So what film camera/bit of kit have you been obsessing about today?

If you switch between bright and dark areas I find the older meters seem to take a short time to adjust. If you have an exposure readout in the viewfinder then make sure chosen exposure is in line with sunny 16 and it shouldn't go too far wrong.
 
mothdust said:
I've been puzzling over the meter in my new eBay purchase, an Exakta RTL1000. It seems to go from "extremely under" to "extremely over" in one click of the aperture ring - might this be because I've got the wrong kind of battery in it? I stuck a generic 1.5v button cell in there, but I remember reading somewhere that the slightly more expensive silver button cells give a smoother voltage? Would this possibly be the cause?
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Which lens are you using with the RTL1000? It needs to be the later Exakta mount and, if it is, the lens needs to be switched to auto.
 
john.margetts said:
Which lens are you using with the RTL1000? It needs to be the later Exakta mount and, if it is, the lens needs to be switched to auto.
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Are you sure about this? I've never used an Exakta RTL1000 (which was based on the Practica VLC) but according to Aguila and Rouah, the "old" Exakta lenses fit and there is even the left hand shutter release to enable those with FAD (Fully Automatic Diaphragm - why should digital grab all the acronyms :D) to work normally. The book says that the mount was redesigned and talks of "internal preselection" so that the new lenses used a right hand shutter release. It also says that the only Exakta accessories that wouldn't fit are the viewfinders and screens.

I suspect that the lenses in question are the Domiplan (auto) and Lydith (preset).
 
StephenM said:
Are you sure about this? I've never used an Exakta RTL1000 (which was based on the Practica VLC) but according to Aguila and Rouah, the "old" Exakta lenses fit and there is even the left hand shutter release to enable those with FAD (Fully Automatic Diaphragm - why should digital grab all the acronyms :D) to work normally. The book says that the mount was redesigned and talks of "internal preselection" so that the new lenses used a right hand shutter release. It also says that the only Exakta accessories that wouldn't fit are the viewfinders and screens.

I suspect that the lenses in question are the Domiplan (auto) and Lydith (preset).
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Yes, I am sure. If it is not the later Exakta mount, the camera cannot stop down the aperture. Old format Exakta lenses fit but the auto-diaphragm linkage does not work (you can buy an adapter to make it work) and the new auto-diaphragm linkage will not work either. For the metering viewfinder to work, it needs to be the new format Exakta mount lenses.
 
john.margetts said:
Which lens are you using with the RTL1000? It needs to be the later Exakta mount and, if it is, the lens needs to be switched to auto.
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I tried both that @StephenM kindly sent me! Didn't notice if this happened on both lenses though, or just one. So you're saying I should switch the lens to an "auto" setting? I'll have a look and see what I can see...
 
From the manual (which I've now examined) the problem is that the left hand shutter release is too far back - the lens mount sticks out more than on the classic Exaktas. The adaptor seems to be a metal tube that screws into the release to make it stick out more. The Domiplan probably won't press back far enough to release the shutter (although that lens does seem to go back more than some). The Lydith, as a preset diaphragm (you have to manually close it down before pressing the shutter) won't be affected.

If you haven't used a preset diaphragm before, there's a ring (I think, on the Lydith) that is hard to knock accidentally that you use to set the aperture that you want and an easy to turn one that you turn before releasing the shutter. It stops at the preselected aperture. Harder to explain than to do; check the Lydith and you'd see.

Edit to add: I don't understand the "setting to auto" comment; setting to manual I could follow.
 
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Actually, I think I see. Presumably open aperture metering only; and open aperture metering only with the "different" lenses which have to be set on auto to ensure that they are fully open during metering operations. I've never had a built in meter with an Exakta - I always used my Lunasix.
 
An Arca Swiss fit type tripod mount camera L bracket should be being loaded onto a slow boat from China as we speak. :)
 
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I have to admit that a Pentax LX and a Minolta XM would be nice to add to my (non) collection of interchangeable finder 35mm SLRs...
 
