Betty Boop's Leica
Well, dear mateys, most things have been sold and here we are, freed of superfluities.
Lynn gave me this lovely Agfa Clack on her first visit here, in the Autumn of 2006. She returns tomorrow, to my infinite joy, to begin our 20th photographic adventure :) The good old Clack is eagerly waiting, loaded with Delta 3200 :) So is the result of my first "camera hack", which I hope to expose to the world before long :)
These days the Clack is another cult camera, complete with the inevitable Lomophile nonsense :( A current e-bay seller writes "the lens is so poor that the camera produces strange distorted images, often poorly exposed, over-exposed, blurred, etc on the best 120 medium format film… the results, in short are dreamy. Like the famous plastic Diana and Lomo cameras the Clack does something the latest and greatest Leica camera costing thousands cannot: turn you into an 'instant artist' ".
Desist from Red Bull, you beatnik buffoon! :( Whilst looking like something from a '30s cartoon, the Clack has a famously decent lens and is not remotely toy-like in terms of build quality. It's really a rather brilliant design: You can't look at one without smiling and yet it's a totally serious camera. Mine also has a lens cap. I've never found a reference to this unique accessory, but it adds an essential finishing touch of absurd, irresistible charm :)
The lens this was taken with is another rediscovery - or actually discovery, for it's never been used - the aggressively sharp and contrasty second version of the CZJ Prakticar 50mm f1.4. It's very different from the older lenses I'm used to, but we'll see how it goes :) Back in a couple of weeks, dear chums :)
And remember: Only ever use "the best 120 medium format film". You don't get blurry or over-exposed with the horrible old cheap stuff :)
The kitchen. Praktica BX20, CZJ Prakticar 50mm f1.4, Fomapan 100. f4@1/15th
Betty Boop's Leica
Well, dear mateys, most things have been sold and here we are, freed of superfluities.
Lynn gave me this lovely Agfa Clack on her first visit here, in the Autumn of 2006. She returns tomorrow, to my infinite joy, to begin our 20th photographic adventure :) The good old Clack is eagerly waiting, loaded with Delta 3200 :) So is the result of my first "camera hack", which I hope to expose to the world before long :)
These days the Clack is another cult camera, complete with the inevitable Lomophile nonsense :( A current e-bay seller writes "the lens is so poor that the camera produces strange distorted images, often poorly exposed, over-exposed, blurred, etc on the best 120 medium format film… the results, in short are dreamy. Like the famous plastic Diana and Lomo cameras the Clack does something the latest and greatest Leica camera costing thousands cannot: turn you into an 'instant artist' ".
Desist from Red Bull, you beatnik buffoon! :( Whilst looking like something from a '30s cartoon, the Clack has a famously decent lens and is not remotely toy-like in terms of build quality. It's really a rather brilliant design: You can't look at one without smiling and yet it's a totally serious camera. Mine also has a lens cap. I've never found a reference to this unique accessory, but it adds an essential finishing touch of absurd, irresistible charm :)
The lens this was taken with is another rediscovery - or actually discovery, for it's never been used - the aggressively sharp and contrasty second version of the CZJ Prakticar 50mm f1.4. It's very different from the older lenses I'm used to, but we'll see how it goes :) Back in a couple of weeks, dear chums :)
And remember: Only ever use "the best 120 medium format film". You don't get blurry or over-exposed with the horrible old cheap stuff :)
The kitchen. Praktica BX20, CZJ Prakticar 50mm f1.4, Fomapan 100. f4@1/15th