Japan Camera Hunter

Interview with a collector – Denny Narciso

Bellamy — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:57:29 +0000

Interview with a collector, Denny Narciso
Whilst browsing the cameraporn on Flickr recently I was struck by the collection of one guy The Olympus Camera Collector. With a name like that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to contact him and see what he is all about.

Welcome to JCH, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hello,
First of all, I want to thank you for this invitation, its really an honor to have this interview from you, I hope I won’t disappoint you in any way.
My name is Denny, I’ve born in Canada, I have 36 years and live in Leiria (Portugal). For the last 6 years I’m working as Engineer in a Doors manufacturer in the I&D department.
My general interest apart from photography (only as hobby), is motorbikes (I own an old Ducati), and music & musical instruments (I have some instruments and had played a few different musical instruments as amateur during my student life in a “tuna”, which is a musical group of university students.)
I also worked several years in the “show business” directly for known Portuguese groups tours and sound & light companies, and in productions on music festivals like the Rock in Rio.

1. What first got you interested in collecting cameras?
Strangely (or maybe not), I bought my own first film camera not many years ago (not more than 4), when I was using a digital camera already.
It all started due to the Olympus 35 Trip from my dad, that was the camera I use when I had no camera and needed to take pictures. In those days as a student I didn’t had many money to spend in photography, and I only use the camera in special occasions.
One day I remember to google “Olympus 35 Trip” thinking that no way I would get information about such a simple camera since it was old, and I was shocked how much information there was. There are still many fans & users of that camera, and even today there is a shop in UK just to the Trip cameras. I was also shocked how it was possible that such a simple idea but very well made lightmeter system (with selenium cells) could work so well, and with no need of batteries, which I really didn’t think about it until that day. That made me research about “Olympus 35” cameras and I found the world of the old but magnificent & historical cameras.
After research for a couple of months (mostly rangefinders and half-frame cameras, but also Slr), I found about 4 or 5 cameras I wanted to buy, and that was it. I’ve start with very low budget cameras: the Olympus 35 RC rangefinder camera, that I really loved to use, and I was shocked how that little camera could perform that well. After that it followed the tiny Olympus PEN EE2 half-frame camera, a much simpler camera & totally automatic with the selenium cells system, that once more surprised me with the lens detail for the 10x15cm paper photos. And this was how I enter and fall in love with the rangefinder & half-frame world.
The problem is that the more I research and know, more cameras I want to try and add to the collection, and now that I have almost 50 cameras, there are at least 15 or 20 cameras more I would like to add to my collection (and I’m still to enter in the TLR & Medium format world). And this was how I’ve started a collection of cameras, Olympus vintage cameras mostly, mainly Olympus rangefinder & viewfinder cameras, like Olympus 35 series & Olympus PEN half-frame cameras.
It takes some time to add the cameras to my collection, because I need to buy them at a good price, and I like them in top condition. Some cameras I waited about 3 years to buy (like the PEN FT). I finance my collection not with salary money, but repairing cameras that I know & reselling (mostly Olympus PEN & 35 series) to make money to my own collection. It’s part of the fun, and this way my wife doesn’t care about the quantity of cameras I have ☺.

2. What is it about Olympus cameras that interests you?
Well, as I said, it started because the Olympus 35 Trip, but at least between the end of 50’s and the late 70’s (the Yoshihisa Maitani era), they were many times really innovative.
The only compromise was really a good lens, a compact camera and low selling price: this lead to simple mechanisms to keep the prices low in cameras like the PEN series or even the 35 series, and that’s why they still work so well even today, or are so easy to repair. They had also good build quality and nice looks. They had everything a camera should have.
Today they are usually sold at fair prices for what they are (or what they were back then), and that’s why I think I like them so much. And I do think they need more attention in the collector’s world, because they deserve the space in the history of cameras.
Of course I like a lot of cameras from other brands also, like the Nikon, some Canons, the Leicas, Yashicas, Mamiya, just to name a few, but collecting Nikon or Leica is really expensive and you do have to be kind of rich to do it. And there are a lot of collectors in those brands, so… Olympus is my main brand in collecting, at least for now, but I’m almost done in the cameras I want from Olympus ( at least I think for now, but there are so many lenses), and I’ll begin to buy more cameras from the other brands I want.