The spark was lit again when I found out that its AP mode could meter for literally any light level, and would keep the shutter open forever (or until the battery dies). With my lingering itch to do some film long-exposures, a feature like that would be really useful. However, I think I could equally do the same thing with a light meter app on my phone...
 
mothdust said:
The spark was lit again when I found out that its AP mode could meter for literally any light level, and would keep the shutter open forever (or until the battery dies). With my lingering itch to do some film long-exposures, a feature like that would be really useful. However, I think I could equally do the same thing with a light meter app on my phone...
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My 35mm SLR gear is MF Minolta but having read about the metering capabilities of the LX I've found myself looking at a few on eBay. It doesn't help that I briefly used the old Pentax gear that my old college photography department used to loan out to students and I remember the basic 50mm Pentax lens producing lovely images on FP4 and XP2. For that reason I've had a long time itch for a Pentax MX.
 
Got my Mamiya 645 AFD out of its bag at the weekend, loaded some film and fresh batteries, hoping for a decent weekend next week when I can actually get to use it, fancy a bit of MF action.
 
mothdust said:
Things I do not need: A Pentax LX
Things I keep looking at on eBay: A Pentax LX
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StephenM said:
I have to admit that a Pentax LX and a Minolta XM would be nice to add to my (non) collection of interchangeable finder 35mm SLRs...
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I can help you! I have a Pentax LX... as long as you don't mind sending it for a CLA and buying a new finder, as It's the one I dropped on some rocks at Queensferry a month or so ago... :( :( :(

Just kidding. Waiting for Miles to come back from his hols before sending it off. Permanent search on fleabay for a FA-1 (or FA-1W) finder. New tripod bought (and old £5 charity shop one thrown away in the hope that the new one won't be noticed). New Vivitar 35-70 lens bought which is slightly lighter than the Pentax-M one (which is a bit stiff and doesn't quite focus to infinity). I need to decide whether to get the latter CLAd as well (£45) or flog it off as damaged.

I spent a bit of time trying to work out, did I really really want a LX? As I'm increasingly trying for lower light shots these days, that metering off the film in A mode is something I really miss. A lot simpler than counting elephants after some dubious metering or vastly extended Sunny 16 estimates! So, yes I do.

Total likely damage bill, ~ £350! Ye gods and little fishes!!! So yes, I've been obsessing about all of this. ;)
 
Arghhh, £350? :( Well, in the interest of someone else taking temptation away from me, I see LXs popping up on fleabay for around £120-150 fairly recently, so if you're not desperate, it seems it's just a case of waiting. I did think of your LX mishap when I was looking - wondered if I would be bidding against you :D
 
mothdust said:
Arghhh, £350? :( Well, in the interest of someone else taking temptation away from me, I see LXs popping up on fleabay for around £120-150 fairly recently, so if you're not desperate, it seems it's just a case of waiting. I did think of your LX mishap when I was looking - wondered if I would be bidding against you :D
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The £350 included a new tripod and fixing the lens. I think the LX CLA plus a new finder should work out around £160, which is cheaper than most LXs I have seen... and of course it will be freshly serviced! That said, Miles advised against buying a new finder until he's had a look at it. I'm still keeping an open mind about whether to buy another and sell the old as damaged...
 
ChrisR said:
Interesting. Actually the meter on the LX works down to LV -1, IIRC, which is darn near total darkness!
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..better than the Olympus OMs? It has to quite dim for the OM shutter to close after 1.5 mins.
 
excalibur2 said:
..better than the Olympus OMs? It has to quite dim for the OM shutter to close after 1.5 mins.
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I never gelled with the ergonomics of the OMs, weirdly. They are -so similar- to the Pentax MX etc line, but slightly different. Just a personal choice!
 
Linhof Technika 4x5 in nice condition with a VERY wide Linhof select Schneider Kreuznach...

Linhof 617 also would not be bad...Or a Pentax 67 with the wooden handle...ooohhh and definitely a Mmamiya RB67 Pro SD...

