How To Become a Better Photographer

Posted on July 17, 2012 by

Do you want to become a better photographer?

A visit with my friend Paula became a lesson on becoming a better photographer. I visited her home and she took out her cameras to show me. She had two Rolleiflexes that looked pristine, and 35 other cameras.

Wikipedia – Rolleiflex

Tennis and Photography

First a discussion on tennis and photography. When I was a kid I thought I was good at tennis. I was good. I normally beat my opponents at Camp Mount Morris or the tennis courts of Skokie. But I never had instruction or played competition better than me. So the talented ten year old tennis player became the decent teenage tennis player.

Chess was the same thing. I was good, not great.

Now I enjoy photography and would like to become good at it. Very good, not world class good but very good.

If you putz around with cameras without instruction, without criticism, without education, and without shooting thousands of photos, the odds are you will be a slightly above average photographer the rest of your life.

Autodidact Photographers – Can you learn photography alone?

I love the word autodidact (it means self taught). Are you as good as Jack London, a famous writer who may have been just as good as a photographer? Around 1900 Jack London began taking photographs. Here’s one amazing photograph from Sonoma.edu where Jack London photographed lepers celebrating the 4th of July on the Hawaiian island of Molokai in 1907.

Sonoma.Edu – Jack London, Leper’s Celebrating 4th of July on Molokai

Most of us aren’t Jack London. We need help learning photography.

Three Techniques to becoming a Better Photographer

Take a Photography Class from a Well Qualified Instructor

Take a photography class, but not just any class. Find a school and/or instructor who’s qualified to teach the subject. My friend Paula has been taking photography classes for 20 years or so.

The instructor will be an obvious source of learning for you. But your fellow students will also become a source of criticism and analysis for your photographs. And if you apply yourself in a photography class, your photographic eye will evolve, mature, and advance.

Purchase Photoshop Elements

My friend Paula was a big fan of Photoshop Elements software. She’s moved away from film into digital. Perhaps I’ll have a physical darkroom one day for developing my film. But I definitely want Photoshop Elements for the improvement of my photos, both film and digital.

If you can think of similar or better software to purchase, please leave a comment.

Shoot More Photographs

Paula was showing me her artistic photos and then she paused and said:

Shoot more photographs.

Having beautiful cameras in your basement isn’t enough. Taking photography classes and editing photos with software isn’t enough. Take more photographs.

How do you become a better photographer?

Buying books, cameras, going to photography schools, developing your own film, learning photo editing software, it’s all a good thing.

Ultimately, take more photographs. And think about the quality of your work before, during, and after you take the photo.

Please add comment of your own to this blog post. How did you become a better photographer? And thanks for visiting What is a Film Camera today and reading How to Become a Better Photographer.

Old Town Triangle Garage Sale, Chicago, IL, July 14, 2012

Posted on July 15, 2012 by

If you’re from Chicago, keep in mind the Old Town Triangle Garage Sale day sometime in July. It takes place around Bastille Day (the French national holiday for the storming of the Bastille in 1789).

The Old Town Triangle is wealthy now but when my friend Tom grew up in that area in the early 1960′s, it wasn’t so affluent. Today I’m looking for cameras while Tom is looking for everything else (he purchased a ukelele, fabric print, and an atlas today).

Old Town Triangle, Chicago, IL

The people were very nice but there weren’t as many garage sales as I had expected. But I did see some nice cameras today. (I absolutely promise, the next time I do a garage sale post, I’ll take some photos.)

Camera collecting is fun even when you don’t buy cameras

Today at the Old Town Triangle garage sales I had the pleasure of hearing some nice camera stories and seeing some nice cameras. No purchases today. But collecting cameras is a nice excuse to say hello to people, enjoy a sunny day, and talk about cameras and life.

Do you have any film cameras in the house?

Those are the magic words if you’re a camera collector at a garage sale. People forget to place their film cameras out for sale because film cameras have slipped to the back of their memories. They shoot with digital and are shocked when people say they collect cameras.

Do you have any film cameras? Do you have any cameras in the house? No, not digital cameras, film cameras.

After I ask the first question I can sometimes see people recollecting that they own some film cameras. I can see them “remembering” their cameras, their eyes look a bit different.

I also say and mean the phrase:

Even if you don’t want to sell your cameras, I’d love to see them.

My wife thinks that comment is a bit weird. Maybe she’s right. But I just enjoy seeing old cameras, seeing if they work, whether I buy them or not. When I’m lucky, people are willing to sell their cameras.

Do you have any old vinyl records in your house?

My friend Tom is amazed at how just asking to see old cameras “in the house” is working. I think one day he’ll use my same line just to ask if they have old vinyl records in their house.

A Retired Journalist Shows me His Nikons

I met a woman in a garage selling a few items. The “Do you have any cameras in the house?”, question yielded her answer. She’d check with her husband inside.

