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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
09-20-2014, 07:43 AM
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I've always been quite partial to Canon; an A-1 was my second 'real' camera and I still have, love and use it! When I finally got away from P&S and went full digital I fell head over heels for a Nikon D50. Then I found a K100DS and...wow, talk about love at first sight! Fast forward a year or so, I'm simply having the time of my life with way too many cameras; D50, D90 K100DS and a veritable antique store's worth of Spotmatics, K1000's ME Supers, Super Program not to mention the Nikons, Mamiya (Even an M645) and Canon film cameras and enough lenses to stock the photography department of the New York TImes several times over. Then my Camera guy who I lovingly refer to as 'my pusher' sells me a very nice Canon 50mm / 1.8 with an EOS adapter.
Seemed a shame to NOT have anything to use it on and I initially toyed with the idea of just getting a Canon EOS film camera but nooo, my other 'pusher' happened to have a gently used Canon 5D for like $400. I resisted for almost a week. Almost, before I picked it up and went uhhh...wow. I put it back most hastily, lasted another day or two before I called them one day right after they opened and rushed to claim my first full frame. Nothing to write home about, none of the latest whiz-bangery and a measly 12MP full frame sensor and I am still undecided if it is truly 'better' than my 12MP D90 but it was another camera that I just like! It feels good, the controls are placed well (Phooey on you K-R) and I even like the chunky battery grip. Probably because it is as comfy as my F4s.
So of course I must have EF lenses, not EF-S and lo and behold, a thrift store find nets me for cheap, less than a third what the lenses would cost even used, a full Canon Kit in a Canon bag! Obviously someone's treasured kit with an EOS film somethingorother, 35-80 EF, 75-300 EF both Canon, a Quantaray EF 2x Teleconverter and a Quantaray 19-43 which I think is a rebranded Sigma. Came with the manual and had the requisite silica packs in the bottom. Inside everything was clean and sparkly with caps even and the dust outside was easily knocked off. Just the general condition said this was someone's treasure and now it is mine to care for for a while. The EOS has a battery now and appears to work great and soon will have a roll of Fuji because I can't help myself!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
05-20-2014, 08:46 PM
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I have a Walgreens a block from the house; they never were very impressive being a Fuji machine manned by high schoolers with a manual. That being said, the machines developed the film which is pretty bulletproof IF the machine is working correctly. Printing is another matter. Most 'machine prints' are generic with little correction but the automatic functions of the machine themselves may or may not be what you want. Generally, they are ok but there's folks who prefer to do their own printing because they have more control over the finished product. Think art. For most of us this is perfectly adequate.
I choose NOT to use Walgreens because they are going to a central processing facility (sending it out) and you DON'T get the negatives back, only prints and prints on CD. No way jose!
I have a local guy, has the Fuji machines of course, only does color but he's an old time camera guy who also does studio work and a lot of other stuff so when he prints stuff, he does make small corrections. He can also do prints and if you tell him what you're looking for, he can do that too. There's places that do pretty efficient mail order, drop the cassette into a mailer and in a few days you have your stuff back.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
05-09-2014, 09:07 AM
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Very good post!
Bidding strategy aside, there are some deals to be found. Those older lenses are generally of excellent quality and manual focus on a DSLR is no big deal. On my D50 it is ,just a pain to get correct focus, my N90 is sweet as is the N2020 but my K100DS, yeah, now that's sweet! Couple of extra steps to get it to meter but...
When bidding, the trick is not to get caught up in the auction. Recently I saw a Pentax X-5 go for $300, a pair of Canon FTb's and off brand lenses go for $450 and then a Pentax MX with a 50/1.7 go for $35. Erk?!?
Guess your max bid and stick to it. Unless its a rare something, don't go over when the auction starts climbing into the clouds. When that something that you really want, and this is the hard part, starts climbing away from your max remember that somewhere down the line there will be an even better whatsit at a better price. And no competition!