3. What defines a great camera for you?
As any kind of special machine, it should be beautiful. But really important, it must appeal to you on any way and be capable to fit our specific needs in what you want to photograph, have good lenses, and fit well in your hand…
Simply you want to have results in the end but also enjoy using it before you get them. And if possible, be small enough so that you have it always with you. I usually have a film & digital camera with me.
But even today there is no such thing as perfect camera, and that’s one of the reasons why I still buy different cameras. Half of the cameras I own I know something that it offers that make it special to a specific occasion.

4. Of your collection, which is your favorite camera?
That’s really hard to say, I can’t choose one, it’s as simple as that. I could choose about 5 or 6 cameras, in no particular order: the rangefinders Olympus Auto electro-set & the complete Olympus ACE&ACE E set with 4 lenses are the most difficult to get, but I love also the 35 RC & 35 SP. In the Half-frame cameras the PEN FT & PEN D3, and in the Slr the Olympus OM1.
There, as I told you, I can’t choose ☺

5. Do you use these cameras?
I do use them, but it’s difficult to use them all, but I’m trying. Many times I just take pictures of the same subject at different speeds just to check if all speeds are working as they should, and test the quality of the lens.

6. And finally, it is all about shooting after all, so what do you like to shoot?
What I really like to shoot is landscapes & history, but it’s been really difficult to do it due to time in work and the time to spend in family. I also like to shoot street photography, but I shoot a lot more photos of my friends and family.

If you want to take some time and visit my flick page, click the link below, and if anyone have any question about any camera model I have, I’m always glad to help.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/olympusrf

Thank you so much Denny for sharing your beautiful collection with us. It is brilliant to see these cameras in such fantastic condition. And what is even better is that they get used.

Do you have a collection that you would like to share with the followers of JCH? Send me a mail and lets share your passion.
Remember to comment and get yourself some camera karma.
Cheers
JCH

In your bag #150 – Gary Perlmutter

Bellamy — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:11:02 +0000

In your bag number 150, Gary Perlmutter
A totally digital bagshot for you all today! Gary is a street photographer from London and runs a very minimal setup, so lets see what Gary has inside his bag…

Hi

I have attached a photo of the contents of my camera bag:

I’m Gary Perlmutter from London, England. To earn a living I photograph weddings and portraits with my Canon SLR gear, but whenever I have spare time I love nothing more than taking the Underground (Tube) into London to do some street photography. This I mainly got into when I switched from film to digital some years ago. If I have a street style, it’s for me finding visual jokes and capturing the humour in everyday life. Currently I shoot with the Nikon V1 as I find its small size, EVF and super fast auto focus perfect for street photography.

In my bag:

ThinkTank Retrospective 5 Camera Bag (May get the new 7 when it comes out as the iPad is a tight fit in the 5)
Nikon V1 fitted with 10mm f2.8 prime lens (I shoot street mainly with this lens)
Nikkor 30-110mm Lens
Nikkor 10-30 Lens
Spare Nikon battery (although one lasts me all day!)
Spare SD memory cards
SD adaptor for the iPad
Tube map, for helping me find my way around the Underground
Mini tripod (very light)
iPad (it’s the mk 1, hope to upgrade to the 3 at some point)
iPhone 4
Pen

The whole kit is very light, although I don’t always take the iPad with me.

Links:

www.gazonthestreet.com
http://gazonthestreet.tumblr.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gp_photography/
@gazonthestreet

Gary has recently put a piece about his love for the Nikon V1 on Steve Huff’s site. Check it out here.

Many thanks

Gary

Thanks for sharing your bag Gary and thanks for your thoughts about this camera. Check out Gary’s links and make sure you follow him on twitter. You can also get yourself some of that Camera Karma by leaving some comments.