At first he brought out his digital cameras. I mentioned I was interested in film cameras. Then he brought out his Nikons. He brought out two Nikons in excellent condition: Nikon FG and Nikon N8008.

Nikon FG

This was a beautiful camera. The photo shown below is from Camerapedia’s write-up on the Nikon FG.

Camerapedia – Nikon FG

The garage sale Nikon FG I saw and the photo shown above were the same. It was a beautiful camera with three Nikon lenses (50mm, 28mm, 80-200mm zoom). To be honest, I didn’t memorize the lens sizes because I knew I couldn’t afford this camera. It was cool to the touch from being nicely air-conditioned in its home, the battery worked, and it was gorgeous.

The camera’s story evolved. The owner was a retired journalist for the Chicago Tribune. (Sorry, I’m not mentioning his name.) He was a journalist, not a photographer. But obviously he had great equipment with him as a journalist.

I had to ask, but did so gently.

Do you have any interest in selling one of these cameras?

The owner thought just a moment and said no. He hadn’t thought about selling them and thought he would keep them. If I had a business card I would have given it to him. But I’ll visit him next year to see if he wants to sell those cameras!

The camera seemed familiar. When I researched it at home it all came back to me. I had seen the same type of camera two or three weeks before. It felt familiar in my hands because it was the “son” of my Nikon EM from decades ago.

Nikon N8008

The retired journalist also had a Nikon N8008. Again, it was beautiful, cool to the touch (air conditioned), and had a good battery. It was ready to take photos and had the three “usual” lenses (50mm, 28mm, 80-200 zoom lens). Here’s a photo from Camera-Wiki on the Nikon N8008.

Camera-Wiki – Nikon N8008

It was a pleasure visiting with this retired journalist and seeing his beautiful cameras. Next year I’ll return in hopes of purchasing his Nikon FG. If he doesn’t want to sell it, I”ll understand. It’s beautiful.

The Brother-in-Law’s Lubitel 166

Two hundred paces from the retired journalist’s home I found a Lubitel 166. It looked almost like the one shown below from Wikipedia, except I think the used one I saw was missing the bottom lens ring.

Wikipedia – LOMO_Lubitel-166

Yes, even seeing an old camera is a pleasure. I had never seen a Lubitel 166 and I knew something about them. A decent TLR made in Russia. If it was available for sale I’d make an offer on it.

Would you consider selling it?

The owner said his brother-in-law gave it to him as a gift. I immediately said:

Keep it. Don’t sell it. It was a gift from your brother-in-law.

This turned out to be a wise thing to say since his wife was behind the table watching the entire transaction. It was her brother who gave the camera to the owner.

Two Canons, Not for Sale

Ten feet from the Lubitel 166 I found a Canon AE-1 and Canon EOS Elan 7, possibly for sale.

This is another case where asking, “Do you have any cameras inside your house?”, yielded two cameras for me to inspect.

The Canon AE-1 was in good condition but then you can never really tell unless you have a battery to test them. It had a 50mm lens. The owner clearly planned on keeping the AE-1.

The owner also had a Canon EOS Elan 7. I knew I had one at home (shame on me, as yet untested). So I didn’t need a Canon EOS Elan 7. Again, I’m hesitant to purchase any camera that needs a battery for testing, you should feel the same way.

The owner wanted to keep his Canon AE-1. He would have sold his Canon EOS Elan 7 for the right price. I chose not to make an offer.

A Good Day at the Old Town Triangle Garage Sale

It was a good day. Altogether I saw 7 cameras, but no purchases. I met some nice people and learned more about cameras and how they work.

Thanks for visiting What is a Film Camera today and reading about my visit to the Old Town Triangle Garage Sale in Chicago, IL.

Mamiya 135 EE – Brief Review

Posted on July 6, 2012 by

As soon as I purchased my cute little Mamiya 135 EE I popped a roll of ASA 400 expired film into it and started taking photos.

Mamiya 135 EE, Best Photo

I took photos at the Kilbourn Park basketball court, around the house, at the Addison overpass during a community mural painting, at Lake Michigan with fisherman.

I wonder if my other cameras are a little jealous (I know, weird thought). I’m supposed to be shooting out my Mamiya/Sekor 1000 DTL but this little Mamiya rangefinder is too cute not to use.

On a daily basis my Mamiya 135 EE looks a bit quirky. An old Vivitar lens cover that doesn’t fit and a rubber band to keep it on the camera. If you don’t use a lens cover it runs down the battery constantly. There is no on/off switch.

Mamiya 135 EE, Rubberband Technique

The Mamiya 135 EE is inexpensive, if you can find one

I couldn’t fine one completed listing on eBay with a sold price for the Mamiya 135 EE. I did find one that had not sold for $15 that now was selling for $10. I purchased mine for ten dollars at a Chicago garage sale in June 2012.

