SHOW US YOUR CAMERAS!!

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

Here's another one - a quite common Minolta X-500 with the no-so-common MD 2/135mm lens:

I always felt the X-500 is more "professional" than the X-700, even though the X-700 officially was the higher rated camera, of course. The X-500 has no program mode (just A mode and M mode) which feels "cleaner", and its manual mode metering is better engineered (LED show both the recommended / measured shutter time and the time manually chosen on the camera). In addition the X-700 doesn't allow slow flash sync when using dedicated (TTL) flashes, even in manual mode the camera insists to have 1/60 s ... With the X-500 you can use slow sync combined with TTL measuring, at least in manual mode. This feature is quite important when shooting events, concerts and weddings.

Here are the X-500 (with MD 1.2/50mm) and the X-700 (with MD 2/135mm) together:

The viewfinder of these SLR is among the best (=brightest and largest) I know - by far larger than the OVF of the Nikon F5 or the Nikon D3, for instance. It's a real pity Minolta didn't put all that engineering of the X-700 into a rugged metal body, combining it with the metal shutter of the XD-7 (which went up to 1/2300s even though it was officially only 1/1000) and selling it as X-900 ...!!

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Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 855 Location: Winnipeg Canada

There are similar (un-substantiated) claims made for the shutter of the Nikon F-3, which I take with a healthy pinch of salt over the left shoulder.
I've been un-able to force my version to 1/4000th sec in "A" mode, no matter how hard I try. Wink

I still prefer the viewfinder of the F-2 over all others. It is the only finder that I am able to focus off the ground glass with, despite it's slight dimness.
The "E" screen in the F-3 comes close, but no cigar.
I suppose I have become some-what set in my ways over the years, but I really don't mind.

-D.S.

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 855 Location: Winnipeg Canada

The claims I referred to are for the F-3, and not the Minolta.

I thought I was fairly clear with that point, but I suppose not. Wink

The top 1/2000 sec speed is impressive for the F-3's horizontally travelling shutter, and realistic expectations for it may have it a few 1/100 sec faster in A mode, but not a full stop faster in that vintage.

Hope this clears things up.

-D.S.

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 855 Location: Winnipeg Canada

I've re-read my post, and it seems I am a bit at fault too.
I tend to type on discussion boards the way I speak, which can be a problem at times.
The vocal inflections don't quite make it to the typed digital screen...

-D.S.

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

Two not so common SLRs from Germany - the Rolleiflex SL35 and the later SL350, here shown with a "Singapur" (on the SLR 35) and a "Gremany" (on the SL350) Planar 1.8/50mm.

Both cameras have a prettty interesting history since I got them from an equally remarkable and slightly dubious Swiss/German entrepreneur. Grown up in poverty in northern Nazi Germany from Swiss parents, he had joined the Peenemünde rocket research facility (which had been built up by Wernher von Braun, later responsible for the giant Saturn V moon rocket) at a very young age, specialising in electronics and guidance systems. After the war - now being about twenty years old - he came back to Switzerland, establishing a radio (and later TV) business and making truckloads of money. Hearing first-hand stories about "V2" WWII rocket launches and their guidance systems these days certainly is extraordinary, especially since most of the Apollo / moon rocket astronauts sadly have passed away ... and this was 20-30 years before Apollo!

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stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

Here's a recently acquired rare Konica AR 3.5/45-100m UC lens with a Konica T3 (new) camera.

Both the T3 (New) as well as the AR 3.5/45-100mm were a bit outdated even when new. The T3N was the last of the successfull Konica Autoreflex T series, comparable in size, functions, pricetag and manufacturing time to the Minolta SR-T series (although the Konita had a simple electromechanical auto exposure function). And the Konica AR 45-100mm, introduced in the late 1970s, was too expensive and to "moderate" (both in focal length and performance). Other manufacters had their 3.5/50-135mm zooms (notably the big three, Canon, Minolta and Nikon). The 35-105mm zooms were about to take off, soon to be followed by 28-96mm and 35-135mm constructions ... certainly a difficult time to sell an expensive 45-100mm ...

