Australia/New Zealand RFF camera round Australia and NZ

[stillshunter]

Ahhh, Loaded some film into the reels just now, only to find the recent heatwave has had a detrimental effect on my thermometer…
It'll have to wait till next weekend now.

Michael

You are a better man than I Michael. I just develop a standard time in the laundry whatever the temperature. I did start with the best of intentions - adjusting development times within the 20-24 degree range. But I found Perceptol is pretty forgiving…though I think the box time of 17.5 minute helps 😱

 

[michaelwj]

@ Michael: love to hear and see more! How many of the 20,000 did you put through the M6…also any chance of seeing a photo of your constant companion?

I haven't put many through it, probably about 30 in 12 months. I bought it off a wedding photog who bought it new in 1991, and used it at every wedding with an M4-P until 2012 when he swapped to M9's. He reckoned he did 50 weddings a year, makes about 1000 weddings and a LOT of film… The upside is it had regular servicing and stills works like a charm.
Its the camera in my avatar. My only one.

Michael

 

[michaelwj]

Michael - great to meet you over the 4 coffees and table full of RFs. I'm pretty sure the baristas had a "geek alert" out on our table ;-)

What, 2 strapping young lads like us?! Major geek alert!

I was quite impacted by your pure and focused approach to gear and photography. That came through in the images you showed me and your obvious depth of knowledge of the M6 and its ergonomics. Your M6 has the best patina I've ever seen - 20,000 rolls what a great camera! Looking forward to what you bring out of the Fed, and a future shooting trip.

It's not for everyone, but I suppose the approach to photography stems from the approach to gear, but I don't know. If you only use one camera/lens, then you obviously get to know it, especially what it can't do. You miss plenty of shots because of all sorts of reasons, like no tele or ultra wide, but then again, that lens would have probably been at home anyway (which would really sting). Once you know what you can do, you sort of let go of what you can't and don't try, so you end up with a "pure and focused" approach I suppose.

Like I said on the weekend, I'm thinking about moving to a two lens setup, but then again I might have changed my mind by the time I've saved up the cash. I doubt I'll end up with a collection like your though, WOW! It was fantastic to hold and peer through such a variety of RFs, I think it cured my camera body lust (apart from wanting an M6TTL Millennium or MP3 of course...).

In the end, its just a hobby, and a hobby can be all sorts of things to all sorts of people. I just like things to be simple so I don't have to think about it.

We'll definitely have to head out shooting, maybe an RFF Melbourne meet up before the end of daylight savings?

Michael

 

[Scrambler]

Michael, lovely images. I'm also impressed that you found a virtue in the viewfinder! I'd certainly never thought of it that way 🙂

 

[michaelwj]

Michael, lovely images. I'm also impressed that you found a virtue in the viewfinder! I'd certainly never thought of it that way 🙂

Thanks. Ha, virtue might be too strong a word! It does make you think a little more though.

 

[Murray Kelly]

I keep the diopter adjuster on the finder in the right place with a tiny blob of hot glue. Easily removed should I ever wish to do so.

 

[hugivza]

Hopefully I will be back in Perth before the end of the year (currently in Singapore), and can participate on the basis that it makes it across the Nulla. I gave my Fed 2, and 3 and various Zorkis, to the local university photo club where they are in good use. Enjoy!

 

[stillshunter]

An update of sorts from me.

The Fed-2 experience had quite an impact on me. So much so it made me reevaluate my film camera preferences. Long story short, I am now the proud owner of a Leica IIIf-RD with 'Cron (collapsible). I feel sort of Zen with it in hand and I've not had that feeling from any other camera in my history so far.

I'd never have considered Barnacks if the Fed hadn't entered my life - and that is wholly the fault of you mob! 😉

Thank you all. I'm a very happy camper

 

[michaelwj]

Just a quick shot of John at out coffee camera geek FED hand over catch-up. Shot with my M6 and Johns CV15/4,5. In hindsight, I should have waited till we had the geekery display in full force on the table!



Michael

 

[Keith]

An update of sorts from me.