I love it when people speak in another language thinking that you don’t know what they’re saying. I speak English and understand some Spanish, German, and Russian. The owners kept saying “quince, quince” to each other. No I told them, I wasn’t paying $15. It was $10 or nothing (but I smiled and was friendly).

I purchased the camera for ten dollars in June 2012.

Where has this Mamiya 135 EE Traveled?

This is another camera without a past.

All I know is that the camera came from an older Hispanic couple living on the 3200 N. Karlov block in Chicago, IL.

“My” Mamiya 135 EE has traveled all around Chicago photographing fishermen, basketball players, and muralists. It’s a fun little shooter.

How Does the Mamiya 135 EE Feel?

It reminds me a lot of the Canon Canonet 28 and the Canon A35F. But not as nice.

Canonet 28 and the Canon A35F have a nicer viewfinder. You can actually see what shutter speed and aperture has been chosen by the camera. I never could tell what shutter speed and aperture the Mamiya 135 EE had chosen because in bright light outside it’s hard to see. And unlike the Canonet 28 or Canon A35F, the Mamiya 135 EE will let you depress the shutter whether or not there’s too little or too much light for the camera.

Mamiya 135 EE Problems

None really.

The Mamiya 135 EE does need a battery for its light meter. Years ago it took the infamous 1.3v PX-675 mercury battery. I used a battery from my Olympus OM-1n. A Rayovac 1.4v hearing aid battery worked just fine. It’s long identifier is L675ZA-8ZM.

The camera’s shutter works without a battery but you have no manual control other than focus. I’d say without a battery the camera is doing a 2.8 f stop at about 1/30th of a second. Just my guess.

Mamiya 135 EE Best Photos

It’s hard choosing a best photo. Out of a 24 exposure roll of film, 20 photos were “keepers”, only 4 bad shots. But here’s three of the best photos from an expired roll of ASA 400 film.

From my bungalow to the basketball courts of Kilbourn Park (Chicago) to an urban mural on Addison Street to Lake Michigan fishermen, these are some happy photos from an untested Mamiya 135 EE with expired ASA 400 color print film.

Mamiya 135 EE – 3400 North Tripp, Chicago, IL

I thought photographing my tall grass with a little bungalow bokeh would be fun. I estimated the distance from camera to grass, set the focus, placed the camera on the sidewalk, tilted the camera a bit, and pressed the shutter.

Mamiya 135 EE, June 2012, Tall Grass on 3400 N. Tripp Street, Chicago, IL

Mamiya 135 EE – Basketball at Kilbourn Park, Chicago, IL

Remarkably, if you ask people to take their photograph they may say “yes”. I watched this basketball game for 5 minutes and then asked to take photos. The shirtless man didn’t speak much English but he said, “Yes.”

I always try to move closer, closer to get the photo. For this photo I was sitting on the edge of the basketball court.

Mamiya 135 EE, June 2012, Kilbourn Park Basketball, Chicago, IL

Mamiya 135 EE – Addison Street Mural, Chicago, IL

One June 2012 day I was driving westbound on Addison Street just past the Kennedy expressway and saw some teenagers painting a mural by the overpass. This was too good an opportunity to pass by. There were lots of nice photos. This is just one of those photos.

I wish I had the name of the Mexican artist supervising this work. Nice to see young people being creative.

Mamiya 135 EE, June 2012, Addison Street Mural, Chicago, IL

Mamiya 135 EE – Montrose Harbor (Lake Michigan), Chicago, IL

This is taken at Montrose Harbor in Chicago, IL, looking south to the high rises on Lake Shore Drive. I used Google’s Picasa to adjust the exposure a bit on this photo. This 1977 camera was a bit overwhelmed with the brightness of the background and the fisherman. Now, Picasa adjusted, the photo looks even better.

Mamiya 135 EE, June 2012, Fisherman and Big Perch 2, Picasa Edited

Mamiya 135 EE Summary

I wouldn’t go out of my way to purchase a Mamiya 135 EE. If a Canonet 28 is a “poor man’s Leica” than the Mamiya 135 EE is a “poor man’s Canonet 28. But if you can pick up a Mamiya 135 EE at a garage sale than go ahead and have some fun.

For ten dollars and using expired ASA 400 film that’s probably 5-10 years old, I think the Mamiya 135 EE gave me some fun photos. There’s nothing fancy about the shot shown below, but it’s a darn good exposure (and a pretty lady).

Mamiya 135 EE, June 2012, Wife on the Phone

Thanks for visiting What is a Film Camera today and reading my Mamiya 135 EE brief review.

Andersonville Garage Sales – Chicago, IL

Posted on June 24, 2012 by

Today, June 23, 2012, was the Andersonville Garage Sale Day

If you’re from Chicago, keep in mind the Andersonville Garage Sale day sometime in late June. Andersonville is on the north side of Chicago and bounded by Foster on the south, Bryn Mawr on the north, Ravenswood on the west, and perhaps Greenwood Street on the east. But don’t take my word for it, ask anyone from Andersonville.

