Robert
Contributing Member
Posts: 21
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Post by Robert on Jun 16, 2009 5:41:08 GMT -5
Hi there,
I'm new to this forum as well. I experienced that digital doesn't work for me - it makes me kind of restless... So returned to my old love: analog photography.
I'm busy with finding out what I like - analogically speaking.
Here's an overview of my humble collection:
- Canon AE-1 (black) with a Canon FD f:1.2/50. - Leica M6 with a Summicron f:2.0/50. - Minolta X-700 with a Rokkor-X f:2.0/50 and a Rokkor-X f2.8/24.
On its way to my home (eBay purchase) is a Canon A-1 (black) with a Canon FD f:1.8/50.
The Leica M6 is awesome - I bought it in April this year and it has had a CLA in May latest.
The viewfinder of the Minolta X-700 is somewhat clumsy as it shows only an advised shutter speed without information about the shutter speed dialed in. I like the Rokkor-X lenses, I buy them at eBay, as they were specifically made for the American and Canadian market (I'm from The Netherlands).
The reason that I purchased the Canon A-1 is that I like the Canon AE-1 a lot - especially the viewfinder. I'm very curious to see the Canon A-1 coming, I like the brand, more than Nikon, don't know why...
For people in Europe I can recommend Grainlab in Germany (www.grainlab.com) - they sell great cameras (they're like Blue Moon Cameras and KEH in America).
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Jun 16, 2009 7:16:21 GMT -5
Hello, Glad to see another new member. Wanted to be the first to welcome you here to our group. Some VERY nice equipment you have there. Personally I prefer the older Canon cameras (F1, A1, TLb, FTb) over the Nikon products but still use my Nikkormats more than I ever thought I would being mostly a Pentax/Minolta shooter. An M6 would be an awesome camera, the Summicron is legendary. Is your Canon FD 50 actually the f1.2?? Faster than any I have, my best is 50 f1.4. Have to try Blue Moon Camera, I mainly buy on eBay. Nice to chat with you and I look forward to seeing some photos. P.S. If we could have a first name to call you it would make things a bit more personal.
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Post by Randy on Jun 16, 2009 10:34:55 GMT -5
Hello and welcome to the Camera Collector Forum. Please put a first name into your signature by editing your profile so we know what to call you.
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Andrew
Lifetime Member
Posts: 243
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Post by Andrew on Jun 16, 2009 11:20:47 GMT -5
I envy the time when i could say 4 cameras was a collection a budding collection is good fun though M6 is lovely, I have an M1 does that count close
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Post by vintageslrs on Jun 16, 2009 11:45:43 GMT -5
Welcome! Glad to have ya aboard!
Nice collection...... Lots to enjoy!
Have Fun Bob
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Robert
Contributing Member
Posts: 21
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Post by Robert on Jun 16, 2009 11:55:20 GMT -5
Thanks everybody for the warm welcome, I've altered my profile showing my first name, Robert. I like that very much by the way, that personal touch of this forum, I'm not used to that on the internet. Yes, Just Curt, that's right, my Canon FD 50mm. is a f1.2, I grabbed it at Grainlab in Germany. The Leica M6 is awesome. The first time I had my photos printed made with the Leica M6, it blew me away, I just brought the film to an ordinary store to have it developed and printed - when I got my prints I just couldn't believe my eyes. After I shot my first film with the Leica M6 I brought it to Will van Maanen for a CLA, internationally well-known as well, possibly I help someone out here with a link to his website: www.kamera-service.info/
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2009 12:50:07 GMT -5
Welcome, Robert
Wayne
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Post by herron on Jun 16, 2009 14:05:01 GMT -5
Let me add my welcome to the group, also, Robert. I think you'll find this is a very pleasant and informative forum. Looking forward to hearing from you often. Ron
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PeterW
Lifetime Member
Member has Passed
Posts: 3,804
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Post by PeterW on Jun 16, 2009 14:17:24 GMT -5
Hi Robert, If your A1 performs as well as my two you'll love it. I used a A1 for pro photojournalism for years, as did my late wife Valerie, until we got F1s The A1s had hundreds of films through them and never missed a beat. I don't think there's much to choose between Canon and Nikon with regard to quality and performance, but we both chose Canon instead of Nikon because back in the early days of Nikon SLRs they had a fiddly fork and pin engagement for the lenses which we found much more awkward than the Canon breechlock fixing. On the Canon we could change lenses in a hurry without even looking at the camera. When Canon brought in the 'red button' twist and lock fixing it was even easier. The other nice thing about classic Canons is that from the FX of 1964 right through to the T range any of my Canon lenses will fit any of my Canon SLRs from the same period. Drawbacks? The only one I know of is the infamous Canon squeak or squeal on the A-Series. You can get this if the bearings of the shutter flywheel run dry. The camera will still keep working, but if the squeal gets obtrusive it should be seen to. Other than that, nice to use if a shade heavy before the T series, but I like a fairly heavy camera, and Canon lenses are superb IMHO. You may have gathered that I like and collect Canons . I've got a Flex RM, FX, FP, Pellix, TL, FT FTb, F1, 'NEW' F1, AE1 AT1 AV1, A1 and a T70 as well as several Canonettes. I had a Pellix, but I found the viewfinder dim in low light. Canons are the only Japanese cameras I collect now. Most of my pruned-down collection are European cameras from the early days of photography up to about 1956, mainly German, plus a few Russian (FSU) Feds, Zorkis, Kievs and Zenits. My main user film camera is a T70, but I've got to admit I'm moving more and more towards digital. PeterW
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Robert
Contributing Member
Posts: 21
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Post by Robert on Jun 17, 2009 0:56:33 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing your Canon collection Peter - much fascinating to read!
