Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 29, 2012 3:16:01 GMT -5
Happy Birthday from Tokyo too !!! Many happy and healthy years may follow !!!
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 29, 2012 3:14:34 GMT -5
It had a longer life than most other digital cameras then  |
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 27, 2012 9:20:21 GMT -5
Hahaha ... that is very true. Here in Japan, everybody asks me, if we are drinking warm beer in Germany. Warm beer ?  Of course not !!! But here in Japan, they usually cool it down to nearly 0 C, especially in summer. Then, it has no taste. Mmmh ... let's ay 8-10 C would be best ... for the beer in my area ( Altbier/Duesseldorf ). Not sure, what you mean with "over-ride". Do you mean "adjust" ? Sometimes, it is good and necessary to give +- 1 stop for the whole film. If so, I usally adjust it by choosing a different ASA setting on the camera. As for external lightmeters, an iPhone is not bad ( just in case, you have one - most people do meanwhile, even I don't ). Quite sophisticated. You can get perfect readings for the whole frame ( incl. a live preview, how the picture will look later ) and of specific areas in the picture, just by touching on them. As for a walk around camera, I would prefer an easier system though BTW, my critics for the Canonet are not so much the light meter, which worked really well for me ... but the range finder is not really that precise  I adjusted it a few times, but still ... it doesn't work that perfect at all distances. I saw better rangefinders, regarding that. So I actually hoped, that somebody has used one of the other mentioned "selenium based autoexposure rangefinders" for getting some input, which one would be the next, worthy to give a try. But ... considering, that I want a similar fast lens as on the Canonet, I might go either for the Fujica 35 EE or the Minolta Hi-Matic. Haven't completed the testfilm on my Konica EE matic yet, but that's an interesting one too ... even more simpler designed than the others ( just working with one shutter time ). I'll post the results here later. |
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 27, 2012 2:37:37 GMT -5
That is well stated !!! I would also agree with that. Good thing is just ... we mostly don't need to have just one  I really appreciate, that I can use different cameras for different purposes ... and I do so. That can also mean, "getting off the ladder" at different levels. If I have time for settings and if I want to take special pictures, I like a TLR and don't even mind, using an external lightmeter ... or maybe a high end digital camera, using a set of special lenses as well. But for daily life situations, I found those selenium meter based auto exposure rangefinders quite convenient. As I often said, I just had my old Canonet on my trip to Europe last summer and there hasn't actually been one situation, where I would have said: I need a different camera. And there is one other thing about those super sophisticated cameras. I would say, most people ( at least the ones, I know ) just use them in complete auto mode anyway, because it takes quite an effort to read the whole manual, discover all functions and settings and memorizing them or learn, which is better in which situation. I always notice that, when I take pictures with the guests cameras on weddings. Most people do not even know how to switch the flash on. So, too much sophistication often leads to an attitude like "this is too complicated for me anyway", I guess. It also depends on the situation. Even I can handle a complicated DSLR as well, I offen prefer a tool, which is more ... let's say, reduced to what is really needed. For example, I will certainly take a lot of pictures during the upcoming cherryblossom season again. It's like Carnival here in Japan. They call it "o hanami" here ... drinking with friends under cherryblossom trees. Situations, where I also start getting problems, handling a sophisticated digital camera after several cans of beer  So, a simple camera is best  |
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 26, 2012 22:15:50 GMT -5
Interesting information again, Dave !!! Yes, newer high end cameras might be better and more advanced, but somehow, I like the older and simple ones more Especially rangefinders. I personally have never been a big fan of SLRs or DSLRs as well. Big heavy monsters, not really handy, with autofocus and complicated menues. A friend gave me a Pentax Z-20 recently ... really complicated to handle and having so many "useless" features. I like simplicity and after trying so many cameras in my life, I slowly come to the solution ( just for myself, others may think different ), that I like those old leaf shutter selenium meter rangefinders most ( let's say, as a walk around camera ). Digital cameras might need all those sophisticated menues, options, features ... but film cameras ? There is actually not much, what we need for taking a good picture. I can even work with the sunny 16 rule, but an exposure meter might be convenient sometimes and a rangefinder is a good tool for setting the focus for me. I had problems with SLRs sometimes even it is also true, that SLRs are providing more opportunities ( exchangeable lenses, preview of the DOF, etc. ) ... but let's say, just for a walk around camera, those rangefinders are pretty nice and also easy to use with flash ( "dead safe", as my friend always says ). A rangefinder fits into my pocket and I usually have a small external flash too. I get fantastic pictures, much better than on a P&S or cellphone ( especially on parties, in a pub, etc. ) ... and I also have chances for some creativity. Full format in my pocket. Those old babies from the 60s have been quite underestimated, I think. I really enjoy using those camera. |
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 26, 2012 6:56:04 GMT -5
Thanks Dave, interesting information !!!
