Outta the closet...

[reagan]

"Boys?? Oh, I get it,..."

No offense intended. Please forgive. It's just my assumption that women folk can't have ugly cameras so probably wouldn't be interested in this thread. Even the Kodak.35 would be transformed to ehhh, acceptable, in the company of a ladyRFFer. *shucks - face turns red while he digs toe in dirt* Case in point - that Mamiya don't look that bad to me. At least there's no warty growths hanging off it's face.

Anyway, the Kodak.35 has it's first roll of film aboard so I'll see if it's function is as beautiful as it's form. 🙄 But I have to say, it is hands down the most uncomfortable camera I've ever handled. One roll, maybe two and it'll likely become a shelf-jockey beside the Flash Bantam.

 

[raftman]

No offense intended. Please forgive. It's just my assumption that women folk can't have ugly cameras so probably wouldn't be interested in this thread. Even the Kodak.35 would be transformed to ehhh, acceptable, in the company of a ladyRFFer. *shucks - face turns red while he digs toe in dirt* Case in point - that Mamiya don't look that bad to me. At least there's no warty growths hanging off it's face.

Anyway, the Kodak.35 has it's first roll of film aboard so I'll see if it's function is as beautiful as it's form. 🙄 But I have to say, it is hands down the most uncomfortable camera I've ever handled. One roll, maybe two and it'll likely become a shelf-jockey beside the Flash Bantam.

I can't wait to see it.

 

[dmr]

No offense intended. Please forgive.

Actually, it takes a lot to offend me. When anybody does it, they know it. 🙂 🙂 🙂

It's just my assumption that women folk can't have ugly cameras

Actually, a lot of women I know have digitals, you know, those things that are kind of like a silver kleenex pack with that lens growing out one side of the front (why can't they center that thing?) and all the teeny-tiny buttons that nobody knows what they do ... that, is what I call an ugly camera. 🙂 {ducking, running, looking for a place to hide, and hoping this doesn't get bleeped this time} 🙂

Case in point - that Mamiya don't look that bad to me.

I know, but I did a search and found the original thread, and this was actually one that turned up in a Google search back when I first discovered this place. It was dated 2003.

Now, I have a question for anyone -- why is the Mamiya Super Deluxe so expensive on eBoy? There have been several of them recently that went for (relatively) big bucks...

Mamiya Super Deluxe eBoy Auction

I have to admit, it reminds me of the Olympus 35-LC - very 'space age' like an old AM radio. Ugly - but now I'm starting to think that the stupid thing is actually attractive! Agh, I don't know what's wrong with me...

LOL! 🙂

 

[reagan]

"...digitals, you know, those things that are kind of like a silver kleenex pack with that lens growing out one side of the front (why can't they center that thing?) and all the teeny-tiny buttons that nobody knows what they do..."

double big ha! 😀 😀 And to use them, they must be held with just one hand at least 18 inches from your eye. If what I'm shooting with doesn't smush and bend my big nose to the left whilst focusing, I don't feel like I've got a real camera. (Next thread: Ugliest Picture-taking Face)

 

[rbiemer]

OK, since you asked...
This is my first attempt at recovering a camera. I had not been able to find Pilobond locally so this was a test of the glues I could find. One side was glued using one of the glues and the other side was the test of the other glue. The purple colored material was chosen because it is cheap. It's called "Foamies" and the fabric shop I got it from only had one sheet of black. Which I did not want to use until I get better at cutting. And I have since got Pilobond. The tape at the edges was to "clamp" them down while the glue dried.
Those of you with weak stomachs are advised to turn away!.
The camera is now naked and awaiting my re-painting tests.
Rob

 

[dazedgonebye]

I've actually looked at picking up one of those Kodaks.
If you follow today's fashions, you would not be far wrong to assume that ugly is the new pretty.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Boys??

are all gathered around the monitor pointing and giggling and I walk in and all of a sudden they close the browser and get this hear/see/speak no evil three-monkeys look. Right? 🙂 🙂 🙂

You're right..."giggling"...that doesn't sound like boys at all. 😉

 

[raftman]

I've actually looked at picking up one of those Kodaks.
If you follow today's fashions, you would not be far wrong to assume that ugly is the new pretty.

