Hint of Autumn

Olympus Stylus 35mm f2.8 Out of Data Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C41 Kit

During its heyday, the Olympus Infinity Stylus was known the professional photographer's point and shoot camera of choice.  Its sharp Olympus 35mm f2.8 lens, compact size, and elegant clamshell made it the perfect pocket companion for serious photographers looking for a convenience and quality. Add features such as decent close focus capabilities and an excellent fill flash mode and you had a camera that would produce SLA quality images without the bulk. I picked mine up at a resale shop for around $3.00 and have never regretted the investment. As you can see from the image above, it is a capable little camera.

Scanned with a Pakon F135 using Pakon's OEM software.

Talk About Old Werld (sic)

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 35-105 f3.5/4.5 Ferrania P30 Alpha 35mm ISO 80 Adox Adonol 1:50 - Keeping the Ferrania P30 Alpha shots coming, this was an interesting piece of graffiti on the lower half of an old door. I liked the detail of the leaves in the foreground and the varied tones of the door.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

1984 Michael Stipe of R.E.M. at the Virginia Beach Pavilion

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Kodak Ektachrome 800/1600 E6 - Michael Stipe of R.E.M. during their Reckoning tour at the Virginia Beach Pavilion in Virginia. The Album "Reckoning" remains one of my favorites to this day.

Scanned using a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

1984 R.E.M. at the Virginia Beach Pavilion

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Kodak Ektachrome 800/1600 E6 - Grain, grain go away, come again some other day,,, not in this image. R.E.M. during their Reckoning tour at the Virginia Beach Pavilion in Virginia. Shot from about two or three bodies back from the stage, I was basically guessing the focus and holding the camera over my head and shooting. In the days before auto focus everything that was the best you could do. Surprisingly I got a number of good shots with the grain, contrast and stark lighting really playing up the feel of the band at that point.

Scanned using a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus Software.

1921 "Knowledge is Power"

Excel Deluxe-I 50mm f6.0 Out of Date Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C41 Kit - The corner stone of the now empty Virginia School of the Arts formerly Garland Rodes High School in Lynchburg Virginia shot with the Excel Deluxe-I.

Scanned with a Kodak Pakon F135 Plus using Pakon's OEM software.

Plastic Impressionism

Excel Deluxe-I 50mm f6.0 Out of Date Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C41 Kit - Another image from the Excel Deluxe-I, showing the unique qualities of the plastic 50mm f6.0 lens. Some of the images have an almost "Impressionist" feel, nice when you are trying to elevate common objects and make them compiling images.

Scanned with a Kodak Pakon F135 Plus using Pakon's OEM Software.

Plastic Fantastic - The Excel Deluxe-I

I thought I would indulge my fascination for cheap plastic camera this weekend, so may I present the Excel Deluxe-I. A thrift store find, this plastic wonder has all the styling of a 35mm SLR, with none of the features.

Here are the Specifications as near as I can tell:
Camera Type: 35mm viewfinder camera
Lens: Allegedly a 50mm f1:6 Optical Color Lens (I am pretty sure it is plastic)
Shutter: One speed I am guessing around 1/100th depending on the age of the spring,
Exposure Control: Manual via aperture setting "Full Sun," "Half Sun," "Cloud" and "Flash"
Viewfinder: You can see through it and seems vaguely useful for framing
Film Advance: Manual via knurled dial.
Other Features: Built in hot shoe for flash, built in clear lens protector, Frame counter, Tripod Socket, Raise hand grip and Red shutter release button.
Country of Manufacture: Taiwan

I am pretty sure the body has a lead weight in it as the camera seems to weight more than I would expect from its plastic construction.

My first roll through this camera is hanging to dry, test scans will be posted soon.

Rescued

Nikon FE2 Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Kodak Ultramax 400 Arista C-41 - Not a perfect shot, but damn cute, this poor little kitten was abandoned by her mother, and we are now bottle feeding her. She is curious, mobile, demanding and above all adorable. A mother's loss is a kittens gain, as she will spend the rest of her life as a pampered indoor cat.

Scanned using a Kodak Pakon F135 Plus using Pakon's OEM scanning software.