Oh b*****ks, ALL of them thanks! And I reserve the right to add to the list...:woot:
 
mothdust said:
I never gelled with the ergonomics of the OMs, weirdly. They are -so similar- to the Pentax MX etc line, but slightly different. Just a personal choice!
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When you accumulate quite a few cameras you start to compare and I'm not an OM fan either, but have some nice lenses with OM mount so use a OM2 that a kind member gave me.
 
excalibur2 said:
When you accumulate quite a few cameras you start to compare and I'm not an OM fan either, but have some nice lenses with OM mount so use a OM2 that a kind member gave me.
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I'm used to having a shutter lock on my Cosina (if you don't pull the advance lever out a bit, it won't fire), so the lack of one on the OM10 I had, meant 3 or 4 "oops" wasted shots on each roll. I'm not keen on the "green/orange/red lights" in-frame metering, either - prefer a needle. Despite this, I always hankered after the OM4-ti (amazing feature list), so when I had the chance to borrow one and actually hold it, was a bit relieved to find I wasn't that keen. Saves me another impulse purchase!
 
mothdust said:
I'm used to having a shutter lock on my Cosina (if you don't pull the advance lever out a bit, it won't fire), so the lack of one on the OM10 I had, meant 3 or 4 "oops" wasted shots on each roll. I'm not keen on the "green/orange/red lights" in-frame metering, either - prefer a needle. Despite this, I always hankered after the OM4-ti (amazing feature list), so when I had the chance to borrow one and actually hold it, was a bit relieved to find I wasn't that keen. Saves me another impulse purchase!
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Well cameras are so cheap (although they seem to be going up) it's not worth keeping one with problems and can't trust, but other than the OM10 which IMO is a crappy design and I lost some good shots once...I've just realised the Nikon f90x is crappy when using a non AF lens as the front housing with prism sticks out too far and adjusting the aperture was a PITA...and I was using a Nikon AIs lens.
 
antonroland said:
Linhof Technika 4x5 in nice condition with a VERY wide Linhof select Schneider Kreuznach...

Linhof 617 also would not be bad...Or a Pentax 67 with the wooden handle...ooohhh and definitely a Mmamiya RB67 Pro SD...

Oh b*****ks, ALL of them thanks! And I reserve the right to add to the list...:woot:
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I bought an RZ67 pro ii kit not long since and have added the waist level finder to it as well (it only came with AE prism). On the basis that the RB67 is going to be cheaper and you'll still have that glorious big focusing screen and useful rotating back I'd say why not treat yourself? I wasn't sure what to expect but now I'm a convert to the RZ.
 
Got s
mdjchat said:
I bought an RZ67 pro ii kit not long since and have added the waist level finder to it as well (it only came with AE prism). On the basis that the RB67 is going to be cheaper and you'll still have that glorious big focusing screen and useful rotating back I'd say why not treat yourself? I wasn't sure what to expect but now I'm a convert to the RZ.
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Cheers Mate

Have some short term cashflow issues to take care of but I do think the RB is the next logical step after another 2 or 3 5D MkI bodies.

Maybe I will hunt for a WLF for my M645J
 
antonroland said:
Got s


Cheers Mate

Have some short term cashflow issues to take care of but I do think the RB is the next logical step after another 2 or 3 5D MkI bodies.

Maybe I will hunt for a WLF for my M645J
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I know how tight money can be at times. The only plus is that if you're very lucky (and it does happen) you might find someone selling one cheap on Gumtree or eBay because "it's just an old film camera". That's the only reason I have mine.
 
Surely I'm not the only one obsessing over something new since September last year!!??

Quite content with my current MF collection, I have set my recent interests, OK, obsession, towards a new 35mm body of some sort.

I have a Yashica Electro 35, very happy with that and will keep it for times that I don't want to have total control....but I would like a fully manual 35mm setup.

I've often looked at Leica M2's and M3's but realistically, decent Leica M mount glass is a bit rich for me, so seems silly to spend out on the 'film box' if I won't be buying the lenses to match. Bessa R2/R3/R4 featured for a bit, but they are pretty much the same cost as an M2/M3 (albeit with a meter, granted) and back to the M mount lenses....

That steered me towards LTM. Namely a Bessa R, or maybe an L with the awesome Voigtlander 15mm!! I love the idea of a Leica iiif or even a Canon P, but realistically, a bright vf is more important to me than the classic looks as a camera that will be used!!

I got a little sidetracked with high end P&S (I was gifted a Canon SureShot Supreme, a half decent lens, but big, noisy and fully auto) - maybe a GR1S/V to complement my GR, or a Hexar AF - but they can wait until another time. I don't mind fixing things, but they all seem to have their common failures, yet still command top dollar!!

