New vintage rangefinder

[jl-lb.ms]

Greetings, all. My recent reinvigoration in photography was in the digital realm primarily, but I just started playing with film and vintage cameras. I just acquired a Zeiss Contessa, with unsure expectations. Shot a roll of Kodak BW C-41 yesterday, using metering from my Nikon D70. The results were surprisingly good compared to my low expectations. I'm attaching links to a few of the better shots. These were scanned from the prints.

Comments appreciated.

Best Regards,
John

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4185783
http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4185779
http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4185775

 

[rover]

The photo of the boardwalk is very well done. It looks like you have a nice Contessa on your hands.

 

[OldNick]

John - Very nice images from the Contessa. The cemetery images seem appropriate to that area of Mississippi after Katrina. I have a couple of old acquaintances in the area and have wondered what life is like there now.
Jim N.

 

[jl-lb.ms]

Nick, life is grim for many in South Mississippi. Please pass this message to any who will listen. I am one of the lucky ones, having sustained only relatively minor damage to my home. Many others lost their home and every possession they owned, only to be told that they would receive no compensation from their insurance companies because they did not have a flood rider - even if their agent had told them that they did not need it. Congress has done much to help, but we are far from being made whole. Please do not forget about us here.

Thank you,

John Lever
Long Beach, MS

 

[captainslack]

Sorry to hear about your situation in MS, John. It just furthers my opinion that insurance is legalized robbery. And I worked for an insurance company once, so I know of what I speak.

Which version of the Contessa do you have? I was lucky enough to get to use my father-in-law's once. He had the first version, which was the folding kind. It had by far the sharpest lens I've ever used and that includes my Leitz Elmar 3.5.

 

[jl-lb.ms]

this Contessa is the same type that is profiled at http://www.cameraquest.com/contessa.htm

It was an ebay purchase that turned out not to be a dud.

thanks,

John

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Yeah, I have lusted after the Contessa myself (pun intended). More thana Contax II. I have discovered I have a minor obsession withanachronistic cameras.

Bob H