Decay

Nikon F2AS Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Kodak Gold 100 - Some new archive mining inspired by a faster film scanner. This was shot in the Autumn of 1992 at the Lynchburg Old City Cemetery, one of my favorite shooting venues since my arrival in Lynchburg VA. I love this cemetery in Autumn. It is filled with healthy mature trees that provide amazing color. The contrast of the somber mood of the cemetery and the festive colors of the trees can be amazing.

Scanned with a Kodak Pakon F135 Plus Scanner using Pakon's OEM software.

New Scanner - Kodak/Pakon F135 Plus

I have always liked shooting 35mm for the conveniences of the greater number of exposures per roll and smaller lighter cameras. Heading out with one or two 36 exposure rolls can cover a long day's worth of shooting with limited bulk. The downside to this, when working with a hybrid analog/digital workflow, is exponentially higher time spent scanning once the film is developed. Up until this point, I have been using a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III and Silverfast's SE Plus scanning software for all my 35mm scanning needs. This scanner software combination is capable of producing great scans, but workflow can be slow and tedious. So much so, in recent years, I have shied away from shooting 35mm in favor of medium format. Not all together a bad thing, but I do miss the more casual nature of shooting 35mm. I am much more likely to keep my Olympus XA2 or Stylus in my pocket for day to day shooting, than lugging one of my Kiev 60s or even my point and shoot Fujifilm GS645Zi. Hopefully my most recent scanner acquisition will even the playing field for back end workflow between 35mm and medium format 120 film.

The Kodak/Pakon F135 Plus is a 35mm roll film scanner designed for low volume analog/digital retail labs in the early 2000's. You would commonly see them in chain drug stores supplementing their digital printing operations. I know, I installed a few of them as a field service technician in a past life. They were a way for smaller locations to have film scanning and printing capabilities without the foot print or capital investment of the high end Fujifilm Frontier hybrid digital systems that the bigger retailers were installing. Made by Pakon with Kodak branding the F135 Plus was no speed demon when compared to the higher end scanners of the day, but it would scan a full, uncut roll of 35mm film in a few minutes. Coupled with one or two tabletop dye-sub printers and a CD burner a lab could have a reasonably capable analog/digital lab in a small foot print.

The quick rise of digital as a replacement for film brought and end to Pakon, which closed their doors a few years back, so the once $2,000+ scanners can now be found ebay selling for around $250. Due to their age, you must keep in mind that the software only works with Windows XP and there are no Mac drivers available at all. That being said, the software will work on a Mac running Windows XP on Parallels  Desktop and I have seen a few reports of it running on Windows 7 in XP mode. Luckily I had an older Dell Dimension 4700 laying around that had more than enough horsepower to handle the software.

I have installed the software and done some initial test scans and I have to say I am pleased with the results. The 2941x1960 pixel 16 bit RGB scans are very good quality, perfect for proofing and prints up to 8x10. Digital Ice dust and scratch reduction technology is built into the scanner and appears to be effective in reducing negative imperfections during scanning. The software is not pretty or intuitive, but it is functional and relatively easy to learn. The initial color and exposure judgements made by the software are close and can be tweaked before exporting the files. For critical work or large prints, I can still fall back on my Dimage Dual Scan III, but for getting a decent initial scan onto my computer, this is a great new tool.

I will not dive into operational specifics, as the are a number of great tutorial already up on the web. A Google search for Pakon F135 Scanner will get you started.  Sample scans to follow in futures posts.

Burned Out

Kodak Retina IIIS Schneider Retina-Curtagon 35mm f2.8 Orwo UN54 Arista-76 Stock - A beautiful old house in a bad situations on Rivermont Ave. in Lynchburg, VA.. It was hit by lightning, setting the roof on fire, burning out most of the upper floor. An owner of an old home myself, I hope someone takes the time and money to save this old Victorian.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverdast SE Plus Software.

Back to Retina....

Kodak Retina IIIS Schneider Retina-Curtagon 35mm f2.8 Orwo UN54 Arista-76 Stock - My first experience with photography was using my Father's Kodak Retina IIIS. A gorgeous German made 35mm rangefinder that kicked off not only my life long love of photographer, but also my undying love for rangefinder cameras. Sadly, the shutter in that Retina broke several years ago, so I have been unable to use my first love. Recently I tracked down a replacement on ebay, and this is fruit from my first test roll. The optics are as good as I remembered, crisp with perfect contrast. More to come from this camera.

Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus.

