I am not new to twin lens reflex cameras (TLRs) or cameras with waist level view finders such as the KMZ Start, as well as various Praktica and Praktina models. I accept that they are not everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ but once upon a time, the Rolleiflex was the camera to own, especially amongst professional…
Month: May 2022
Size Isn’t Everything … Or Is It? – UPDATED 29/5/2022
I have been contemplating this post for quite a while and it concerns what film size we choose as film shooters as well as the rapidly increasing cost if the majority of film stock. I was always a 35mm (135) film user until about three years ago when I discovered the Joys of medium format…
Rollei SPUR HRX Developer
I was recommended this developer by fellow film shooter, Pjotr Utkin. As always, I tried to research it but to be honest there is little information on the web relating to real life experiences with it. I will come clean and admit that I thought I would test it with a roll of Fomapan 100…
Results Using Rollei Spur HRX Developer
Last year, I decided to try a different film in this developer as I had a few rolls of TMax 400 that were close to expiring. Upon reflection this may have been a stupid decision as I also had a bottle of TMAX developer open! Doh! I followed the manufacturer’s recommendations and exposed the film…
Only Just Vintage – The Praktica BX20
Previously, I wrote about the Praktica MTL5 that I had purchased on a whim. I was so impressed that I have been looking into other cameras from this manufacturer – some older, some newer. This is all about a newer model, the Praktica BX20, produced between 1987 and 1990. They were suppled with a variety…
1919 Contessa Nettel Cocorette Contessa
Dear reader, you will later hear about the Praktica BX20 that I bought a while ago which just about satisfies the requirements for a vintage camera, ie. over 30 years old. However, today’s post is about a recently acquired true antique being over 100 years old – a 1919 Contessa Nettel Cocorette Contessa folding camera….
The Voigtländer Bessamatic (Deluxe)
I acquired a Voigtländer Bessamatic (Deluxe) in October 2021 to add to my collection of vintage cameras. The kit included a 35mm/f3.4 Skopar X, a 50mm/f2.8 Color Skopar X and a 135mm/f4 Super Dynarex lenses. The lenses came with their cases and the camera came with the ever-ready case. I am pleased to say that…
The End of the Line!
Those of you that know me will recognise that I have a passion for vintage cameras. My understanding is that ”vintage’ refers to something that is at least twenty years old and so I guess that today’s ramblings are a bit of a mystery as they relate to a camera released in 2004. I will…
Finding Inspiration
Someone once said,”If you cant find inspiration with the things around you, look for the unusual” Unfortunately, that didn’t work for me over the past couple of days and so I decided that I would simply take photos of metal things! I had a couple of disappointing shots but it kept me occupied and away…
Grain? What Grain?
I am grateful to my friend and fellow photography enthusiast, Pjotr Utkin, without whom I would not have been writing this short article. Apart from putting me on to Spur HRX developer, he also gifted me a roll of Rollei Ortho 25 Plus before the dreaded virus hit. I never got around to using it…