Andersonville Neighborhood, Chicago, IL

I did find something for free at the garage sales, you’ll need to to to the end of this blog post to see it.

Nice People and Nice Items in the Andersonville Garage Sale

About 50 families participated. This was garage sale heaven. But strangely, no cameras today.

My friend Tom and I did these garage sales together today. Tom loves his vinyl records and also found some furniture he liked. As for me, I look for cameras.

As a pair, we are a bit unbalanced in our search method. Tom looks for records/books and then rummages through record after record or book after book. As for me, it’s the ever popular:

Hi, afternoon. Do you have any film cameras?

If they say no I always ask:

Do you have any film cameras inside?

When they hesitate I know the answer is yes. That’s when it gets interesting. You’d be surprised how many people will go into their houses to find old cameras for me. If they say they don’t want to sell them I just say, “That’s OK. I promise I won’t buy them. I just want to see them.” (And, I mean what I say.)

Ten Dollar OM-10, Missed it by 10 Minutes

I missed purchasing an Olympus OM-10 with two lens and a case by ten minutes. For $10.

Tom became tired of hearing me complain about the camera that “got away” and threatened to hit me. I smiled. I knew I’d get the last word on my blog.

But if you miss a camera by ten minutes at a garage sale (and you will), get over it. You keep searching enough garage sales, cameras just come to you in time. Maybe not today, but eventually you will find the great camera bargains.

Nikon FG and Canon EOS 650, No Offer Made

I just like seeing cameras, even if I can’t buy them or won’t buy them.

Gerhardt and Betsy sat me down on their white sofa for sale and showed me their cameras. And the Nikon FG went to Africa. (Gerhardt and Betsy were deep into their 70′s).

Sometimes the Best Deal is the One You Don’t Make

As Gerhardt, Betty, and I discussed their two cameras I forgot totally that Tom was watching. Only later did he say he was proud I didn’t try to low ball offer the two senior citizens. It never crossed my mind.

I told them what I thought their cameras were worth and as it turns out, my guesses were correct per eBay. Nikon FG cameras with two lenses currently cost less than $100 and a Canon EOS 650 with a zoom lens is a bit over $50. So I gave them helpful information.

Like I said, sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make.

Canon T50 for $40? No Deal

I met a young couple selling a few things in front of their apartment building. Yes, they did have a camera inside. It was a Canon T50 with one Canon lens and two no name brand other lenses.

The young lady wanted $40 and I didn’t like the plastic feel of the camera. She was nice but her camera didn’t feel right. I also though $40 was too much. Sold prices on eBay are half as much plus shipping.

A $150 Photography Book for Free?

Would you pay $150 for the book Century (edited by Bruce Bernard, published by Phaidon)? That’s what they are selling for used at Amazon.

Canon SD880, June 23, 2012, Andersonville Garage Sales, Century by Phaidon

Canon SD880, June 23, 2012, Andersonville Garage Sales, Century Inside

The Last Sale, a “Free” Table

Just before the restaurant Pauline’s at Balmoral and Ravenswood (good food, good people) there was an abandoned card table with books on it. And one of the books was huge.

The book had Phaidon written on its spine. I knew it was a photography book.

Underneath the table was a sign.

Everything on this table is free. Except the table.

The Book is Mine

Tom touched the book on the table first (he was ahead of me).

I grabbed the book and said, “It’s mine.”

Tom said, “Don’t you have to pay for that?”.

I said, “Look at the sign, it’s free.”

It’s funny, I don’t feel bad about grabbing that book ahead of Tom. And, I don’t think Tom we’ll lose sleep over the photography book Century tonight.

I don’t know if my $150 used Century book is really worth that much. But the story it gave me with my good friend Tom is priceless.

Canon SD880, June 23, 2012, Andersonville Garage Sales, Tom

Karma and Camera Purchases in Andersonville (Chicago)

Take a garage sale walk with a friend this summer. Just make sure he or she likes something different than you do. (Next time, I’ll take more photos.)

And remember that some of the best deals of the day are the ones you don’t make. It’s just good karma. Thanks Tom, I owe you a great garage sale deal (I’ll be looking for you). And guess what, Tom even paid for lunch (thanks Tom).

Thanks for visiting What is a Film Camera today.

Photography, Haiku, and Basketball

Posted on June 20, 2012 by

Sometimes your hobbies are in perfect alignment.

Canon SD880, June 19, 2012, Kilbourn Park Basketball, Graceful Layup

Sitting in the park.
Watching a basketball game.
Cool summer breezes.

Street Basketball was my First Hobby

Long before I collected cameras, long before I could quote stories about Abraham Lincoln, long before any hobby or avocation, I played basketball as a kid.

