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Other Telephone Information => Off Topic => Phonographs, Typewriters, Vacuums, Calculators, Juke Boxes, Slot Machines & Cameras => Topic started by: benhutcherson on May 31, 2009, 07:53:44 PM

Title: Vintage Cameras
Post by: benhutcherson on May 31, 2009, 07:53:44 PM
I'm just curious as to how many others here are interested in vintage cameras. Photography is one of my other hobbies, and my newest "serious" camera was made in the 1980s.

To me, older cameras, with all of their quirks, are much more satisfying to use. Yes, you have to know what you're doing, but it's enormously satisfying when you get it right. Plus, most of the old, better cameras have a feeling of heft and precision that you just don't get today.

For 35mm, I use Canon's FD mount cameras, which was Canon's mainstay professional system from the '70s through the late '80s(and extending back to the earlier FL system from the '60s). I have 6 cameras and at one time had over 20 lenses, although I've paired this down a good bit. These aren't really collectible so much, they're just good quality, utilitarian cameras that work forever and are inexpensive to buy today(sort of the 500 series of the camera world  :) ).

I also am a big fan of Rollei twin lens reflex cameras. I have an older Rolleiflex Automat III with a 3.5 Xenar, and a couple of Rolleicords from the III up through a Va, all with either Xenars or Tessars.

Then, of course, I have the obligatory boxes full of old Kodak Brownies, Arguses, Polaroids, and the like. I've had, in the past, SLRs from Yashica, Petri, and a few others, although I've parted with those. Also have a Yashica Electro GSN, which is a great little camera although mine needs some work.

Finally, I have a decent sized stockpile of flashbulbs-mostly GE #5s/Sylvania P25s, but a few others. I have half a dozen that are about the size of a standard household lightbulb, and have a medium screw base. I don't know offhand the number, but they're potent. 

So, anyone else here into vintage cameras?
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: bingster on May 31, 2009, 09:33:58 PM
I'm not seriously into photography, but I do have a bunch of vintage cameras.  Nothing spectacular--most are standard consumer cameras that I like because of their design.

The only cameras I was passionate about were Polaroid roll film cameras.  I have a slew of those, and took carloads of pictures with them.  Then they stopped making Type 42 film and I was devastated.  It made sense for them to stop making it, of course, but that didn't make me feel any better about it.  I still have the cameras, but they're now nothing more than decorations.  :'(
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: benhutcherson on May 31, 2009, 10:07:06 PM
I like the old Polaroid roll film cameras, too. I have a couple of model 100s, and one of the later ones(J66, I think).

The model 100s weigh a ton-they have to be one of the most nicely made consumer model Polaroids(next to the pack film 250, of course).

There have been some people who have figured out how to convert them to 120 format roll film, however it's pretty major surgery and not reversible. To do it well, you have to add film rails, and re-engineer the pressure plate since 120 film is considerably thinner than the Polaroid roll film. That's not to mention adding the necessary winding and counting hardware, and then getting everything light proof. When it's all said and done, you end up with an odd panoramic format, something like 6x10.

I also love the fact that the model 100 and the other early Polaroids work without a battery. All of the pack film cameras are dead without a battery(which, incidentally, is hard if not impossible to find).

The biggest negative about most of the roll film cameras is the separate viewfinder/rangefinder, a set up which I'm not too fond of. But, then, I guess that a lot of Polaroids don't even have a rangefinder, so that's something that I can overlook.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: Dan/Panther on May 31, 2009, 11:06:04 PM
Ben;
check out this camera and the price the guy paid. It's enough to make you puke...scroll down a bit.
D/P


http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=109147&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: benhutcherson on May 31, 2009, 11:22:29 PM
Wow-I wish that I could find the deals like that.

I love wooden view cameras-not only are they functional, but they're just pretty to look at. There are even still a few currently in production, like the Japanese-made Tachihara

http://www.adorama.com/VW45FC.html?searchinfo=tachihara

Surprisingly enough, it's actually the least expensive field view camera on the market, and used ones(they've been made pretty much made unchanged since the '70s) can be had for much less.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: mienaichizu on June 01, 2009, 02:04:20 AM
I'm still new into photography, I just recently bought my DSLR, a Nikkon D40.

I have 3 vintage cameras in my collection, a Zenith ET, Canon  QL17 and Agfa Optima 200. I also have a Bell and Howell slide cube, I don't bought all of these, all are gifts from friends.
Come to think of it, there are lots of vintage cameras, video cameras and projectors coming out of the market, maybe I can collect also those, recently I just saw a Rollei twin lens reflex out there.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: Perry on June 02, 2009, 11:24:09 PM
I was collecting vintage cameras for a long time before I started getting phones. I think of myself as a "user-collector" (same with phones), because I only got cameras that I wanted to use. I seem to use them less and less these days, though. Digital is just so much easier.

