Twenty-odd years ago I photographed quite a lot, B/W mostly, doing the darkroom part myself. But for years now it has mostly been the odd holiday/family birthday/christmas pics with a digital compact. Recently SWMBO got herself a SLR (Sony α 300) and will spend most of her summer vacation on her knees in the garden taking macro photos of flowers and insects (she's good at it, too).

But OMG how complicated cameras have become! 14 buttons/adjustment thingies, a manual of 166 pages... Being an Old Skool type that hates giving up perfectly functioning devices (that's why I drive a Felicia and take care of my mechanic watch, among other things) I decided to brush the cobwebs off my old camera:

A most pleasant reunion. Simple and straightforward (focus, time, aperture, click), comfortable (although a bit heavy). It needed a new battery for the exposure meter. In due course I'll be back with some results - if they aren't too embarrasing

Can we see some of your images Granddad?

You will need a modern scanner to do it though;)

Joking aside, I do love that camera:thumbup:

Can we see some of your images Granddad?

Hey! Some respect for gray hair, please! Next time I visit my sister I'll climb her attic and see if I can find my old negatives from Jimi Hendrix's concert in Gothenburg, September 1967

Joking aside, I do love that camera:thumbup:

Thanks! The M5 was a fail, actually. Leicas first attempt to build a camera with built-in exposure meter, and the result was more clumsy than earlier, and also later M models. I would rather have an M6, but the second hands out there are awfully expensive.

Or maybe I should start saving up for the digital M8, then I can use my old lenses. Only £3,400 :eek:

Hey! Some respect for gray hair, please! Next time I visit my sister I'll climb her attic and see if I can find my old negatives from Jimi Hendrix's concert in Gothenburg, September 1967

Thanks! The M5 was a fail, actually. Leicas first attempt to build a camera with built-in exposure meter, and the result was more clumsy than earlier, and also later M models. I would rather have an M6, but the second hands out there are awfully expensive.

Or maybe I should start saving up for the digital M8, then I can use my old lenses. Only £3,400 :eek:

Yes those Leicas do come with a bit of a price tag:eek:

Looking forward to seeing those Hendrix images:)

It's getting worse...

dropped in by the local photo dealer today with a few questions. First, to make certain that one can scan B&W negatives to digital format without paying awful sums. No probs, same price as for the common or garden colour film. Secondly, and that was a long shot: what about half-frame negs? The guy behind the counter wasn't 100 % certain, but he thought that it could be done, although maybe that each digitalised pic will consist of two negs (but that's no problem).

So back home to brush off some more cobweb from another classic:

Now loaded with B&W film, mainspring fully wound, I'll have some fun this summer

:eek: That's older than me:D

I just had to Google that one Canon Dial

An interesting camera which I had never seen before, thanks for showing it. Anymore buried in the loft?

You're making me want to start a collection of old cameras:D

You're making me want to start a collection of old cameras:D

It's tempting, partly because older cameras are often beautiful examples of engineering and craftsmanship. Couldn't resist to pick up this one from a jumble sale for a fiver:

The first film camera designed for amateurs, or at least for those amateurs that could spare £12 which was an awful lot of money in 1939. It works - but it's impossible to find film cassettes, they were unique for that model and disappeared from the market long ago. I have a soft spot for old 8mm cameras, my uncle had another beauty, a Paillard where you could shift from wide angle to telephoto instantly by swiveling the rotating lense mount (no zoom in those days). Still possible to find film for that one

BTW, that was an interesting link you gave me - the guy behind also has a Leica (well, two) beside his Canon Dial.

Edited 4 July, 200917 yr by swedishskoda

My first camera

What!

^ ^ You win

Looks like a home-built camera made by an enthusiast in the late 19th or early 20th century? Have you any information on its history?