EdipisReks1

This is my favorite candid portrait taken with the Yashica: it looks like it should be 1994 (even has an ashtray!). Critical focus isn’t bad if you nail it, but it’s a bit of a chore with the waist level. I wish the darkroom scanned medium format at 36 like the 35mm, instead of 20 (it’s probably 24 or something at 6x7): I feel like I’m focusing a lot more resolution than the scans give.

For the Yashica? Split focusing would be great on any TRL; I dunno how many have one. I guess that’s what you mean: consider a third party screen. Probably not for the Yashica, it isn’t very good, but I could see it on an Autocord or Mamiya C3! I see myself with either a Mamiya 6 or 7, in 2025. I haven’t shot 6x7 yet, but I like 6x6 a lot.

If I’m spending Rolleiflex money I’m just going to save up and get a Mamiya 6! Minolta Autocord with meter is likely my next purchase, and I’ll just get more practice with composing. I really do think the incredibly dim viewfinder on the Yashica is the biggest problem for me. I picked up a variable diopter for the FM2. Cheaper than getting new glasses; I find critical focus very hard to get if I’m even a little bit off, of course, so it’s great being able to dial in with my imperfect corrected vision. Oatmeal Johnny was made for the camera. A combination of methods and equipment, but the same cat.

Shots back from The Darkroom. If I didn't know better I would think I had found some old pics in the bottom of a long forgotten box. HP-5 400 is way too grainy for daylight candids, but I love how it looks like the 90s. The shots from the Yashica (well, the in focus ones) look very much like they were shot on a camera from the 1960s. This was with new Kodak Gold 200. I definitely want a better medium format camera (the viewfinder is very dim on mine), but I can't say I'm too mad about the ones that were in focus and had decent composition (I'm still not used to things being backwards).

I couldn’t be happier with the Q fix. It is clear that “general cleaning” involved disassembling the lens, as there is zero dust now (there was a little dust in the lens before, but the main issue was the fungus on the sensor). A great camera and hopefully one I’ll get a lot of use out of.

Got the Q back from repair. Of course I managed to not have any batteries with me (I’m out of town), so I can’t test it. They returned my lens cap, which is a good sign. Generic batteries and charger arriving tomorrow. If it works properly, even with the repair cost, I got a good deal. If not, well, in for a penny in for a pound and I send it to Leica for their replacement parts, and thus I will have gotten a very bad deal. Q2 money, then.

I have the Yashica working: that was some fiddly work, but it came down to cleaning and lubricating the shutter release. I have five rolls of Kodak Gold and three rolls of Portra 400 in 120, so I’m eager to get snapping with the Yashica. Q is in repair now, so maybe I’m 2 for 2 after all (results pending). Having put a couple rolls through the FM2 lately has me looking at the DF: surprisingly pricy by DSLR standards in 2024, but lots of low shutter count examples in Japan.

.

I’m getting better. It’s hard being even on both sides of the cup.

Great pics, Ric! The Leica has fungus amongus, so repair is a bit more expensive. But less than Leica wanted. The Yashicaflex also has already failed, so I’m 0-2 this week. I *think* I got some decent shots on the Yashica over the weekend, at least.

Leica didn’t open the camera, so it goes to Video Cam Repair dot Com for cleaning. $220 seems reasonable.

Received my F100. It’s unused as far as I can tell. Not bad for $235 with a 35mm f/2. It operates like a modernish camera, certainly very similar to a Nikon DSLR. I doubt it’ll still be working in 100 years, like my beloved FM2, but I think this is my go to 35mm, now. It’s really nice! Massively more modern than the N8008 (which is a perfectly good AF body). Going to run some long expired Kodak Gold 400 pushed a couple stops. From what I’ve seen Kodak Gold maintains color, it just gets less sensitive.

Kodak Gold 200 120 loaded. Kentmere should be here before the trip this weekend. I’m looking forward to taking a portrait of Heather in her new hometown on medium format.

Found a place in California that’ll clean it with a week turnaround for $200. All will be well when it ends well, just have to get the camera back from Leica.

It’s just frustrating that they wouldn’t even consider just cleaning the sensor. I’m 99 percent sure that the sensor is just dirty.

I'm not even mad. This is like dealing with Rolex or Montblanc. They wanted to replace anything that showed wear, including the leatherette covering, which does *not* need replacing. I have found a third party to clean the sensor, if it arrives still dirty (I bet I just got a sensor cleaning for free).

Whelp, Leica wants to replace the sensor and lens, and wants $1600. I guess I’ll just have to keep photoshopping out crap from photos stopped down below 16, which I almost never do, and certainly won't with a Summilux 1.7: I discovered the dust by accident. I’m hoping that, in taking the camera apart to observe condition, that they wiped down the sensor, which is all I wanted to be done.

Not my best. But I only do one to two a day. Getting better!

Bought some Kentmere 400 120 for the Yashicaflex I drunkenly ordered from Japan, last night. At least I got one in near mint (supposedly truly rated; its from a big eBay seller), working, with original case and lens hood. 1955 manu date. It was only $120, so whatever: I wanted a medium format.

If anybody was interested in what a 7mm watch looks like on wrist. It feels like wearing a quarter, but it gets a lot thinner than that (my Santos Dumont is just 5.5, and feels absurd): I love it. Thinness is a complication. I’m not happy with this Tiffany lizard strap. I think I want to wear this watch on Horween Shell, but the last time I had a Horween shell strap made I got a rash.

That meet looks like a lot of fun! Where is the beer and booze, though?

I think my art is getting better. At least more consistent, if still bad. I waggle the pitcher too much at the beginning. This shot was too coarse and spat a lot, as you can see the from the rim, but it was a tasty cup. Califia oat barista milk.

Picked up an excellent condition F100 with 35 f/2 for less than the lens goes for. I wanted both the camera and lens this time, but mostly the lens. The f100 will replace my N8008, once I have used the roll up in the 8008. Also bidding on expired 35mm film, because why not spend more money on film.

I received the 20-35 F/2.8 AF. I’m sort of in love with this lens. I don’t have a good photo to share, but I feel like it’s much sharper at 35 than my old 35mm f/1.8 ever was. Of course this is a “pro” lens, whereas the 35 (and my 28 and 50, for that matter) wasn’t (aren’t).