Week 105 - Start (Cmapm)

Start (Cmapm), a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

What better camera to start year 3 with than a camera called START? This Soviet camera is around 50 years old, it was based on the German Exakta range, but internally is very similar to the much more common Zenit range from this era. It has the ubiquitous 58mm f2 Helios lens.

photo from week 104 - Ensign Selfix 820 Special

Ho ho ho - reflected self-portrait with Ensign Selfix 820 Special camera and santa suit, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

My last reflected self-portrait of the year has a festive element to it. By using a tripod I was able to stop down to f22 in order to be sure of enough depth of field. The exposure time was 1 second.

photo from week 104 - Ensign Selfix 820 Special

Christmas Eve Sycamore, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Taken on Christmas Eve at about 3pm, the low sun shows up the ridges and furrows on the grass.

photo from week 104 - Ensign Selfix 820 Special

winter foliage, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This was taken on a Boxing Day walk in Rother Valley Country Park. The aperture was quite large, and the focus was set to the minimum of 5 feet. I like the shallow depth of field that results.

Week 104 - Ensign Selfix 820 Special

Ensign Selfix 820 Special, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is the last week of the second year, when I started in January 2010, I really didn't know if I would keep going, but far from losing interest, the project has galvanised my interest in continuing to use old cameras.
The Ensign Selfix is a well specified (and very heavy) folding medium format camera. I can't remember where this came from, but I know I didn't pay much for it, and at the time I didn't appreciate how sought after these cameras would become. It takes 120 film, and has built in masks to allow 6x9cm or 6x6cm images (8 and 12 per roll respectively). I've opted for the 12 frames and loaded it with a roll of "Lomography" ISO400 colour negative film that I found in the remaindered box of a museum gift shop, thus rendering it a bargain.

photo from week 103 - Wide Pic Panorama

underpass, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This kind of subject seems well suited to the panoramic format, quite a lot of grain/noise in the darker areas, again due to under-exposure.

photo from week 103 - Wide Pic Panorama

reflected self-portrait with Wide Pic Panorama camera, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Unsurpringly, even with ISO800 film, this one was underexposed due to the low light levels at this time of year.

photo from week 103 - Wide Pic Panorama

suburban rainbow, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Another rainbow, this time I angled the camera to fit it all in!

photo from week 103 - Wide Pic Panorama

horse chestnut and rainbow, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

We had some very heavy rain this week, but I didn't feel to precious about risking this cheap and cheerful camera getting wet. This is one of two rainbows I saw this week.

Week 103 - Wide Pic Panorama

Wide Pic Panorama, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I'm using another charity shop camera this week, this one cost 75p. There were many variations of this style of cheap and basic point and shoot camera. Some models have retractable masks to allow for normal full frame photos as well, this one is panoramic only. I've loaded it with Fuji ISO800 colour negative film in view of the low light levels around the winter solstice.

photo from week 102 - Chinon Bellami

flocking, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This camera slips easily into the pocket, so I was able to quickly get it out, set the focus to infinity, and let the camera take care of the exposure in the few seconds that these birds were circling overhead.

photo from week 102 - Chinon Bellami

reflected self-portrait with Chinon Bellami camera and leaf-patterned hat, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This indoor photo was at the limits of the camera's range, particulary as I set the ISO to 50 for this one, a deliberate 2 stop overexposure to prevent the meter being fooled by the direct light from the window. I kept as still as I could, and the exposure felt like the longest the camera is capable of, 1/15th of a second.

photo from week 102 - Chinon Bellami

pink raindrops, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The camera seems to work fine. I used it in a range of lighting conditions, and all the negatives seem to be correctly exposed. It really is a very compact design, slimmer than the Olympus XA series, if it had the shutter speed range of the Olympus, it would be a serious competitor.

