Blustery day pushed me indoors. The Lumix 20mm was itching to be used. There must be a few members of this forum that have some really cool older gear. Time to show it off in B&W. None of my old gear is anything real exciting. Just old spanning the first 5 decades of my life.
Here is my first camera, which my dad gave to me when I was a teen. He picked it up in the late 1940s/early 1950s when he lived in Belgium after WWII. It had no rangefinder, so I had to guess the distance. It had no meter, so I had to guess the exposure using the guidelines that Kodak used to enclose with film (until I purchased a small Sekonic light meter). It was a great camera to learn photography with. Oh yes, the lens fits on my m4/3 cameras with an adapter.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The camera that started it all... This is actually my fathers camera that I found about half a year ago and it's what got me started into photography. I was just amazed at what great condition it was as well as learning how the camera and lens actually worked. This camera has literally been around the world, used by my father when he served in the US Navy. Eventually I'll have to get an adapter for that 50mm f/1.4...
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Two of my periflex cameras - both with the unique periscope rangefinder and exchangeable viewfinder.
It's a longer sequence for composing a picture... but it works!
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
[ periflex 1 version 2 1954 by corfield - england - with lumar lens 50mm | 1:3.5 ]
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
[ periflex 1 version 3 1955 by corfield - england - with retro-lumax lens 35mm | 1:3.5 ]
My Rollei. Its been to the Himalayas and back about 50 years ago (not by me I should add). Still works a treat and takes great pics. Hopefully my EP1 lasts as long :smile:
This is my much loved Mamiya Press, a 120 rangefinder focusing roll film camera with inter changeable film backs and lenses. It's shown with a 90mm f/3.5 Mamiya Sekor lens and a 6 x 9 roll film back together with a 6 x 7 roll film back. Not shown is the ground glass focusing screen or the extension tubes.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The 90mm lens equates closely to the 20mm fitted to the GF1 shown alongside for size comparison. The Press is not exactly a pocket sized model, however I did use it for street photography back in the '70's, was asked on occasions if I was a press photographer :smile:
This is my much loved Mamiya Press, a 120 rangefinder focusing roll film camera with inter changeable film backs and lenses. It's shown with a 90mm f/3.5 Mamiya Sekor lens and a 6 x 9 roll film back together with a 6 x 7 roll film back.
What I really like in those kind of cameras is the way the functions are visibly split and connected in just the necessary way to perform the expected duty. Compared to embedded designs we've come to expect nowdays, this "industrial" packages are wonderful pedagogic instruments to explain the basics of photography.
Canon Demi C half-frame interchangable lens camera. This one is fitted with the 50/2.8 lens which looks the business but works like a short telephoto on a half-frame camera. The standard lens for this model was a 28/2.8.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55915417@N08/5444549671/" title="IMG_3244-PPR Canon Demi C 50mm f2.8 by Lucky.penguin, on Flickr">
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
"640" height="426" alt="IMG_3244-PPR Canon Demi C 50mm f2.8"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55915417@N08/5444549247/" title="IMG_3247-PPR Canon Demi C 50mm f2.8 by Lucky.penguin, on Flickr">
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
"640" height="426" alt="IMG_3247-PPR Canon Demi C 50mm f2.8"></a>
What I really like in those kind of cameras is the way the functions are visibly split and connected in just the necessary way to perform the expected duty. Compared to embedded designs we've come to expect nowdays, this "industrial" packages are wonderful pedagogic instruments to explain the basics of photography.
Yes, there was a young lad on the yearly digital photography course at the field centre where I volunteer and I took this camera in to get him to understand f numbers and depth of field, from his reaction things became much clearer for him.
My dad passed away back in February. In his belongings we found a moldy case with this camera in it. There was a big Honeywell flash as well. Perhaps when I'm bored I'll hook it all up. This camera was used when he was a police photographer back in the 60's. He kept it when they switched to 35mm.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Unfortunately I've never saved many of my early cameras. I managed to keep my original 35mm, the Konica III rangefinder, and recently recovered my first SLR a minolta SRT 101.
I wish I had access to one of the many medium format cameras that I owned over the years... and I really wish someone would post a Rapid Omega...
I loved my 6x9 Rapid with the wonderful positive crank on the lower right corner...
Links on this page may be to our affiliates. Sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.Mu-43 is a fan site and not associated with Olympus, Panasonic, or other manufacturers mentioned on this site.Forum post reactions by Twemoji: https://github.com/twitter/twemojiForum GIFs powered by GIPHY: https://giphy.com/