D2 Gallery

View of New York City from the World Trade Center

2009-06-21T13:59:00.001-04:00

View of New York City from the World Trade Center, originally uploaded by BobD2.

I visited New York City with my son back in April of 2001. We stayed at the Millennium Hilton right across from the World Trade Center towers. So of course we had to go to the top of the twin towers to check out the view. I took this photo looking toward Brooklyn using my trusty old Canon PowerShot S100 digital elph. It is a mere 2.1 mega pixels but took very nice photos. Images from the S100 are just 1600 x 1200 pixels and so are really only large enough for a good quality 4x6 print.

26 Below Zero in Yarmouth, Maine (fahrenheit)

2009-01-16T08:28:00.003-05:00

-26 Degrees Fahrenheit, originally uploaded by BobD2.

Wow, 26 below zero this morning in Yarmouth, Maine! I can't remember the last time I've seen a thermometer go this low (if I've ever seen it). We're actually afraid to go out!!

Update: since posting this photo, I have gone outside to warm up my wife's car for her. Each time I inhaled, I felt a sting that made me cough! Her car did start, but it was not happy about running at first.

Photo taken with a Pentax K100D and an Auto Vivitar 28mm F2.5 (M42) Lens. I found this nice wide angle lens at a local Goodwill thrift store just the other day. Very good condition and great build quality. The glass was a bit under the weather, but cleaned up nicely. I'm using it with my Pentax K100D using a genuine Pentax M42 to K mount adapter.

King Roger

2008-10-28T04:37:00.002-04:00

King Roger, originally uploaded by BobD2.

He may be photogenic, but he's also quite ornery, as this photo shows! After the first photo while he was resting calmly, he got this annoyed look about him, so I quickly grabbed another shot.

Photo taken with a Pentax K100D and Auto Chinon 50mm F1.9, wide open at 1/30th and ISO 800.

Screen Grab of 4 Lens Test Images Side by Side

2008-10-02T08:57:00.004-04:00

Screen Grab of 4 Lens Test Images Side by Side, originally uploaded by BobD2.

I decided to test out the 4 different 50mm manual focus lenses I own to see if any one of them is the sharpest. I set up a test shot and used my Pentax K100D on a tripod. I set it to 200 ISO and used the 2 second timer feature which provides mirror-lockup. I then put each lens on one at a time and took 3 shots with each lens - one shot wide open, the next at F5.6, and the last at F11. With all images, I did minimal post processing and treated all images the same (no sharpening or any tonal adjustment of any kind). The 4 lenses tested from top left clockwise are:

SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.7
SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2
Auto Chinon 50mm F1.9
Ricoh Rikenon P 50mm F1.7

Above is a screen grab from Adobe Bridge of the 4 F5.6 images from each lens, and a 1:1 pixel ratio magnification of each shot to make comparing them easier. From this comparison, it would appear that the Auto Chinon 50mm F1.9 lens is the sharpest of the lot.

Pentax K100D with Auto Sears 28mm F2.8 M42 Lens

2008-09-08T07:09:00.003-04:00

Pentax K100D with Auto Sears 28mm F2.8 M42 Lens, originally uploaded by BobD2.

I've been collecting, using, and selling film cameras for quite a while now and have been very dedicated to film. It's not because I feared making the switch either - I've owned several digital cameras in the past - but rather because I just preferred the look of film. But when I recently took a closer than usual look at my expenses and found I'd spent over a thousand bucks on film and processing in just 7 months, I realized something had to change. This pointed me toward a DSLR, and after learning that I could use a handful of old film camera lenses I already owned on a Pentax DSLR, it was a no-brainer for me. Being a fan of all the old manual film gear, what better way to go digital than to be able to slap an M42 screw mount lens onto a modern DSLR camera. So being the cheapskate that I am, I found myself a used K100D in nice condition. Pictured above is the K100D with an Auto Sears 28mm F2.8 lens (M42). I used a genuine Pentax M42 to K mount adapter to make the connection. I had already purchased the adapter earlier to use this M42 lens (and others) on my Pentax ME Super film camera.

Using an old manual focus lens on the K100D took a bit of getting used to, but only a bit. With just a bit of fiddling at home and one jaunt about my town with it and I was snapping away comfortably. After mounting the lens, you switch to manual focus mode (MF), turn the picture mode dial to M for manual, turn on Shake Reduction if you want it, and switch on the camera. If you turned on SR, you'll be prompted for the focal length of the lens (which SR needs to know to work properly). Once that's done you're ready to shoot.

