Downunder, good to see you back at RFF. Camera Exchange is still going. They moved out of their city shop several years ago (over10 years I think) to an industrial unit in Box Hill. It's much harder to get to without a car, so I never go, but they have a website.
Yes, it's good to be here again. I needed time away, and maybe RFF needed time away from me. Ditto with my photography, for most of this year I've taken maybe two thousand images (I hope, a few worth keeping!), most unlike my usual spray/pray approach.
Thanks for the update on the Camera Exchange. I dealt mostly with them in their city days. Box Hill is a little too far for me (a non-driver) to be easily commutable.
Is Dave Shaw still there? After Derek left (this goes back many years, to the good old Melbourne CBD shop days) Dave was the only staffer I would deal with. Do you recall Roger, now sadly deceased, who predated everybody in the place other than the owner? Always pleasant, he knew zilch about cameras but always asked someone who did for advice, and he gave me ten percent off everything I bought. All good traits. Ah, nostalgia.
To return to the Westons, over the years I've found that the needles stick (an age-related issue) and a very light tap suffices to get them moving again. Not a hard bash, and never drop them on the floor (as we have do), which can do fatal damage to their sensitive innards.
Of my collection, the most accurate is the II, dating to circa 1950. My two Vs read - 1/3 stop under, okay for color slides but not so good for negative films. It also helps to remember that most Westons (not the Vs) had their own ISO film speeds, which differed from the manufacturers' recommended ones.The brochures usually included a list of Weston speeds for the most popular films of the time. Using Kodak Panatomic-X at ISO 20-25 was rather a chore...
The Invercone was (and for me still is) a useful tool, but one needs practice with it. Once mastered, it works truly well.
Not to be overlooked is the sheer pleasure of the Weston ergonomics, somehow they feel right in the hand and they look good round one's neck. 1930s technology at its finest, an ideal accessory with a Rolleiflex TLR, a Barnack LTM or an old Contax.
The 650 I've never seen, but if I ever find one in good nick I will buy it, if only for display.
A recent test of my Westons showed all still reasonably accurate, at most a third stop under. The II (my oldest) is the best, then the III, finally the Vs. Somewhere I think I have a Euro-Master (or maybe I loaned it, or gave it away, I've forgotten). Or it's in a box in the garage. Or under a bed. Whatever.
All this to remind us that even 80-90 year old photo old gear is still well worth acquiring and using. Will my Nikon D90, D700 and D800 ever attain such a venerable age...
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