I have written the title in little letters because I know I want a pre-electric Hasselblad. They are just mega bucks. Any posh 120 camera would have been nice but I wandered into Harrison Cameras and left with a light stand and a monster polarising filter, I got a Dorr one not the really posh B&W one at serious money.
At the time they were unpacking two boxes of Bronica medium format camera gear. Loads of it all in it’s original boxes. I’m not worried about original boxes but am a sucker for twenty year old technology. Any Technology come to that. It comes with a couple of 120 film backs. a monster of camera flash and lots of bits including two lenses and a posh aluminium case to hold all the gubbins. I pick it up first thing Tuesday and a pound to a shilling the little devils will charge me for four rolls of film.
I just know there is another challenge here. I also know it isn’t a Hasselblad but I bet a pound to a shilling when I get up to speed with it’s habits it will be a Minolta. There are lots of very delicate bits in there and WD40 isn't the answer. It’s more about precision like rebuilding Honda’s posh motorbike engines but with softer fingers. I pick it up on Tuesday. I’ll post scanned images from it a week on Tuesday.
I’m daft as a brush but these cameras are not collectable and are cheap. I still don’t know exactly what I’ve bought….Two big boxes full of second hand from a bloke that keeps the boxes they came in. There is more than the camper has room for. One has to laugh at ones own stupidity.
Have fun.
Adrian, we collect what we must. Never feel guilty, you collect camera gear, and I collect antique venetian glassware, and it looks as though we have both run out of space for it all. I think it's a bloke thing.
ReplyDeleteGary, when I was young I collected mountains and girls as an aside. I may ditch this camera like I did girls. I'll run twenty frames through it and decide.
ReplyDeleteI nominate that sentence for quote of the week. "When I was young I collected mountains and girls as an aside."
DeleteAdrian, this is medium format, and it's a format coveted (or at least intriguing) to many photographers. Don't feel bad, the only thing I wonder is about the film, will you get used to it? I wonder which medium format cameras models exist today that are fully digital, and still affordable (not like a fully digital Hasselblad?)
ReplyDeleteIs there any advantage with medium format film that there wasn't with 35mm?
DeleteMaria, if I won the lottery I would go medium format. It's the old box Brownie 120 film format. I would love to play with medium format. You can't tell on a blog but the difference in print is night and day. You have to be so much more careful. It's like shooting with a compact and then using your camera.
DeleteThe difference is resolution. The money says it all a digital 120 film back costs between £10k and £60k. Hasselblad are cheap. Look at ALPA if you want to see what I covet.
It's no good Adrian, you'll have to stay away from that shop, it has a bad influence on you.
ReplyDeleteIf you can't find any space in the van to store it I'll be more than willing to 'look after it' for you!!
Years ago, before everything was governed by little pixies...sorry!...pixels and photoshop, I was friends/worked with a guy who had a Bronica and I was always envious. He did let me borrow it from time to time but I never really got to 'know' it.
How are you going to get the film developed and the images printed?
Looks like you're going to have some fun though?...[;o)
Trevor, I'll bring it down with me. If you like it you can have a borrow of it. The film I just send to a lab in Sheffield what does such magic. They will also scan to a memory stick. Memory sticks are tiny now more like memory little nails.
DeleteIt isn't really a camper sized camera so I'll leave it with you. It was dirt cheap and just like brand new.
It certainly looks sturdy. See? That's the extent of my camera knowledge. Sad, I know. I'll appreciate the pictures.
ReplyDeleteDavid, it's beginning to look as if they will be Trevor's pictures. No more long lenses.
Deletemaar hij is wel heel mooi .ik hoop dat je er veel plezier van hebt.
ReplyDeleteBas is het niet een camera die goed wordt gedacht, maar het is beter dan de Kodak. Het zal leuk zijn.
DeleteAndrea (an acquaintance on Lewis) uses one and only B&W. She also uses a Hasselblad and many other old gems. How are you going to turn the van into a darkroom?
ReplyDeleteGraham, good to here from you. What's it like being upside down? I'll get the smelly business done in a lab.
DeleteHI Adrian I think you might need a bigger van!!! Once again, you have left me behind in all this camera gear but I am lookig forward to wonderful photos after all this!!!
ReplyDeleteMargaret, it will only be used on high days and holidays.
DeleteThe pictures will have to be developed and scanned.
Exactly how many cameras have you got in that van now...??
ReplyDeleteFive at the last count.
DeleteHi Adrian, if you are a lover of Black and White, then you will love shooting black and white with your Bronica. In digital B&W will only have 255 shades between white and black. In B&W film you will have millions of shades. In medium format you will have to get a hand held meter. The in camera meters suck and will give you horrible results in medium format. Have fun, I love Medium format.
ReplyDeleteHorst I'll get B&W film. I used to have a Rollei I used to guess exposure most of the time. I expect the meter in this will be broken.
DeleteI can't wait to open a pack of film and relive the old smell.
I have a passion for all the old kit I used to own... and had a spell of re-buying it on Ebay.
ReplyDeleteI seem to have calmed down a bit but have to talk to myself at times.... have fun with the new kit.
Andrew this is not the camera I wanted but it was so cheap that I succumbed. I really should stay away from camera shops.
DeleteYou are a godsend to all those poor people who have obsolete camera equipment and want money for it! I've sold some. One was a Brownie Hawkeye which is quite old. had the original box and a collector jumped for it. The later equipment just can't be sold as there isn't film for it.
ReplyDeleteRed, I'm a fool. It is a beautiful camera. Bronica aren't popular but if I like it I'll get a Hasselblad.
Delete120 film is still readily available here but quite expensive to process. The craze for Lomo cameras here keeps it alive.
For someone who can't hold a camera straight, this all seems a bit excessive. But you love it and I'm all for people doing what they enjoy. And I'm sure your followers will enjoy the outcome.
ReplyDeletePauline, I will end up in a home. We used to have asylums, it's as well we don't today or I would be in one.
DeleteHope you have fun with it and we, watching your videos.
ReplyDeleteAnd always there is a hole to store in small spaces. I know from experience:))
A hug.
Laura, thank you I'll make room for it.
DeleteHave you got room for a darkroom in that van of yours? It's decades since I used to develop my own b/w film (35mm) and even longer since I had anything to do with any larger film.
ReplyDeleteJohn, No I haven't Harrisons can Process and scan.
DeleteIt's a fair weight so I can see it only getting outings now and again.
I'm actually banned from camera shops by my girlfriend for always leaving with more then I had attenionally gone in for :o(
ReplyDeleteDouglas, I couldn't wait till Tuesday. £355.00p. Includes a tank of petrol and a hair cut for my son and eight rolls of film. What starts out as a £250.00p bargain can soon escalate. Not to mention £55.00p for lunch for three. You live with a wise lass. My wife gave me thirty pounds back for lunch. She moaned like hell when I pocketed it.
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