What have you just BOUGHT?

My mom had a Kodak Retina IIIc once upon a time. I always thought it was a great camera, and it was a joy to use the once in a while times she let me take it out. I wonder where it is now ... maybe one of my brothers has it still.

Anyway, I saw a Retina IIc on Ebay that looked just as nice and bought it on impulse. Rather have a IIc now than the IIIc ... that old selenium meter barely worked then! ...

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It is beautiful! Just dirty ... needs the shutter cleaned and lubricated and the viewfinder cleaned. Everything is there, all works, and even the original case came with it in excellent condition. I didn't want to go shooting with it and risk having the shutter jam and cause damage, so it's off to a shop for the cleaning and service first.

I look forward to using this camera! 🙂

G
 

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Not only have I fallen off the GAS wagon (that couldn't last), but I seem to have gone over to the Dark Side and purchased another electronic, automated camera. I got another Pentax 645 body and the 45-85 zoom; zooms are another manifestation of the Dark Side, as well. I've finally fallen off my mechanical camera "high horse" and joined all the folks enjoying electronic automation!
I like these cameras so much they may become my main shooters. The Hassie with the A16 backs is gathering dust, as well as the Leicas. Blasphemy.
What's the story with the Pentax? You can get a truly mint body with the 75mm lens for under $500.00! Truly the best-kept secret in medium format. Maybe it just doesn't have hipster appeal; Pentax never had the cachet of the Big Boys (Nikon, Canon, Hassie, Leica, etc.). Fine with me!
 
It was calling my name to come save it. Honest, it was. Local to me so I didn't have to pay shipping. A rather sad, grungy looking Minolta SR-T 101 with a nice looking, albeit dirty, 58mm f1.4 lens.
I call it my $27 experiment in saving an old camera and lens.
 
AlwaysOnAuto, your altruism is commendable. No doubt there are many more sad, grungy, lost cameras out there in need of your charity, calling, nay, pleading for your help! Don't let them cry out in vain!
 
Retro-Grouch said:
Not only have I fallen off the GAS wagon (that couldn't last), but I seem to have gone over to the Dark Side and purchased another electronic, automated camera. I got another Pentax 645 body and the 45-85 zoom; zooms are another manifestation of the Dark Side, as well. I've finally fallen off my mechanical camera "high horse" and joined all the folks enjoying electronic automation!
I like these cameras so much they may become my main shooters. The Hassie with the A16 backs is gathering dust, as well as the Leicas. Blasphemy.
What's the story with the Pentax? You can get a truly mint body with the 75mm lens for under $500.00! Truly the best-kept secret in medium format. Maybe it just doesn't have hipster appeal; Pentax never had the cachet of the Big Boys (Nikon, Canon, Hassie, Leica, etc.). Fine with me!
Click to expand...

LOL! If you haven't shot the 45-85 yet it is a *good* lens. The 150-300 is too, haven't tried the 80-160. For what is still an active lens mount the deals on glass are amazing.


And as predicted my Pentax 645 body is arriving tomorrow. In my defense, KEH was practically giving it away..... 🙂

Shawn
 
I just bought a generic version of the AR-1 soft release for the Nikon F. I hope it will help me deal with my increasing essential tremor.
 
Shawn, it only took you two weeks to succumb to the lure of the 645! I think you're going to like it. The ergonomics of the button controls is very well done, despite the 1980's funkiness of the design, and I adapted very quickly. Most importantly, the shutter and mirror are remarkably well-damped, and I can reliably hand hold the camera at 1/60. Try that with a Hassie! But let's just keep the 645 our little secret, OK?
 
shawn said:
LOL! If you haven't shot the 45-85 yet it is a *good* lens. The 150-300 is too, haven't tried the 80-160. For what is still an active lens mount the deals on glass are amazing.


And as predicted my Pentax 645 body is arriving tomorrow. In my defense, KEH was practically giving it away..... 🙂

Shawn
Click to expand...

I keep hearing about KEH giveaways. I've not had that experience but looking forward to it.
 
Retro-Grouch said:
Shawn, it only took you two weeks to succumb to the lure of the 645! I think you're going to like it. The ergonomics of the button controls is very well done, despite the 1980's funkiness of the design, and I adapted very quickly. Most importantly, the shutter and mirror are remarkably well-damped, and I can reliably hand hold the camera at 1/60. Try that with a Hassie! But let's just keep the 645 our little secret, OK?
Click to expand...