Anyway, I still have a lot of Exakta SLR stuff. These are fairly quirky, even for 1950s cameras. I have a Rolleiflex, too, and recently couldn't resist getting a Nikon F.

I also have an Olympus OM-1 and a small collection of their lenses. I never thought of them as "collectible," though, because they were current when I got them. In fact, the OM-1 (from the 1980s) was my "newest" camera until 2002.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: McHeath on June 03, 2009, 12:41:28 AM
I have three Kodak Brownie cameras, all from family and of course not used anymore.  I also have a Pentax K-1000 form my old photo class days, all the manual adjustments are fun to tinker with but it rarely gets used anymore.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: Dan/Panther on June 03, 2009, 02:09:08 AM
McHeath;
I used that K-1000 Pentax for years, hated to give it up but digital won becausre of posting photos and time and cost  to develope film..
D/P
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: benhutcherson on June 05, 2009, 04:58:26 PM
Well, I just called today and ordered the 2 1/4x3 1/4 Graflex that I ran across down in Florida-it will hopefully be here sometime next week.

I also ordered both a 120 and a 220 back for a Mamiya RB67 from KEH photo, which, I'm told, will directly attach to the Graflock back on the Graflex. If not, I'll be stuck with two back I can't use, and will(unfortunately) have to buy an RB67 to use them.

I need to order some more 120 film, but I have at least two dozen rolls of 220 out in the freezer(mostly Velvia and Provia) that I don't, as of yet, have a camera to use them in. I'm also looking at a 50-roll lot of 220 Provia on Ebay, which should keep me well stocked for the next couple of years.

Freestyle and B&H both have several emulsions of B&W film in 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 that are surprisingly inexpensive(25 sheets of Efke 100 PL are $9.95 from B&H), so I'll probably eventually order one of those for the heck of it.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: benhutcherson on June 12, 2009, 12:24:04 AM
Thought I'd post a few photos of some of my better old cameras

First, my newest toy, my Crown Graphics 23. This is, of course, a fine made in the USA camera-probably the only decent camera ever made in the USA.

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_0986.jpg)

Next, my Rolleiflex, mounted on another classic, a Tiltall tripod. The Tiltall is a solid chunk of aluminum that one can still buy new for around $100. This particular one is from the '50s, and set me back about $60 with shipping-plus, it's made in the USA(as opposed to the newer Chinese ones).

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_0993.jpg)

The "little brother" to the Rolleiflex, the Rolleicord

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_0995.jpg)

And, finally, a really handy device-a Weston Master II light meter. This little gem is from before the War, and still works great and is accurate. Up until a couple of years ago, you could still buy a brand new Weston meter that was very similar to this one. This one's another made in the USA product.

These are what are called a selenium meter, which means that they don't require a battery or any other external power source to operate. The meter cell provides the voltage to the scale. This type of meter was often built into better cameras up through the '60s, although the one built into cameras are generally non-responsive, or at least non-linear(and thus unusable). Wesson meters were remarkably well sealed, and almost always still work.

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/ben10ben/IMG_0988.jpg)

These are about all of my older cameras of any note-like I said, I do have boxes of Kodaks, Arguses, and Polaroids, most of which I've never even bothered to load film into. All of the above pictured items actually get used, and used pretty frequently at that(it keeps the shutters free). I also have newer Japanese SLRs, which, while they're fine cameras, and all over 20 years old, they're not exactly collectible. Maybe one of these days.

I also have some good, solid darkroom equipment that gets pretty regular use. I'll have to pull it out and take pictures of it. Things like developing tanks and reels from the 50s and 60s are usually better than what you can buy new, and significantly more affordable.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: mienaichizu on June 13, 2009, 02:37:55 AM
Nice! maybe I should also start collecting to vintage cameras. Telephones, Typewriters, Cameras, its all gonna drain my savings ;D
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: McHeath on June 14, 2009, 12:30:07 PM
That's a very cool collection of cameras.  Neat that the light meter still works, I used one in photo class back in high school and college but not since.  My high school photo class used, get this, Kodak Brownies.  We had a full dark room, developing room, the whole enchilada and it was way cool, but using early 20th century cameras in the early 1980's was sure weird. 
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: HobieSport on June 14, 2009, 12:39:15 PM
I never used a vintage camera, just regular Nikon 35mm equipment, but I did learn to develop photography in a darkroom, as did one of my sons in high school, and while I enjoyed and appreciated the discipline, precision and chemistry of it all, it took ages and was expensive, so when Photoshop came out, I was very happy to be able to do it all digitally and chemical free on a computer.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: DavePEI on August 26, 2012, 08:16:10 PM
Hi All:

Actually, collecting cameras has also been a side hobby of mine... I am uploading a short document showing some of the cameras in my collection. I also collect film processing equipment.