Pick up basketball games are very democratic: one man, one shot, one vote. And apparently that spirit of equality extends to photographers watching playground basketball in Chicago’s Kilbourn Park.

I’ve never been denied a chance to play street basketball. But admittedly, it’s been years since I played in Chicago or elsewhere.

Photography in my late 20′s and early 60′s

I seem to have missed four decades of photography. It sounds horrible, and I never thought of all the serious photographs I may have missed along the way. But like most Americans, I always had some type of family camera nearby.

In my late twenties I purchased a Nikon EM with a 50mm and telephoto lens. Perhaps after being stolen by a neighborhood kid (Vince Txxxxxxx, I still remember your name) my Nikon EM’s light meter died. I never recovered the stolen telephoto lens. And during my 30′s, 40′s, and 50′s I had nameless cameras that I have long since forgotten.

Deep into my 50′s I took my best friend’s old cameras out of storage almost a decade after his passing. Paul was his name and he died at age 50. I tested his Nikkormat FT2 and Canon AE-1, wrote articles about his cameras, and they will never leave my home or my family.

Nikkormat FT2 and Zoom Lens

So in some mystical way, and old friend brought me back to photography.

Haiku Poetry is a Surprising Joy

In high school I was the “C” student in Honors English. I certainly could write prose but certainly wasn’t good at poetry.

And then I discovered haiku.

I don’t try to write haiku, it just comes to me in snatches. It’s supposed to be based in the nature around you. You have 3 lines to build with a syllable count.

1st line: 5 syllables.
2nd line: 7 syllables.
3rd line: 5 syllables.

Street Photography in Kilbourn Park, Chicago, IL

In my late 20′s in the Truman College library I remember looking at photography books dreaming about taking great photographs. I no longer dream. I just take photographs when I can.

On this summer day, June 19 2012, four men in their 30′s were playing some basketball in Kilbourn Park.

Sitting in the Shade, Cool Breezes, Writing Haiku

I sat in the shade reading a book on meditation. The breezes were cool. I shot a photograph or two. Then a line or two of haiku came to me. I counted the syllables with my fingers. I had no paper, I had to memorize the haiku immediately.

Sitting in the park.
Watching a basketball game.
Cool summer breezes.

Do you see the shirtless man dribbling in the photo below? I walked up to him before they began their 2nd game and asked if I could take some photos. I showed him my old Mamiya 135 EE camera and my digital camera. He didn’t say much, but he did say, “Yes.”

Canon SD880, June 19, 2012, Kilbourn Park, Chicago, Basketball, Driving Dribble

Sitting on the Edge of the Basketball Court, Taking Photos

Get closer, get closer.

Mamiya 135 EE, June 2012, Kilbourn Park, Chicago, IL, Basketball Court

I could have used my telephoto lens on my Canon SD880 (digital) but chose to just sit on the edge of the basketball court. I always shoot with a 35mm camera and a digital camera for backup (sorry folks, I shoot both film and digital). The photo shown above was taken with my 35 year old Mamiya 135 EE rangefinder. It’s kind of like a Canonet, only not as good.

After the Photos, Say “Thank You”

And don’t forget, when you finish taking photographs, offer a thank you and a good-bye. That’s what I did as I walked away from the basketball court.

What My Dad and Photographer Nevada Weir taught me about Photography

Strangely, my father and photographer Nevada Weir are linked together as photography mentors (hope you don’t mind Nevada).

Talking to Strangers with Dad

Decades ago my father dragged me along on Saturdays to Amundsen Park stadium (Chicago, IL) to watch soccer games. He would peek through the canvas on the outside of the stadium and after halftime we would enter the stadium for free to watch soccer. (Sorry dad, I hated soccer.)

I watched my father as he easily walked up to people and started conversations. Dad could do that with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Apparently I learned that skill from my father.

What Nevada Weir taught me about Photography

In a photography book I gave away to a young photographer, I read a one page article by Nevada Weir on how to take photographs of strangers you meet. She’s a world class photographer and was kind enough to exchange emails with me a few weeks ago.

I can’t remember what she said exactly about photographing strangers on the street, throughout the world. But this is what I learned from her, in my words.

Don’t just sneak your photos of people. Try to engage people. Say hello and strike up a conversation. Engage them as human beings, not as subjects. Ask them if you can take their photo.

Sorry Nevada, I can’t remember your words exactly.

Take your Camera with you and Take Photographs

It’s true I may have missed 4 decades of photographs. I’ll never know how good those photographs might have been. But today I took some good photos in Kilbourn Park, Chicago, IL.

Canon SD880, June 19, 2012, Kilbourn Park, Chicago, Basketball, Waiting to Rebound

But these days, I carry a camera with me always. If you’re in Kilbourn Park, Chicago, IL, don’t be surprised if someone walks up to you, starts a conversation, and asks to take your photo.

Thanks for visiting What is a Film Camera today.