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visualopsins · Expire: 2021-06-22

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

pentaxpete · Joined: 02 Dec 2011 Posts: 630 Location: BRENTWOOD England

one of our two 90 year-old Club Members is moving and had a 'clear-out' so I got some FREE NIKONS Used Professionally and the door foam seals were rotten but mirror-box ones still good, so i renewed the seals and cleaned all the camera bodies and lenses. Shown with the 55mm f2.8 Micro-Nikkor which came with it .

Nikon FM Manual exposure only, shutter 1-1/100th + 'B' , Double Exposure button, ASA range 12 -3200, flash synchs at 1/125th maximum, delayed action raises mirror first, PC flash synch port + hot shoe with single contact. . Wind lever acts as shutter lock when pushed in and turns off electric. Needs 1x3v or 2x1.5 v batteries for exposure by RED 'LED's in viewfinder.
Turn aperture opposite chosen shutter speed until only ONE Red LRD lights to balance exposure.

Nikon FE. both Manual and Auto Aperture priority exposure modes, shutter 8 secs - 1/1000th + 'B' and 1/90th non-electric speeds. Maximum flash synch 1/125th. Delayed action raises mirror first, PC synch port + Hot shoe with two contacts. Wind lever acts as shutter lock and turns off electric when pushed in. Needs 1x3v or 2x1.5v batteries. Exposure by Green marker in viewfinder against chosen shutter speed then turn lens aperture until a black marker matches in 'Manual Exposure' mode, In 'Auto Mode' the Black marker goes opposite the shutter speed to match the lens aperture chosen.

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 855 Location: Winnipeg Canada

There's been an FM for sale here for about 10 days or so.
I can't get get past the L.E.D. display- other wise a fine fully mechanical camera that will still run without batteries.
The scaling down is not as extreme as later series cameras~ FG for example, which can be hard for me to control.
I think I'm going to stop on bodies for a while. The 2, F-2's , 1 F-3 daily carry sees all the others sit unused, which is a bit beyond original intent Wink

-D.S.

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

Another Minolta which ist quite uncommon outside of Japan:

The XD-s basically is XD with built-in diopter adjustment for its viewfinder. While some claim it was sold only in Japan, I know firsthand that it officially (ie by Minolta Switzerland) imported to Switzerland as well. According to Josef Scheibel, a well known German Minolta book author, it wasn't sold in any other country. Every now and then a like-new XD-s appears on the market here, usually in like new condition. Here its is shown with the sought-after Minolta MD 5.6/250mm mirror lens - a rare combination, and probably not seen very often.

Another image of the XD-s, here with the MD-II 2.8/24mm lens. The MD-II shares the same optics with all previous versions except the early, heavy MC-X which seems to have slightly different glass. The later MD-III as well as the AF have a completely new computation, though.

Another pretty rare MD lens on the XD-s - the Minolta MD 4/17mm. Originally delivered as MC-X, the MD version shown here (as well as the later MD-III) share the same optical construction. It certainly is much better than the Tokina RMC 3.5/17mm, and as good as the Carl Zeiss Distagon CY 4/18mm. I have compared the Zeiss side-by-side with the Minolta 4/17mm, the Minoilta having a tad worse resolution in the corners, but also a slightly better contrast and colors. And if we acknowledge that the Minolta is wider than the Zeiss, its overall performance certainly is as good as that of the Distagon 4/18mm.

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stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

Here we a few nice Rollei TLRs:

On the left there's an early post-war Rolleicord IId with a Schneider Kreuznach Xenar 3.5/75 lens. This version of the Rolleicord was manufactured between 1949 and 1951; totally a mere 2800 units were made. Note that only the taking lens is coated.