Yeah, at least I was good and held off on the 645N and 645NII that I found. Those were much more money of course. The control layout is a bit nicer on them and the film imprinting would be handy. My zooms and macro lens are AF but I am not sure I'd use it that much.

Glad to hear the button layout works, looking at the pics it makes sense but definitely has an 80s vibe. I kind of like that this guy went all in and went with a wood paneling (veneer) look on the pentax.

I'm really curious how the 35mm will be on it.

Shawn
 
Hap, the KEH give-aways are a matter of luck. For example, about a year ago, I purchased a 35 f/1.7 VC Ultron in LTM mount. It was listed as "bargain" at $300.00, but proved to be absolute mint, fresh-outta-the-box mint. Twenty years ago, when they were current, that's what they cost (according to an old and tattered B&H catalog), so I think I lucked! Why? Who knows! Someone checking in used equipment is maybe rushed, and isn't paying attention, and gives it a bargain rating, or something. The great thing about KEH is that, should you purchase something and it is in less than the rated condition, or has issues, they will immediately try to fix the situation or return your money with no hassle. Overall, great folks, if sometimes a bit erratic.
 
Ouch, wood veneer? Maybe I'll re-do one of mine in 60's style boomerang formica. Or a period-authentic repaint in avocado or harvest gold. Or has Leica copyrighted those already?
 
Retro-Grouch said:
…
I like these cameras so much they may become my main shooters. The Hassie with the A16 backs is gathering dust, as well as the Leicas. Blasphemy.
What's the story with the Pentax? You can get a truly mint body with the 75mm lens for under $500.00! Truly the best-kept secret in medium format. Maybe it just doesn't have hipster appeal; Pentax never had the cachet of the Big Boys (Nikon, Canon, Hassie, Leica, etc.). Fine with me!
Click to expand...

6x4.5 cm as an image size doesn’t appeal to everyone - for me, if I’m using 120 medium format, I want the 6x7 or 6x9cm image. The more limited 10 or 8 frames per roll is appealing to some as well - the 12 frames I get with 6x6 is often too many for my outings, so I’m left with extra frames that I have to use somewhere else.

But everyone’s different - I can see the appeal of a smaller, lighter, medium format camera that lets you have more shots when you go out with it.
 
Pál_K said:
6x4.5 cm as an image size doesn’t appeal to everyone - for me, if I’m using 120 medium format, I want the 6x7 or 6x9cm image. The more limited 10 or 8 frames per roll is appealing to some as well - the 12 frames I get with 6x6 is often too many for my outings, so I’m left with extra frames that I have to use somewhere else.

But everyone’s different - I can see the appeal of a smaller, lighter, medium format camera that lets you have more shots when you go out with it.
Click to expand...

The Pentax 645 will kind of cover the other end of the spectrum for me. I've been shooting 6x17 and getting 4 shots per roll with a fixed lens Kraken. The Pentax gives me interchangeable lenses (which I already had for digital) and 15 shots per roll.

Shawn
 
Medium format is perhaps too generic a term. For portraits, I love 6x6. But SLRs in that format are beasts. And the Hassie with a 645 back is still a beast. And a 6x7 or larger SLR is a tripod camera, to me.
In two weeks, I'm going up to Taos for our first getaway in 17 months. We'll be hiking Mt. Wheeler, at over 13,000 feet, the highest point in NM. A 6x7 or 6x9 camera would be great in theory, but I'll be taking the Pentax with the 55mm, the first time I've even considered bringing a medium format SLR on that sort of a hike. It's light, compact, and hand-holdable, the perfect compromise. And at this point, my tired old bones are willing to compromise a bit. Dying for one's art is a notion best embraced by 19th-century Romantics and naive art school students.
 
Retro-Grouch said:
AlwaysOnAuto, your altruism is commendable. No doubt there are many more sad, grungy, lost cameras out there in need of your charity, calling, nay, pleading for your help! Don't let them cry out in vain!
Click to expand...


I admit it. I'm a mechanical junky. Good thing I've got a LOT of self discipline or I'd be out on the street, homeless for sure and penniless no doubt.
 
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