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Photography Nostalgia
Topic Started: Oct 4 2013, 05:06 AM (383 Views)
Klaus
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HOLY CARP!!!
Just bought this baby for 50 Euro on ebay:

Posted Image

Posted Image

It's an analog manual focus camera. It was one of the best cameras of the 1980s.

I don't think the camera is better at anything than modern digital cameras, but I want to "feel" what it was like to shoot with a manual focus film camera. I also consider whether I should buy a new digital camera with a 35mm sensor ("full frame"), and this camera allows me to preview that experience.

I happen to have a nice collection of lenses for that camera (which I use a lot via adapters on my modern digital one), including a 85mm f/1.2 one (which is an amazing lens).

I'll shoot a few roles of film with it and then probably re-sell it. In a decade or so, I guess that almost all these cameras will be gone, because several of the electronic parts are close to their end of life. There is still plenty of time to try 1950s cameras, but these years are maybe the last opportunity for 1980s electronics.
Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
No wonder its so cheap, it's missing its lens.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Klaus
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HOLY CARP!!!
Oh, here is one with the 85mm beast.

Posted Image
Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman
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Klaus
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HOLY CARP!!!
I made a few pics of my children.

They were very confused when I could not show them the result immediately.

But man, this camera is huge and built like a tank. The Sony NEX I usually use would almost fit into the battery compartment of the T90. In fact, using the Sony feels "gay" after using the T90.
Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman
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VPG
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Pisa-Carp
Hard to find film available in the U.S. Not in Europe?
I'M NOT YELLING.........I'M ITALIAN...........THAT'S HOW WE TALK!


"People say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look."
Ronald Reagan, Inaugural, 1971

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Klaus
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HOLY CARP!!!
Buying film is not a big problem. Developing color film is also still widely available. Strangely, developing black/white films is a bigger problem.
Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman
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VPG
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Pisa-Carp
Most of the big Drug chains here, who always sold tons of film yearly, have stopped selling it.
A friend bought a large amount when they reduced the price to dump it. It's piled up in her freezer.
I'M NOT YELLING.........I'M ITALIAN...........THAT'S HOW WE TALK!


"People say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look."
Ronald Reagan, Inaugural, 1971

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Ballyhoo
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Klaus
Oct 4 2013, 05:59 AM
In fact, using the Sony feels "gay" after using the T90.
:lol:
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Piano*Dad
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Bull-Carp
I learned on this. I still have it …

Posted Image


It's a great camera.
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Mark
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HOLY CARP!!!
I still have my Nikon F2.

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and my FE

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___.___
(_]===*
o 0
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
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AndyD
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Senior Carp
That's a terrific lens Klaus. My photographic partner in crime has a similar Nikon lens with a collection of Nikon cameras from F to D700. When he opens the sliding doors of the sideboard I start to drool at the sight of all the lenses.

You're quite right about the technology, all my Minoltas of that era packed up years ago and went in the bin. A cousin swore by his two Canon A1's right through my Minolta phase, and he was right.

I struggle with manual focus now as middle age affects my eyesight, and have only three lenses for my Nikon D70. A 35mm (turns into a 42mm standard press lens), a 60mm Macro (is a nice 90mm portrait), and a manual focus 800mm (1200mm) Swarovski.
Every morning the soul is once again as good as new, and again one offers it to one's brothers & sisters in life.

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Klaus
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HOLY CARP!!!
AndyD
Oct 5 2013, 03:39 AM
That's a terrific lens Klaus. My photographic partner in crime has a similar Nikon lens with a collection of Nikon cameras from F to D700. When he opens the sliding doors of the sideboard I start to drool at the sight of all the lenses.

You're quite right about the technology, all my Minoltas of that era packed up years ago and went in the bin. A cousin swore by his two Canon A1's right through my Minolta phase, and he was right.