Keep them coming folks, we need more submissions, so get your bag on Japancamerahunter.com. Send me a hi resolution image of the bag (please make sure it is horizontal) and its contents, with some details about yourself and what you shoot. Oh and don’t forget your contact details (twitter, flickr, tumbler et al). Send the bag shots here.
Cheers
Japancamerahunter

In your bag #149 – Patrick Lauer

Bellamy — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:29:50 +0000

In your bag number 149, Patrick Lauer
Todays bagshot has some interesting camera gear inside, and Patrick has been kind enough to add pictures of each camera. come and see what Patrick shoots with…

Hello my name is Patrick, im a 24 year old student from Germany, i´m living near to Hannover.
I will tell you something about my way of photography and my gear.
I have some other different bags with different cameras (medium format, large format, digital), so i allways have the right gear for the right kind of photography.

My bag that i´am presting today is my current daily shooting bag.
Im using a small black Billingham Hadley bag. This bag can hold up one Leica M with three lenses, film and some other stuff. The bag can also hold up a Rolleiflex 2,8 TLR with lightmeter and film. The bag is very versatile, durable, inconspicuously and silent, no rzzzzz sound from a velcro.

What is in it:
My black Leica M6 Classic with a 35mm Canada Summicron lens (6 Element) in a leather halfcase from Mr. Zhou. The leather strap and a black soft release are also from Mr. Zhou. The halfcase is very important for me, it makes the camera more handily and also a little bit more silent.

A 50mm Wetzlar Summicron lens (2.nd version) with a hood. It produces razorsharp images.
A 28mm Canada Elmarit lens (2.nd version) als a good very sharp, but very big and heavy (also the lens hood), i call this lens the „dinosaur“.

A silver Ricoh GR1 with an autograph from the famous photographer Roger Ballen on it. I have this camera allways in my pocket not in the bag. I´m very proud that Roger Ballen had signed my camera, he one of my personal photography heros.

A silver Minox BL loaded with some old AGFA film. The right camera for very inconspicuously photography.

A black notice book with a pencil.

A recerve CR 2 battery for the Ricoh.

A Leica lens cleaning cloth.

A black 39mm Leica lens cap.

The legendary Fujifilm film case filled with some Neopan SS, Ektar, Pro 400H and Acros.

Most times i photograph architecture and structures but also some street. But i allways have not enough time for developing and processing.

My way to take photos has changed in the last years, i do more analog then digital, because oft he unique look and of the fact that every picture is an original that was taken and processed with real photography skills, i like the craftmansship behind the picture.

Today in Germany the most people are taking pictures with digital cameras, allmost young people. Analog photography is very rare here and the most users of Leica cameras are over 40 years old. When i take pictures with M young people are asking me about my funny looking grandpa camera.

The good thing is in Germany you pic up sometimes high quality gear in very good condition for peanuts, because its analog.

I hope you like my bag and my way of photography.

Please look at my pictures at flickr.

Flickrname: heliolm

Cheers Patrick

Thanks for sharing your bags Patrick. Great to see a signed camera still being used, many people just put them in a case and forget about them. Check out Patrick’s flickr and make sure you comment.

The 15th International used camera fair in Shibuya

Bellamy — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:12:50 +0000

The used camera fair is coming to Tokyo
Yes, thats right, the camera fair is coming to Shibuya again. And this year there are some amazing items on display. I hope to see you there.

Every year the I.C.S camera show comes to town and brings with it the very best that classic camera retailers have to offer. And this year is certainly no exception, with some astounding items available for the right customers. Dealers, buyers, collectors and passionate camera people come from all over the world to see this show, and I am going to be there too.

The flyer for these events is always a delight, and this year it has an added entry….Hug Everyone…I am not sure I would want to hug the majority of the people that turn up to these shows, but the sentiment is nice.
The camera show is going to be held in the Tokyu Department store in Shibuya, which is actually a part of the station.The opening day is the 1st of June at 10 am and it will be held on the 8th floor. Expect there to be a queue stretching around the building, just like there was last year. The first moments will be a complete mad dash as the buyers run to get the best items. I will be there in the morning, and I have learnt my lesson from last year, so I will be wearing elbow pads.

The big news is that there is going to be a 6mm Nikon on display. You remember? The one that went mental all over the internet last month? Well, there is another. But you had better make sure you have sold your family to slavery, because it is going to be expensive.

There is going to be a huge range of items available and it is not all catering to the super rich, there will be small cameras, accessories, bags and all bits in between.