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-19-2014, 08:32 PM
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I swear, my camera guy's got my number; he surely knows what a SUCKER I am for old film cameras, especially Pentax! (Go figure) I usually visit his shop once or twice a week and probably know the stock as good as HE does, LOL. I've been unable to, vacation and a bout with the flu so I missed a couple of weeks. He's got some new stock; a few more Nikons and...those brand cameras, a bunch of digital gear, lenses and I mean a LOT, including a D300 that I was seriously considering as an upgrade to my D50. (No, AWAY you heathens, I'm NOT giving up my K100DS; it will just have to deal with sharing the bag with my new D90) and did I say some REALLY nice glass? So yesterday, I had a few minutes and 'popped in' but what got my attention and kept me awake most of the night was a Super Program with a 50/1.7, Pentax flash and a 70-210 zoom sitting in the case between a Minolta and an Olympus. (no wonder it was growling)
I've got an ME Super and an ME, both of which are super cameras. I read up on the SP which of course...guess who was waiting at the shop when it opened today?!? Yeah, he saw me a mile away, grinned and made me a smoking deal I simply couldn't pass up! So, this has some improvements over my other 'stingy-frame' Pentax'es I prefer aperture priority or manual mostly but the full auto is kind of cool. Reminds me of my A-1. Has that ME picture window viewfinder and unlike the ME/MES the display is along the bottom and not along the left where lefties like me have a hard time seeing. Shades of the A-1. In fact, as I played with it, that display reminds me of my F-3. Hmmm...and I like that camera AND my A-1's a lot! The wind lever is just...wow-smooth, and the shutter release is...only a Pentax feels that good! I like the bolt on grip, in fact these smaller Pentax's are a favorite! I got big mitts but they don't feel small, just petite. In comparison I pick up a say...D5200 size DSLR, it handles to me like I got oven mitts on. Not the ME/Super program! Which is why I rescued the poor thing. I mean, no self-respecting Pentax guy would leave the poor girl in there with only two K1000's and all those...other brands.
So, those of you out there in Pentax-land that have one, what are some of the quirks, good and bad, features you like or don't like?
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
02-21-2014, 10:42 PM
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BTDT...
My first DSLR was a Nikon D50. Older 6MP camera, simple to learn on but I find I wished I'd just spent the extra $$ and got a D90 or something, LOL. Not too long after I got my D50 I stumbled on to a Pentax K100D Super. AWESOME camera! Has the same 6MP sensor the D50 does. In some ways I find it simpler/better to use than my Nikon. Then again, the Nikon does other things better but I am slowly learning that the biggest difference is the finder nut....you know, that nut right behind the viewfinder that has to be adjusted just...so. (LOL)
In reality, both of my cameras perform about the same and yes, it is a pain having TWO systems but not that much so. For me, I won't be giving up either!
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
01-04-2014, 08:28 PM
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Exactly my thoughts when I jumped in to the DSLR world a little while ago; I purchased a used Nikon D50, right price range easy enough to learn on. Then of course I 'discovered' Pentax in the form of a steal of a deal K100DS. It's in the same class as the D50 but...better. I love them both but....I'm fairly certain had I waited a few months I probably would have bought 'more' camera and been just as happy.
In short, learning the camera isn't all that hard. For me, the K-50/30 control setup would be a dealbreaker; I prefer the setup of the K-3/k-5. On the other hand, the money you save on the K-30 could be spent on awesome lenses.....Or, you could be regretting that awesome camera a few months down the road when it becomes old hat and you discover the whiz-bang features of that other camera you didn't think you needed...BTDT.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
12-20-2013, 10:17 AM
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Nice find! Is the mirror broken broken (as in cracked) or just not moving properly? The seals and internal bumpers can get gummy over time and a simple replacement gets things working again. Wondering what type of lens? I have an ME Super which I really like so if it was me, I'd probably invest in a cleaning, adjustment and seals replacement. I would bet it works fine after that!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-14-2013, 02:10 PM
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Old school is wandering the streets with not just a Spotmatic (loaded with Kodak TX B&W no less) but TWO light meters strung around one's neck. Every shot I used both and I sure got some strange looks.....LOL (I think I've got that old Weston II dialed in...at least that's what the Gossen said but the real test is when the film comes back...)
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
12-12-2013, 04:39 PM
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 Picked up a very nice set of telephoto and close up lenses to go with this very nice Diacord L. Can't wait to shoot it!
K100DS f4.0 1/90 ISO400
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
11-14-2013, 05:52 PM
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So a few months ago I pick up a Spotmatic II mostly because it had a really nice Takumar 1.4 50mm on it. When I get around to fiddling with it, the meter doesn't work so eventually I put it in for repair. Meter can't be repaired, that particular part anyway so the my camera store guy pulls out this big box of light meters. 'Pick one' he says. I don't know diddly from light meters so I fish through the box; cool GE's, nifty old meters that had a cool factor, weird ones that looked more like Mr. Spock's tricorder so I reverted to the old guy standard; I pick the one that had the largest type on the dial!
Gossen Luna-Pro sbc. With a leather case and an instruction book. Of course I do a little research...wow. He just gives me that to make up for the broken meter. Solid guy, you can bet I take most of my business there and not because of this but I'll be spending a little extra. (If he only had that DA 50mm for my potential K-5)
Now, I've been playing with that meter, actually read the book. Take a reading, set the Nikon...wow, pretty darn close. Use the Pentax DSLR. Yup, something to this meter stuff all right. I think I got the hang of it. Any tips y'all have would be appreciated tho...