Canonettes are rangefinder cameras?
What digital camera(s) do you use?
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PeterW
Lifetime Member
Member has Passed
Posts: 3,804
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Post by PeterW on Jun 17, 2009 16:43:37 GMT -5
Hi Robert, Yes, the Canonettes were fixed-lens rangefinders and appeared about 1961. The early models were quite big and bulky, a bit box-like, with a large selenium meter round the lens for aperture priority automatic exposure (or you could set them on manual). The later models were much more compact and used CdS metering. These originally used mercury batteries, but I understand the metering circuit is a Wheatstone Bridge design so it is independent of voltage (within reason). Certainly mine meter perfectly on silver oxide batteries. One of the early Canonettes was my son John's first 'serious' camera when he was 8 years old. He entered a national Amateur Photographer competition for a picture with the title 'Hello Happiness'. The only class he could enter was for under-16 years old but he won first prize with a shot of one of his school friends running in the sports field. He shot against the light and used a small flash on the camera as fill-in. Here's a picture of a young John with his winning print and his school friend 'model'. It was taken by my late wife Valerie using bounce flash and FP4 in her Canon F1. John went on to take a degree in advertising and editorial photography and worked as a pro for a time but eventually decided that salaries were higher in IT, so he studied that, changed careers and kept his photography as a hobby. With regard to digital I have for some time been using an Epson 850Z which I bought when it first came out because the publisher for whom I was writing a book wanted all the pictures, 300 of them, digital on disc. At the time the Epson was state of the art, all 2.1 mega pixels! It was voted 'camera of the year' by several photo mags. It certainly did the job for the book and saved a LOT of money and time over film, processing, scanning etc, enough to pay for itself. John took most of the pictures for me. However, John has for some time been getting more and more into video (moving on from cine) so I bought him a decent resolution digital video camera. In return he has lent me on 'permanent loan' his Pentax *ist DS2 digital SLR plus whole load of K-Mount lenses and adaptors for M42 and Canon. He's going to give me a quick tuition on using all its various functions but, as he says, picture taking is still picture taking, and the best way to learn using a digital camera to its best is to take pictures with it. I'm looking forward to taking lots of pictures with it this summer without the huge expense of having colour film processed. However, I've still got loads of black and white film in stock so I shall load my Canon T70 with black and white for those pictures that really call for it, and develop it myself. PeterW
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Post by vintageslrs on Jun 17, 2009 19:32:54 GMT -5
Oh No!!!!!! PeterW has gone digital! Now I know something ain't right with the world....... Kidding , Peter.....I understand about the cost/benefit..... I just haven't succumbed yet...... ;D....a matter of time, I suppose. all the best Bob
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Post by Randy on Jun 17, 2009 22:05:26 GMT -5
Peter, I really like that picture of John and his subject. It's very nice!
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Robert
Contributing Member
Posts: 21
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Post by Robert on Jun 18, 2009 1:01:23 GMT -5
Thanks for the update Peter, nice picture with the F1, like vintageslrs I haven't switched to digital either.
A matter of time maybe - it still don't feel right to switch for me at this moment.
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Mark Vaughan
Lifetime Member
I STILL have a pile of Nikons. Considering starting a collection of Ricoh SLRs and RFs.
Posts: 191
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Post by Mark Vaughan on Jun 21, 2009 11:04:58 GMT -5
Peter - Thank you for sharing your excellent story about your son, John. I hope to pass on a similar legacy to my daughter. She's 7 and just completed the first grade so, to celebrate, I gave her a Minolta X-700 (! - my, have times changed...) and a few rolls of Fuji film and we headed out to our town square. I brought along my F2AS and, as she photographed birds, lizards, flowers, and buildings, I simply photographed her. She REALLY got into it (I was near tears..!). Here she is: Ilford XP-2, 400 ISO B&W Print scanned on a HP flatbed. Happy Father's Day! Mark
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