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This week's medium format experiment involves the Sabre 620, a $4 flea market find. It's a cute little box camera reminiscent of the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. It features one shutter speed and a tiny eye level viewfinder. Film advance is via the large knob on the side with a red window on the back. There… Continue reading 52 Cameras – Week 14 – Sabre 620
The Agfa Solina was a nice shooter, if not particularly memorable. The focus and shutter speed rings were easy to handle. I had a little trouble adjusting the exposure ring as its clearances were a bit tight. My fingers aren't that fat. The film advance is smooth and light. The counter is oddly located near… Continue reading 52 Cameras – Week 12 results – Agfa Solina
(The report on week 12 will be delayed, due to a 36 exposure roll and an incredible deal I found on a Crown Graphic. Details later.) This week marks the beginning of a new month, thus a 35mm camera is next in my informal rotation. I've selected the Chinon CM7. The CM7 is a Japanese… Continue reading 52 Cameras – Week 13 – Chinon CM7
Shooting with the Pen EES2 was not as fun as I had hoped. I haven't worked with it enough to trust the selenium/automatic combination. I could trust an uncoupled selenium meter because I can compare its readings to my opinion. With this camera however, I never know exactly what it's doing. The size and… Continue reading Week 11 – Pen EES2 Results.
"In your Agfa Solina you have acquired a camera of the highest technical perfection. Everyone will congratulate you on your purchase." - Agfa manual The Solina was part of Agfa's Silette line of fixed-lens viewfinder cameras manufactured between 1953 and 1974. Some were also sold in the US under the Ansco name. Mine appears to… Continue reading Week 12 – Agfa Solina
"Medic 9, umm, check your CAD notes." I flip the Toughbook screen open as my partner scowls from the driver's seat. Response to the clinic. Non emergency, but bring up your equipment as the staff is having trouble. Uhhhh. . . After a quick consultation with the dispatcher we decide this sounds like an emergency.… Continue reading Adventures in babysitting
For this week's camera, we swing the pendulum from medium format to sub-miniature. The Olympus Pen EES-2 is a half-frame camera from 1968-1971. It uses regular 35mm film, but it produces a 24x18mm image instead of the usual 24x36. This makes it a great camera for traveling, as you can fit up to 72 images… Continue reading Week 11 – Olympus Pen EES-2
I received this in the mail yesterday. I'm not sure of AFSCME's audience or intent here. The photo jumped out at me though. Untucked shirts? Improperly sized gloves? A rat's nest of ECG cables?! This is an organization which wants to represent us professionally? It's "more than a job?" Obviously it wasn't more than just… Continue reading More than a job
I have heard large format photographers claim that their cameras force them to slow down when shooting. I experience a version of this phenomenon when shooting a twin lens reflex. The waist level finder forces one to let the camera hang, look down, and frame carefully. The reflex mirror causes the image to be reversed… Continue reading Week 10 Results – Super Ricohflex
My first twin lens reflex. This was actually the second one I bought but the first to arrive on my doorstep. Built in the 1950's, the Super Ricohflex TLR features a pair of 80mm lenses geared together for synchronous focusing. Top shutter speed is 1/200 and aperture ranges from f3.5 to f16. It takes 12… Continue reading Week 10 – Super Ricohflex
Notes from Mosquito Hill 