Going to play with that meter tomorrow too and then Sat, I hope, is the day. Going to pop in a roll of Ilford and see what I get. Now this camera has some history; it's obviously been used but very well cared for. It has the guy's name engraved on it and a service number. To me, this speaks volumes and as a veteran myself, a service number on a camera from the 1960's could speak volumes of where its been. It's going to be cool to put some film in the old girl and see how my light metering skills are!
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
10-17-2013, 09:22 AM
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Nicely said!
I recently took my well worn Spotmatic in to see if the meter can be fixed. I was asked by my friend why I was bothering, as the cost could be a lot more than I paid for the thing. My answer was simple; I had a 1985 Ford, my first new vehicle all those years ago and recently traded so the wife would have something new to drive. (Yes, I miss that old truck!) Over it's life I spent a lot more than the original cost of that truck to fix it so why would a forty year old camera be different?
We live in a disposable society it seems; when something breaks simply replace it. In fact, it occurs to me that many items are not built as 'robustly' as they once were simply due to this phenomenon. (Or maybe its a marketing ploy) Here in the west there seems to be no love for the old; buildings not even fifty years old with no structural problems are demolished to make way for the 'new'. Perhaps this is because the people who build make more money this way. Or perhaps they do not appreciate old architecture. I think that's a shame.
Whilst at the camera shop on the phone with the tech he suggested removing the bottom plate to check the battery connections. Alas, the problem was something deeper but one look at the beautifully crafted inner workings of my Spotmatic simply reinforced my desire to repair this beautiful old camera and make it right.
Since my return to photography I have taken to dragging my camera bag just about everywhere. Inside rests my Pentax K100DS and whichever film camera I have at the time, currently a somewhat cranky Mamiya 1000DTL I picked up recently along with a very nice Sears 28mm. I just finished the roll yesterday and dropped it off so that Mamiya will take a rest in the camera drawer for a little while and something else will take its place. Might be the Mamiya 500DTL I bought for the lens, a Mamiya 50/2.0 and haven't tried yet or perhaps my K1000 or the ME. I haven't decided if I want to shoot the next roll of color or try the roll of B&W Kodak 400TX. I normally wouldn't shoot 400 but I wanted to try it.
I have found that shooting film reinforces the basics of exposure and composition. It is so darned easy to take a shot with my DSLR, then look at the screen to see if I got it right. With film, you get only that shot and you won't know if its right until it's developed. Since I prefer to have my film developed at a proper lab and not the nice girls at the local walgreens who are very sweet but efficient, film is developed almost the same day, I don't mind waiting a week or so to get my film back because I'd prefer it to be done right so it goes to the lab. Of course, B&W has to be sent out of state and takes a bit longer so maybe I'll wait until my last roll of Ilford comes back before I try that Kodak 400.
Looking through the viewfinder of either camera, film or DSLR I find that shooting film regularly helps me to remember the things I need to think about regarding exposure and such. Yes it is easier to let the camera do that work and if I let it my K100DS or Nikon D50 will easily do all that and take excellent photographs...but what fun is that?
At times in my work I am required to take photographs; there is no artistic...anything, simply documenting what is. The Canon Powershot my work give me for such things is perfectly adequate; 16 megapixels, zoom, flash, auto focus and so on. It tends to overexpose flash photos and underexpose without depending on the light; in short, its not NEARLY as good as my DSLR's. I used my Pentax the other day to take photos of a scene simply because I knew I could make better photographs. It was also simply enjoyable to use my Pentax and I gave the 'new to me' Quantaray 70-300 macro zoom a workout. (Hey, it was 80 bucks) The lighting was at the wrong angle, building contrasts played havoc with my exposure as did the shady areas in the wrong spots and while looking through the Pentax viewfinder I was reminding myself of these issues...because I shoot film.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
10-04-2013, 06:57 PM
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Because it's fun?
In my re-kindled interest in photography, using my film cameras helps me remember the fundamentals of exposure and (in theory) I'll be a better photographer. Someday.
I've found that having to THINK about exposure helps me think about those things with my DSLR's. Yes, it's easy to take a shot, look at the screen, go hmmm, make a few adjustments and take it again. Depending, that is ok. Unless you're taking a shot of something that is fleeting; some photographs are there for an instant and gone the next.
Because it's a JOY to take a thirty-forty-something year old camera with 20th Century film technology and take beautiful pictures with it!
Because there's something about the way the shutter on my K1000SE goes 'click', that buttery smooth working of well made components that even thirty plus years later, still works as it did when it was new.
Because using my new/old Mamiya 1000DTL (and her little sister the 500TL) brings back memories of all the good times I had back when!
(Boy, I sure hope that roll of Ilford B&W comes out)
Because there's something...special about a Takumar M42 50mm, or that SMC, or Asahi 135mm, or even the almost brand new with the case, instructions caps & everything Sears branded M42 28mm. The world truly looks...wonderful through them!
Why do you still use film?
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