The show will be on until the 6th of June, so if you are in Tokyo make sure you come along and see what all the fuss is about. I will be there on most of the days. If you see me, say hi.
If you are not going to be there but you want me to look for something for you then mail me and we can see about finding something for you.

Cheers
Japancamerahunter

In your bag #148 – Azlan Ahmad

Bellamy — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:43:47 +0000

In your bag number 148, Azlan Ahmad
A very simple bag for you today, containing only the bare essentials. Some bag shots have tons of gear, and that is fine, but this is minimal. Lets see what is inside…

Hi;

I’m a casual/weekend photographer of sort – started out in the mid 90’s with film and switched to digital in the mid noughties. Now it’s back to film for me as I find the medium having so much more to offer than digital – albeit a lot more work required (!). It was too easy surrendering your light-bending manipulation ability to the automation of digital.

In my bag:-

Leica M6 TTL with Voigtlander 35mm f/1,4 Nokton Classic
Leica CL with Summicron-C 40mm f/2
2x CR123 (for the SF 24D)
2x LR44 (For the M6)
Voigtlander LH-6 metal hood (fits both the 35mm & 50mm)
Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar T* ZM
2x spare 35mm film rolls (at any one time)
Blower
Leica SF 24D
Sekonic L-308S
Messenger Bag by Massimo Dutti

The light meter in the CL is faulty – the meter still moves when exposed to light but reading is inaccurate. The Sekonic helps a lot. Currently waiting for the Voigtlander VC Speed Meter II to arrive which will help to save a bit of space. The Bag, which I absolutely love, lined with soft padding from my other Camera Bag, is already cramped as it is.

Azlan Ahmad

Thanks for sharing your bag with us Azlan, it is nice to see something so simple and straightforward. Shame you couldn’t send some links through as well.

In your bag #147 – Anthony Fan

Bellamy — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:36:22 +0000

In your bag number 147, Anthony Fan
A lovely bag for you today from Hong Kong. Come and see what Anthony uses to shoot the streets of this energetic and exciting city.

Hi all! My name is Anthony Fan and I am keen amateur photographer based in Hong Kong.

My photographic tastes are constantly varying, but for the past year and a half I have been concentrating on street photography and candids.

My current set up is shown in the photography below:

(1.) Nikon D800 w/ AFS 85mm f1.4 – Nikon has always been my first love and I’ve been collecting Nikon cameras and lenses since the 90s. The release of the D800 has spurred me to start using my Nikkor lenses more often, reminds me alot of the F100 my first camera. I usually carry around a AFS 85mm f1.4 or AIS 50mm f1.2. However, based on what I am shooting I may replace these with a AFS 24mm f1.4, AFS 35mm f1.4 or AF 135 f2 (not pictured). I prefer primes to zooms partly because of the speed (larger aperture) and weight

(2.) Leica M9 w/ 50mm ASPH Summilux (together with 1.4x magnifer and thumbs up thumb rest) – this a dream to shoot with and the 50mm summilux is easily my favorite lens of all time. If I want to go wider or longer I switch to the 35mm ASPH Summilux or the 90mm Summicron (not pictured).

(3.) Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera Alpha SE and Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera “Time-Zero” Autofocus Model 2 (the former for manual focus and the latter for autofocus) – impossible project films are re-igniting my love of instant photography and the SX-70 is such an amazing camera. You need to really work to get your images and whilst the success rate is lower than with digital the final reward is spectacular.

(4.) Film – I currently experimenting with the impossible line of films and am particularly impressed with the PX 100 Silver Shade.

(5.) Ancillaries – blower brush, spare batteries, spare memory cards (thinktank photo memory card holder), Polaroid album and Ipad 3.

(6.) Bag – Thinktank Retrospective 10 and original polaroid everready case.

I also include some close up of the cameras – M9 and D800 picture taken with an SX-70 Alpha and a picture of the SX70s taken with the D800.

My images can be seen at my flickr account – http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonyfan/. If any of you are ever up for some phototaking in Hong Kong please get in touch.

