Analogue Adventures – Half 1: Selecting a Digicam

Introduction

I shot analogue with two cameras up to now, a Nikon F80 and a Nikon FE2.

The F80 is definitely a really fashionable digital camera which helps AF, VR, matrix metering and some different issues, however the rubber bought sticky and I removed most of my Nikon lenses fairly a while in the past, so I’ve little incentive to make use of it today.

The FE2 was higher at giving the “analogue” feeling, however some elements of the mechanics are damaged because the movie advance doesn’t work correctly. So on my first and solely roll of movie with this digital camera I ended up with a bunch of ineffective quadruple exposures.

The journey of analogue pictures ended for me right here.

Till the day I used to be strolling by means of Stuttgart and found a digital camera retailer displaying a Nikon FM2, FM3a and F3 – all in mint situation and all – at the least to my eyes – lovely cameras. I bought the thought of getting a type of, as a result of: why not shoot some movie for a change?

The F-mount Conundrum

However then I used to be taking a look at my lens cupboard and shortly seen the one lens I may connect to a type of cameras could be the Nikon 50mm 1.8 Collection E (which I solely saved for show functions with the aforementioned damaged FE2). A couple of years in the past I shortly had a 50mm 1.2 Ai-s, but it surely couldn’t attain infinity so I despatched it again inside the return interval. I really like non-user-adjustable exhausting infinity stops on quick lenses…

So do I wish to get a set of lenses for a Nikon F digital camera? Is there even a set of lenses for the analogue F-mount cameras accessible I really wish to shoot with? Neither is the case.
David bought an OM movie digital camera and a few Zuiko lenses he used a number of a long time in the past as a result of he already is aware of these lenses and would possibly even have an emotional attachment to them, however I can’t say that about any of the guide Nikon lenses.

I additionally seen that I really do have a bunch of M-mount lenses already – and due to Cosina, and a few of the Chinese language lens manufactuers that quantity is extra like to extend fairly than lower – and most of them ought to work nicely on movie, proper?

So I began to take a look at analogue M-mount cameras and I used to be in for a number of surprises there.

The unreliable, the costly and the ugly

First I’m speaking concerning the cameras I wasn’t keen on and why – don’t anticipate me to be goal right here, as getting an analogue digital camera within the first place was a questionably goal factor to start with:

• Leica M2/M3/M4
  As a result of lack of inbuilt meter. I’m too younger and too outdated on the identical time to take care of a digital camera with none sort of gentle meter. My love for attachment meters is as excessive as these for attachment EVFs: non existent.
• Leica M5
  As a result of it’s lifeless ugly.
• Voigtländer Bessa
  I don’t just like the design and I’m not positive concerning the restore state of affairs in case one thing breaks. Components could be salvaged from a few of the very low cost Japanese SLRs, I’m nonetheless unsure whether or not this can be a good or a foul signal.
• Minolta CLE
  Due to its alternative of framelines.
• Leica CL
  Due to framelines, my huge fingers and doubts about their sturdiness.

So what was left? Konica Hexar RF, Zeiss Ikon ZM and the Leicas M6, M7 and MP.

• Konica Hexar RF
  I’ll begin with the most cost effective and technically most superior of those: the Konica Hexar RF.
  It gives 1/4000s as quickest shutter pace (could be useful with my quick lenses), I anticipate it to have probably the most fashionable metering and its design is first rate. The comparably superior electronics have a reasonably noticeable draw back although: if one thing breaks it seemingly breaks for good.
  From what I learn will probably be exhausting to search out somebody that can even try and restore it – this is similar cause I’d by no means purchase a ’67 Mustang Fastback or Lotus Elise residing in Germany – and should you do discover somebody that can, however a few of the digital elements are damaged, that may nonetheless be it.
  So no Hexar RF for me, though it was very tempting.
• Zeiss Ikon ZM
  Design is a bit blocky – even in comparison with the Leicas – however you get 1/2000s as quickest shutter pace and whereas the danger of it dying on you utterly must be decrease in comparison with the Hexar RF I nonetheless have the sensation that it’s a little bit of a niché digital camera with unsure spare elements state of affairs. What number of have been made? I attempted to search out that out however couldn’t.
  What I additionally didn’t like have been the absence of 75mm and 90mm framelines. And the worth.
• Leica MP
  The one(?) movie digital camera that may nonetheless be purchased new. Too costly although, particularly as the benefits over the M6 are fairly meaningless to me.
• Leica M7
  This was a little bit of a tough one. The M7 is the one movie M that gives aperture precedence mode, which typically I would love. I don’t really feel like a greater photographer as a result of I’ve to the touch the shutter pace dial each time earlier than I take an image. The shutter is digital although and I already dominated out the opposite cameras with seemingly irreparable electronics, so right here occurs the identical.
• Leica M6
  If you happen to paid shut consideration you already seen: the Leica M6 is the one digital camera left from the checklist. Nonetheless: why Leica M6?
  Aside from the sunshine meter it’s a purely mechanical digital camera. And Leica made virtually 160.000 of those. Getting it repaired doesn’t appear to be a difficulty, even a number of a long time from now.
  There are some issues I don’t like, clearly. The quickest shutter pace of 1/1000s will certainly hassle me (already the 1/2000s on the Sony RX1RII bothered me). And we are going to see how the fairly fundamental gentle metering will work for me, however because of the Leica M10 I suppose I already know what to anticipate right here.
  The one I purchased is from the identical yr I used to be born. I hope that connection could assist me overlook a flaw right here or there.

What to be careful for when shopping for an analogue digital camera?

I did restore some lenses up to now however I’m definitely no professional in terms of movie cameras, so when you have got selected a digital camera I like to recommend to search for Youtube movies or written articles telling you what to be careful for with that particular digital camera.

The Leicas M6 for instance are 30 to 40 years outdated and once they haven’t been serviced lately it’s extremely seemingly one thing is fallacious with them.

Subsequently I’d be much more cautious with shopping for an unseen digital camera from a personal vendor the place there might be no return possibility. Even when the digital camera seems nice from the skin loads of issues could be damaged on the within.

I purchased from a good seller that I may drive to and take a look at two completely different M6 in particular person. Regardless of watching these aforementioned vidoes there was nonetheless one thing I missed (35/135mm framelines not displaying correctly) however because of the guarantee the seller will cowl the restore with none extra value to me.

Correctly checking the rangefinder coupling (learn: focus accuracy) will at the least take having a roll of movie developed, so additionally it is one thing you can not do on website.

What’s subsequent?

Within the subsequent half we are going to take a look at a few of the footage from the primary roll of movie I shot with this digital camera. It was a roll of lengthy expired Ektar 100 so I primarily used it to get a really feel for the metering and check the main target accuracy with a few of my lenses, to see if the rangefinder wants extra calibration (I anticipate sure).

Additional Studying