agentlossing
Well-known
I thought it might be fun to copy a thread idea from over at Cameraderie. The idea is to go over what you currently own, what you like and don't like about it, and how you might change it. It's a way to put down one's thoughts about refining one's kit. Apologies if there is something like this already; I couldn't locate anything. This could function as a bit of a companion thread for the acquisitions thread.
I'll go first, and, if this thread lives, I'll no doubt look over my initial post sometime in the future and chuckle. For me at least, gear changes with time. Right now I have several analogue cameras and several digital ones. For film, I have a Petri Color 35 which doesn't see much use, a Pentax MX which shares lenses with a digital Pentax, and, most recently, a Lomo LC-A made in the beginning of the '90s. The Petri is a cool little camera, and a rare one, but I can't get used to the focus scale existing only in the viewfinder. I really prefer scale focusing to be possible before raising the camera to my eye. That's the way a rangefinder shooter would use scale focus, allowing for taking quick shots without taking the time to focus once the camera is at eye level (and the photographer is more conspicuous). I got used to doing that when I had a Voigtlander M-mount camera, and I definitely prefer it. It's a very cool little camera otherwise. I have, however, found that the meter is way off when using modern batteries with a slightly different voltage. I might give it a try with a Wein cell battery and see if the readings come out closer to accurate.
The MX is a very good small SLR. My model has a bit of a winding issue sometimes, however, where the film will get stuck while advancing. I've remedied it in the moment by rewinding the film partway, and then advancing it back to where it was, but this wastes film and/or risks accidental double exposures. My only other complaint is that the large viewfinder is a tad difficult to see entirely with glasses. That's a pretty common complaint for vintage cameras in general, however (and even some modern ones). I have considered picking up a more modern Pentax film SLR, perhaps an autofocus model, to utilize with my autofocus lenses. Still deciding what I might get. I also wouldn't pass up a very good deal on an LX. I hear the viewfinder is a little better. But I do like the small size.
The LC-A is a fun little camera. I'm used to having some control over my shutter speed, but the "lomo" part of the camera and its lens makes some accidental motion blur not the worst thing in the world. My version only goes up to the approximately ISO 400 setting in Soviet GOST, so it's unfortunately not for shooting film over that, which is really too bad as I think pushed HP5+ at 1600 would look pretty cool with this lens. I think I'll probably get used to shooting grainy ISO 400 film like Arista 400 in it a lot of the time and developing in Rodinal for a grainy, contrasty look. I really like Rodinal and Arista 100, but 100 speed film in the LC-A requires a sunny day for confident shooting. I think I'll keep using the LC-A for quite a long time, as long as it holds up.
On to digital. I shoot a Ricoh GRIIIx, an Olympus EM5 Mark II, and a Pentax K-1 Mark II. The Pentax is both the most expensive and the one I consider my most versatile system camera, while for the Olympus I keep a more minimal kit of small M4/3 primes. I have used M4/3 for quite a few years at this point and just can't quite rid myself of a small, capable body with a great little lens like the Panasonic 20mm f1.7, even though that's redundant with the excellent GRIIIx. I also feel like the EM5II is one of the very best build quality cameras Olympus made in the digital era. It's as solid as a brick but extremely compact. I only use mine on manual, and keep ISO at base unless I need to bump it up. This makes it rather like a film camera (I even use it with the LCD closed on itself). The GR is probably my most-used camera, and has been since the GRII that I started with back before the GRIII was released. It's the perfect run-and-gun camera when photography isn't the primary goal of the outing. IQ is excellent. I can't envision myself divested of the GR. It's a way of life.
Lastly, the K-1 II is a joy to use, with a beautiful 36mp FF sensor that is capable of amazing detail, color and dynamic range. Paired with great Pentax glass it's a fantastic experience when I can take the time to lug it around. It's heavy and a little large. But I think it'll continue to satisfy for years to come.
That's my gear currently! The Color 35 might move on sometime, and the MX might get replaced with a different Pentax. Ultimately I'd love to pare things down to a manageable 4 cameras: two film and two digital, one of each compact and the other full-featured system. But that would mean at present giving up the EM5II which I'm not ready to do. We'll see.
