|
Post by aceroadholder on Dec 19, 2009 21:22:46 GMT -5
Peter, we do have to give up the old things and move on with the modern world. Why only yesterday, the veterinarian told me that I'd better be looking for a new team of mules to pull the wagon that carries all my wet plate camera gear. My friends keep telling me to give it up and leap ahead technologically... but I don't think that new fangled paper backed roll film is all it's cracked up to be.
Merry Christmas to all, Orlin in SC/USA
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Nov 25, 2009 23:47:49 GMT -5
Mickey, I have reached that unfortunate age where I can see that my wonderful ideas would be financial investment black holes!
The really sad part is that if I had more energy and/or didn't have to work till my dying day (thank you Wall Street & Washington D.C.) I have the skills and workshop to build such a camera... getting the film pack would be a chore.. but perhaps test film could be made from available instant film. I think Fuji would be anxious for a new outlet for their film.
The reality though is that making any film product of any kind these days is a daunting task.
Orlin in SC/USA
ps: "... well then it couldn't possibly be a good idea!"... Groucho Marx, 'Animal Crackers' ca.1932
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Nov 24, 2009 22:06:38 GMT -5
It seems pricey. If you could make 3" x 4" (75mm x 100mm) prints for 75 cents (US) a shot... and had a decent piece of glass in front of it.. now that would be the hit of the party. Wait.... I actually know how to use a camera... it couldn't possibly be a good idea. Well, you could put a three position control switch on the beastie... Off, Manual, and Stupid. If I were King of the World of Instant Photography... I'd make a folder with a good lens and shutter... then a dry cell operated light meter with an EV scale.. then an EV scale with the speed and f-stop on the lens.. and a range finder. Then instead of snapshots you could take photographs.... naaaaah.. it would never sell.
Orlin inSC/USA
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Nov 18, 2009 21:02:49 GMT -5
Did you notice that the camera is mainly intended for the Japanese home market... all the adjustments are in Japanese.
If you look at the sample pictures with the magnifier, note that the ship pictured is Japan's new aircraft carrier.
Would be fun to have one... but the white plastic is a bit much... Italian Ferrari red would have been better!
Orlin in SC/USA
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Nov 15, 2009 12:27:33 GMT -5
Kat, I liked your pictures from the airshow. I leave my 7s on auto most of the time as well at an event. You have to keep in mind that the meter is averaging the entire scene and when there is lots of sky or the subject is shaded, the auto exposure will leave your subject underexposed. Here is an example of this situation. My friend was sitting under a canopy with a bright background. I held my hand in front of the camera and got the EV number from the meter, put the camera on manual and picked an f-stop and speed combination that gave that EV on the scale. Another helpful dodge is when out on a bright sunny day, leave the camera on auto and set the focus to infinity and shoot away.. really helpful at an outdoor event where you need to shoot quickly to capture the moment... you get 2 shots whilst your friends p&s digital is deciding what to do!
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Oct 30, 2009 16:34:25 GMT -5
Kat, just saw this post... don't bother switching the meter off on your 7s. Just put the lens cap on. The 1.4 volt battery I use lasts just as long by doing that as it does switching the meter off manually. You're right about the ASA selector and on/off switch being made in one unit being a nuisance, but putting the lens cap on makes the problem go away.
If you look at the sensor lens above the taking lens and adjust the ASA setting, you can see how clever the design of the light meter is.
The Rokkor lens on the 7s is a wonderful piece of glass... one of my favorite cameras.
Orlin in SC/USA
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Oct 24, 2009 18:10:06 GMT -5
I was at Camera's Unlimited here in Greeville, South Carolina this afternoon discussing this and the owner pointed out that he has Fuji instant film in stock.. I asked him if he sells any and he said yes, "That's the reason I stock it."
Admittedly, any photographic business not digital and without a manufacturing base in China is going to have a very difficult time surviving... I guess that explains why, last week, the Fuji film plant in Greenwood SC announced it is adding 50 employees??
I hope that instant film and negative film will be able to find a market stabilized point so that continued production will be a long term viable proposition.
Orlin in SC
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Oct 20, 2009 21:39:14 GMT -5
Mickey, what size prints does your digital camera make when you take a photograph..... oh wait, is there a digital camera that can do that? Seriously, there is a small market for instant photography. For legal uses and any situation or business where you need a photo right now. Instant photography has never been cheap, but it does something nothing else does.. and the question becomes, are enough people willing to pay for that. Instant photography isn't in competition with your DSLR...never was in competition with your SLR (or good rangefinder) either. What these guys need is to interest the cell phone crowd... If they can, they may have a chance... The technology and machinery are in hand and bought for almost nothing... just have to make film for the millions of Polaroid cameras and the new Nikon IFD-20 instant film/digital camera.
