Getting started

[BowTieGuy]

Hello all - just what I needed, another AD! I have somehow recently developed an interest in vintage 35mm cameras, and thanks to travel which carries me all over (and leaves time here and there for trips to antique malls and other interesting places) I have managed to acquire a few in rather short order.

I'm generally a vintage guy - vintage razors, fountain pens, etc., so it stands to reason I should shoot film through old cameras. I have recently picked up an armload of Argus (C3s and a sweet little A2b I think), a passel of Pentax, a mountain of Minoltas and an assortment of other odds and ends, at assorted prices.

I'm looking forward to joining the fray here at the darkroom, as I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions as I proceed, and if this corner of B&B is anything like the rest I'm sure there will be help available.

Eventually I'll probably settle on a dozen or so cameras that I like and let the rest go, in the meantime I'll be shooting some pics wherever I go.

That's all, just wanted to say "hi" -

Doug B

 

[fast14riot]

Hi!

First off, aquaint yourself with Jon Goodman and his seal kits. Buying old cameras is fun and shooting them is better, but getting back that roll of Portra 400 full of leaks isn't.

I'm a dedicated flea market buyer, my two rangefinders and my 1963 Miranda F came from there, my expensive camera bags, even Nikkor lenses in the box have all been flea market finds. Also scored a Tiltall clone tripod for $5.

Keep buying old cameras, keep shooting film, and most of all, ENJOY YOURSELF!


-Xander

 

[Blooze]

I second the opinion to get in touch with Jon. His light seals are easy to install as long as you take your time. Some inexpensive film worth grabbing is the Arista Premium from Freestyle. Rebranded Tri-x for a darn good price. I like what I've been getting with it, but as a warning it does want to curl something fierce when it dries after processing. Makes it a pain to scan on a flatbed scanner.

Xander - I'm jealous of the Tiltall clone find. I've been looking at getting one to mount my YashicaMat on as the platform and QR plates on my Manfrotto are too big to use.

 

[fast14riot]

Yeah, the Star-D clone is a good solid tripod. Sure it has plastic lock bushings but just don't leave it in freezing weather for too long or try to adjust it when freezing out and its fine. Mine had some funky fluid pan/tilt head on it mounted on a custom adapter but was missing the QR plate and the control arm. I bought a Triopo ball head and mounted it to the adapter and ended up with a solid tripod for less than $50. I gave it to a friend who didn't have one as I mainly use my Manfrotto 3221 with Manfrotto joystick head.

Jon's kits are worth their weight in gold! I have done several of my own cameras and now I am doing them for the local labs student cameras they sell, using Jon's kits. The local repair guy wants $80-$100 to do a seal job and basic CLA!! These student cameras are worth only $100 anyways!

Your first one should be a basic SLR and it will take you maybe 1.5 hours. After that, it will take half the time. Some rangefinders and SLR's with removeable penta prisms (Miranda) may take longer, but aren't difficult. The most difficlt one for my so far was my Yashica Electro 35 GSN, gettin to the "POD" is not simple.


-Xander