Monday February 6, 2017-Film and Navy Friends

Otis and Emily, A new Brick, scanner, and a learning process

I usually go through a little bit of a depressive lull after the new year kicks in. We rush to take down the decorations, and move forward--this year that was not the case--we hit the ground running.

At the end of this month, i'm losing two friends and a great kiddo that Jen and I have become good friends with over the past two years.  Navy friends, that are constantly moving every few years to new places.  Strange story.  We met Otis and Emily through an old neighbor we grew up with when we moved here in 1984.  She moved not long later, but ended up marrying a Navy Officer and lived in Virginia Beach.  Thirty one years later, she moved back.  During our reunion at the Bridge Bar, we met Otis and Emily through Vicky (who was neighbors with them in Virginia Beach).  Life is funny sometimes.  Thorough Otis and Emily we've met some great people, learned about names, different version of beer drinking games, and met some overall great people.  They'll surely be missed.  We were happy to spend NYE with them this year.  Onward and upward. 

Camerawise, I have been taking a strong interest in developing my own black and white film.  I've watched videos, and after learning how to do it, I'm still strongly leaning toward building my own dark spot and buying a universal developer and moving forward with this. Made a couple of trips to Calagaz in January and have bought a multitude of expired film at $2 a roll. Although I've toned down my photoshop classes a little bit later in the month, I have gotten a bit of a new eye for urban photography and using photos and seeing photos as pieces of 'art'.  

I have also been in the market for a new film camera.  On the weekend of January 28, I decided that Saturday morning I was going to check multiple pawn shops for older cameras, kind of a thrift store/pawn shop/garage sale circuit.  I came away fruitless.  For some reason, I haven't been able to find any type film cameras in thrift stores lately.  I used to find a multitude of cheap compact cameras too, and now can't even find those.  So, finally I decided to hit the antique mall down the road from my house.  This place is amazing.  Always the coolest stuff inside, I am always intrigued by the finds that can be had if you take the time to look.  

Enter my first Brick:  A 1952 Argus C3.  The price in the original case was $50, which I had not intention of spending even though I had a $40 dollar budget (Christmas money given to my by my uncle). However, this place was wanting to move older cameras and sold it to me for $35.  I also bought a mamaya U for $4.50, so out the door I went $2 over budget.  Not Bad. 

I've also been studying urban photography and notice a lot of rage over the mjuII and other Olympus cameras that fit in the palm of your hand. I swear I've seen these in thrift shops before for about $5, but I can't seem to find them now.  

I realized there was a roll of Kodakchrome II in there from around 1983.  Then alas, I realized that I couldn't salvage it (especially after opening the case) I figured I'd use it as a conversation piece or an ornament to go with the older cameras i display (when I'm not using them)

First Brick: 1952 Argus C3 Rangefinder

I had one leftover roll of 36 exposure expired Kodak Max 400 left to attempt to run through it.  Although I've never used a rangefinder other than a polaroid land camera, I understood how to work this.  Everything seemed to work well, but the strange thing was then when clicking the shutter, it really doesn't feel like much is happening.  I guess I'm just used to the sounds of the shutter click in digital cameras!  

It was actually a very cool learning experience. I used a q-tip with Windex to clean the view finder and the range finder holes.  They cleaned up meticulously once I let it sit and dry out. I thought I really messed it up when I fogged and smudged the finders.  Guess all it had to do was dry out. 

Later that afternoon, while I had complete sunshine and the springlike temps, I asked wifey to walk with me to burn through the rest of the roll and take this thing for a test run.  I was happy with what I saw, after an hour return ($18) at the local Walgreens--yes they still process and get it back to you in an hour.  I was pretty pleased with the results, even though there was one point while after taking pics, I would the film BACKWARD--I wondered why the advance wasn't locking, then I realized.  Luckily I kept my eye on the number of film advances and only lost about 2 exposures on the film roll.  It was partly guessing but turned out OK.  The sunny 16 rule is a little difficult when your using 400 film and the highest shutter speed is 300, but these turned out pretty well-not over exposed, and only had about 2 pics that were out of focus (my older eyes had to adjust to the rangefinder settings--there were a couple of times I just 'guessed' how far away I was from something and shot blind--all at F16 this day.  

Here are a couple of samples.  Not bad for a first test roll. 

Now keep in mind, the pics that I had developed at Walgreens turned out much better than the negatives I scanned from the roll.  I also acquired an Epson Pro Scanner V300 for $28 from Craigslist this month.  Not a bad analog month, but I need to get a little better at my film handling-I realized a scratched a lot of the negatives while i attempted to run them thru the scanner.  I'm still not overly afraid to shoot and scan and develop though...it's a process right?

So, I started following this compactcameraclub on Instagram.  With my newer love of Urban photography, even my Digital EosM seems big after checking out and taking firm interest in 35mm point and shoots (good ones anyway).  I've been studying them and had no idea that some of the older Contax and Stylus cameras command very high dollar.  Cameras like the 28Ti and 35Ti from Nikon are so expensive, as well as the Ricoh Gr21 and others.  Wow--it's hard to believe these are such great marvels.  And SOOO DAMN small. I just think thats' cool in istelf!

Now the brick is big, but the MamiyaU is pretty small.  The one i bought feels very plasticy, and the film advance feels 'stuck'--I've taken a few pics with it during our January hikes, but still have to get them developed to see if it's worth keeping.  I do like manual film advances, especially after my Canon Sure Shot 35mm F2.8's advance motor stopped working and advancing film.  I was able to get 36 exposures on it, but for $1 at auction, even though it's a camera i liked, I won't have a problem throwing it away.  

Throwing away the Canon renewed my interest in the Fujifilm 290 Zoom I also bought for a dollar at auction. This camera I like, and, since my daughter never used it, I'll give it a few runs around the block to see how well she does. 

On Saturday, I got the fever for another cheap compact again, so Jen and I hit some garage sales in Pensacola. I noticed a couple of cameras in an Estate Sale, and gave it a shot.  Because it was the last day, the spokesman for the property stated everything was half off.  I was able to find a Canon T50 SLR, with Flash, and a 50mm F1.8 lens, a couple of older brownie cameras (trashed) and an Olympus Stylus 80 QD in a case with an unused roll of film.  I was able to get the Stylus (almost MJUii :)) and T50 for $18.  

I put the film in the Stylus and added the battery that was included in the case.  She fired up brilliantly and I started shooting some random pics. Everything worked!  I really liked the feel of the Stylus--how well it fit your hand, ease of use, and the pull the cover open to shoot, and shut it to close.  I'm more eager to see how these shoot even though the lens is the F5.6-10.   Talk about your perfect urban photog camera.  I'll definitely take it to the parades this month.  Looking forward to taking pics at the parades after seeing the PMA exhibit of a local photographer who shot since the late 60's mardi gras parades in Mobile in stunning black and white. I love this stuff. 

Unfortunately, another film advance problem on the T50.  After multiple attempts to try and fix, I salvaged the lens (which was in meticulous shape) pulled the eyepiece and tossed the rest in the trash.  I think the flash works, at least I hope it does.  Not big on paying $12 for a lens I already have, but sometimes that the breaks when it comes to auctions and buying blind.  

So, it was a great month for film and cameras--maybe by next entry I'll be blogging about my developing experiences--still a month or two away though :)