Week 102 - Chinon Bellami

Chinon Bellami, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I'd never heard of this camera until I spotted it in a charity shop for £3. It has "barn doors" to cover the lens when it's retracted, rather reminiscent of the Voigtlander Vitessa that I used in week 89, and the Laack that I used in week 18.
The doors are opened, and the lens extended, when the wind on lever is moved backwards. The batteries that were in it were corroded, so I wasn't sure whether it worked until I got it home and put some fresh ones it. The exposure system is fully automatic, with shutter speeds from 1/15th to 1/500th sec.
I've loaded it with a roll of Kodak ColorPlus ISO200 from Poundland.
The rewind crank is missing, so I will have to unload it in a changing bag.

photo from week 101 - Voigtlander Vitoret 110EL

bauble tree, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

A seaonal shop window display, I braced the camera up against the glass, the exposure felt like about 1/4 second.

photo from week 101 - Voigtlander Vitoret 110EL

reflected self-portrait with Voigtlander Vitoret 110EL camera and Xmas hat from Poundland, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The tripod was necessary for this indoor shot, the exposure was around 2 seconds.

photo from week 101 - Voigtlander Vitoret 110EL

stairwell shadows, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I was quite pleased with the results from this camera, the lens is sharp and the automatic exposure works even in very dimly lit places. This was taken in the stairwell of a new museum near Amsterdam.

Week 101 - Voigtlander Vitoret 110 EL

Voigtlander Vitoret 110 EL, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

At this time of year, daylight is in short supply, so I chose to use this little 110 camera which is unusually well specified. It is fully automatic, with an electronic shutter giving speeds from several seconds up to maybe 1/500th. It appears to work, though I have not used it before. I've loaded ith with Konica film which expired in 2001.

photo from week 100 - Watch Pocket Carbine

Mop, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This was the last exposure on the film, I wanted to finish it off so I could develop it, so this was taken inside near a window, with the camera on a tripod and a time exposure of 45 seconds at f32.

photo from week 100 - Watch Pocket Carbine

reflected self-portrait with Watch Carbine camera and droopy Xmas hat from Poundland, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I wasn't too surprised by the scratches, as the film was very stiff to wind on, and it felt as if it was dragging on something inside the camera. This was an exposure of several seconds at the minimum aperture of f32, chosen to get the maximum possible depth of field, as this was shot at the closest focus possible, 3 feet.

Week 100 - Watch Pocket Carbine

Watch Pocket Carbine, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is the 100th week of the project!
I was hoping that I might have a 100 year old camera to use, but none are quite that old, though this one was introduced in 1911 and remained in production for a decade or more.
At first glance it appears to take 120 roll film, but the spools are narrower than standard 120, more like 620 spools, though this format was not introduced until much later. The camera had one wooden spool in it, and I was able to re-roll a film onto an old 620 spool to make the supply side. The way the old wooden spool engages with the wind-on knob is not compatible with the 620 spools, so it was lucky the old one was there.

photo from week 99 - Paxina

walking the dog, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is a disused and derelict laundry near where I live. I waited until there were no passing cars, and luckily at that moment a dog walker appeared.

photo from week 99 - Paxina

reflected self-portrait with Paxina camera and strange hat, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The camera has 2 focus positions, 1-3m and 3m to infinity. I was about 60cm from the mirror, giving an effective distance of 1.2m, so I used the smallest available aperture and exposed the scene for around 10 seconds using the "B" setting and a tripod.

photo from week 99 - Paxina

Sycamore in the mist, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The cross processed Fuji Velvia slide film has a pleasant orange/red/purple cast to it. This photo was taken on a foggy afternoon, at times the sun briefly became visible through the mist.

