This is a great video. I got an old Zeiss Ikonta 6x9 myself. I love using these old cameras. And there is something beautiful about people building things that last and people taking care of such things, so they last many generations.
Spot on! Not a single one of my favorite photographers use or used digital cameras. And look at all the fantastic photos from the pictorialist era of photography. They still look amazing!
Nicely done! The shots with the light leaks have their own charm. All in all I really like all the shots! There camera really sets a nostalgic look. There could be lots of times that it could come in really handy! I don't know it this would help on the film loading on the spools but back in the day when I shot and developed a lot of B&W film, I use to have a pair of scissors in the bag and would nip a little off the corners of the end of film so that it would start on the plastic developing spools better. It worked well for me.
Your channel is getting better and better, there’s absolutely no doubt about that. I couldn’t agree more with your philosophy about the "camera arms race." I have no interest at all in making videos, the only 4K I care about is my Zorki. Hence with new cameras half of the technology is wasted on me. However, saying that I'm all for developing new technology, the analogue cameras I shoot were new once. We need new technology to keep this art form moving forward. Even the best camera in the world, and that’s another debate, doesn’t take a perfect lifelike image...yet. If I didn’t have my difficulties in all probability Id be obsessed with video by now, so maybe they are a blessing in disguise. He is called Roger, he is brilliant and always experimenting and we can learn along with him. Like yourself he interacts with his viewers and answers all comments and is one of the best analogue photographers for having a picture in his mind for how his finished print should look. I don’t think there’s a better advocate for taking control of the entire image from choosing what film to load to having a finished darkroom print. I liked your images, especially the self portraits. When I'm loading 120 I use the loose paper to help me to initially lead it into the spool making sure it doesn’t go in with it. It’s hard to describe but it’s a way I’ve found helps me. There’s nothing worse than a film that won't load for one reason or the other, and we’ve all been there. With me the more I struggle, the more frustrated I get and then mad, which only serves to make it harder. Another brilliant video that covered a lot in a very cohesive way. Thank you.
I learned to load 120 and 620 roll film onto Nikor stainless steel reels before I was 6 years old. If your "film won't load" it's that you don't know how to load film on a processing reel. BTW, you IDIOTS, it's NOT NICK-ON it's NYE-CON. This from the owner of Nikon in 1974. Learn some Japanese...
Great video! I think your camera is an Ensign Carbine No.x , I do have a No.7 Ensign Carbine coupled with 100mm Ensar lens and a metal frame viewfinder. It’s solid built camera. I love it very much.
As I watch this I just happen to have an almost identical camera sitting on a shelf about 2 meters from me that has been nothing more than decoration. I believe it works so I need to try this 👍
You should. thats how I started shooting film about 4 years ago. I had an old Zeiss Ikon folding camera I had picked up at a camera fair purely for decoration for 30$. then one day just doing some research on it I found it used 120 film which at that point I knew nothing about, shooting only digital. bought a cheap roll of B&W to put through it and I was hooked after I got it back. to see the negatives and those first ever film photos I'd taken was a wonderful feeling. so I would say go for it! :-)
Great video Paul. There is something special about the images taken with those old cameras. I use an old Zeiss Nettar now and again and as you say, they are fun to use.
I started shooting film this year and I draw nearer and nearer to it. No instant gratification. Requires patience and know how. I love to pick up vintage cameras and learn the history behind them. They're built like tanks - beautifully made. No surprise people still use vintage glass on digital bodies like Sony. Nothing will ever beat natural film grain or colors, or the feeling you get looking at your shots for the first time. :)
I have a number of these old cameras, either inherited or that I have found in junk shops. Only issues are light leaks in the bellows (gaffer tape) and/or slow shutters - easy to compensate for. Love using them..
The 120 film dark bag sauna disaster has happened to me also. Best reel is a Samigon which you can get from B&H. It has much wider prominent film guides which you can more easily feel in the dark bag.
I like the accidents. Looks like you might have a little light leak in the second roll. Not sure if there is a pin hole or crack in the bellows. In the dark, shine a flashlight into the back with the bellows extended.
Thanks for the shout out Paul. Lovely video and images of your home. There is a shop near me with a few of those for sale. I may have to go and have a look! I've had tricky MF films in the past not getting onto the reel, especially when it's hot you start sweating buckets and panicking! Some light leaks are a nice little surprise though! Bay is great! Look forward to the next episode! Roger.
I'm thinking about buying one like that, maybe an autographic. I just finished ordering 120 to 116 adapters. I've also got some 70mm microfilm that might work.
I've got a couple of folding cameras, which I don't shoot with enough. Never really compared them with digital cameras but from what I've seen online the lenses are as sharp as modern lenses as long as you the photographer has good enough eyesight to get it focused in taking into account the tiny viewfinders on most of them. Plus the added bonus of just looking ubercool using one. The light leaks arn't mistakes....they're Art.
