The Return of Analog: Film Photography is Returning from the Grave.

January 30, 2018

#228

Gentle reader,

First, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my humble blog. When I started this years ago, it was just something to do. Little did I think anyone would take an interest in my writing and photography. But you have. Page views are approaching 150,000! Your kind words are a great encouragement to continue. 

I joined two FaceBook groups devoted to not only collecting film cameras, but using them as they were intended to be used: Making photographs. Since joining those groups I have bought these six 35mm rangefinder cameras, plus a rangefinder 110: Kodak Pocket Instamatic 60 in black chrome. Plus, I've bought film, batteries and for some of these adapters to use modern non-Mercury batteries. While rangefinder cameras (except interchangeable lens models) are limited to the lens it came with, and one is not looking through the lens like an SLR, I prefer using them.

You may be thinking, "Can you even get film developed these days?" Oh, yes, indeed. The corner drugstore or grocery store no longer do so, but there are many labs all over the country and in other countries around the world, too, that still develop, print and if you wish, scan high resolution images onto CD-Rom or DVD-Rom discs too. I have 16 by 20 prints of photos I made framed and on my walls from the pre-digital days. One can even get posters made nowadays from your own photos.

An excellent book titled, The Revenge of Analog by David Sax takes a thorough look at how non-digital things and practices are not only returning, but thriving. LP records and cassette tapes, film cameras, board games, real books, notebooks and pens and more are examined with examples and locations of such places as game rooms where people wait in line outside for a table to play board games. Book stores are opening and thriving in many cities. Locally one called 2nd and Charles took over the old Borders Books stores and are a combination of books, records, CDs, DVDs & BluRay discs, comic books, musical instruments, video games and consoles, especially older ones and so much more. It's a fun place to visit. One can sell or trade their stuff too!

There are many professional and amateur photographers that never made the switch to digital cameras. They have embraced the necessity of the digital world by having their film scanned so they can show clients photos the way they expect to see them: on a screen. However, the actual prints will be made the way they have for a hundred years: in a darkroom.

My first camera as a child in the 1960's was a green plastic and used #620 roll film. It had no controls over exposure. Just a shutter button and the knob to roll the film for the next picture. It was one of these:

Many of my pictures turned out just fine, as did millions of other pictures made with box cameras, folding cameras, and countless other cameras which the owners used over 100 + years of use. There are photographers that still use the ancient glass plate cameras such as were used in the late 19th Century. Why? Because they can.

This must be my forth or fifth Aires 35 IIIC camera. Each time I hope to get one that works. It resembles a Leica M3 until you see a M3, then it does not. The seller stated that it seemed to work. I bought it for $50 which included the working light meter and it came in the original box. Plus, I sold my non-working one for the same amount. Well, the shutter does work after I cleaned the mechanism. Sadly, the shutter does it's thing AS the lever is returning to it's rest position! Technically I can make photos, just would have to use a tripod and hope for the best. Sigh. Perhaps YOU can tell me how to fit it?

M3 or not, still an attractive camera.

I longed for one of these 1st generation Yamato PAX cameras. Because it looks like a small Leica! Most sell for hundreds of dollars, but I snagged this one for $20. The shutter works, as does the aperture. But the focusing is stuck just as they all seem to be. The lube the factory used turns to glue over the decades.

Here it is next to a Zorki (Leica II Soviet copy). Very similar in many ways.

I do not know why it appears the lens on the Zorki appears to be leaning to the right (below). It is not doing so. Wide angle distortion perhaps.

Since I'm comparing Leica-likes, here is the Aires and Zorki (with a Jupiter 3 50mm f1.5 lens) side-by-side.

The second camera I bought was this PAX M3 (left). Nothing works on it which is why it was only $5.00. Like the Leica M3 radically departed from the looks of the earlier models, this M3 also looks and works differently. Note the red dot? A nod to Leica's red dot. Bigger rectangular rangefinder/viewfinder windows, lever wind rather than knob, etc.

Single eyepiece on the back and only two windows on the front.

The M3's lens is not flange mounted like the 1st model.

Kuribayashi Petri cameras are often in collector's clutches. I've had a number. I wanted a "RACER" because it's a cool name and good looking camera. I specifically wanted one with the faster f1.8 lens. Sadly, the shutter will not fire. It winds fine, though.

Mr/Mrs A. Benson paid for engraving their name on it, rather than scratching it in.

All-black cameras were often attributed to professionals with the chrome and black ones belonging to amateurs. However, that is a myth. I scored this pristine Yashica Electro 35 GT (I love GT part) also for $50. It was stored in the case so all the paint is still there. It even had a Mercury battery in it that still held a charge! Not for long, though. My adapter to use a smaller battery is sitting in front of me, however.

The first camera I bought to shoot with was this Rollei XF 35. I chose it for the Sonnar lens which are very sharp. Plus, like the GT, it is Tactical black. It works fine as does the GT.

Very minor brass showing on the Rollei.

Close-up digital photos always show every speck of dust!

IF Rollei built the same cameras in Germany and Singapore, the former are preferred. Snobbery or some legitimate reason?

The Electro 35 series are Aperture priority only. No adjustment for shutter speed. The lights are duplicated in the viewfinder showing you which way to rotate the shutter speed dial for best results.

With the exception of getting a working Pentax 110 SLR (mine is inoperative) and possibly a Canon 110 ED camera. I believe I am set for shooting film. Below shows all of the new (7) cameras squeezed in with the rest.

I also plan to use my Voigtlander Bessa R (not shown, stored with all it's lenses in a case) and Olympus IS-3DLX, plus my Nikon N90S and several others shown above. Oh! And of course my real Leica IIIC, shown with the red sea-snakeskin.


The joy of film photography compared to the instant gratification of digital is the anticipation of seeing the photos and how they turned out. I remember being surprised with how well some photos turned out. I almost ran to the car with pictures envelopes I just picked up, the excitement of sitting in the car and going through them one-by-one. The convenience of locally dropping them off and picking them up the next day may be gone, but the excitement is not.

Thanks for looking,

Scott

January 30, 2018