Week 99 - Paxina

Paxina, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is a 120 rollfilm camera, it takes 12 square photos per roll. It's fairly basic, but does have 2 shutter speeds plus "B" and has 3 apertures using the Waterhouse stop method. The lens panel collapses into the body, and when closed it fits in a largish pocket without too much trouble.
I've loaded it with some expired Fujichrome Velvia ISO100 slide film, which I will cross process at home in C41 chemistry.

photo from week 98 - Durst Duca

sycamore, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

It seems that my changing bag is far from a dust free environment!

photo from week 98 - Durst Duca

reflected self-portrait with Durst Duca camera and Che Guevara hat, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This camera has a fixed shutter speed and aperture, so can't be used indoors, meaning that my reflected self-portrait had to be taken in a window of the local college..

photo from week 98 - Durst Duca

snicket, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I only managed to get nine exposures this week, re-loading the Agfa Rapid cassettes is a bit hit and miss, this time I obviously didn't load enough, but the resistance had got to the level where I was going to damage the film if I tried to cram any more in.

Week 98 - Durst Duca

Durst Duca, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I left my final decision about the choice of this week's camera until I saw what the weather was like, we have had a very gloomy week, and this camera, with a fixed shutter speed and aperture needs good light. Saturday morning was sunny, so the Durst Duca got the go ahead. There are only 12 exposures per load, which is just as well, as we are now back to very dull conditions.

photo from week 97 - Pentax S1

reflected self-portrait with Pentax S1 camera and leather hat, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

One advantage of using an SLR for the mirror self-portrait is that I can be more accurate with the focus and so use a wider aperture to allow a hand-holdable shutter speed indoors.

photo from week 97 - Pentax S1

three sparklers, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Several seconds hand held exposure, using a Sigma 24mm lens, with the aperture set arounf f11.

photo from week 97 - Pentax S1

Passing Through Tudor Square, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I chose to use this camera this week partly as there would be fireworks and other outdoor events to photograph, where I might be able to use long exposures to good effect, but this one was taken using the slowest shutter speed I thought I could get away with hand-holding. At full aperture, f2.2 I used 1/30th sec. Even with ISO400 film, it is somewhat underexposed.

photo from week 96 - Sprocket Rocket

The Freak, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Time exposure of a spectacular white knuckle fairground ride, the shutter was open for about 20 seconds.

photo from week 96 - Sprocket Rocket

reflected self-portrait with Sprocket Rocket camera and yellow crown, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Now I know from first hand experience why the early Victorians always looked so po-faced in photographs. The need to keep still (in this case for 30 seconds) made it difficult to keep anything but a straight face.

photo from week 96 - Sprocket Rocket

zombie, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I took most of this week's photos at "Fright Night", an annual halloween event in Sheffield city centre. I made full use of the camera's multiple exposure capability and "bulb" setting. For some of the shots I used an electronic flash gun with coloured filters in front of it.

Week 97 - Pentax S1

Pentax S1, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This 35mm SLR dates from the early 1960s. It came from a local charity, and at £30 was not a bargain, but a reasonable price. The camera is entirely mechanical, so there are no electronics to go wrong. Everything seems to work OK and I've loaded it with some Fuji ISO 400 film.

photo from week 95 - Zeiss Ikon Kolibri

under Hungerford Bridge, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I didn't think this octogenarian camera would like the rain very much, so I stood under Hungerford Bridge to take this photo of the South Bank with the Houses of Parliament in the distance.

photo from week 95 - Zeiss Ikon Kolibri

reflected self-portrait with Zeiss Kolibri camera and winter hat, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This was taken using available light with the slowest shutter speed I thought I could get away with, it is somewhat underexposed, and further complaicated by having accidentally triggered the shutter while setting it.

photo from week 95 - Zeiss Ikon Kolibri

South Bank Centre, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I took the Kolibri with me on a day trip to London on a very wet day, there were plenty of puddles and reflections. The film was Efke 100 black and white film which I developed in Ilfosol 3.