Nope, today, my current obsession is a Rollei 35!! I love the design and looks, I was always put off my the scale focus.
It dawned on me today that I actually like scale focusing! Often, with my Electro 35, if I only have one hand free I will set it to f/8, adjust focus to suit the range I'm interested in, and leave it!!

Granted, it's not ideal wide open at short distances, but I'm still intrigued!!

Any past or present owners on here? I have read a preference for the Sonnar for colour, and the Tessar for sharpness. The f/2.8 Sonnar appeals for low light, but maybe misses the point with scale focus!!

Any thoughts on fair prices for these, these days? They seem to be all over the place on ebay!
 
Hallsy said:
Surely I'm not the only one obsessing over something new since September last year!!??

Quite content with my current MF collection, I have set my recent interests, OK, obsession, towards a new 35mm body of some sort.
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I have an RZ67, a large format kit, a Yashicamat 124G, a Fujifilm GA645Zi, and a few 35mm cameras - but the one I'm liking most at the moment is a lowly Praktica MTL3 for which I paid the princely sum of £25 including a 50mm lens (and many are available cheaper). I don't think the meter works but I'm used to using an external meter anyway; so no batteries needed except for the meter and not much to go wrong.

I have a couple of M42 lenses but I'm also acquiring a variety of Tamron Adaptall lenses which I can use with any of my 35mm SLRs - I have adaptors for M42, Minolta, Olympus, Canon FD, Mamiya ZM, and Nikon.
 
I think I'm mostly obsessing over something like a mamiya C330. Cant get the wife to agree yet, mind.
 
I keep wondering whether to buy another Pentax MX, or to get the Pentax ME I bought from new serviced.

And I'm usually obsessing about a lens or two! (At some point I've got to think about a lens and a load of other gubbins for the Chroma, but I think I've got a fair bit of lead time there!)
 
Well I'm not interested in compacts, range finders or LF so only have a wish list for a Nikon F4 and Canon FDn 20mm......Maybe a Canon EOS 1 or 3 if going cheap at the bootie to play with. (y)
 
My kitbag will surely remain incomplete until it contains a 1.4x extender....
 
Just the Chroma, always the Chroma. :D:(

Wish I'd ordered the early bird one now :banghead:
 
Anything Medium Format. Never took the plunge when I was thinking about it a couple of months ago. Still undecided but I have my eye on a Mamiya C33 at the moment.

I can't decide if it is worth it though as I would only really want to shoot colour which means sending it to a lab for processing, and my scanner is a Plustek so only does 35mm so would have to accept the scans from the lab.

I know I'm bound to cave soon though, all I'm doing at the moment is looking at MF film shots on Flickr.

Anyone got anything they want to sell me cheap? :LOL:
 
Craigus said:
Anything Medium Format. Never took the plunge when I was thinking about it a couple of months ago. Still undecided but I have my eye on a Mamiya C33 at the moment.

I can't decide if it is worth it though as I would only really want to shoot colour which means sending it to a lab for processing, and my scanner is a Plustek so only does 35mm so would have to accept the scans from the lab.

I know I'm bound to cave soon though, all I'm doing at the moment is looking at MF film shots on Flickr.

Anyone got anything they want to sell me cheap? :LOL:
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Home developing of colour film is just as easy as black and white, in fact in some ways it's easier as there are only one set of timings for every film. The only technical bit is getting a steady and much warmer temperature for the chemicals.

If you want to scan your own an Epson V500 will cost you very little and will hold its value if you want to sell it on or lab scans are excellent but obviously more expensive in the long run.

If you want to dip your toe into medium format without spending very much then have a look at the Ross Ensign 16-20, tiny little camera that shoots 6 x 4.5 negs through a lens that is an equal to some of the classics and better than most of the rest.

Here's one I bought for peanuts recently, its literally pocket sized. (I did sell this one as I already had another in better condition.)

Front by Andy, on Flickr

Try and get one with a case as they do not have any strap attachments and try and get the Rosstar lens version.

Here's a couple of shots taken this year.

Derwent Water by Andy, on Flickr

This one is a 2 shot pano that I have had printed at 10" x 30". Both on Kodak Portra 160.

Catbells-Pano by Andy, on Flickr

Here's a slightly more in depth review that I wrote a while ago.
https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/t...nal-camera-review-thread.529199/#post-6096923
 
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