Manually focuing visually is not easy compared to with a 35mm film camera - there's no slit image or microprism to help you. But you can still use auto focus assist by half pressing the shutter button while you focus. When the center of the image is in focus, the green focus lock light will light up.

As for exposure, the manual lenses cannot tell the camera what f-stop is set, so you have to press the AE-L button. For M42 lenses, you'll want to switch the lens to M (sliding switch on the lens itself), set the aperture on the lens to the desired setting, and then press the AE-L button to take the exposure reading. You are then ready to snap the photo. All this sounds like a long complicated process - but it doesn't take that long once you get used to it. And the benefit of doing this? Reasonably priced high-quality fixed focal length lenses of course!

The glass I currently own that I can use on my new K100D includes the Sears 28/2.8 pictured above, a Sears 55/1.4 M42, a Sears 135mm/2.8 M42, a Pentax-A 28/2.8, Pentax-M 50/1.7, Pentax-A 50/2, and a Chinon 50/1.9.

Konica FC-1

2008-08-30T07:22:00.009-04:00

This Konica FC-1 came to me out of left field. A wildlife photographer friend of mine - Len Rue, Jr. sent me this camera with the fantastic Hexanon AR 57mm F1.2 lens you see pictured below. It's not one he'd shot with - he's a Canon guy now and was a Nikon guy before that. I think he said it had belonged to his uncle - but regardless, I'd never owned a Konica and hadn't even had my eye on Konica cameras at all before this arrived. Actually, one more bit of trivial blathering - When Len told me about this one on the phone before sending it up to me to sell on ebay for him, he looked it over and dismissed it as rather worthless (Canon man don't forget). But he looked at the lens, read the specs to me, and said "that's a fast sucker!". Mind you, this was coming from a guy who has thousands of dollars worth of the latest Canon lenses in his arsenal, so it's a rare moment when he's impressed by something I'm interested in.

So, when I received this, I was quite excited about the 1.2 lens. At that point in time, I'd not even managed to get my hands on my first 1.4 lens (although I do have one now). I did some research on the camera and the lens, and quickly realized that this lens, and Hexanon lenses in general, are somewhat legendary for their sharpness. I was becoming interested! I took this camera and lens combo out shooting right away and was super impressed with how the FC-1 felt and handled. The lens of course was impressive, and was even more so when I got back my first roll of film - the images were beautifully exposed and as sharp as come be. But I expected that out of this legendary lens - but from my online research about the FC-1 I expected a competent camera, but not much more. Instead, I found myself favoring this camera and buying more Hexanon lenses during the weeks that followed. I also followed this up with the purchase of an Autoreflex T2 - but that's another story I guess.

Above: photo taken at the 2008 Clam Festival Bike Race in Yarmouth, Maine with a Konica FC-1 and Konica Hexanon AR 40/1.8 lens and Fujicolor 200 color print film. Confession - this shot was a bit lucky as I'm certain I was attempting to pan the rider closest to the camera. Instead, the rider behind and further back came out tack sharp! That probably works better that way as your eye is drawn back through all the blurry riders to the sharp one.

Read more about the Konica FC-1 and view a sample gallery...

Konica MG

2008-05-25T05:39:00.004-04:00

The Konica MG is a 35mm auto focus point and shoot camera released in 1984. I bought mine on ebay for $7, which included the shipping! It arrived in good working condition - needing only a light cleaning - and included the manual and original strap. It's a good size camera measuring about 4-3/4" x 1-3/4" x 2-7/8", roughly similar in size to the Nikon L35AF or the Canon Sure Shot. I found it a pleasure to shoot with - it feels solid and well made, has a sliding cover like the Olympus Infinity Stylus and Stylus Epic, and allows for manually setting the film speed. It features a Konica Hexanon 35mm F3.5 lens, which I found to be quite sharp.

But what makes this camera stand out for me is a combination of features (or lack of) that make sense for me in terms of shooting. First, the slowest shutter speed is 1/30th of a second - this matches the 35mm lens as the slowest speed you should try to handhold, which means steadiness should never be a problem with this camera. Secondly, if there's not enough light for a shot, the only warning it gives is a red LED in the viewfinder - it doesn't beep at you like many cameras do (I hate it when they do that), doesn't automatically activate the flash like other cameras do (I hate that almost as much as a beep), and it doesn't prevent you from taking the shot, which still other cameras do. In other words, it assumes I have a brain and just quietly lets me know there's not enough light and lets me make the decision from there... pop the flash myself, take the shot anyway, or just pass on the shot. That's what I want, that's what you get with this one. This is one I'll be hanging on to.

Right: Looking up Exchange Street in Portland, Maine. Photo taken with a Konica MG using Kodak Ultramax 400 color print film.

View more Konica MG sample images on D2 Gallery

Read more about the Konica MG at D2 Gallery

Olympus OM-2n

2008-05-03T10:22:00.003-04:00

The Olympus OM-2n, shown here with an F.Zuiko 50mm 1.8 lens, is a small but very solid 35mm SLR film camera. In the world of point and shoot cameras, Olympus is well know for excelling at creating well made innovative compact cameras, and the same is true in the world of SLRs. The OM series of cameras is well know for being both well made and more compact than their competitors.

I found this one at a local thrift shop with the lens shown here along with an Olympus flash. It was in very clean condition and everything works properly. It will require new light seals, as they're gummy, but it proved itself light tight for my first test roll through it - a roll of Kodak BW400CN black and white C-41 film.

Right: close-up of a metal wheel, part of a damn along the Royal River in Yarmouth, Maine.

View a gallery of sample images from this camera at d2gallery.com

Minolta Hi-Matic 7s Black

2008-04-30T07:58:00.002-04:00

This Minolta Hi-Matic 7s rangefinder came to me in near mint condition (IMHO). It did need new light seals, which I have given it now. It might be a signal that I have to many cameras if you consider that I bought this a couple months ago and have yet to film test it! But I just realized this morning that a black 7s is somewhat rare. Chrome 7s's are rather common, and the 7s II is often found in black (although those are all rare), but I was hard pressed to find examples of a black 7s on the net. I guess I'll have to step up my efforts to film test it so I can update this post with a sample image.

Minolta Hi-Matic AF2

2008-04-28T16:03:00.006-04:00

Here's an early auto focus point and shoot camera from Minolta that carried on the Hi-Matic name from their line of very popular rangefinder cameras (such as the Minolta Hi-Matic 7s). Like many of the early auto focus cameras, it looks a lot like a rangefinder, but is not of course.

Likes: Manual film wind (instead of a noisy motor drive) means it's a very quiet auto focus camera; filter ring; exposure metering done through any filter you attach; flash is activated manually when you want, not when you don't; lightweight yet still feels moderately well made.

Dislikes: flash didn't do a great job with coverage, leaving dark corners on the left side of my shots (not sure if that was just my camera or if it's true of all of them).

Right: Inside Maine Roasters Coffee in Falmouth, Maine. Photo taken with a Minolta Hi-Matic AF2 with Kodak Ultramax 400 film.

Read more and view sample images at d2gallery.com.

Fujica 35 FS

2008-04-28T15:50:00.003-04:00

I love this new find! The Fujica 35 FS is a very compact, solidly built zone focus point and shoot camera that features a Fujinon 35mm f2.8 lens. I haven't been able to find much out about it online and they appear to almost never come up on ebay. This one did, however, and was pretty much ignored (which was to my benefit of course). It came to me with the original flash (although the flash was garbage due to battery corrosion), the original manuals, and case (hard shell case with red felt lined insert - quite nice). I didn't have the highest hopes for it, figuring it hasn't remained popular for a reason perhaps. But that assumption was dead wrong. After shooting my first test roll (see gallery of images), I can say I'm very impressed with image quality - very sharp lens! I'm baffled as to why this little gem isn't more popular. The only reason I can think of is that perhaps not many were made and sold, so there just aren't many to collect.

LIKES: Small and compact, yet feels solid and well made; very sharp and fast lens; 49mm filter size is still common; hot shoe for flash; two shutter speeds only, 1/250th and 1/30th which are manually switchable using a ring on the lens - and the camera works without a battery, but only at those two speeds with the aperture wide open at 2.8. While that's not very flexible, it will make a good camera for handheld available light night shots!; doesn't beep at you when there's not enough light - thank you Fujica! And lets you take the photo regardless - just a red light in the viewfinder so you know.

DISLIKES: Uses the old mercury battery that is no longer available - Zinc air replacement available, but they don't last long; ASA only goes to 400; Can't find anything else about this camera to complain about.

Right: Town Landing Pier in Falmouth, Maine. Photo taken with a Fujica 35 FS using Fujicolor Superia Xtra 400 color print film.

View gallery: Fujica 35 FS Sample Images

Chinon Bellami

2008-04-25T06:08:00.007-04:00

The Chinon Bellami is an ultra-compact yet very well-made 35mm camera featuring a retractable Chinonex 1:2.8 f=35mm zone focus lens. The camera and the lens were made in Japan.

A unique feature of the Bellami is the retractable lens, which when closed is concealed behind a pair of "barn doors". When you're ready to use the camera, you use the film advance lever to open the doors revealing the lens inside. The lens move forward when you open it, and retracts again when you close the doors - which is also done using the film advance lever.

Anyone familiar with Chinon SLRs and other cameras may know they're known for building very solid heavy-duty cameras, and this little gem was no exception. It's weight was the first thing that struck me when I first picked it up - even before noticing the cool retractable lens hidden behind those doors.

Right: House on North Road, Yarmouth, Maine. Photo taken with a Chinon Bellami and Kodak BW400CN film.

View a gallery of images taken with the Chinon Bellami

Canon (New) Sure Shot AF35M II

2008-04-23T12:31:00.006-04:00

This Canon (New) Sure Shot (aka AF35M II, or Autoboy II) came to me through an ebay auction for 3 cameras that went really cheap. It's the follow-up to Canon's original AF35M or Autoboy that was so successful. Just like Nikon's successor to their L35AF, this successor to the AF35M was simplified in a couple ways (although in Canon's literature it is referred to as an "Improved version of the original Autoboy"). Yet where it counts, it is still a performer all these years later. It features the same 38mm F2.8 lens (4 elements in 4 groups, while the original AF35M used 4 elements in 3 groups). There was also a Quartz Date (QD) version of this one.

Right: Portland Harbor at Night as seen from Commercial Street between the ferry terminal and Ri-Ra/Flatbread Pizza, in Portland Maine. Photo taken with a Canon (New) Sure Shot using Kodak Ultramax 400 color print film.

[read more]

View Canon Sure Shot sample photos.

Canon Canonet QL17 G-III

2008-04-19T10:43:00.013-04:00

The Canon Canonet QL17 G-III is a classic 35mm rangefinder camera that features a sharp and fast 40mm f1.7 lens. I got my hands on this one that was in quite nice condition except that the shutter was stuck - a common problem, especially if they've seen only light usage like this one. I took it to a local camera repair shop and they serviced it and now it's a fully functioning beauty!

It feels very well made and is ultra quiet - a great street shooter. Due to it's cult status, however, it commands a higher price than many similarly featured rangefinder cameras of the same era.

Right: Garden gate in Winter at Gilsland Farm Maine Audubon in Falmouth, Maine. Photo taken with a Canonet QL17 G-III and Kodak Ultramax 400 film.

Read more about the Canonet QL17 G-III at D2 Gallery

Canon AF35ML

2008-04-18T16:07:00.008-04:00

The Canon AF35ML is an early auto focus point and shoot camera - a more impressive cousin to the AF35M (original Sure Shot) - the AF35ML featured a fast f1.9 lens! I believe that it's the same lens featured in the Canonet QL19 rangefinder camera. That's some glass on a point and shoot. I have shot my first test roll, and while I did get a few very sharp and well exposed images, I also had many blunders. As you can tell if you look around this site, I'm a fan of these early boxy auto focus cameras, but this one does have some problems.

Right: Irving station along Main Street in Yarmouth, Maine. Photo taken with a Canon AF35ML.

Read more: Canon AF35ML at D2 Gallery

View gallery: Canon AF35ML sample images

Ricoh Singlex II

2008-04-18T07:19:00.007-04:00

I picked up this Ricoh Singlex II 35mm SLR at a local thrift store. It was dusty, including significant dust embedded around the edges of the Rikenon 50mm f2 lens - so much to the point that I feared the chances of fungus damage was almost a certainty, which would render the lens unusable. But I was pleasantly surprised to find everything cleaned up VERY nicely - in fact, I consider this camera to be in near mint condition. It still had the plastic hot shoe protector.

The camera without the lens weighs a bit shy of 1 lb. 12 oz. Shutter speeds are from 1/1000th down to 1 second plus bulb; ASA/ISO is from 25 to 1600; lens mount is an M42 Pentax screwmount. There is a dial surrounding the film rewind crank with settings for color, b&w, or empty - just to be used as a reminder to the photographer as to what is loaded. You activate the meter along with a depth of field preview by pushing in the button on the front of the camera next to the lens (seen in the photo). The placement of that button felt a bit awkward to me and took a bit of getting used to, but other than that, the camera feels intuitive and comfortable to shoot with.

My first test roll through the camera was a roll of Kodak BW400CN and I was extremely pleased with the results.

Right: Roger on our futon chair.

View a gallery of Ricoh Singlex II sample images at d2gallery.com.