Test Shot Nikon One-Touch L35AF2

Nikon One-Touch L35AF2 Nikon 35mm f2.8 Fujifilm Superia 200 Arista C-41 - From the first roll through my Thrift Store treasure Nikon One-Touch L35AF2. The quality of the Nikon 35mm f2.8 is clearly evident, great sharpness and just the right amount of contrast for the Nikon "snap." The One-Touch will definitely go into my arsenal as a day to day carry camera.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast SE Plus 6.6.2r5 scanning software.

The Nikon One-Touch L35AF2

A recent 99 cent Goodwill Thrift store find, presenting the Nikon One-Touch L35AF2. The second generation of Nikon's fixed lens compact auto-focus camera, the One-Touch is near and dear to my heart as it appeared on the scene about the same time I start selling cameras in the early 80's. The One-Touch was a solid shooter with a great quality Nikon 35mm f2.8 lens, built in flash, clam shell lens cover and self timer. Features also included a self time, DX film coding, motorized film advance and rewind, and auto film loading. Though I never owned one while they were selling back in the 1980's, I could not pass this one up when I found it sitting on a shelf in a Goodwill store from 99 cents. Images from the first roll to follow.

Specifications:
Type of Camera
35mm compact camera with autofocus, auto exposure, auto pop-up flash, auto flash exposure, auto shutter lock, auto film loading, auto film speed setting, auto film advance, auto film rewind, auto film rewind stop and auto ready lens cover.
Film
Only DX-coded 35mm film from ISO 50 to ISO 1600, and non-DX-coded ISO 100 film. (All non-DX-coded films are automatically set to ISO 100)
Picture Format
24mm x 36mm
Lens
Nikon lens 35mm f/2.8, four elements in three groups
Shutter
Programmed electronic shutter; also serves as diaphragm blades
Viewfinder
Reverse-Galilean Albada-type bright-frame viewfinder; 0.52X magnification; approx. 85% (at infinity) frame coverage; -1 dioptry
Viewfinder Information
Picture frame marks, parallax compensation frame marks, autofocus frame marks, focus symbols and focus indicator needle
Focusing
Active autofocus system (0.7m to infinity); focus locks when shutter release button is depressed halfway
Exposure Metering
Using CdS, programmed automatic exposure control from EV 6 (f/2.8 at 1/8 sec.) to EV 17 (f/17.5 at 1/430 sec.) with ASA/ISO 100 film
Film Speed Range
ASA/ISO 50 to 1600 (set automatically as described above)
Film Loading
Film automatically advances to first frame when shutter release button is depressed once; film advance indicator pole rotates to show film is properly loading and being advanced
Film Advance
Film automatically advances by one frame at 0.8* seconds per frame when shutter is released; stops automatically at end of roll
Film Rewinding
Via sliding rewind lock switch and rewind button; approx. 20 sec.* per 24-exposure roll; automatically stops when film is rewound
Frame Counter
Additive type; automatically resents to "S" when camera back is opened; counts back while film is rewinding
Self-Timer
Activated by setting lever and depressing shutter release button; 10-second delay with indicator light
Built-In Flash
Automatic pop-up type with ready-light; guide number 10 (ASA/ISO 100, m), 16 (ASA/ISO 25, ft.); shutter locks if flash is not charged; recycling time approx. 6 sec.*
Battery Life
Approx. 100 rolls* of 24-exposure film (without flash); approx. 10 rolls* of 24-exposure film (with flash for each exposure); shutter release locks when batteries are exhausted
Power Source
Two 1.5V alkaline-manganese AA-type batteries (NiCd batteries cannot be used)
Dimensions
125.5mm(W) x 73mm(H) x 48.5mm(D)
Weight
Approx. 320g (without batteries)
*with fresh alkaline-manganese batteries at normal tempertures

Found on the Web: In a fast moving world… We could all do with a roll of 36 exposures

Great video. An excellent Blog post regarding it can be found here... http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/2013/03/07/always-remember-to-take-your-time-in-a-fast-moving-world/