I don't keep a large camera collection. I like to restrict it to cameras and lenses that I actively use. This gives me more freedom to experiment and iterate on my gear choices, without amassing a large and costly collection, which I have neither the space nor the pocketbook for at present.
I'll go first, and, if this thread lives, I'll no doubt look over my initial post sometime in the future and chuckle. For me at least, gear changes with time. Right now I have several analogue cameras and several digital ones. For film, I have a Petri Color 35 which doesn't see much use, a Pentax MX which shares lenses with a digital Pentax, and, most recently, a Lomo LC-A made in the beginning of the '90s. The Petri is a cool little camera, and a rare one, but I can't get used to the focus scale existing only in the viewfinder. I really prefer scale focusing to be possible before raising the camera to my eye. That's the way a rangefinder shooter would use scale focus, allowing for taking quick shots without taking the time to focus once the camera is at eye level (and the photographer is more conspicuous). I got used to doing that when I had a Voigtlander M-mount camera, and I definitely prefer it. It's a very cool little camera otherwise. I have, however, found that the meter is way off when using modern batteries with a slightly different voltage. I might give it a try with a Wein cell battery and see if the readings come out closer to accurate.
The MX is a very good small SLR. My model has a bit of a winding issue sometimes, however, where the film will get stuck while advancing. I've remedied it in the moment by rewinding the film partway, and then advancing it back to where it was, but this wastes film and/or risks accidental double exposures. My only other complaint is that the large viewfinder is a tad difficult to see entirely with glasses. That's a pretty common complaint for vintage cameras in general, however (and even some modern ones). I have considered picking up a more modern Pentax film SLR, perhaps an autofocus model, to utilize with my autofocus lenses. Still deciding what I might get. I also wouldn't pass up a very good deal on an LX. I hear the viewfinder is a little better. But I do like the small size.
The LC-A is a fun little camera. I'm used to having some control over my shutter speed, but the "lomo" part of the camera and its lens makes some accidental motion blur not the worst thing in the world. My version only goes up to the approximately ISO 400 setting in Soviet GOST, so it's unfortunately not for shooting film over that, which is really too bad as I think pushed HP5+ at 1600 would look pretty cool with this lens. I think I'll probably get used to shooting grainy ISO 400 film like Arista 400 in it a lot of the time and developing in Rodinal for a grainy, contrasty look. I really like Rodinal and Arista 100, but 100 speed film in the LC-A requires a sunny day for confident shooting. I think I'll keep using the LC-A for quite a long time, as long as it holds up.
On to digital. I shoot a Ricoh GRIIIx, an Olympus EM5 Mark II, and a Pentax K-1 Mark II. The Pentax is both the most expensive and the one I consider my most versatile system camera, while for the Olympus I keep a more minimal kit of small M4/3 primes. I have used M4/3 for quite a few years at this point and just can't quite rid myself of a small, capable body with a great little lens like the Panasonic 20mm f1.7, even though that's redundant with the excellent GRIIIx. I also feel like the EM5II is one of the very best build quality cameras Olympus made in the digital era. It's as solid as a brick but extremely compact. I only use mine on manual, and keep ISO at base unless I need to bump it up. This makes it rather like a film camera (I even use it with the LCD closed on itself). The GR is probably my most-used camera, and has been since the GRII that I started with back before the GRIII was released. It's the perfect run-and-gun camera when photography isn't the primary goal of the outing. IQ is excellent. I can't envision myself divested of the GR. It's a way of life.
Lastly, the K-1 II is a joy to use, with a beautiful 36mp FF sensor that is capable of amazing detail, color and dynamic range. Paired with great Pentax glass it's a fantastic experience when I can take the time to lug it around. It's heavy and a little large. But I think it'll continue to satisfy for years to come.
That's my gear currently! The Color 35 might move on sometime, and the MX might get replaced with a different Pentax. Ultimately I'd love to pare things down to a manageable 4 cameras: two film and two digital, one of each compact and the other full-featured system. But that would mean at present giving up the EM5II which I'm not ready to do. We'll see.
I don't keep a large camera collection. I like to restrict it to cameras and lenses that I actively use. This gives me more freedom to experiment and iterate on my gear choices, without amassing a large and costly collection, which I have neither the space nor the pocketbook for at present.
