Bike Forums - The C&V Camera Thread

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Iʻve been eagerly following this thread and can post something now.

Been into vintage bikes almost 20 years, got into film cameras a few years ago when an inheritance arrived.

Have had luck thrifting, picked up an XE-7 and shot a b&w Ilford 400 (IIRC) roll using an auto flash with minimal results. Also figured out after the fact that the aperture blades were oily and stuck wide open, working on cleaning the lens now.

The inherited OM-1 shot most of the photos I had growing up, and Iʻm using it now with my own little. Super rewarding. Kodak Gold 200 is warm and reliable.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b134d3108.jpeg

Iʻve also gathered a shelf (and overflow box) of bodies and lenses in various conditions. Itʻs kind of like collecting frames and completes, and introduces similar troubles with compatibility between components.

Staying away from the watch and clock threads for now, anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by billytwosheds (Post 23720829)

Iʻve also gathered a shelf (and overflow box) of bodies and lenses in various conditions. Itʻs kind of like collecting frames and completes, and introduces similar troubles with compatibility between components.

Staying away from the watch and clock threads for now, anyway.

I received a Minolta SRT 200 as a high school graduation gift, so Minolta is what I focused on when I started collecting cameras. For a while, I had a thing for fixed lens rangefinders, which eliminates the compatibility issue. Over that years, I added other brands, either when they were given to me or when I would find a camera bag filled with a body and lenses for a cheap price at the thrift store. I have owned a bunch of different lens systems, but I have never had a Nikon or Olympus. I got away from the hobby when the local stores stopped processing film. I have almost everything to do my own, so I might do that at some point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 25.4TPI (Post 23626535)

I’ve got a thing for old, nothing fancy rangefinders (and Thomas McGuane novels). The Yashica Electro 35 was inherited (closet find), the others acquired. The ME1 is very light and often comes along on backpacking trips. Fits in a hip pocket just right. Nikon is just plain reliable, and the Soviet Leica knockoff could use some fiddling.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8eb248d6e.jpeg

I have that Nikon P&S. Very capable machine for how simple and inexpensive they are. On par with the Olympus Mju-ii/Stylus. Good aesthetics as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by polymorphself (Post 23721073)

I have that Nikon P&S. Very capable machine for how simple and inexpensive they are. On par with the Olympus Mju-ii/Stylus. Good aesthetics as well.

That Jupiter-4 is super-neato.

There's been one popping up and down on The List Which Shall Not Be Named (For Reasons I Do Not Grok), but I've never gotten a response from the seller.

--Shannon

5x7 inch Deardorff. Sadly sold, it was a beautiful object, but just became too impractical for picture making...I shot color and b&w
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b3f810761c.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e69c2adabe.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f398d4c52c.jpg

My 52-53 Leica IIf most possibly upgraded by factory later. My neighbor (old guy in his late 70s or early 80s) was cleaning his garage and gave me tools and such saying take it or I throw them away. He held a plastic bag in his habd and I saw a Leica book in it and asked if I can have a look at it. Once gave the book bag he threw it back in the bag gave the bag to me and said take it or goes to dump. I almost fainted seeing the camera and other accessories in it. Told him I cant take it, don't be fool man this is valuable stuff, I can help to sell, but he was adamant that he asked around shops and no one wants a film camera. So I got it. Its really a "schmuckstück" (a jewellery piece).
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...feae11769b.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...35462492d0.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2939c0054c.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3ffb0311d.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...804edd846.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...44c0e3a436.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...176b961a9e.jpg
As I have zero clue how to operate it, I got to know a guy in my office who is a collector of film cameras but never had a chance to try a Leica yet, so I gave him to take home for Christmas holiday to shoot a few pics for me as a win-win.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...28ddf405b6.png
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5f1e8143cc.png
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ad85835715.png

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lattz (Post 23722101)

Lovely classic.

I have its cousin, a IIIc, main differences being no flash sync and no self-timer on mine.

They're a little complicated to use because so many things are controlled individually. Film loads after popping off the base plate where, hopefully a take-up spool awaits for attaching the film tail.

You wind the advance knob to feed film and cock the shutter, then set the shot counter to 0. Shutter speed is set on top, plus in front for 1/30 second and slower. Aperture is set on the lens. Do that either guessing your exposure or using a handheld light meter. Focus using the left rangefinder window and frame using the right finder window.

Take a deep breath and press the shutter button. That's it!

Repeat for the rest of the roll, flip the rewind lever to R then wind the film back into the cassette using the top left knob. Wonder what happened to all the 1-hour developing shops.

Isn't that easy? (Or do what I do and admire it during the occasional cleaning.)

Cheers,
Rick