A Homage to Kodachrome - Dandy Point October 1985

Nikon FE2 Nikkor 50mm f1.4 Kodak Kodachrome 64 - I never shot a great deal of Kodachrome in my youth, it was slow, I was impatient, they two of us did not seem to have a lot in common. I was an avid Pre-E6 Agfachrome shooter, which had similar qualities and higher speed, but was never impressed with it once Agfa switch to an E6 Process film. After that I switched to Ektachrome, then Fujichrome, before moving on to shooting primarily negative films. I did shoot a few rolls of Kodachrome over the years and recently found this perfect example of the Kodachrome "Look." Shot is 1985, it could easily be 1965 or 1955, Kodachome's look was timeless. In hind sight I regret not using it more often and it is a shame it is no longer an option today. One of the sad casualty of the digital era.
Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast 6.6.2r5 Software

Non-Hazardous Materials

Beauty Lite III Biokor-S 45mm f1.9 FujiFilm Neopan SS 100 Adox Adonal 1:50 - Somehow I suspect this is a misnomer, these materials look more than a little hazardous to me. A few more images from my Christmas "Beauty," I love this impressive little rangefinder. Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III using Silverfast 6.6.2r4a scanning software.

"Beauty" Exposure no. 4

Beauty Lite III Biokor-S 45mm f1.9 FujiFilm Neopan SS 100 Adox Adonal 1:50 - Another frame from my 1st roll shot with they Beauty Lite III. At its best photography can make us look at common objects in a different way, bestow beauty onto the everyday scenes or items. As a photographer I like to explore for the less obvious subject, the ignored element of a site. The camera. film, light and the photographers decisions all play part is celebrating the subject.

The Beauty Lite III 35mm Rangefinder Camera

Introducing the Beauty Lite III 35mm Rangefinder Camera from the Beauty Camera Co. LTD. of Tokyo Japan. Manufactured starting in 1961 this camera was also known as the Lightomatic III or the Lightmatic III. The camera's glass is a fixed Biokor-S 45mm f1.9 fitted with a Copal-SV in lens leaf shutter. Shutter speeds range from 1/500th to 1 Sec with a B setting, aperture range is 1.9 to 16. The camera's other features include a self timer, X and M Flash syncing through a pc flash socket, and a built on coupled Selenium meter. Metering is a single needle centering type, viewable both on the top of the camera and through the viewfinder. Focusing is achieved through a very bright coupled split image rangefinder in the camera's viewfinder.

The Beauty Lite III is extremely well made, with a rugged metal frame and nice fit and feel. Weighing in a just over 1 lbs. 8 oz., the camera is substantial but not bulky. The size and design is similar to the Leicas of the time. Film advance is a very positive single stroke mechanism with the ability to lock the shuttle release by pushing the advance lever flush with the camera body. Shutter Speed, Aperture, focus and ASA(ISO) setting are all controlled via rings on the lens, and though space is tight all controls are easily managed.

Available viewfinder information is limited to framing, focusing and metering needle, but the viewfinder, rangefinder, focusing frame and metering are all bright and easily viewed in all lighting conditions. Film loading is a typical manual slotted take up spool and is very easily achieved. Rewinding is also typical of most cameras of this vintage, with a top mounted rewind knob and a film release button on the bottom of the camera.

One nice cosmetic design feature is the notched rest for the camera's film rewind knob, purely a design flourish, but adds to the overall quality look and feel of this camera. I have an admitted soft spot for rangefinder cameras, as I first learned true photography on my Father's Kodak Retina IIIs, and the Beauty reaffirms that soft spot. The camera handles well and is whisper quiet. The bright rangefinder makes focusing easy and the lens mounted controls puts everything at your finger tips. After shooting my 1st roll, I found the Biokor-S lens to be extremely sharp with nice contrast. Edge to edge sharpness appears to be excellent and exposure is consistent over the entire image area.

Thank You to my Wife for finding this little gem, it made the perfect Christmas gift. I suspect this will become my general "carry" camera, always loaded and ready. The 1st roll through this camera is developed and scanned and samples are to follow.

Backyard Archeology exposures no. 2 and 5

Nikon FE2 Micro-Nikkor 55mm f2.8 Orwo UN54 ISO 100 Arista 76 1:1 - I was digging out an old cooler some previous owner buried in my backyard, and run across this. What I thought was just an old cooler appears to have been the sacred tomb of some small creature. Since the occupy being had long since departed these crumbling bones, I decided not to pass up the interesting subject. Shooting Orwo UN54 ISO 100 again, this time developed in Arista 76 diluted 1:1. This developer film/developer combination has very nice grain and sharpness with nice tonal range.