Orlin in SC/USA
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on May 3, 2009 16:57:54 GMT -5
Do you think that it is Cosina built? The outside of the camera doesn't appear to be up to Cosina build standard. A Chi-com copy perhaps?
Orin in SC/USA
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Sept 28, 2008 21:14:01 GMT -5
Ron, the Argus Prismat mount is unique to this camera. The mount is different to the Exata. I have an adapter for my Argus Prismat and have made the drawing to make a few for those that need them (all I need now is some free time.. maybe after Christmas).
The Argus Prismat bayonet is large and has a 1.0 mm shorter film plane distance than the M42. Any number of adapters are possible for this camera. The only problem with that is that all the people in the world who still use this camera could fit in my living room!
As may be seen from the Casual Collector web site, the Argus 250 is a very pleasing camera to look at, even with the clip-on light meter attached. The typically good Mamiya optics enable the camera to take very good photographs.
Orlin in SC/USA
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Sept 26, 2008 21:49:51 GMT -5
Bob, don't know about anybody else, but I wasn't ignoring you. I am sympathetic to your problem.
I would be afraid to download anything from AOL. AOL software worms its way into every nook and cranny on the hard drive and is a b**ch to get rid of.
I would agree with the recommendation to get another ISP. I ran with Netscape/wal-mart till recently when I was finally able to get a DSL line. They have the discs at their stores and it sets up in a couple of minutes... and it doesn't infect your computer with crap that gums everything up. The only time I had a problem was when Micro Soft updated my software and it had a compatibility issue with Netscape (I've turned the MS auto updates off to stop that sort of thing).. I was given the work-around by Netscape over the phone so I could use the internet for the week or so it took to fix their software.
Orlin in SC/USA
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Sept 18, 2008 18:56:29 GMT -5
I think film will reach it's stable level in 5 years. There are a lot of film users around like me who shoot a roll every 2 or 3 weeks with cameras that cost less than the sales tax on the newest DSLR.. and whose images are just as good as a DSLR (I know the newest DSLR's have lots of bells and whistles.. but nothing you can't live without). I can do my on B&W and can wait a week for good color film developing. Things are no worse than they were 50 years ago.
It should be noted that cassette tape production has stabilized to meet it's niche market of audio books (you might have to look to find a tape player.. but of course you get one a new Lexus automobile). Vinyl LP record sales have gone UP in the last two years.. the local independent music store has changed its sign to "CD's and LP records." Fountain pens and bottled ink are as close as the nearest Office Depot... no printer can match a letter written with your Mont Blanc pen. You can still make a good living shoeing horses and building buggies... and the whips that go with them!
Orlin in SCUSA
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Sept 8, 2008 18:41:48 GMT -5
Bob, I looked at the Epson Perfection V500 Photo scanner and it seems to be about what I need. I looked at the scanners that Ron recommended as well. I don't think I'd ever enlarge anything past 8x10 and the Epson will do a good enough job for that. The scanner will scan photos up to 8x10 which for me would be a plus. Thank you both for your input... now I've just to keep an eye out for a used V500.
Orlin in SC/USA
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Sept 5, 2008 21:43:08 GMT -5
The anecdotal evidence I have is that most of the people I know have photo printers at home or they don't ever make prints from their digital snapshots. I wouldn't be surprised if Wal Mart and others do away with their printing capability altogether in a couple of years.
The film space at the local Wal Mart has decreased to 1 1/2 ft or shelf space. They sell no film cameras other than disposables. Their snapshot digitals are now less than $20USD and have taken the place of the snapshot film cameras on the shelves.
Well, it's about time to start looking for B&W developing reels, tanks, and a film scanner.... is there a good scanner about that will do medium format negatives as well as 35mm?
Orlin "I refuse to leave the 19th century" Pettit
|
|
|
Post by aceroadholder on Sept 5, 2008 15:55:05 GMT -5
Stopped by Wal-Mart this afternoon to drop off film. The lady there said at the first of next year they will only do digital prints. Their new equipment will not handle 35mm film processing or printing. They will send your 35mm film to Fuji for processing with 2-3 business day turn around.
Orlin in SC/USA
|
|