I struggle with manual focus now as middle age affects my eyesight, and have only three lenses for my Nikon D70. A 35mm (turns into a 42mm standard press lens), a 60mm Macro (is a nice 90mm portrait), and a manual focus 800mm (1200mm) Swarovski.
If you want to continue to use those manual focus lenses, you may want to consider a camera with "focus peaking". With focus peaking, you don't need particularly good eye sight for manual focusing. So-called "system cameras" like Sony NEX or Fuji X are perfect to use fine old lenses. I don't care much about old zoom lenses, since their quality is usually much worse than modern zooms, but there are many bargains to be made with old fast prime lenses. For instance, I paid less than 300 Euro for my 85/1.2, whereas a new one is around 1800 Euro.

The 800mm Swarovski sounds very nice. What is its maximum aperture? I'd kill for a good 800mm f/5.6 or so.
Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman
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Piano*Dad
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Bull-Carp
Quote:
 
I don't care much about old zoom lenses, since their quality is usually much worse than modern zooms, but there are many bargains to be made with old fast prime lenses.


Indeed.

Alas, I switched to Canon for the digital age, so my old lenses don't fit. But the modern zooms are so good that I really don't miss them.
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Klaus
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HOLY CARP!!!
Piano*Dad
Oct 5 2013, 06:35 AM
Alas, I switched to Canon for the digital age, so my old lenses don't fit. But the modern zooms are so good that I really don't miss them.
But modern zooms are still not nearly as fast as prime lenses. For instance, consider 85mm focal length. The fastest zoom I know will have a meager maximum aperture of f/2.8, while being quite heavy and large. In comparison, a 85 f/1.2 prime is 2.5 stops faster and still lighter and smaller.
Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman
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AndyD
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Senior Carp
:lol2: If you like fast lenses, my f11 1200mm won't do. It's actually the Swaro CTS 85 drawscope with their purpose made TLS800 converter. Manual focus and slow to use, it takes decent photos leant on and against things; though it's a bit of a beast to hand-hold and carry far.

Still, who but pro sports/nature/paparazzi can afford 5 big ones for an 800mm Sigma? Or 10k for a Canon; or for a Nikon (I mean are they seriously expecting mere mortals to consider buying a lens at this price) £15k.





Every morning the soul is once again as good as new, and again one offers it to one's brothers & sisters in life.

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Klaus
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HOLY CARP!!!
AndyD
Oct 5 2013, 08:14 AM
Still, who but pro sports/nature/paparazzi can afford 5 big ones for an 800mm Sigma? Or 10k for a Canon; or for a Nikon (I mean are they seriously expecting mere mortals to consider buying a lens at this price) £15k.
My neighbor's wife is hot, and I figure that 10k for a lens is still cheaper than a divorce.
Trifonov Fleisher Klaus Sokolov Zimmerman
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Piano*Dad
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Bull-Carp
Klaus
Oct 5 2013, 06:52 AM
Piano*Dad
Oct 5 2013, 06:35 AM
Alas, I switched to Canon for the digital age, so my old lenses don't fit. But the modern zooms are so good that I really don't miss them.
But modern zooms are still not nearly as fast as prime lenses. For instance, consider 85mm focal length. The fastest zoom I know will have a meager maximum aperture of f/2.8, while being quite heavy and large. In comparison, a 85 f/1.2 prime is 2.5 stops faster and still lighter and smaller.
Yes, that's true. But I haven't found myself in too many situations where the lack of that fast lens was crucial. Plus, I can play games with "film speed" very easily, if I really want to mess around with low light situations. Loss of those big apertures is indeed the tradeoff you make for getting the zoom.
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big al
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Bull-Carp
VPG
Oct 4 2013, 07:21 AM
Most of the big Drug chains here, who always sold tons of film yearly, have stopped selling it.
A friend bought a large amount when they reduced the price to dump it. It's piled up in her freezer.
I still have a couple of rolls of Kodachrome left in my freezer that I didn't use before processing stopped. I sent a few other rolls off to Dwayne's in Kansas shortly before they stopped processing it. I've considered discarding the unexposed rolls, but the combination of nostalgia and the minimal space they occupy has kept them in the freezer so far.

Big Al
Location: Western PA

"jesu, der simcha fun der man's farlangen."
-bachophile
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