tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post359079692002631022..comments2024-03-28T11:54:53.075+00:00Comments on Adullamite: CamerasAdullamitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15537659871829290071noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-33328010886589395672011-10-20T19:34:07.918+01:002011-10-20T19:34:07.918+01:00Oh no, they had a definite lust for foreign money....Oh no, they had a definite lust for foreign money. So much so that people were constantly offering many times more than the official rate if I would sell them dollars. Being, at the time, an ex-pat brit, living in Finland, I had dollars. Because they're kinda handy as a universal currency. <br />I could have bought a nice tractor, or a couple of tin-box cars, I quite fancies a vintage mercedes I saw, held together with string and wire, with bare canvas where the tyre-tread should be. <br />Nope, the truth was, I think, that Russia didn't want its citizens to have long lenses. So the shop guy had only seen them used by state officials.<br />I have a few neat stories from that time, if I go spend some dosh on a slide-scanner first. And if i can then find a box of nearly thirty year old slides.soubriquethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01151288534629885195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-35813177254633267812011-10-18T20:54:30.178+01:002011-10-18T20:54:30.178+01:00Soub, you forgot that Russians had no money? :)Soub, you forgot that Russians had no money? :)Adullamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15537659871829290071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-60248984696659197272011-10-18T19:52:02.029+01:002011-10-18T19:52:02.029+01:00There's a trigger for some memories!
I too sta...There's a trigger for some memories!<br />I too started out with the box-brownie. When it became clear that I really did want to learn to take photographs, my dad 'loaned' me his little folding Kodak, I think they were known as a 'vest pocket camera' though we british don't have pockets in our vests.<br />Like you, I worked my way up via the Zenith... When I was a student, you had to master the zenith before there was any chance of getting your hands on a Nikon.<br /><br />Funny thing... When, in the mid eighties, I visited Soviet Russia, I thought a neat thing to buy there with my western currency, might be one of those 500mm mirror lenses. I went in the big photography shop on, i think, Nevsky Prospekt, in Leningrad, and and enquired, only to be met with confusion, denial, and obfuscation. Most of the cameras in the store were blobby plastic things, which should have given me a clue. At first I was told no such lens existed. Then I was told it was for the military only..... Then came the questions. How did I know of this lens? Why was I trying to acquire one?<br />Who sent me?<br />When I told them it was the cheapest long lens available in Britain, they became even more flustered.<br />How silly of me to even think such a gem of Soviet ingenuity would be available in britain... And our cameras and lenses would be vastly inferior.<br /><br />Of course. So sorry to have troubled you. Bye...soubriquethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01151288534629885195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-57224727613046076412011-10-18T19:44:03.743+01:002011-10-18T19:44:03.743+01:00Leaz, Good luck with getting film, there must be s...Leaz, Good luck with getting film, there must be some available. <br /><br />Max, I threw you? There's a first!Adullamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15537659871829290071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-39485544614892215912011-10-18T18:52:04.069+01:002011-10-18T18:52:04.069+01:00Well, I know Ra is an Egyption sun god, and I got ...Well, I know Ra is an Egyption sun god, and I got your Book of the Dead/Grateful Dead comment. I have only seen the word used in crossword puzzles though, so you threw me.<br /><br />I doubt your brother let you touch a real Leica. :)Relax Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01051381168322495999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-22343395063829845402011-10-18T18:23:08.100+01:002011-10-18T18:23:08.100+01:00The camera now in my closet picked up by my father...The camera now in my closet picked up by my father-in-law (also during the war) is a Voigtlander. Tomorrow I shall pick up the other when I visit the folks. You have inspired me! Now to hunt down film...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-583763844412950862011-10-18T17:08:16.471+01:002011-10-18T17:08:16.471+01:00Max, I have handled Leicas, I once owned 1938 vers...Max, I have handled Leicas, I once owned 1938 version, and my brother let me examine a M6 some years ago. That was only worth about £3000 at the time! Mine cost £125. I wonder how much it would be worth now.<br /><br />Max, Yes 'Ra.'<br /><br />Leaz, Cool German, Voigtlander or some such. All German cameras are top notch.Adullamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15537659871829290071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-72880431573289060982011-10-18T15:00:55.145+01:002011-10-18T15:00:55.145+01:00My dad picked up a cool German camera with a bello...My dad picked up a cool German camera with a bellows during the war. I took some great shots with that. Unfortunately these days film if available I'm told must be procured on line. <br /><br />I've always wanted a dark room to develop my own b/w.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-91608288529265727752011-10-18T00:21:10.053+01:002011-10-18T00:21:10.053+01:00Ra?Ra?Relax Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01051381168322495999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-58110133497338170442011-10-18T00:20:34.676+01:002011-10-18T00:20:34.676+01:00This is as close as I have ever come to touching a...This is as close as I have ever come to touching a Leica.Relax Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01051381168322495999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-75259657371642472372011-10-17T20:01:17.462+01:002011-10-17T20:01:17.462+01:00Jenny, A good SLR with two lenses is good, but ve...Jenny, A good SLR with two lenses is good, but very costly!<br /><br />Max, You are observant at least.<br /><br />Fish, Your prize is in the post!Adullamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15537659871829290071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-30334391674950405332011-10-17T10:05:17.250+01:002011-10-17T10:05:17.250+01:00I recognized the names of two out of the five! Wh...I recognized the names of two out of the five! What did I win?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349087080262856079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-67669461419100673712011-10-17T01:42:00.303+01:002011-10-17T01:42:00.303+01:00these are indeed all cameras. Great post title.these are indeed all cameras. Great post title.Relax Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01051381168322495999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16539163.post-14110400145813661682011-10-16T23:23:45.660+01:002011-10-16T23:23:45.660+01:00I had a Zenit E. They were pretty good cameras. I ...I had a Zenit E. They were pretty good cameras. I really miss the quick response of my film camera. I suppose i could and indeed should buy a better digital one, an SLR perhaps, but I appreciate it being so tiny and portable. Hmmm you still can't win!Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.com