I prefer selenium meters especially, because those cameras are still usable ... and also leaf shutters. I actually collect only cameras with leaf shutters. The biggest problem of those focal plane shutters is the limited shutter speed if using flash ( 1/60 sec ). It works fine in complete darkness, when the shutter speed doesn't matter, but if it is still bright ( or if using flash as a fill in ), 1/60 sec is often too slow and causing motion blurr. I also never really missed faster shutter speeds than 1/500 sec, which is the limit of leaf shutters.
Anyway, if we imagine ... an autoexposure feature without external electricity or electronics. Mechanical marvels of engineering, I think.
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 25, 2012 22:53:37 GMT -5
Yes, I am very sorry. I didn't express myself properly at the beginning and noticed that later after the first incoming suggestions. My fault  My start point ( in my mind ) has been the Canonet, which I used very often. It's auto exposure function worked marvelous ( even using slide film for a few times ), but it also offers the possibility for manual settings. A pretty advanced technology at that time, so I started wondering, if there are others. I also prefer the selenium meter over the discontinued mercury batteries in later models. Some of those cameras, like the Canonet or the Fujica 35 EE have also been equipped with pretty fast lenses as well, which is not bad ( F:1.9 ). BTW, I don't mind working with "just" coupled light meters as well, but I also like the selenium cells around the lens. The exposure metering is quite good because you measure directly while pointing the camera to something ( don't need to put the camera down again and holding it actually in a different postion then, if the light meter needle is placed on the top of the camera ) and it also considers filters, mounted on the lens. But I wouldn't say, that those autoexposure cameras are the best of all It has been just a surpise for me, that there have been just a few of them being made. The most famous might have been the Minolta Hi-Matic ... in terms of ( not camera ) history. It has been the camera, the first American in Space ( John Glenn ) used for taking pictures in 1962. |
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 25, 2012 5:25:14 GMT -5
If I summarize everything, it seems, that there are not many rangefinders with selenium meter based auto exposure feature ... or there are still a few, not mentioned yet.
"Real rangefinders" ( where you can set the focus through a range finder ) are actually just the Canonet, the Minolta Hi-Matic, the Zorki 10, the Fujica 35 EE, the Yashica EE, the Mamiya EE and the Konica EE matic then.
The Ricohmatic 35, Olympus Trip 35, Olympus Auto Eye, Fujica Auto M and some Olympic Pens do either have a fixed focal lens or a manual zone focus ( portrait, group, landscape ).
All japanese cameras ( except the Zorki ). Interesting. What about the german and US camera makers ? None of them implemented this technology in their cameras ?
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 24, 2012 9:03:28 GMT -5
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 23, 2012 10:06:00 GMT -5
It seems, that people also started to modify those Elgin Park pictures ( maybe because it's a lonely town without people ? ) I like this one. Really awesome  Untitled by Theresa Thompson, on Flickr |
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 23, 2012 8:55:54 GMT -5
Briliant work and interesting hobby. Thanks for sharing that, Randy !!! Technically, he chose the right camera. Wanting a miniature world look real, you actually need a large DOF while shooting at close distances. Therefore a small sensored P&S or even a cellphone is actually best. It's fascinating. I once visited a miniature park here in Japan ( Tobu World Square ). I could have spend a whole week there, taking pictures. None of them became as good as the ones of this guy though. Need to challenge than again |
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 23, 2012 3:27:13 GMT -5
Wow ... incredible Maybe, because you can also paint something, which does not exist in reality ... and therefore, there can not become a photo taken of it ? At least, he has amazing skills ... this guy |
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 23, 2012 1:26:48 GMT -5
Thanks 33dollars ... and I found another one. The Minolta Hi-Matic ( the original model from 1962 ).
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 22, 2012 7:17:13 GMT -5
Both beautiful cameras !!! I just checked some pictures in the net. Did they already have an "auto exposure function" as well ?
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Berndt
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Post by Berndt on Mar 22, 2012 5:59:51 GMT -5
A little bit research led me to two a few others ... Fujica 35 EE, Yashica EE and maybe Olympus Pen and Mamiya ? Some models having "EE" in their name as a short form of "electric eye". I find those ancient high tech marvels quite fascinating.
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Of course not !!! But here in Japan, they usually cool it down to nearly 0 C, especially in summer. Then, it has no taste. Mmmh ... let's ay 8-10 C would be best ... for the beer in my area ( Altbier/Duesseldorf ).
I adjusted it a few times, but still ... it doesn't work that perfect at all distances. I saw better rangefinders, regarding that.
I really appreciate, that I can use different cameras for different purposes ... and I do so. That can also mean, "getting off the ladder" at different levels. If I have time for settings and if I want to take special pictures, I like a TLR and don't even mind, using an external lightmeter ... or maybe a high end digital camera, using a set of special lenses as well. But for daily life situations, I found those selenium meter based auto exposure rangefinders quite convenient. As I often said, I just had my old Canonet on my trip to Europe last summer and there hasn't actually been one situation, where I would have said: I need a different camera.
So, a simple camera is best 
