

I encourage

 

[Andrew Howes]

I have been wanting one for a while too. The main thing that has held me back is that I know i would want to use it often and lots, but the respooling would drive me nuts in a hurry.
still on my wishlist, nice camera, a very useable 6x9.

 

[JustPlainBill]

Hi Andrew,
Every month in Shutterbug, Photography on Bald Mountain advertizes Medalist 120 conversion. Ken Ruth lists his phone nember as 831 423 4465. Hope this information will help you. Cheers
JustPlainBill

 

[Andrew Howes]

Thanks Bill!

 

[furcafe]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72832