The Fed-2 experience had quite an impact on me. So much so it made me reevaluate my film camera preferences. Long story short, I am now the proud owner of a Leica IIIf-RD with 'Cron (collapsible). I feel sort of Zen with it in hand and I've not had that feeling from any other camera in my history so far.

I'd never have considered Barnacks if the Fed hadn't entered my life - and that is wholly the fault of you mob! 😉

Thank you all. I'm a very happy camper

Those Russians are very persuasive ... glad you benifited from the experience. 🙂

 

[stillshunter]

Those Russians are very persuasive ... glad you benifited from the experience. 🙂

Hmm yes they are, funny I thought it was always down to their threats of the Gulag but somehow charm prevailed. 😉

 

[Lax Jought]

Is it too late to count me in? I'm in Melbourne.

 

[sinisaostojic]

Can we please have the list in the initial post updated, so to see where the camera is, how many hands has it exchanged and add any other people that are interested.

 

[jmilkins]

The Fabulous Fed is with milosdevino - Melbourne at the moment I imagine having arrived from me last Tuesday.

I enjoyed the camera - a solid wee beastie. Poor effort fromme to only get a roll through. And not the 400 asa I intended as it was too bright. Time to try to remember how to dev fp4+ - bit nervous as I have one chance to get it right....

 

[stillshunter]

Time to try to remember how to dev fp4+ - bit nervous as I have one chance to get it right....

Fuuny coz this, to me, is what's so damn cool about film (amongst a few other things 😉). If you nail an image in the face of all the randomness you feel on top of a peak ten times taller than Kosciuszko 😀

 

[jmilkins]

Fuuny coz this, to me, is what's so damn cool about film (amongst a few other things 😉). If you nail an image in the face of all the randomness you feel on top of a peak ten times taller than Kosciuszko 😀

Yep - agree totally- and if it is on a fully manual camera as tactile as your new one or the Fed all the better.

 

[batey_1020]

Hey guys, My apologies for not being involved recently. Life has gotten in the way.
Ill get around to updating the list and going through all the replies to get the order right in my lunch break today.

Its fantastic to see this camera still moving as at the beginning i wasn't sure if we would even get off the ground. Good work to you all who have participated in it. I should really develop my roll. think ill drop it at a lab since im flat out busy still.

 

[stillshunter]

Hey guys, My apologies for not being involved recently. Life has gotten in the way.
Ill get around to updating the list and going through all the replies to get the order right in my lunch break today.

Its fantastic to see this camera still moving as at the beginning i wasn't sure if we would even get off the ground. Good work to you all who have participated in it. I should really develop my roll. think ill drop it at a lab since im flat out busy still.

Mate please don't apologise without you and Scrambler this thing wouldn't be happening. What film did you shoot? coz if it's B+W one of us might be able to help out…

 

[Scrambler]

Hey guys, My apologies for not being involved recently. Life has gotten in the way.
Ill get around to updating the list and going through all the replies to get the order right in my lunch break today.

Its fantastic to see this camera still moving as at the beginning i wasn't sure if we would even get off the ground. Good work to you all who have participated in it. I should really develop my roll. think ill drop it at a lab since im flat out busy still.

Adrian, it's been a great exercise. We are 3/4 of the way through (give or take, if others get added), it's rarely been more than a fortnight between handovers and the photos are amazing.

And it seems to have had a good effect on people, shaking up their routine or confirming their existing choice of camera.

After the rather "downer" advice from our American friends based on their difficulties in (1) getting the camera passed on and (2) getting photos uploaded, I think we've done pretty good so far.

And while your photos are still on the way, you have had more work than anyone getting things going and keeping it going. So I think you have earned your "rest." ;-)

 

[stillshunter]

And it seems to have had a good effect on people, shaking up their routine or confirming their existing choice of camera.

….or have changed their photographic direction entirely and now mainly tote an LTM - in my case the Leica IIIf.

None of this would have happened without you two fellas and the "Littlest Hobo" aka Fed-2.

Again Adrian the offer's out there mate if you have B+W to process then mail it my way and I'll have it back to you within the week.