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Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on May 13, 2020 22:02:47 GMT
Posted: May 13, 2020 22:02:47 GMT
Time to go back and shoot 'old school'...
This lovely Franka Francolor camera and case appears never to have been used. It's immaculate which given that it's just over 60 years old is amazing.
Franka
It's refreshing to go back in time and shoot like we did back in the 1950s (well at least for those members as old as me)...just using your eyes and a good appreciation of light, contrast and movement.
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Group: Moderator
Post: 2,040 (563 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on May 16, 2020 13:19:43 GMT
Last Edit: May 16, 2020 13:23:04 GMT by biggles3
It's a very long time since I got to use the Contax N-series. At the time, I failed to give it due consideration and feel it's worth re-visiting.
I have a couple of N1s on their way; this first one has the superb 70-200 Vario-Sonnar attached; I have yet to see a bad review of this lens. The next will be accompanied by the legendary 24-85 V-S.
N1 Zeiss 70-200 TLA360
The principal downside of the N-series was that it was abandoned before Zeiss was able to produce its intended line of primes; only the 50 1.4, 85 1.4, 100 2.8 and 400 f4 were produced and they are all incredibly expensive to buy if you can find one. The only problem lens was the 70-300 V-S as its build quality was inconsistent. A good one was great but all too many were really poor towards the 300mm end - very soft indeed.
A number of users took advantage of the NAM-1 Adapter that enabled Contax 645 lenses to be used on the N1 and the N1-D - hardly an inexpensive route but the only option to extend the range of glass available.
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Join date: July 2014
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on May 23, 2020 12:49:22 GMT
Last Edit: May 23, 2020 13:03:50 GMT by bp_reid
Been playing with a new tabletop studio with LED lighting and coloured backdrops with a few items I'm about to Divest via eBay. I thought I'd share the AE-1 Program, as the shots look pretty nice to me. It's absolutely an beautiful bit of kit with a really clean finder as well, both camera and lens are boxed too. AE-1P _01 by Barry Reid, on Flickr AE-1P _03 by Barry Reid, on Flickr
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Group: Member
Post: 272 (39 liked)
Join date: July 2014
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on May 23, 2020 13:02:27 GMT
Posted: May 23, 2020 13:02:27 GMT
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Group: Moderator
Post: 2,040 (563 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Jun 6, 2020 8:37:20 GMT
Posted: Jun 6, 2020 8:37:20 GMT
OK folks, it's time to stop messing about with 35mm and shoot something a little bigger....
Fujica G690 BL - Fujinon 100 f3.5 Auto Electro lens
This behemoth is the Fujica G690 BL accompanied by the remarkable EBC Fujinon Auto Electric 100mm f3.5 lens. I can't wait to start snapping.
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Group: Moderator
Post: 2,040 (563 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Jun 10, 2020 16:44:22 GMT
Posted: Jun 10, 2020 16:44:22 GMT
The joys of barter! In exchange for a Fuji GX680III and a couple of lenses, these little beauties arrived today.
2 AX_50 f1.4_85 f1.4_35-70 f3.4
I have always loved the Contax AX - it's a big camera but feels naturally well balanced with a 50 1.4 or the like; what makes it unique is that it effectively turns every C/Y MF lens into an AF lens! Even better, every lens becomes a Macro lens. It was a brilliant engineering (though not marketing) answer to Kyocera wrecking Zeiss' 1982 foray into AF in the form of the Contax 137AF plus their 3 prototype lenses. The only downside of the AX is that if something goes wrong with the internal focusing system, you've had it. I don't know of anyone here in the UK or in Europe that can find spares for repairing these big beauties.
OK - in poor light or low contrast, AF can hunt a bit but under average lighting, it works a treat with lenses up to a maximum aperture of f5.6. In good light, or where there is strong contrast, it pairs nicely with the ML 500 f8 as I know from experience.
As to the three lenses, everyone here knows the reputations of the Zeiss MM 50 1.4 and 85 1.4 Planars as well as the amazing 35-70 f3.4 Vario-Sonnar. I hope to do a comparison between the three top C/Y system 35-70s - the Contax Zeiss f3.4, and Yashica's ML f3.5 and ML f4.
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Group: Moderator
Post: 2,040 (563 liked)
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Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Jun 10, 2020 16:55:06 GMT
Last Edit: Jun 10, 2020 16:55:45 GMT by biggles3
I finally got my second N1 with the amazing 24-85 Vario-Sonnar to keep the other set company.
Being now able to cover 24mm to 200mm with just two lenses is a boon. The cost of the primes is prohibitively expensive so I'll forget about them and the longer zoom that would take the focal range up to 300mm is just too big a risk due to its inconsistent quality. I might relent if I find a cheap 70-300 from a reliable source but I'm happy with this set-up.