Winning eBay Auctions by a Penny

Posted on June 12, 2012 by

Today I won a camera eBay auction by a Penny

It was a nice feeling. I and another bidder competed for a Minolta SRT 100x on eBay. He bid a little, I bid a little and then “felt” that he had a higher limit on the camera so I stopped bidding. I kept raising my bids from about three dollars to ten dollars but his/her higher bid kicked in and outbid me.

So I waited for my 5 second snipe. See my post on eBay auction sniping.

Five Second Sniping on eBay

If I want a camera on eBay I always wait for the last 5 seconds to make a bid. Whether there’s another bidder or not. Yesterday, I knew there was another bidder so I waited for the last 5 seconds.

I decided that my limit for a 35 year old Minolta SRT 100x would be fifteen dollars plus shipping. If the other person outbid me, so be it.

I know, $15 dollars for a camera and 3 lenses doesn’t sound like a big purchase. But isn’t part of the fun of buying eBay cameras at auction the thrill of winning?

Always add a penny to your eBay Bids

In the past I have won eBay auctions in the last 5 seconds by 50 cents or even 25 cents. But I can never remember winning an auction by a penny.

I wanted the camera for $15 plus shipping. So I bid $15 plus a penny in the last 5 seconds.

Winning eBay Auction Bids by a Penny

So I won a Minolta camera with 3 lenses. I really bid on it because it looked like it was in good condition and someone’s father had used it “lightly” years ago according to the description on eBay.

I know the other person was disappointed when he learned I had outbid him/her by a penny. But I taught the other bidder two important lessons yesterday:

Never bid with round figures for lesser priced goods on eBay. If you want to bid $15.00, then bid $15.01. Never bid with .25 or .50 or .75. Always bid with 27, 51, or 77 cents. You get the idea.
If you can watch an auction, all the action happens in the last 5 seconds.

So good luck on your next eBay auction. Just add a couple of pennies to each final bid.

Thanks for visiting What is a Film Camera today.

Matt Denton’s New Website

Posted on June 8, 2012 by

I wanted to write a brief blog post to tell my visitors and readers that Matt Denton has a new address for his camera website. You’ll find Matt’s Classic Cameras incredibly useful, and fun.

Who is Matt Denton?

Matt has a non-photography full-time job but has spent countless hours describing used cameras for everyone at Matt’s Classic Cameras. If Matt had a dollar for every time I visited his website he could probably purchase an expensive used camera.

Why am I promoting Matt Denton’s website?

Recently I visited Matt Denton’s blog and I saw his request that his readers promote his new website domain with all of his good used camera information. So I’m doing this short blog post on his behalf.

Matt Denton doesn’t know me personally, we’ve never emailed, or spoken on a phone. But Matt’s pretty special in the photographic blog community where I spend way too much of my time.

When you have a chance, visit Matt’s Classic Cameras website.

As for today, as always, I give you my thanks for visiting What is a Film Camera.

Cameras and Cheap Antique Stores

Posted on June 3, 2012 by

Visit a Cheap Antique Store and Purchase a Camera

Many towns have a cheap antique store. Keep those stores alive. Find the cheap antique store in your town and buy an old camera from them. When those stores are gone, it will be a lot harder finding old SLRs and rangefinders in your town.

Cheap Antique Stores on North Broadway, Chicago, IL

If you read my blogs and dig on the Internet you’ll find my favorite cheap antique store in Chicago. I’ll give you a hint: in the daytime you’ll find two life size statues of the Blues Brothers in front of the store.

Today I purchased a Yashica FX-3 and Pentax K1000 at my not so local antique/junk shop (I only visit when I’m in the neighborhood for some other reason, it’s seven long Chicago miles from my home). It’s not really an antique store and its not really a junk store. It’s kind of like an ongoing garage sale in a store.

Mechanically, both cameras worked just fine without batteries. A 50mm lens came with each camera. I thought the Pentax lens had two small scratches and the Yashica lens had a small case of fungus. At home, with my cleaning supplies, both lenses cleaned up nicely. So I have two great little cameras.

They wanted $38 for both cameras priced separately. I offered to buy both and they said $35 was their price. I asked them to toss in the 80-200mm zoom lens that I found that looked like it was for a Minolta. A deal was made. Two cameras with 3 lenses for $35. I think it was a good deal all around.

Four Cameras from one Cheap Antique Store

Canon FTb – $15

I love this 40 year old camera. It was the first camera I purchased at this store.

Canon FTb

The lady behind the counter thought it was $20 but the owner on the phone said sell it for $15. A beautiful piece of Japanese engineering with the user friendly QL (quick loading film system). I could easily be happy just owning this one camera. Read my Canon FTb review for more information.

Minolta SRT 100 – $20

I’ve come to like the incredible solidity of my Minolta SRT 100.