Week 96 - Lomography Sprocket Rocket

Lomography Sprocket Rocket, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Production of new film cameras has plummeted since the advent of digital photography, novelty models being one of the few areas to be expanding. The Lomography Society International is often credited with reviving interest in film photography through advocating a lo-tech, shoot anything, take the camera everywhere approach, which they originally made popular with the Russian Lomo LCA, an automatic camera not dissimilar in specification to the Olympus XA series. Recently the company have been selling new designs, this one, the Sprocket Rocket, has a panoramic format and includes the full height of the 35mm film, sprocket holes and all, in the image. People have been including sprockets in their photos for some time by loading medium format cameras with 35mm film, but the disadvantage of that is that the lens then has a relatively long focal length, the Sprocket Rocket gets around this by having a 30mm lens, giving a wide field of view, though image quality away from the centre is poor. I try to find subjects where the sprocket holes can become part of the composition.
I bought this camera new in June this year, and have already had several films through it.

Week 95 - Zeiss Ikon Kolibri

Zeiss Ikon Kolibri, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is a lovely little camera dating from the 1930s, it takes 127 rollfilm, and has a lens which retracts into the body when not in use. The slow shutter speeds are unreliable, but otherwise it seems to work. I will be loading it with Efke 100 Blakc and white film.

photo from week 94 - Cosmic 35

Horse Chestnut with light leaks, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The multiple light leaks on this frame are because I was trying out a muliiple click technique on the next couple of frames, whereby the film is advanced a small amount before re-firing the shutter.

photo from week 94 - Cosmic 35

reflected self-portrait with Cosmic 35 camera and embroidered hat, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This week's self portrait, with added interest from the light leak.

photo from week 94 - Cosmic 35

Holy Trinity Church, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I could see as soon as I took the film out of the developing tank that there was a significant light leak in this camera. It seems to come from the right hand side of the back cover (as seen with the camera pointing away from me). The leak is attenuated towards the bottom of the negative (top of the image whenseen the right way up) due to protection from light from the camera case.

photo from week 93 - Petie miniature camera

Colosseum, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This camera is so tiny, that for several hours I was convinced that I had lost it. After searching through the suitcases and bedside cabinets, I eventually found it in the pocket of the trousers I had been wearing throughout!

photo from week 93 - Petie miniature camera

Piazza del Popolo, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Another photo from my brief trip to Rome with this tiny camera.

photo from week 93 - Petie miniature camera

statue on the Ponte San Angelo, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I shot the roll of re-spooled FP4 in Rome, the conditions were full sunshine, and the camera coped well. There are many dust spots and blemishes, presumably due to fumbling around in a changing bag to re-spool the film.

Week 94 - Cosmic 35

Cosmic 35, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The Cosmic 35 is one of many similar models made in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 80s, this model was also called the "Smena 8" in some countries. With a 40mm f4 lens, and shutter speeds from 1/15th - 1/250th, it can be used in a range of lighting conditions. There is no double exposure prevention, so it is possible to fire the shutter as many times as you like before advancing the film, I intedne to try some double/multiple exposures this week. I've loaded it with some expired "Boots" ISO200 colour negative film.

Week 93 - Petie miniature camera

Petie miniature camera, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

These toy cameras were made in Germany in large numbers in the 1950s and 60s, they were sold under various names, and some of the later models had more than one shutter speed or aperture.
The film is a proprietary format using 17mm film wide on a spool with backing paper. Fortunately my camera came with four unused rolls of film, with expiry dates of 1964. I have managed to get images from older stock than this, so was cautiously optimistic that they might be usable, but there was only a trace of a picture to be seen. Film loses speed as it ages, a rule of thumb is to allow one stop per decade, but this camera has only one shutter speed and no "B" setting, so it was impossible to compensate for this loss of sensitivity.
I have re-rolled that old spools and backing papaer with some of the 40 year old FP4 16mm movie film that I used last week, I've already shot one test roll, so I know it works. The film has perforations, unlike the original, but this shouldn't be too much of a problem.

photo from week 92 - Mikroma miniature camera

autumn leaves, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The Mikroma focuses down to 50cm, so at near full aperture I was hoping to get a very narrow depth of field when I put the camera on the ground amongst the autumn leaves.