World Photography Day

I wish all my readers a Happy World Photography Day, August 19th.

World Photography Day originates from the invention of the Daguerreotype, a photographic processes developed by Louis Daguerre.  On January 9, 1839, The French Academy of Sciences announced the daguerreotype process. A few months later, on August 19, 1839, the French government announced the invention as a gift “Free to the World.”Another photographic processes, the Calotype, was also invented in 1839 by William Fox Talbot (it was announced in 1841). Together, the invention of both the Daguerreotype and Calotype mark 1839 as the year that photography was invented.If you’re interested in learning more about the history of photography, take a look at the following article on Wikipedia: History of Photography 

Credit: www.worldphotoday.org/about 

Stay tuned (o;

#31 Agfa Isolette III

I love folding bellows cameras but, I have a soft spot for the Isolettes.

I was craving for a Isolette III, I found and bought this one quite cheap on the *Bay, about 20 Euro, including P&P.

Below you will understand why:

The bellows were completely covered with gaffer tape, due to the holes in it.

I kept on striping it and this was what I found:

It looked like a flood survivor. Inside the top plate, rangefinder, etc. everything was filled with what looked like dried mud.

So I had hard work ahead,  remove the bellows and build a new one:

I have to thank to Roland and Caroline for the comprehensive tutorial.

Even with the tutorial, don't you think it was piece of cake, especially the folding part...

Then I had to clean it thoroughly including the shutter, that was close to frozen.

After that came the reassembly:

Here is the final result:

This model was produced by Agfa, from 1950 to 1960.

The lens is an Apotar 1:4.5/85mm on a eight speed Gauthier, AGC, Prontor-S shutter; 1-1/300 and B, with self-timer and flash sync.

It's a self erecting model with uncoupled rangefinder, double-exposure prevention and a DOF calculator.

Following some shots taken with it:

That reminds me that I have to use it more.

Stay tuned (o;

#30 Olympus µ[mju:] Zoom Wide 80

This camera was an unexpected and involuntary gift from my friend, Mário Azevedo.

When he gave me back the Nikon F-301, that I had traded by the Olympus IS-2, I opened the bag, was checking the content and found this:

I asked him if it was a bonus gift but he didn't even knew what I was talking about, he had totally forgot about that camera, only when I send him some pictures of it, he remembered having bought it, to take some pictures on a ski trip.

So he told me to keep it.

The camera has some interesting features, like the comprehensive zoom 28-80 and the all weather design.

Most of the controls are located on the top plate and are easily accessible.

                      

What I like the least in this camera is the 45º protruding flash, that pops-up as soon as one opens the clam shell lens protector, that activates the camera.

I find it a nice usable camera, small, light and quite a nice performer, at least in broad daylight.

Only if the lens where faster...

SPECIFICATIONS: (from the instructions manual)

• Type: Full automatic 35 mm autofocus lens-shutter camera with built-in 28 ~ 80 mm zoom lens.
• Film format: 35 mm standard DX-coded film (24 x 36 mm)
• Lens: Olympus lens 28 ~ 80 mm F4.5 ~ 8.4, 9 elements in 8 groups.
• Shutter: Programmed electronic shutter.
• Viewfinder: Real image zoom viewfinder (with autofocus mark, close-up correction marks, autofocus indicator and flash indicator). Provided with dioptre adjustment.
• Focusing: Active-type autofocus system. Focus lock possible. Focusing range: 0.8 m (2.6 ft) ~ (infinity).
• Exposure control: Programmed automatic exposure control, 2-zone light metering, switchable to spot metering. Auto exposure range: Wide-angle — EV2.4 (F4.5, 4 sec.) to EV16 (F11.4, 1/500 sec.), Telephoto — EV4.2 (F8.4, 4 sec.) to EV17 (F19.8, 1/335 sec.).
• Exposure counter: Progressive type with automatic reset, displayed on LCD panel.
• Selftimer: Electronic selftimer 12-sec. delay.
• Remote control (optional): Infrared remote control unit with 3-sec. delay.
• Film speed range: Automatic setting with DX-coded film with ISO 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200.
• Film speeds other than above will be automatically set to next lower speed. For non DX-coded film and film with less than ISO 50, film speed is set to ISO 100.
• Film loading: Automatic loading. (Automatically advances to first frame when camera back cover is closed.)
• Film advance: Automatic film winding.
• Film rewind: Automatic film rewind (automatic rewind activation at end of film, automatic rewind stop).
• Rewind possible at any point with rewind button.
• Flash: Built-in flash. Recycling time: Approx. 0.5 ~ 7 sec. (at normal temperature with new battery).
• Flash working range: Wide-angle — 0.8 ~ 4.4 m (2.6 ~ 14.4 ft), Telephoto — 0.8 ~ 2.3 m (2.6 ~ 7.5 ft) with ISO 100 color negative film; Wideangle — 0.8 ~ 8.8 m (2.6 ~ 28.9 ft), Telephoto — 0.8 ~ 4.6 m (2.6 ~ 15.1 ft) with ISO 400 color negative film.
• Flash modes: Auto (automatic flash activation in low light and back-light, Red-eye Reduction (otherwise same as in Auto), Flash Off (no flash with slowest shutter speed of 4 sec.), Fill-In (forced activation), Night Scene (for night scenes with slowest shutter speed of 4 sec. other functions operate the same as in Auto), Red-eye Reducing Night Scene (otherwise same as in Night Scene).
• Battery check: Displayed on LCD panel.
• Weatherproof: IEC Standard publication 529. Classification of degrees of protection provided by enclosures. Degree of protection indicated by second characteristics numeral 4.
• Short description: Protected against splashing water.
• Definition: Water splashed against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect.
• Test for second numeral 4: Equipment is sprayed from all practical directions. Water pressure is adjusted to give delivery rate of 10 lit./min. Test duration shall be 1 min. per m2 of calculated surface area of enclosure with minimum duration of 5 min.
• Power source: 3 V lithium battery (DL123A/CR123A)
• Dimensions: 120 (W) x 64 (H) x 49 (D) mm (4.7 x 2.5 x 1.9 in) (without grip and other protrusions).
• Weight: 255 g (9.0 oz) (without battery)

Some pictures taken with it:

                     

Stay tuned (o;

#29 Halina 35X Super

This Halina 35X Super was my father's camera for as long as I can remember.

It's a very simple viewfinder camera, made in Hong-Kong, by Haking, c.1960, it's marked "Empire Made".

The lens is an Anastigmat 45mm, 1:3,5

The shutter is a four speed leaf type: 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/200 and B.

Combined shutter cocking with film advance; exposure counter on a wheel on top of the advance lever.

Flash pc synch on the side of the lens/shutter barrel.
No rangefinder, light meter or any other help, everything manual.
It takes 24 x 36 mm pictures on 35 mm film.

My father had a Gossen Sixon light meter, to establish the exposure and used to guestimate the distance.
He made great shots with this camera and taught me how to take pictures with it, how to use a light meter and the shutter speed/diaphragm play to get the correct exposure.

This was also the first 35mm camera I used.

I cherish this camera for all the great moments it recorded.

In the picture above you can see the outfit that my father always carried along to parties,trips, holidays, everywhere he anticipated deserving to be recorded in a picture.

The following shots were taken by me, with it, in my teen years:

My father still uses a twin of this one.

Stay tuned (o;