Dave
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: HowardPgh on August 31, 2012, 03:19:41 PM
This is  my favorite. WEEGEE and his Speed Graphic
Howard
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: ReneRondeau on September 05, 2012, 07:32:15 PM
I have been doing wet plate collodion photography for 4 years now (tintypes and ambrotypes). I have several working cameras. My main studio camera is a 1920s Eastman 2D (bottom picture), a gorgeous concoction of mahogany wood and brass. I had a wet-plate conversion back made to fit it, and mounted an original 1874 Dallmeyer lens (Petzval design). I also occasionally use a reproduction 'Lewis' daguerrian-era rosewood quarter-plate camera which has an original 1863 C.C. Harrison lens (top picture). For field work I have a reproduction 5x8 with several lens boards so I can shoot with my Dallmeyer lens, a 'pillbox' Civil War era rapid rectilinear, or a paired set to shoot stereoviews.

I have one original Dallmeyer 'sliding box' quarter-plate camera, made in 1864. That one is too valuable to actually use. But fundamentally any camera itself is essentially just a light-proof box. What matters is the lens. Reproductions are great working cameras as long as you use antique lenses. That said, I love all the bells and whistles on my vintage Eastman, with rise and fall, tilt, etc. I can do some amazing things.

Wet plate is enormously labor-intensive but tremendous fun.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: ReneRondeau on September 05, 2012, 07:44:17 PM
Keeping it phone-related, here's a tintype I made a few years ago. Like all tintypes, the image is reversed. There's no negative, the image is a one-off, direct positive.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: WesternElectricBen on January 05, 2013, 11:07:31 AM
I have one from the 30's and a Minolta from the 80's or 90's. Though I never had intention to start. I just inherited them.
Ben
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: zaphod01 on February 02, 2013, 07:16:31 PM
These were my father's and date from the 1940's. One is a Universal Camera - Mercury II (half frame) and the other is an Argus Anastigmat. Both have the original cases. (I hope I successfully added the images)

I thought about putting them on eBay but I really want them to go to a good home.

I'd trade them both for a correct dialer for my 1951 Model 500 (black). Would have to have a nice metal dial wheel.

Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: Mr. Bones on February 03, 2013, 07:29:07 AM
     I grew up using Brownie cameras, old bakelite flashes, etc., but, unfortunately haven't got them now.

    Still have the '86 Canon A-1 w/50mm lens that I bought whilst still a novitiate in the Seabees...

    The only 'vintage' camera I still have is my Da's just-post-WWII Kodak Medalist; quite the box, I must say... ;)

Best regards,

Terrence
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: MDK on February 05, 2013, 04:26:19 PM
How about a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 533/16:
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d27/hockinfinger/Artsy%20Fartsy/SuperIkonta533BW.jpg)

This is really the only "vintage" camera I own, but I felt it was worth showing off.
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: Mr. Bones on February 05, 2013, 10:55:41 PM
Quote from: MDK on February 05, 2013, 04:26:19 PM
How about a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 533/16:

This is really the only "vintage" camera I own, but I felt it was worth showing off.
MDK,

    Thank you for sharing! What a gorgeous camera you have there!

    I dug out my A-1 Canon, haven't found which box the Medalist is in, but I will post pics soon.

    Best regards, and have a great evening!

Terrence
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: cchaven on April 15, 2013, 10:22:10 AM
I've been shooting 35mm just for my own pleasure since about 1980..my first 'real' camera being a Hannimex-Praktica Super TL I got from my father.  Before that, it had been 110 and 126 pocket cameras.  I still have that Hannimex, but upgraded to a Canon A-1 in 1989.  I've got quite a few folding 120 format cameras and a few TLR's, both 120 and 127.  For 35mm, I have a number of Nikon and Canon SLR's, of which the Canon F-1 is my favorite...built like a tank and nearly indestructable, as well as a few 35mm rangefinders.  I've also dabbled in large format, with a couple of Anniversary Speed Graphics and various lenses but so far have only shot 120 with them.

My current interest is using a Panasonic Lumix G2 with all of the excellent old galss I have since you can get an adapter for nearly any mount you want to use with it, including Zeiss Contax RF lenses.

Jeff
Title: Re: Vintage Cameras
Post by: MDK on October 16, 2013, 09:33:08 PM
My latest, a Brownie Reflex. 127 film for this seems to be VERY scarce.

I found 120 film to fit my Ikonta and a place that can develop it. Hopefully my first roll will be a success.