Cheers

Anthony

Thanks for sharing your bag Anthony. Great to see such a varied range of gear and all of it being used too. Check out the link and make sure you comment on the bag.

Testing the M9-M in Tokyo

Bellamy — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:17:21 +0000

A hands on with the M9-M
After the announcement from Leica in Germany the Ginza Tokyo pro store held a reception for the Japanese market. We got a hands on with the delightful M9-M…and what a camera it is.

The good people at Leica really care for the customers in Japan, so when I got the invite to the reception and release party in Japan for the new Leica releases I knew it would be a snazzy affair. When I turned up there was a presentation from the German top brass who had come to Tokyo to talk about the new cameras being released. In case you have not been the new Leica pro store in Ginza has a large presentation area enough to seat 30 or so people.
We were treated to a video presentation about the new M9-M, the 50mm Summicron APO ASPH, the X2, the V-Lux 40, the Hermes edition M9-P and the new lens range for the S series cameras. But I was there for the M9-M, pure and simple.
After the presentation and a quick question and answer, we were given the chance to glug some champagne and have a chat with the Leica guys, before they bought the cameras in for us to play with. Obviously, we were not allowed to play with the M9 Hermes edition. It was kept behind glass, as well it should be for an estimated $40k!

We got to see a video about how this was made, and it is remarkable. the differences are so subtle that you would hardly notice, but they are there. Everything about the camera screams artisanal perfection, down to the handmade boxes, the bag and the specially made lenses. People say that supercars are silly, but they are just car companies showing how far they can push the medium, and this is no different.

There was a big queue to play with the M9-M, but I patiently waited my turn and then managed to get a go on it. And I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with the performance of the camera. I know it has a high price tag, but after using it and seeing the comparison pictures between the M9 and the M9-M I can see the work that went into developing this sensor. This camera has a level of range that is completely different to that of the M9. Sure, you can convert images to black and white on your M9, but the images on this are so much richer. The tones and the quality throughout the iso range are seriously impressive.

This is an image taken with the 50mm summicron APO ASPH at iso 640, F2 1/125th. As you can see the detail is absolutely incredible. The blacks are deep and the tones of grey are very stable. The Summicron is an incredible lens, really incredible. I asked about the high price tag and they told me that the lens is very difficult to make and has drawn on over 100 years of lens making experience to produce. Still it is an awful lot of money. Regardless of all that, I want one.

After a few shots with the 50mm I wanted to try it out with my trusty 35mm Summicron ASPH, which I consider one of the benchmark lenses and the ideal lens for a test on this camera, as it is the lens that I use on my cameras.

This is a shot of the famous Dave Powell aka ShootTokyo looking through his fancy Noctilux at yours truly. I decided to shoot at iso 1600 as I shoot at this iso on film pretty often and I wanted to see how it compares to Neopan or something of a similar nature. This shot was taken at iso 1600 f4 1/45th, I am very very impressed by the level of noise handling and the blacks. This is straight from the camera, no touching up or editing in any way. This is very impressive.

I was able to get a few more shots off, but there was not really a lot of subject matter, so I just had to make do with whatever I could find. There were a lot of people waiting to try the camera out, so I quickly set it to iso 400 and tried it out. This shot was taken at iso 400 f2.8 1/350th. I am honestly floored by this camera. I have tried out a lot of digital cameras, and none of them have really made me feel that they were in any way close to film, but this one gave me a feeling that it could be. OK, so there is no winder, and it makes that funny shutter noise that I cannot stand, but this is the first digital camera that I have ever actually really desired.

I had a chat with the guys from Leica and they asked me what I thought about the camera, I told them that I liked it a lot and feel that it is the first camera that has stepped into the recreation of the film feeling. I think this camera shows a coming of age for digital sensors and is going to really change the landscape. They also asked me what I thought about the future of film and I told them that I feel it is having a renaissance now, and you know what? They agreed. They said that they hoped that this camera would be something that film shooters would aspire to use, without making sacrifices.

After shooting this, I think they just might.

