Category ThisOldCamera

Scanner Files: Yet another roll through the half fame Olympus PEN FT w/ Kodak Ultramax 400

Eric L. Woods

I prefer 24 roll drug store grade film with the Olympus PEN FT (review here) because it makes for 48 exposures. With 36 exposures I tend to start wasting exposures to muscle through the last frames. The PEN FT is a beautiful camera that is great to use. Especially impressive is the 40mm f/1.4 that really squeezes a great amount of detail out of such a small exposure. Also enjoy the default portrait orientation. Here are some sample shots below and here is a link to all of my PEN FT shots.

Happy shooting.

-ELW

Camera Random Neural Firings: Something old and Canon (1Ds Mk II) and new and Nikon (Z)

Eric L. Woods 2 Comments

Just some thoughts regarding recent purchases (also returns) and recent news. As background, I consider myself brand agnostic and think there is space for many brands to accommodate many preferences. Debates regarding one brand versus another will send me backing away slowly. Pointless. These are just some observations regarding recent personal and news feed revelations. Continue reading “Camera Random Neural Firings: Something old and Canon (1Ds Mk II) and new and Nikon (Z)” →

Contax 137 MA Quartz Part 3: Photo Update

Eric L. Woods 2 Comments

My first post about the Contax 137 MA Quartz was a leap of faith.

Faith in the Contax name. This is my fourth (35mm) Contax and each has been rock solid.

Faith in KEH.com bargain grade. Have purchased many an item bargain grade from KEH and each has been rock solid.

My second post was about the new covering I put on it. Very happy with that.

Ah. Lenses. Purchased the excellent normal Contax Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm <inhales> f/1.7 with the camera.

Continue reading “Contax 137 MA Quartz Part 3: Photo Update” →

This Old Camera: Contax (Yashica) 137 MA Quartz + Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.7

Eric L. Woods 9 Comments

Have since added a Part 2 reskin post and a Part 3 photo update.

May regret this later, but I am calling it early. Have yet to even get through my first roll of film, but I am calling the Contax 137 MA Quartz as my favorite SLR of all time at any price… And I have and have had quite a few SLRs. And this is one of the least expensive SLRs I have purchased. Does not matter. Why?

 

First off that name.

Continue reading “This Old Camera: Contax (Yashica) 137 MA Quartz + Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.7” →

This Old Camera: Voigtlander Bessa R2

Eric L. Woods 4 Comments

If you want a Leica and you have the disposable income required to inhabit Leica town my advice is to get a Leica.

If you want a Leica and have full-blown metered red dot fever, but do not have the disposable income required currently do not buy anything else because you will eventually sell it, potentially at a loss, in order to finance a Leica. If you do not mind the maligned aesthetics of the internally metered M5 that is an option. An older body like an M3 may do the trick for you. Not bad at all with a Leicameter atop. Pricey for the vintage, but waaay less than an M6. And, unlike non-Leicas, it will hold it’s value or even appreciate when you do flip it for an M6 or the like.

There are technically other options also if you wish to consider them. Zeiss, Leitz/Minolta collab, so on and so forth are all fine cameras. But some of those can get pricey quickly as well. They may be right up your alley if you have a bit of a contrarian bent. But if you are determined to get a Leica they may get flipped later as well.

Continue reading “This Old Camera: Voigtlander Bessa R2” →