Perverse pleasures

I've had a loving relationship with the Exakta camera since 1956 and recently found a great Steinheil 35 mm lens that is perfect for it. What a great combo. It is a great go to camera for me anytime. I take several readings on a shoot and shoot away till I'm done with the roll. I am always amazed at the results I get. I really don't have any cameras that i can't get on with except maybe way back in high school trying to use the Argus C3.
 
Not a camera, but mine is the Norman 200b flash unit. The battery pack is a heavy hunk of metal to throw over one's shoulder (I can't wear it on my waist without it dropping my pants). And, I often use it with the 8-inch tele reflector that doubles as a sail if the wind is over 10 miles an hour.

But there's something to be said for "instant sun."
 
Flash? Strobe Equipment 5000 pack with an SWP. HUGE and potentially deadly: that was the big flash when I was an assistant. And yet I'd still like one...

Cheers,

R.
 
It would have to be Exaktas, definitely. I've been using them since I was 12, and once you find a good one, they can deliver beautiful imagery (plus, it's a great camera for us 'lefties'). That said, the most difficult thing is finding a good example of an Exakta - usually the shutters are all messed up in one way or another. Fortunately, I have two really good Exakta VX Version 1's, a great Exakta II Version 1, and a couple of nice Kine Exakta Version 4's that will hopefully be nice very soon. I've also learned to stay away from certain models - like the VX1000.

The other great thing about these cameras is the variety and quality of lenses available. Zeiss, Steinheil, Schneider, Angenieux, Meyer -- all fantastic quality.

A couple of years ago, my wife and I had the good fortune to visit Dresden. It was a great feeling to bring my Exakta II there and take photos!
 
Last edited:
I knw I answered already and complined about the difficulty of shooting 4x5. Well, I've gotten lazier in the last couple of months, and now I will complain about my meterless Leica. An M4-P to be exact. I hatespending the time metering, especially when my shot is raidly deteriorating. So often I just shoot, making up some combination of f-stop and shutter speed as I aim, then focussing if I think about it, and finally pushing the button.

Man! I've analysed the last dozen rolls I've shot and I am barely hitting a quarter of my shots as far as printable/keeper status goes. When I meter, I often get an entire roll of good ones. so I'm a bit discouraged right now.

I hae entered a competitive shoot-off, and am using a metered slr body because I want to enter the contact sheet.

ps, I have a Gossen Luna Pro, but I want something smaller and more convenient. I'm considering the Gossen digisix, a couple of small sekonics, and a CV meter.

Any suggestions?
 
Definitely my first film camera (don't laugh) the Lomo LC-A. I picked one up that was made the same year as me, and haven't been the same since. Though now, I'm lucky if I can get through a roll without it chewing the film... poor thing.

Anyone know a place that will service them?
 
Chris101 said:
ps, I have a Gossen Luna Pro, but I want something smaller and more convenient. I'm considering the Gossen digisix, a couple of small sekonics, and a CV meter.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Not that easy, all the tiny meters have their flaws. The Digisix is spot on incident and reflected, but I find it almost unusable with its clumsy EV readout and manual transfer to the smallest and least visible of its scales - not suitable for people with glasses...

The CV meter is more comfortable but can't do incident, lacks tactile directional cues which makes it a puzzler when used off camera (I never knew whether it was pointing forward without looking at it), and its short value hold period is a bit of a pain on a meter with such a relatively loose wheel.

And the Seconic Twinmate, while easily the best small incident meter, has a highly random readout on reflected metering of high-contrast sceneries - lights or even sky may set it off by three or more stops. Use incident or at close distance with a grey card...
 
Chris101 said:
I knw I answered already and complined about the difficulty of shooting 4x5. Well, I've gotten lazier in the last couple of months, and now I will complain about my meterless Leica. An M4-P to be exact. I hatespending the time metering, especially when my shot is raidly deteriorating. So often I just shoot, making up some combination of f-stop and shutter speed as I aim, then focussing if I think about it, and finally pushing the button.

Man! I've analysed the last dozen rolls I've shot and I am barely hitting a quarter of my shots as far as printable/keeper status goes. When I meter, I often get an entire roll of good ones. so I'm a bit discouraged right now.

I hae entered a competitive shoot-off, and am using a metered slr body because I want to enter the contact sheet.

ps, I have a Gossen Luna Pro, but I want something smaller and more convenient. I'm considering the Gossen digisix, a couple of small sekonics, and a CV meter.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

What about an MR-4 meter? That would sit atop your camera body, and you can make relatively quick readings with that. Use one reading as your base, then as you move from there to a brighter or darker lighting situation, adjust accordingly. Just bring up your 90mm frame finder, push the button on the side of the meter, read it, set it, go.

Another suggestion might be to just train yourself to remember lighting situations better. When I'm shooting film, it's usually 400 speed (whether colour or b+w), and just from using it for so many years, have gotten to know within about 1/2 stop what the exposure should be for a given situation. I'm sure you've probably been shooting for a long time too, but perhaps (if you haven't already done so) just stick to using one particular film. It will probably come to you quicker than you think. And I don't think it's necessarily something that someone can train you to do - probably about as easy as trying to teach someone how to colour balance!
 
Last edited:
The little Zenit 1 or S - all the disdvantages of a Leica II , plus really awkward focusing / slow non auto lenses , non instant return mirror - progress ? But it has something .

Probably my awaited Praktina , 1950s beast , but it may turn out OK to use .
 
I have two (dont ask why) Voigtlander Prominent's, one with the Nokton 50f1.5 and the other with a Color Skopar 50f3.5.
The cameras are heavy, really heavy. the focus is weird (to put it mildly) - the action is slow and the advance is rather stiff! In short a good candidate for ergonomic disasters. However the lenses, in particular the 50f1.5 are gorgeous picture makers.
I have solved the problem, through the help of Stephen at CQ, by getting the somewhat elusive (though still in stock!) adapter from Prominent to Nikon Rf ,and with an Orion style adapter and a screw to M adapter. it can also be used with a MP!!!! Now. what to do with two Prominents without lenses? Oh well, more paperweights.
 
GoneSavage said:
Definitely my first film camera (don't laugh) the Lomo LC-A. I picked one up that was made the same year as me, and haven't been the same since. Though now, I'm lucky if I can get through a roll without it chewing the film... poor thing.

Anyone know a place that will service them?
Click to expand...

I've had good luck with LeZot Camera Repair in Vermont:

http://www.lezot.com/servlet/StoreFront

I've had a lot of fun with my LC-A, but they are finicky little things!

185447175_9e780cef8c.jpg
 
I enjoy my Contax I despite the damage winding on does to my fingers and the unceratanty of the frame spacing on the film.. It has become my peverse pleasure and the Visoflex kit has been relegated to a box.

When my enthusiasm for the Contax wanes I may consider moving to a Super Nettel which is almost functional. On this camera there is virtually no second image in the rangefinder and inside the Tessar looks truly unpleasant...but I am sure some misty image will be produced.
 
My Nikon Digital Camera.

picture.php


Heavier than the F2+MD-1+MB-1+DS-1

But the Battery Pack holds a charge after 11 years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom