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cameras
I use a couple cameras. most of the time I shoot with one or two, and switch to pay more attention to others. My first camera, a Canon A-1, one of the classics, actually died in April, 2003. Suffering from the sudden loss of my favorite camera, I started shooting with the plastic toy camera Holga. After the second roll I started to love these cheap toy cameras and ever since started to work with anything I can. In a manner of fact, I somehow treat all my cameras as toys, with lots of tender loving care. Working with these cameras, I learned the number one rule about photography--there are no rules.
Here are a list of the cameras I work with...
Canon A-1
This is one of the classics. It allows me to switch between manual or automatic in no time, and I simply love the fast standard lens. Originally I am using the one that my dad bought when I was born, but that one died in April, 2003, in my hand; later I got a second one on ebay. This is actually a 1978 model, although clearly it offers so much that many people are still after it. I have a Canon Speedlite 188A and a Canon Speedlite 533G, both dedicated flashes to the A-1. Also I have a power winder for it, although most of the time I do not use it (it gets really heavy!) Besides the 50mm standard lens, I also have a Tamron 28-200 zoom lens and three other lenses. This camera has always been my "serious camera." However, after working with Holga, I start to have a different feeling towards this camera.
Holga: Crap-I and Crap-I ER
These are my first toy cameras. A plastic camera inspired by the well known Diana model, Holga takes 120 medium format roll film and can shoot 12 6x6cm pictures or 16 6x4.5cm pictures. I shoot 6x6 square format only (so much fun in the little square!) It has two aperture settings (probably only one functional aperture) and a spring shutter that gives roughly 1/100 speed. It allows you to estimate the distance and then guess on the lens barrow, and always surprises you, always. Soon I learned that I can put a roll of 35mm film in it and makes it shoot funny pictures with sprocket holes on the sides. Soon I learned that I can insert an odd shape board in it and take whatever shapes of pictures on either 120 or 35mm films. Soon I learned that there really are no rules in photography and the only thing I need to do is to remember to take off the lens cap and advance the film.
Crap-I is actually Woca, a Holga with a glass lens, and Crap-I ER is a plastic Holga. I think they work about the same... I can't really distinguish the difference.
Lubitel 166B
My first Russian camera. After I start working with Holga, I start to love medium format and decide I can also work with something that's a little more sophisticated than two apertures and one clicking shutter. This is a TLR camera with that interesting and sophisticated look of an old camera but yet with simple mechanics. With my big flash it looks like a professional that worth a million dollars. It's definitely fun to play with, and often gives me surprising images... partly because I always forget to advance the film.
Polaroid OneStep
I don't know what you think about Polaroid, but I really treat it as toy. Somehow the "instant" picture idea just makes it so cheap, although it is by no mean anywhere close to cheap. I got this camera mostly because I wanted to play with emulsion transfer and SX-70 manipulation. It is a lot of fun doing it, but somehow the fact that it costs $15 for 10 pictures really put a big break on my craze for it. But we shall see... This one actually takes Polaroid 600 film, but it can also take SX-70 Time-Zero film with a little modification.
Zenit-E
This is another legendary camera. Made in the former Soviet Union, Zenit-E is one of the most, well, let's not say popular, but most abundant camera in the world. Originally appeared on the market in 1965, they made more than 13 millions of this series of cameras. Check out Alfred's Camera Page for a comprehensive review. I got mine on eBay, of course. It was made in 1977 (older than me!) and has a non-coupled light meter that's 2-stops too slow. With the original Industar-50 lens, I cannot tell you how much I hate it. But, this is also a completely mechanical camera, meaning that you never need to buy any battery for it! Anyways, I am not here to do a review on it. So far I really love it. The fact that it doesn't give me a "real" light metering and makes me to judge based on my own retina signal transduction really makes photographing fun. I mean, with an automatic camera you never really worry about the exposure, and with a toy camera you cannot worry about the exposure; but with Zenit-E you control everything! Most of the time my intuition is the light meter, and my thoughts determine how they should be exposed... and most of the time they come out the way I wanted, more so than the automated ones. I may not bring it with me for an important shooting event, but I certainly have a lot of fun with Zenit-E.
Mamiya/Sekor 500DTL
Okay, this is one of my favorite camera. Made in 1968 I believe, this is the very few 35mm cameras Mamiya ever produced. For whatever reason they seemed to be ashamed of these 35mm cameras, there isn't too much information on these cameras, and not too many people know that Mamiya actually had cameras other than medium format. Yes, I found this camera on eBay, too, and ever since the first day I got it I fell in love with it. It uses the M42 universal screw mount, and has two TTL metering: average metering and spot metering. I just love the way to operate the camera, and so far I had lots of nice pictures with it. Completely mechanical (besides the light meter, which works accurately), it offers everything I need yet allows more of my own expression. The only thing is the flash doesn't work, and the light meter needle is really hard to see in dark... (yes, I do get overly dependent when there's a light meter!)
Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera
So I finally got the Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera. You wonder why it's called "land" camera? It's actually the name of the inventor. He designed this instant folding camera based on the size of his shirt. This is actually a SLR camera that allows you to focus. I got a couple boxes of out dated SX-70 film and had lots of fun with this camera. I also have a Model 2, which I replaced its fake leather to a white real lamb leather.
Kodak DX3500 Digital Camera
Yes, this one is digital. Don't you just find it odd that someone like me actually plays with digital cameras! I got it for a long time, but I never use it as much as I do with other cameras. But this camera certainly helps me to build this website! I actually rather enjoy working with PhotoShop, what we called "digital darkroom" or "dry darkroom". I don't like the "photoshopped" look a lot of graphic artists do with digital imaging, but I do love how computer can enhance the tonality and effects that I missed at the moment. I think I will stick with film cameras for a while still, but digital is certainly more convenient.
Jar's Photo, copyrighted, 2003.