Minolta SRT 100, Front View

Every month or so I visit this store on North Broadway in Chicago, IL to look for cameras. On my second visit I found a Minolta SRT100 in fine mechanical shape. Most people are busy searching for Nikon and Canon cameras and I think the ancient Minolta SLRs get overlooked. I offered $20 for this fine old camera with its fast Rokkor 1.7 50mm lens in fair to good condition with filter. Read my Minolta SRT 100 review for a longer write-up with photos.

Yashica FX-3

After two unsuccessful bids on the Yashica FX-3 the ladies in the store and the owner accepted my 3rd offer: About $15. I think it was Matt Denton’s Yashica FX-3 write-up where I first started looking for the FX-3. It’s not a great camera in itself but you can use Zeiss made lenses with it.

Pentax K1000

Today, June 1, 2012, the Pentax K1000 was sitting on the camera shelf. I already owned one of them but I always feel obligated to check out a classic camera whenever I see one. Everything seemed fine. Shutter speeds worked correctly and it came with a 50mm lens. At $20, I thought it was a good buy.

Buy a Camera Today at your Local Cheap Antique Store

In Chicago you can always find antique stores that are neatly laid out with cameras inside glass shelves with prices that are crazy. When someone is selling a beat up Petri 7 rangefinder in a glass display case for $60 you know that store isn’t for you.

Look for a crammed, cheap antique store where you need to carefully walk through the crowded aisles. If the store looks like a great garage sale you can become hopeful. If you find a few shelves crowded with Polaroid cameras, a few Kodak Brownie cameras, and one or two heavy metal SLRs or rangefinders, hold your breath.

You’ve found your new, favorite, cheap antique store for cameras.

Thanks for visiting What is a Film Camera today.

Nikon FM2 Brief Review

Posted on May 24, 2012 by

My friend Vicci loaned me two cameras to test and review: a Minolta SRT Super and a Nikon FM2.

If you live in Chicago and you’d like me to test a valuable camera, I’d be glad to give it a try. By the way, I’ve never even held a Leica camera.

The Minolta SRT Super had a shutter problem that prevented me from using it but the Nikon FM2 was in operational condition. If you’ve read my camera blog you know I do lengthy reviews on my cameras. But this was a loaner camera from a friend: today, just a brief review.

Nikon FM2 Cameras are Valuable

Vicci’s Nikon FM2 is probably the most expensive camera I have ever used. Vicci loaned me these 3 items:

Nikon FM2 body. Averaging $150 sold on eBay.
Nikon 1.4 50mm lens. At least $100 sold on eBay.
Nikon 24mm lens with minor scratches (see photo below). Perhaps $100 on eBay.

Nikon FM2 and Two Lenses

This was an incredible sign of trust when a friend lends you some family heirlooms (valued cameras from a parent) and says:

Have fun with them. Test them out. Just return them when you’re done with them.

Thanks Vicci, it was a treat.

Where has this Nikon FM2 Traveled?

I think it respectful to keep Vicci’s last name private.

But her father’s camera was manufactured in 1983 or 1984. He served in the U.S. military and his camera has been in the family for two decades.

Vicci, do you have any photos of exotic places where this camera has traveled? I’ll add them to this blog post if you do.

How Does the Nikon FM2 Feel?

I enjoyed shooting with it. After using cameras like my Nikon N6006 or my Canon FTb, the Nikon FM2 felt incredibly light. It reminded me of a Ricoh XR-10 I once owned for lightness. But comparing a Nikon FM2 and its lenses to a Ricoh XR-10 is a bit unfair. Testing a Nikon with Nikon lenses was a rare treat.

Vicci thought this photo of our church was very nice.

Nikon FM2, Irving Park United Methodist Church, Chicago, IL

Light Metering for the Nikon FM2

Sorry, I didn’t purchase batteries for the Nikon FM2 and its light metering system. I used a 40 year old light meter. Although I own a like new Gossen Digisix for light metering ($80 through Craigslist Chicago) i used my Sekonic Auto-Lumi light meter that cost me $5 on an impulse buy on eBay. It was made between 1963 and 1986 so that makes it to 26 to 49 years old. No batteries, its powered by a Selenium meter.

Most of the Nikon FM2 photos were perfectly metered. This photo of Chicago bungalows looks fine to me.

Nikon FM2, 3400 N. Tripp, Chicago, IL

Sometimes the meter was fine but the photographer made mistakes. Once again, these are Nikon FM2 photos taken with a 25 to 50 year old light meter. In the photo below on Chicago’s lakefront, I should have bracketed the photo at different apertures. I could certainly alter the photo with software to experiment with different exposures.

By the way, there’s a man behind the vendor cart, he’s pretty short. You can see his feet under the cart. Also, that’s a fisherman in the middle of the photo. In retrospect it would have been better if the fisherman were casting with his rod and reel.