There is NO viewfinder focusing on 95% of all folding cameras ever made. You estimate the distance and set it accordingly. From taking thousands of Wedding and event images, I can estimate 10 feet with-in 3 inches. That's more than good enough for f11. The lens quality varies widely on folding cameras from poor quality uncorrected triplet lenses to super high quality 6 element Tessar types. Some triplet lenses are very good, and lots of four element lenses will make 20 times enlargements sharp as a tack. Light leaks are mistakes that should be addressed.
Thank you for sharing I really love old cameras so I am enjoying seeing you put film through them. Guessing if you only got 8 shots this must have been a 6X 9 ? Your dog is such a star :D Teddy
My first post-digital film camera was a Voigtländer Bessa 6x9 folder from 1930s and it worked great - same size negative as my iPhone 4 (lightbox) at the time! Super portable and compact as well.
Wow, that’s a beauty. I absolutely get what you say about an arms race. I’m very fond of the ‘good old days’ when photography life was so much simpler. In 1977 I had manual control. Today I’m made so anxious by all the new elements in the latest cameras. I struggle to understand the features, or when I’d need them. I just want control of the shutter, aperture and ISO (ASA). Auto focus is handy as my eyesight isn’t as great as it once was - but I still enjoy manual glass on my Fuji, I enjoy my Hassy too. Sometimes less really is more.
I don't know if it has anything to do with the latest gear news overkill and announcements but I have gone back to film. I have a second hand xt-1 when I do want to shoot digital occasionally. I have just bought a canon A1 and iam slowly getting my developing gear back again. Iam sick of the incessant gear hunting and endless arguments about which camera has the fastest auto focus blah blah blah. Iam so glad iam back with my basic film camera and can't wait to start developing black and white film again. Nice to see a photography youtuber that hasn't jumped on the gear bandwagon.
I'm toying with the idea of an inexpensive medium format camera. Your success with being able to get a possibly non-working camera actually working is a financial risk I'm not comfortable taking which means that I'd be leaning towards a fully working camera and therefore, not really cheap. Any advice or encouragement?
Hi Julian, difficult, the camera in this episode cost me a few bucks, and really not a lot can go wrong with theses antiques, other that light leaks. But if you want a real camera Mamiya in my opinion is a good place to start for medium format, fairly cheap and good quality.
Great video mate, load film and shoot. I find myself shooting more film as well these days. Looking forward to trying out the new Kodak Ektachrome. Maybe you can try some in your Leica. Can't wait for that episode!
Another excellent video mate ,my first camera was an old Kodak folding camera my late father gave me in the late 70s that was a 35mm version it was an ex fire brigade piece ,I don’t know what happened to it ,thanks for great content Paul look forward to more 👍
Whatever the content, it’s a joy, Paul! You just find a way. Interesting camera, and a fun experiment. I kind of liked both rolls :). In my humble opinion you should also hold on to your camera! It’s a piece of history, beyond your bonding with it. PS: Bae really is a star, he must be a very good mate too! Thanks for a nice episode!
Great video, Paul - and I loved the happy accidents you achieved and the photos you got in the re-run. It is an "arms race" and the latest crop of mirrorless products launched onto the market has shown just how desperate companies like Canon and Nikon are to get onto the playing field that Sony has developed. Having been a product manager, you not only want to be as good as the competition but better, but I won't be swapping my D810 for a Z7 (or any other system) anytime soon. When I started taking photography seriously when I hit my teens in the early 70s, there was competition but camera life cycles were usually in the range of 6-10 years. What we all craved was some faster film and a bit less grain. I have nothing against digital; hell, I have a couple of digital cameras myself. However, despite the argument that digitalisation and automation is meant to set the photographer free to be more creative, I can't say that I'm seeing any evidence that standards and originality is improving. Keep up the great work and let's keep pushing film and simplicity.
Paul you make some really valid points, in the pursuit of image perfection we are overlooking the importance of content. I brought a brand new camera 2 years ago the E-M1 MK2 now an upgrade is on the horizon and soon it will be seen as worthless and outdated. I applied for a photography contract some time ago it was suggested I got a bigger camera so I would look more professional and improve my chances of gaining more work ... hilarious! Thank you for watching.
@@PaulCSmithPhotographer Absolutely. Much as I love the convenience of digital, I get a much bigger kick out of seeing the end results coming out of my 35mm and 120 kit. I haven't got a darkroom these days and I'm quite time-poor - but I'm about to start processing B&W film again, courtesy of Cinestill's new Df96 monobath. I have a couple of canisters on order. Also, I'm following advice from one of your vids - which is something I'd sort of forgotten and that's to slow down and spend the time looking for the composition. Otherwise, the best I can hope for is a glorified record shot.
