Nikon MD-11 DOA

My dad was an avid photographer.  One of the last film SLR's he had was a Nikon FM.  A compact, but rugged SLR.  After he passed away, my sister gave me a box of camera equipment she was holding.  In it was all sorts of camera / darkroom equipment.  One item included was a Nikon MD-11 power winder.  

Cool, it was an exact match to my dad's Nikon FM which I had been given earlier.  I was excited to give it a try because I've never had a power winder on any of my Nikons.  It mounted perfectly.  I loaded it with 8 batteries, but alas it doesn't work.  All the terminals are clean & the batteries are new, so I suspect there is something wrong with the internals.

Anyway it looked cool on the camera.  Not to worry the camera still works fine without it.

Imperial Debonair

I picked up this fancy looking camera, an Imperial Debonair, online in a camera lot purchase.  Very 60's looking.  As a matter of fact it's the produced in the 60's by the Herbert Jones Company.  Before I had purchased this camera, I had never heard of the Herbert Jones Company.  

This beauty is an all plastic, Bakelite, camera which falls squarely in the "toy camera" range today.  Looks somewhat like a Kodak Brownie, and I suspect they were made as a competitor.  This is a 620 film camera.  This camera is all manual, and as a matter of fact there are no features to put your manual camera skills to test.  You just load a roll of 620 film, point and shoot.  

This is a rangefinder which makes it simple to use.  My camera had cracks in the case, but nothing a bit of gaffers tape couldn't fils.  I loaded a roll of 120 film rerolled onto a 620 spool that I purchased from The Film Photography Project store and got going.  After about 6 shots however the film must have slipped off the sprocket and jammed.  I was able to "slap" it back in place, but when I advanced the film it tore, and locked up.  I simply rerolled the film.  No reason to open the camera up in the dark and try to get it going again.

This is a fun little camera with a cool 60's vibe.  Very hipster.  Dig it.

Pretty distinct vignetting

Doing some use camera shopping

Oops

Kodak Ektralite 10

Picked up a Kodak Ektralite 10 from Goodwill some time ago.  This is a cool little 110 sized film camera.  Super easy to use.  And yes, they still make 110 film.  I used Lomography Color Tiger 200 110 film.  Just open the film door in the back, and drop in a 110 film cartridge.  Close the film door, point & shoot.  Very groovy.  

I have several 110 cameras, and I shoot them just for a goof.  Not very practical since the cameras have little if no controls.  Just point & shoot.  The only control this camera has is an on/off switch for the flash.  No light meter, you just have to guess when you use the flash.  With 200 ASA film basically you use the flash indoors or in shadows.  No flash when outside.

My local camera store doesn't process 110 film, so I sent it away to The Darkroom.  They do a great job.  Here a a few shots while walking around Indianapolis

Hey look it's ME

Riley Tower

Back Alley

Bottomline, the Kodak Ektralite 10 is a fun pocket sized camera.  Super easy to use.  No controls, just point & shoot.  Enjoy!

Nikon N8008

I picked up this cool 35mm Nikon N8008 SLR about 6 months ago.  I'm a digital Nikon shooter in studio, so I have a natural affinity to Nikons.  It is a classic SLR film camera.  Easy in your hand and fairly light weight.  I decided to use it in studio during a model shoot and later while walking around downtown Indianapolis.

OK, I loaded it up with a roll of Kodak 400 color print film and mounted an old Nikon 28mm f/2.8 lens.  I've had that lens for who knows how long...years.  Off I go.

For this shoot I used aperture priority and matrix metering.  The camera focused very quickly and the shutter slap is very apparent.  The light meter seemed very true, but I didn't confirm it with my external meter.  Not stealthy at all.  I really think I'll enjoy using this camera regularly.  Here are some photos of my model Emmy Lindgren in studio and a shot in downtown Indianapolis near my studio.  I simply set the camera on the street.  Why? Why not.

Northside of Indianapolis with the camera on the road

Model Emmy standing by the studio changing room

Model Emmy Lindgren

Texas Road Trip - Film Style

See how small the XA is!

I was in Texas over the past week & 1/2.  I visited Houston, San Antonio & Austin both for vacation & for photoshoots.  During my downtime and while not otherwise occupied I did street photography. I used both a Sony A6000 (I know, don't hate on my for referring to a digital camera on my film blog) and this beauty, my Olympus XA.  This is a slick little 35mm rangefinder, that is super easy to use.

Just set the desired aperture (on the sliding dial to the right of the lens) and set the focal distance.  You are good to go.  There is a very small split focusing area in the center of the viewfinder that helps in focusing (although I mainly eyeballed the range) and a speed gauge in the viewfinder.  It's really that simple.   Once you set your desired aperture you press the shutter release.  The gauge tells you what speed was selected.  Obviously, if you want faster or slower shutter speeds you just change your aperture.  It ranges from "flash", through f/2.8 through f/22.  An excellent range.  

The camera is tiny and is super silent.  Perfect for a film street photographer.

The only gripe I have with the camera is there is no shutter lock.  Therefore, if you advance the film and put the camera in your bag (even with the lens cover closed) the slightest touch not he very touchy shutter release button on top of the camera releases the shutter.  I'm sure I have at least 12 misfires.

Anyway, other than that, the camera is uber.  I went through about 10 rolls along with my digital shots.  I'll post some images after I get the film back. 

Mixed lot film & case by The Japan Camera Hunter