Nikon FM2, Montrose Harbor, Chicago, IL

A Few More Nikon FM2 Photos

In Chicago many of the old tennis courts have been converted into short soccer fields. They’re always busy. This tilted photo actually made the photo more interesting.

Nikon FM2, Soccer at Kilbourn Park, Chicago, IL

A baseball game in Kilbourn Park, Chicago, IL, in the early summer. You can almost feel the cool shade where the parents are grilling food and watching their kids play.

Nikon FM2, Baseball at Kilbourn Park, Chicago, IL

Nikon FM2 Summary

Using an expensive Nikon FM2 was a rare treat from my friend Vicci.

If you trust me and would like me to test your family heirloom camera in Chicagoland, just leave me a comment.

Thanks for visiting What is a Film Camera today and reading my Nikon FM2 brief review.

Digital or film photos, which one is better?

Posted on May 20, 2012 by

I am not a purist, I shoot with both digital and film cameras. But the question needs to be asked?

Are film cameras better than digital?

Can you tell the difference between 35mm film or digital photos?

You decide. Choose your favorite picture. Then research the camera I used for that photo. Some photos were taken with 20-50 year old film cameras, one was taken with a five year old digital camera. Can you tell the difference?

Pond 1

Pond 2

Pond 5

It’s not the Camera, it’s the Photographer

When we are a bit young and foolish we convince ourselves that a better camera will make us a better photographer. And better cameras normally mean spending more money. I experienced this camera envy in my early 20′s on a college school trip to Russia.

I remember my camera envy sitting with my tent partner Ron Janssen (where are you Ron?). He owned a Praktica SLR and I owned a Kodak Instamatic camera. Talk about camera envy.

I never saw Ron’s Praktica SLR photos. The name Praktica stayed with me for decades until I purchased a few Prakticas of my own. But I took some decent photos with my Kodak Instamatic, not great but decent.

Sometimes, it’s the Camera not the Photographer

I own over 75 cameras. But some of these cameras ranging from a $5 Kodak Motormatic to a $30 Yashica T4 (worth $300) can be very special. Sometimes, a camera with an amazing lens and light metering system can just knock you over with rendition of colors and textures.

So let’s take a look at a few of my shots of a pond in Mount Prospect, IL, USA, on different days. These are some of my best landscape photos.

Kodak Motormatic, Five Dollars

This was purchased for five dollars on eBay with a few other cameras. It took a while to learn how to use it. It has a wind-up motor drive like some toy from the early 1960′s. And I was unsure of the metering system.

But here’s my photo of my Mount Prospect pond. I know it’s not a great photo but it’s a very good photo for a camera from the early 1960′s. I was especially impressed with the blue texture of the pond. I think this was of the very first times I realized an inexpensive camera could take a good photo.

Kodak Motormatic 35, Mount Prospect, IL Pond

Canon A35F, Five Dollars

I described this 5 dollar garage sale purchase and nicknamed it Son of Canonet. Here’s my Canon A35F review for later reference.

Here’s another fine shot of the Mount Prospect, IL pond. The bright sky tricked the light meter a bit but I can see the lateral lines of algae (?) running left to right near the right side of the frame.

Canon A35F, Beautiful Pond, Mount Prospect, IL

Canon QL17, $120 Re-furbished

The Canon QL17 rangefinder can take some wonderful shots. This photo may be my best ever of the Mount Prospect, IL, pond.

Canon QL17, Beautiful Pond, Mount Prospect, IL

Visit my Canon QL17 review for more details on this camera.

Canon SD880 IS, $110 Camera

Even though I love shooting with film cameras I always keep my Canon SD880 IS as backup. Ken Rockwell’s writeup on the Canon SD880 persuaded me to purchase it. Absolutely a wonderful digital camera at an affordable price. It has the equivalent of a 28mm lens that ranges to 4x zoom. It’s always in my camera bag along with my film camera of the day.

This photo of the Mount Prospect pond was taken with the Canon SD880.

Canon SD880, Pond in Mount Prospect

Yashica T4, $250 camera purchased for $30

This is the near legendary point and shoot camera with the Zeiss lens. I found it on Craigslist one early morning for $30 and drove 10 miles to purchase it immediately.

It has a Carl Zeiss Tessar lens but what I like most about the photo below is the excellent light metering. In many photos, a bright blue sky will trick the camera into metering badly. But the Yashica T4 below performed wonderfully.

Yashica T4, Beautiful Pond, Mount Prospect, IL

Digital or film photos? Use what you enjoy.

Nothing magical here. It was nice of you to play along and read my blog post today.

Are digital images better than film photos? Are the old film cameras really better than digital? Did the Canon SD880 digital photo seem that much better than film cameras ranging in price from $5 to $250 and ranging in age from 10 to 40 years in age?

You get to decide. As for me, I’m glad I can always shoot with both digital cameras and film cameras in my camera bag.

Thanks for visiting What is a Film Camera today.