Cameras which have shaped my photographic life
These are some of the cameras which I have used and shape my collection of images.
Each has played its part and will be detailed in further postings. There have been other wish I shall describe here and give examples of their results and which set of mine the image can be found. Please feel free to look at my sets, all comments would be appreciated.
1. I used a box camera from 1950 until early August 1955. This in fact is not my camera, which went to camera heaven many years ago, but one I purchaeds recently for the princely sum of £1
2 In August 1955 I purchsaed a used Purma Plus, whiwas used untli 1958 and for some unknown reason in July 1961. This was a unique camera, fixed focus, fixed aperature, 3 speeds. Again this is not the original, but could be since mine was very battered. Puchased recenly for £10
3 Montanus Ultraflex Twins Lens Reflex, bought used August 1961 and in use for black and white until 1970. This is 5. Reflexa sinle lens reflex. No longer Relexathe original
4 Carl Zeiss Werra. I borrowed one of these for three weeks in April 1962 when the owner was overseas. Rangerfinder camera with the shutter windin being a ring round the lens. My first experience of 35mm and colour.
Reflexa silgle lens reflex, no longer with uus. A Dixon's special using a Mamiya body coupled with a canons. The shutter was a disaster, two cloths blades running across the film plane which never in sync. A shame really some the 1.9 Canon lens was very good. Used with difficuly up until October 1968 when the body was consigned camera hell and the Canon lens retained.
6 Miranda D SLR. Lent to me by Dixons in April 1963 whilst the reflexa was being repaired.
7 Exa 500. Having got fedup with Reflexa I bought a new Exa 500 body in October 1968. The lenses from the Relexa were Exata fitting so were swapped over. The Exa contiued to be used until 1983, although in may cases as a supplement to my Rollei XF35. This is the original camera and lenses.
8 Unknown rangefinder camera borrowed from my fahter. Used for overseas trips where it was not practical istake the Exa. In use mainly in 1978/79
9 Rollei XF35 bought in 1980 when I was on a six weeks assignment in New York. Used intially for otherseas trips and later to supplement to Nikon EMs. Probably last used on mid 1980s. This is the original camera
10. In 1983 the first of two Nikon EMs was bought. These served me weill up until the late 1990s. Their achillees heel was the rewind and speed setting mechanisims. The forst one went for scrap, the second PXed against the Nikon F-500. The lens were carr=ied forward to the F-500.
11 Nikon F-500. A real Nikon bought in the latee 1990s to replace the second of the EMs. Continued to be used until went digital in 2003. Has recently b
een resurrected to take black and white
12 .Olymous C720US. My first digital camera purchased in March 2003 and used until 2005. Given away eventually
13 Dimage Z35. Bought in 2005 to replace the C720 whe I wanted a longer focus lens. It had an design problem where an internal screw came loose affecting the wider angle facility - it just got wider and wider with resulting blacking out of the images edges. Given to my four year older granddaughter this year to develop her skills.
14 Fuji Finepix S6500fd. Bought on 2007 this is my current camera. Is similar to operation as a SLR but fixed zoom lens.
Cameras which have shaped my photographic life
These are some of the cameras which I have used and shape my collection of images.
Each has played its part and will be detailed in further postings. There have been other wish I shall describe here and give examples of their results and which set of mine the image can be found. Please feel free to look at my sets, all comments would be appreciated.
1. I used a box camera from 1950 until early August 1955. This in fact is not my camera, which went to camera heaven many years ago, but one I purchaeds recently for the princely sum of £1
2 In August 1955 I purchsaed a used Purma Plus, whiwas used untli 1958 and for some unknown reason in July 1961. This was a unique camera, fixed focus, fixed aperature, 3 speeds. Again this is not the original, but could be since mine was very battered. Puchased recenly for £10
3 Montanus Ultraflex Twins Lens Reflex, bought used August 1961 and in use for black and white until 1970. This is 5. Reflexa sinle lens reflex. No longer Relexathe original
4 Carl Zeiss Werra. I borrowed one of these for three weeks in April 1962 when the owner was overseas. Rangerfinder camera with the shutter windin being a ring round the lens. My first experience of 35mm and colour.
Reflexa silgle lens reflex, no longer with uus. A Dixon's special using a Mamiya body coupled with a canons. The shutter was a disaster, two cloths blades running across the film plane which never in sync. A shame really some the 1.9 Canon lens was very good. Used with difficuly up until October 1968 when the body was consigned camera hell and the Canon lens retained.
6 Miranda D SLR. Lent to me by Dixons in April 1963 whilst the reflexa was being repaired.
7 Exa 500. Having got fedup with Reflexa I bought a new Exa 500 body in October 1968. The lenses from the Relexa were Exata fitting so were swapped over. The Exa contiued to be used until 1983, although in may cases as a supplement to my Rollei XF35. This is the original camera and lenses.
8 Unknown rangefinder camera borrowed from my fahter. Used for overseas trips where it was not practical istake the Exa. In use mainly in 1978/79
9 Rollei XF35 bought in 1980 when I was on a six weeks assignment in New York. Used intially for otherseas trips and later to supplement to Nikon EMs. Probably last used on mid 1980s. This is the original camera
10. In 1983 the first of two Nikon EMs was bought. These served me weill up until the late 1990s. Their achillees heel was the rewind and speed setting mechanisims. The forst one went for scrap, the second PXed against the Nikon F-500. The lens were carr=ied forward to the F-500.
11 Nikon F-500. A real Nikon bought in the latee 1990s to replace the second of the EMs. Continued to be used until went digital in 2003. Has recently b
een resurrected to take black and white
12 .Olymous C720US. My first digital camera purchased in March 2003 and used until 2005. Given away eventually
13 Dimage Z35. Bought in 2005 to replace the C720 whe I wanted a longer focus lens. It had an design problem where an internal screw came loose affecting the wider angle facility - it just got wider and wider with resulting blacking out of the images edges. Given to my four year older granddaughter this year to develop her skills.
14 Fuji Finepix S6500fd. Bought on 2007 this is my current camera. Is similar to operation as a SLR but fixed zoom lens.