Definitely, but there's a fashion vs. function balance that needs to maintained, no?

 

[dmr]

You're right..."giggling"...that doesn't sound like boys at all. 😉

Oh, guys do giggle! No question about that!

You'll never mistake the sound of a frat party for that of a hen party, but certain things, such as parts of the female anatomy, can turn a group of grown men into giggling schoolboys in only a few seconds. 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[reagan]

Update on ugly ---

I can't wait to see it.

Well here is the only picture I'll ever post from the Kodak.35. And a crappy picture it is and I don't even care. This camera was soooo difficult to use, I couldn't even finish a roll of film. I took about 8 shots out in the woods, jerked the film out of it and permanently nailed the camera to the shelf. I couldn't find a single thing on the camera that was comfortable or easy to use.

~ You can't just wind the film - you have to push a button first. 🙄
~ You have to mash your eyeball INTO the tiny.tiny.tiny RF to see through it. 😎
~ Focus using a wheel that has ... TEETH! (I actually found it easier to reach under the lens with my left hand to focus.) 🙁
~ Once all is set, (and a Band-Aid has been applied to your focusing finger) it's absolutely impossible to find the shutter release without taking the camera away from your eye, putting your bandaged finger on the trigger and then re-composing the shot. 😡​

I bought the K.35 because it was cute-ugly (and cheeeap, thank God). But as long as I have ANYthing else to take pictures with, it will be used as a paper-weight and conversation piece only. 🙂

 

[varjag]

My other issue with it is that it has no built in light meter, and the exposure counter wasn't very nice either.

While agreeing that it looks quite ugly, I would mention that most of the cameras from that era had no light meters. And those who had were not coupled, which makes on-camera meter of quesionable value.

 

[raftman]

While agreeing that it looks quite ugly, I would mention that most of the cameras from that era had no light meters. And those who had were not coupled, which makes on-camera meter of quesionable value.

You're right, but I pointed that out as a shortcoming of the camera not necessarily in relation to other cameras of the time, but in relation other cameras that I own.

 

[raftman]

Update on ugly --- Well here is the only picture I'll ever post from the Kodak.35. And a crappy picture it is and I don't even care. This camera was soooo difficult to use, I couldn't even finish a roll of film. I took about 8 shots out in the woods, jerked the film out of it and permanently nailed the camera to the shelf. I couldn't find a single thing on the camera that was comfortable or easy to use.

~ You can't just wind the film - you have to push a button first. 🙄
~ You have to mash your eyeball INTO the tiny.tiny.tiny RF to see through it. 😎
~ Focus using a wheel that has ... TEETH! (I actually found it easier to reach under the lens with my left hand to focus.) 🙁
~ Once all is set, (and a Band-Aid has been applied to your focusing finger) it's absolutely impossible to find the shutter release without taking the camera away from your eye, putting your bandaged finger on the trigger and then re-composing the shot. 😡​

I bought the K.35 because it was cute-ugly (and cheeeap, thank God). But as long as I have ANYthing else to take pictures with, it will be used as a paper-weight and conversation piece only. 🙂

Actually, your pic from it looks better than my pics with the same camera came out. I also took it to a wooded area.

 

[reagan]

"...I also took it to a wooded area."

LOL!! I guess "the woods" is the safest place to go walkin' with ugly on your shoulder. 😱 Glad you enjoyed the outing. Thanks for sharing the pics... I do find your shots more interesting.

 

[raftman]

Part of the crappiness can probably be blamed on the film and the fact that I was going off intuition as my light meter. But even with better film, and more proper exposure, the results are very unimpressive. As seen with this pic of a backyard meat-smoker thing.