Next (mid-left) comes a Rolleiflex Automat 6x6 (Model K4A) with Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 f=75mm. This version of the Rolleiflex was made between 1951 and 1954 in large quantities. The camera shown here was in pretty bad schape when I got it, but after some cleaning it looks acceptable. Its shutter is working, and the lenses are clean as well.

Both these cameras come from the collection of Swiss-German entrepreneur who sold me some quite interesting stuff a few years ago. It's the guy who had been - when he was 16-17 years old - involved in V2 rocketry at Peenemünde (Gremnay), together with Wernher von Braun.

Then (mid-right) there's a nice greyish Rolleiflex T (Model K8 T1) with a Carl Zeiss Tessar 1:3.5 f=75mm lens. This one is very well preserved; I got it only about a year ago together with a Plaubel Makina and an old English large format SLR.

Finally there's the Rolleicord Vb, equipped with a Schneider Kreuznach Xenar 1:3.5/75mm. It's like new, and it did belong to my aunt who bought around 1975 to replace her earlier (f2.8??) Rolleiflex. She said she was never happy with it, always complainig how much better her previous Rolleiflex had been. I've been using the camera occasionaly when I was younger, but generally I did prefer the Mamyia 645 because it was more in line with my the Minolta SLRs.

I used to have also an early Rolleiflex from around 1930, originally belonging to my father. However it seems that one ended up with my brother after my father died ...

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cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9107 Location: Houston, Texas

I've owned a couple of the one second from the left, or close to it. Automat MX/EVS is how I always referred to it. Fantastic shooters.

I also owned a 2.8 C and a 2.8 D. I really loved the character of those lenses.

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

While I can't compete with Edgar's (DigiChromEd) beautiful black Konica T's, I recently got a nice T2 which complements my little collection of the large Konica T bodies.

The original Autoreflex T is at the left/back side, the Konica T2 in the middle, the T3 at the left/front, and the T3 (New) with its modified body shape and the integrated hotshoe is on the right.
All four cameras are shown with contemporary f1.4 lenses - the T and the T2 with 1.4/57mm lenses and the T3 / T3 (New) with the 1.4/50mm lenses.

All these cameras are beautiful, heavy and rugged beasts. All have a fully mechanical shutter, and all do rely on mercury batteries for metering.

I'd prefer to have those bodies in black - however they are pretty scarce in Switzerland. I have two of them (a black T and a black T3), but they look pretty battered. Unlike the Minolta XD (and the Leica, of course) which had a black chrome plating finish, the black T's were painted. And paint isn't as durable as chrome plating ...

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DigiChromeEd · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 3467 Location: Northern Ireland

That's a nice collection Steve. Congrats

kansalliskala · Expire: 2016-12-30

Smena 7. Ugly but works.

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DigiChromeEd · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 3467 Location: Northern Ireland

Voigtlander Bessaflex TM

DigiChromeEd · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 3467 Location: Northern Ireland

Pentax SV (used to belong to Sir Harry Secombe)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Secombe

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3484 Location: Switzerland

I certainly don't collect Leica stuff - but from time to time a nice item at an irresistable price pops up, and then ...

My "newest" Leica here, the original Leicaflex, just came in yesterday. It seems to work fine, and it is a beautiful piece of mechanical craftsmanship for sure (camera on the very left). The others I had already before - a Leicaflex SL, a Leica R3, a Leica R4 and a Leica R5. With exception of the Leicaflex SL all of them are in working order, and all were in the CHF 50.-- to CHF 80.-- price range.

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Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 577 Location: New Zealand

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#2

A Mamiya Sekor CPH from the early-mid 60s, with the other 2 available lenses, although there was possibly a 48/2.8 for it as well. It is a leaf shutter SLR, the second of two models, with the later model having a light meter.

Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 577 Location: New Zealand

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Another leaf shutter SLR from Kowa, along with a selection of available lenses, some very large for the maximum aperture given. The 1.8 normal lens is said to be the largest for a leaf shutter SLR.