Brace of N1s
What has impressed me about the N1 is its handling; good balance and ergonomics - it's a pleasure to use. And that 24-85 is a stunner!
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Group: Moderator
Post: 2,040 (563 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Jun 21, 2020 13:58:42 GMT
Posted: Jun 21, 2020 13:58:42 GMT
Much as I like my trusty old Yashica T4 Safari, I still have a preference for some of the Contax compact models. Pictured here is a recent acquisition - the Contax TVS with its exceptional 28-56mm lens.
Contax TVS_SA-1_TLA140
What is particularly useful is the Contax SA-1 Flash Adapter shown here which can boost the flash output of the camera - in this case using a low-powered Contax TLA140.
It's great to use with any compact that has an in-built flash (and ideally TTL metering). You can see the light sensor which is in line with the flash window - it picks up the camera's flash and triggers the unit attached to the SA-1. A useful and under-appreciated accessory.
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Group: Administrator
Post: 1,371 (303 liked)
Join date: February 2017
Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
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on Jun 29, 2020 21:31:55 GMT
Posted: Jun 29, 2020 21:31:55 GMT
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Group: Moderator
Post: 2,040 (563 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Jun 30, 2020 9:53:14 GMT
Posted: Jun 30, 2020 9:53:14 GMT
It looks wonderful; surely that is worth the cost of a repair...?
By the way, that Leitz projector lens looks like fun.
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Group: Administrator
Post: 1,371 (303 liked)
Join date: February 2017
Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
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on Jun 30, 2020 21:26:36 GMT
Last Edit: Jun 30, 2020 21:58:35 GMT by lumiworx
I looked up Mark Hama's site to see if he's still doing repairs, and it looks like he's still going, so it wouldn't hurt to ask. For anyone who might be interested, he suggests a phone call gets a better response, but does get emails too: markhama.comAs for the Leitz lens, I've got a whopping $35 in it, and that includes the shipping. So far I'd say it was worth every penny, and it's got even more life in it with a bit of work to make it a more permanent mount. It might even be possible that I won't have to destroy the focus tube in the process, so it can go back to duty on the projector as well. A few more trys and some measurements are needed before that's a given, but if not, I'm happy to use it without infinity focus.
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Group: Administrator
Post: 1,371 (303 liked)
Join date: February 2017
Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
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on Jul 6, 2020 1:00:46 GMT
Last Edit: Jul 6, 2020 1:03:28 GMT by lumiworx
Unlike the Yashica-A, this one is 100% working - even the meter is accurate. There's a fresh roll of Tri-X waiting in the fridge to test out that orange filter. :)
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Group: Administrator
Post: 1,371 (303 liked)
Join date: February 2017
Status: Failed treatment for L.B.A. and G.A.S,
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on Jul 10, 2020 9:31:00 GMT
Last Edit: Jul 10, 2020 9:32:49 GMT by lumiworx
A Yashica YK with a rebranded Heiland Folding-Mite bulb flash.
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Group: Moderator
Post: 2,040 (563 liked)
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Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Jul 22, 2020 11:56:54 GMT
Posted: Jul 22, 2020 11:56:54 GMT
You can never have enough Contax 645s - that's a simple universal truth...ahem.
I just sold all my Fuji GX680II models and a stack of lenses and bought a Contax 645 plus the celebrated 80mm and 45-90 lenses, with a 35, 45, 120 and Mutar to follow shortly. It is really pleasing to see the burgeoning interest in medium format analogue film.
C645 80mm 45-90mm
I was also, finally, able to afford a new Fuji - the GFX 50S plus a 50mm f3.5. A 50Mp weather-proof camera with Fuji glass - what's not to like...
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Group: Moderator
Post: 2,040 (563 liked)
Join date: April 2014
Status: Long, long time Contax and Yashica user; glad to be here and hope to contribute.
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on Jul 30, 2020 14:41:38 GMT
Posted: Jul 30, 2020 14:41:38 GMT
It's summer and wide vistas beckon in the countryside so it's time to get a camera to match...Fuji's G617 (the GX617 is way too costly).
This behemoth produces a full 4 photos from 1 roll of 120 film.
Fuji G617
This takes piccies that are, as its name suggests, 6x17cm in size - a true wide field camera. Thankfully this came with the special centre ND filter that compensates for the slight light fall-off in the top corners along with the bespoke carrying case.
Amazingly, this monster was designed by Fuji to be hand-held so I need to find an appropriate strap but most people use it on a tripod. It has a built-in spirit level on the front cross-member of the frame with a cut-out in the viewfinder to enable you to see it. There is not a single electronic component in this camera - such a nice change.
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