melek
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Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Jan 21, 2012 0:17:01 GMT -5
I have an FT3, which is an excellent camera. I guess it was the final model to bear the Nikkormat name. I also have a Nikon EL2, in addition to the two Nikons that I bought in 1979 -- an F2A and an FE.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Jan 20, 2012 21:25:45 GMT -5
I just chanced on this thread again, and I'm glad that I did. The XD-11 is one of those camers that I really wanted in the 1970s, but it was out of my price range. Plus, I was a bit concerned about the battery-dependency. I believed everything the magazines said, and back then, that was a big deal.
First, to answer the long-ago question posed in this thread. The new material is pre-cut and is self-adhesive. You just have to be careful when applying, because it really sticks. Plus, make sure you remove all of the old covering and adhesive. It's simple on the XD-11, because it's like a rubber sheet that comes off cleanly.
Back to the camera. I ended up with a Pentax MX. Fine camera, but it's almost too small. The XD-11, although in the same category of smaller cameras from that era, seems slightly larger and feels really nice in your hands.
I've had a great time with this camera. Since buying the original camera, I picked up an f/1.4 "standard" lens, a nice 28mm wide angle and the usual 135mm telephoto, which I haven't used. I also picked up the autowinder. A nice little kit, and when I finally agree to downsize my camera hoard, this will be one that I keep.
It's a great camera, because it was the first (not sure) to offer both aperture- and shutter-priority autoexposure and full manual, as well. It has a very nice film advance with a short throw.
The viewfinder is excellent with a full display of information. I just think that a lot of thought went into design and usability.
I had some pink leather covering for another spare body, but the then-puppy chewed it into an unrecognizable mass.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Jan 12, 2012 6:49:20 GMT -5
What was your first 35mm camera? Cosmorex SE (a rebadged Zenit)
What was the reason for your choice? I guess I was 13 or 14, and I really wanted an SLR. My mom had given me her Spartus 127 folding camera and later a Kodak Instamatic. But I wanted a "real" camera. I saved all of my Christmas tips from my paper route and bought it in early January.
What year did you get it? 1973 or 1974
Do you still have it? No. I shot many, many photos with it. After I went into the service, a buddy of mine was into the smaller SLRs. He had an Olympus OM-1. I ended buying a Pentax MX. I was curious about the inner workings of the Cosmorex, so I took it apart. I wasn't able to get it back together, so I ended up tossing it into the trash.
Does it still work? No. I bought another a few years ago and had forgotten how basic this camera was.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Jan 11, 2012 22:34:38 GMT -5
Cosina had this on its non-SLR, the Bessa-L. I gave some thought to getting out the Drermel and removing it. I think this is on a couiple of Cosina-made Vivitar SLRs.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Jan 7, 2012 23:17:59 GMT -5
One of Adox cameras is missing the emblem, too. I like the looks of this camera. And I agree that this era of nonfolding cameras is rather interesting.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Dec 26, 2011 22:35:15 GMT -5
If there are just a couple of holes, you might be able to cover them with gaffer's tape. Not duct tape, but gaffer's tape. It does a very good job of blocking light. It's not gooey. And it remains flexible.
I've done this before to repair holes in the bellows of a Super Ikonta III and also my Agfa Isolette III (which I need to check periodically).
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Dec 26, 2011 20:17:27 GMT -5
I don't have all-time favorites. Rather, I have current favorites. And it usually are a number of different cameras. So, currently, my favorites are the Rolleiflex SL 35 E, a Zeiss Ikon SL 706 and a Pentax MX.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Nov 25, 2010 16:16:56 GMT -5
The B35 is a decent camera, although there is too much plastic in its construction. I've been revisiting the Rollei 35 cameras lately and have been shooting with the Tessar and Sonnar models.
The B35 gave me a lot of problems. I had to replace a number of plastic parts that had been damaged by a heavy-handed user.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Oct 31, 2010 17:20:02 GMT -5
For a while, I was hoping to get either two lenses or two bodies with sequential serial numbers. So far, it hasn't happened, and I don't buy nearly as much as I used to.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Oct 28, 2010 21:16:10 GMT -5
Drako, you would really love this camera. I've shot with the Sonnar and Tessar versions. I sort of like the Tessar camera. Here are some that I took a long time ago with the Rollei 35T: One day, my wife and I were going somewhere, and I told her, "Hold this for me." That was the last time I ever saw that camera. Oh well. That was around 1992. I've replaced it since then.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Oct 23, 2010 7:26:17 GMT -5
The Indra Lux looks like a miniature table radio from the 1930s. Love it!
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Oct 23, 2010 7:24:33 GMT -5
Yes, those pre-FM/FE Nikons were HEAVY! I can only imagine the weight of the ELW or EL2 with a winder attached.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Oct 23, 2010 7:20:17 GMT -5
When I was younger-ish(!), I was considering the XD 11. I bought a Pentax MX and then later jumped into Nikon. But I've never forgotten the little Minolta. A few years back, I bought one and restored it and then gave it to a family friend. He had grown up sort of poor and always wanted one but couldn't afford it. I was more than happy to give it to him. About two years ago, I bought another but this one seemed well worn. Turns out, it was really grimy more than anything else. So another restoration. The leatherette seems to shrink on many of these. I bought a replacement covering from Aki-Asahi, and I've been very pleased with it.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Oct 23, 2010 7:14:28 GMT -5
That camera doesn't look to be in terrible shape. You'll need a new nameplate, and you could even improvise and create your own and name it the K-flex or something fun.
The leather seems to be in good shape. I was given a twin-lens reflex about two years ago. It's missing the viewing screen. The fellow who owned it was using an opaque plastic bag stretched over the opening for that purpose. It's still in a box somewhere.
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melek
Senior Member
Posts: 87
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Post by melek on Oct 23, 2010 7:12:06 GMT -5
After working on a number of cameras, I've come to the conclusion that some cameras are simply beyond (or not worth) trying to restore.
Hopefully, this isn't the case.
And much depends on your own approach. I try to get a camera as close as possible to new. Sometimes, that's possible. Sometimes, it isn't.
Best of luck in your endeavour.
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