Thanks
Japancamerahunter

In your bag #146 – Julián Péter

Bellamy — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:00:40 +0000

In your bag number 146, Julián Péter
Todays bag come to you all the way from Slovakia, how cool is that? And it is a very cool bag too, with a flexaret and some fancy chocolate, it has just about all you need…

Hello fellow photographers,

My name is Julián Péter and I am from the forgotten little country of Slovakia, Europe. Although I work as a professional seafarer, photography is my undying passion. Anywhere I go, I take images documenting the moment. And although I have a few on-going projects, I guess you could call me a “situational” photographer. Little stories unfold wherever you are and it is up to you to make the most of it. So lets take a look at what is in the bag.

I like to travel light, therefore all my items are carried in a small cheap bag with an over-the-shoulder strap. I bought it in a local bazaar for 1 EUR. As an upside, it has regular straps as well, so you can carry it as a back bag should you choose to. On the downside, it has no internal compartments and all my stuff just sits there one across the other. Anyway, it works for me.
Moving on to the cameras, I usually take the Minolta Hi-Matic GF (Minolta lens 1:4 38mm) point-and-shoot 35mm film camera with me. Minimalistic to control, yet sharp when producing images. Other times, I switch to my prize camera: Meopta Flexaret II (Meopta Mirar 1:4,5 80mm) TLR in medium format. It was made in 1947 in my birth town of Prerov, Czech Republic and therefore holds a special meaning to me. I usually pick just one setup, but given the situation, sometimes bring both cameras with me. Add a bundle of films (both color and b/w) and I am ready to go!

I will list all additional items here:
- lens wipe to deal with pesky dust and water
- Moleskine and Sharpie pen to write down stray thoughts
- TicTac-s and emergency chocolate
- 0,5l bottle of water
- First Aid kit (gift from my girlfriend that I carry literally everywhere)
- Swiss Army knife
- paper tissues
- lip balm
- USB containing my photographs for any impromptu showings

I hope you liked my entry to Bellamy’s “What’s in your bag?”. If you have a little bit of spare time, you can check out my photographs at the links below.

Thank you and good light!
Julián

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Juli%C3%A1n-P%C3%A9ter-Photography/303991096338715
Tumblr: http://julianpeter.tumblr.com/

Thanks Julian for sharing you bag and your story, it is very nice to see someone using a lovely old TLR. Check out the links and make sure you comment.

The Canonet QL17 – mini review

Bellamy — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:08:35 +0000

The classic little rangefinder that punches above its weight
In the 1970′s the Canonet became a household name, with over a million units sold. So let’s have a look and see why this camera became one of the best selling fixed lens rangefinders ever made.

During the 1970′s several of the great camera makers from Japan decided to try their hands at making a fixed rangefinder camera with a fast lens. Lots of them were made, and some of them were great, but none was more popular than the Canonet. With a fast f1.7 40mm lens, Auto exposure and a flash hotshoe this camera was a winner in many aspects. But it was and still is the price the is the real winner. This camera was very cheap when released and is still not terribly expensive, you can pick up a beater for as little as $40. Though you are certainly going be paying a fair bit more for the black version, the rarest and most desirable version of this fantastic camera.

The camera is small and very easy to handle. If you wanted a size comparison it would be roughly the same size a Minolta CLE, though a fair bit lighter. The camera is well made and has a nice bright 0.6 rangefinder. Inside the finder it is simply laid out and not overly cluttered. Although small for my tastes it is bigger than many other compact cameras and is more than enough for most situations. The meter is simple and the actions are simple too. This is a very easy camera to use, it was designed for the mass market, so there was no point in making it overly complex. There are no little idiosyncrasies, this is a walk the line camera, but a very good walk the line camera. Canon has never really been known as a company that makes eccentric cameras, and this one is no exception. What Canon do is make very capable cameras that everyone can use.

The Canonet QL17 (QL stand for quick load, in case you were wondering), boasts a leaf shutter, making it quiet and very stable. With a top speed of 1/500th it also offers flash sync at all speeds. This is a very good stealth camera, especially if you have the black version. It is fast, quiet and easy to stuff into a pocket at a moments notice.

One of my favourite things about this camera is the incredibly short focus action. At only 45 degrees it is almost over before it has started. I was a little bit surprised the first time that I used it and I thought it might be jammed, as I am used to a larger reach. Once you get used to this it will be an extremely fast focussing action.
The camera even has an idiots guide on it for less experienced photographers, with the sunny and cloudy settings on the barrel, so that you don’t have to do anything. But even a complete begineer will be able to pick this thing up and be shooting manually within a week.
The quick load function means no fiddling about making sure that the leader is aligned with the spools correctly, just load the film to the coloured tab, close the door and crank the film advance. If the advance doesn’t turn the film is not loaded, very simple. This makes changing film a breeze and helps you to be ready for the moment.
The AE mode is well balanced and very simple to use, this makes the camera is easier to use. It is easy to switch to manual mode too and you can make the choice between the two whilst on the fly. Activating the AE lock could not be simpler too, just slightly depress the shutter button and you are there.

There are some drawbacks to this camera though, as not everything is perfect. When this camera was produced, mercury cells were the norm. But this is no longer the case. There are substitutes though, you can get an adapter to use modern cells or you can do what I do which is buy a Wein mercury replacement zinc air battery. The zinc air replacement means that you don’t have to have the meter adjusted and you can carry on as normal.
As this was a mass produced camera for the lower end of the market people didn’t generally look after these cameras, so you may find that your camera is battered. Things to look out for are rotten seals, broken light meter, mould and worn out rewind levers. Whilst you can have the camera repaired by a few places, they are generally so cheap that you might find it easier to just replace the camera, unless it has some kind of sentimental value.
But, if you have the black enamel version of this camera, then it would be a safe investment to make sure this thing is in working condition. The black is rare and looks fantastic. If you find one, hang on to it and take care of it, it is a beautiful camera.

I have had a lot of fun using this camera, and I have been surprised at how good the lens is. This is a great camera for the price and will give you a lot of happy film moments. They are easy to find as so many were produced, but if you want a black one you might have to look a bit harder. There are several aftermarket repainted models on the market too, I have seen a hammertone version recently.
If you are looking for a budget rangefinder or are just starting to get into the film photography then you can not go wrong with the fantastic Canonet QL17.

If you would like me to find one of these fine cameras for you, then all you need to do is mail me and I can find something lovely for you.

Don’t forget to comment, tell me what you like about the Canonet, or what you don’t like, come and earn your Camera Karma
Thanks
Japancamerahunter

In your bag #145 – Chilton Nix

Bellamy — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:35:03 +0000

In your bag number 145, Chilton Nix
Today we have a bag featuring knives, poetry, cameras and the oldest mobile phone that is still working….

Well, today we have a bit of an enigma. Chilton has kindly sent in his bag, and it is a pretty damned cool bag setup. Who could pssibly need that many knives? The MacGyver of street photography? Who knows? I have scant details, but I have a cracking bag. So lets see what is inside.

clockwise (roughly)

The Maximus Poems by Charles Olson
Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Persig
Under the Volcano by Malcom Lowry
The Medium is the Massage by Marshall Mcluhan

JansSport Backpack
Leica M3 w/50mm 2.0 Summicron & Leicameter MR
Sony Nex-7 w/Canon 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 & EOS Adapter
Nikkor 50mm 1.2 & Nikon Adapter
Sony E-mount 18-55 3.5-5.6
Sony E-mount 16mm 2.8
Ipad
Flip Phone (old school…)
Canon PowerShot SD780 IS
Classic Waiter Corkscrew Wine Opener
Ilford PANF Plus 50 (i think Bellamy gave me this one)
Contax T3
Contax T3 Case
Gum
?
Gerber Pocket Knife
Leatherman Supertool 300

My camera bag varies daily. I shoot mostly 35mm film, Nikon F, Canon F1, Nikon F3 and I have four Leicas; 2 M3s & 2 M6s, along with a Mamiya 7. My digital cameras are a Canon 5D & 7D along with the new Sony NEX-7. I shoot street in and around Los Angeles California. Rather than post a link to my flickr page (tristambeow on flickr), here’s a link to Charles Olson reciting from “The Maximus Poems,“Enjoy!

Chilton Nix

What a brilliantly eccentric bag. The range of different cameras, the corkscrew, the poetry books. I am in love with this bag. Thanks for sharing it with us Chilton.