They make professional plastic reels that have a shelf to guide the 120 roll in. They work great. You could also cut a business card and slide it in the top groove, just in front of the take up start on the reel. Creates a shelf to help guide the film in, makes it easy to load.
The camera is an Ensign Autorange, (manufactured between 1932- 1935) it was also called Autorange 20, a quality foleding rangefinder. Vertical rise of lens array by lever, cross movement by milled wheel. The rangefinder is coupled with the lens focussing mechanism, operated by a radial focussing lever on the baseboard. Picture size is 2 1/3 X 3 1/4 in. One model also featured both a brilliant finder and wireframe finder with slotted finder on the back of the camera. The body is of metal covered with genuine black leather.
Jesus, I have the same camera! Have no clue when or how or from whom I got it. But mine has the opposite problem - the sliding mechanism is bend so the camera will not close. It's really dirty and I'd guess the lens has mold inside. I almost thought to trow it away. But after seeing this video, I guess I'll give it a second chance and I'll take it to the same guy who fixed my Olympus SLR's, Zorki 4K and recently my Yashica LM (6x6) which I'm enjoying right now and running the first film thru it, all do I have the camera for at least 7 years by now...
Very cool Paul! So true about the camera arms race. Oh and those light leaks were cool too! Living in Queensland, Aus. I can feel your pain, many years ago trying to load 120 in a dark bag on a particularly hot, humid day, I had the same experience. The film just wouldn't go on, so the solution I came up with was to immerse the whole bag underwater (making sure there was enough water so the bag didn't come in contact with the film), it went on quite easily, and the film was none the worse for wear... other than the kinks and some damage from the film sticking to itself that were introduced in the original phase. Certainly NOT something to be recommended, but it saved me, or rather the film, on that particular occasion. Remembering this I think the next investment might be one of those pop-up change bags.
@@PaulCSmithPhotographer yes ironically the more you panic the sweatier and therefore harder it becomes!!!! haha since then I've developed films all over the world in bathrooms etc without a hitch by being aware of suck potential pitfalls :-)
Enjoyed this vlog Paul ... what a great old camera for it's age & love your camera porn shoot's . Yes their is so much new stuff out their these days, but when you look at some second hand market buys, theirs some great bargains out their, that pretty much do exactly the same job .... Less the big price tag. I always like to have a sniff around on Trade Me from time to time & always pick up cameras that have a lot of accessories that come with them in which to buy on line new most of the time is the same price that you just payed for the whole camera & kit !! Hope to catch up next week for a bit of off shore photography ... see what the weather brings mate !!
@@PaulCSmithPhotographer 120 film on to 620 spool , the film is now backwards so you put film on to a second 620 spool, watch for the end where the film is attached with tape, if you get a bulge just re-position the tape. This will be tough to do in a bag, a dark room is best, good luck.
Hi Paul, still my fave film shooters channel, always looking forward to seeing your “next” episode. Would love to meet up with you at some point and make a video with you. Interested?
Oh I totally agree, let's start a talks on this Camera race, but Paul ever since after Wold War II cameras as they were being progressive in time since the very First Photokina now I heard Phtokina will be a Yearly now Event, Com on-how can you do with A Digital model unless if Ricoh makes a Solar Power model again, and this time it will have a USB connection that will connection to make Coffee on the road. Don't worried I have my vintage film models, my Zeiss, Nikons, Graflex, and Canon film models along with my digital including my first SONY FD models to my Mirrorless babies. But had to put away my darkroom stuff, lug out the film scanners, and now I am retired, and I have all the time in scanning after 45 years of shooting, and still shooting film.. Thank you.. P.S. I also have a 1904 Premo 4x5, and a 1931 Kodak Recomar roll camera.
Most people will think iam mad but I've decided to turn my back on digital and go back to film like the early days when I first started in early 2000's. I think the latest announcements and tribal like agruments over card slots etc has made me sick of photography. I want a more pure experience and I think you get that with film.
I totally Agree, I too have my share of Vintage models like: 1933 Kodak Recomar 18 6x9/6x6, 1933 Plaubel Makina Model 2 6x9, and 1938 Zeiss Ikonta 6x6, and a 1933 Foth TLR Focal Plane Twin Lens, along with my Bronica S2A, and Nikon SLR Gear, and Canon RF Canon 7, and Vt Trigger Wind 35mm, with along my DSLR, and Mirrorless, But I use my Old Manual Focus Nikkors to use... I cannot understand why people like to BRAG in Digital Cameras like Kai W, As this person that you had with the Bad Michael Caine Accent... This person I cannot understand, and during the Hong Kong Dispute, he did not even Care about it...
Hi Jagbir, I occasionally do a few photo get together s, just this Saturday gone I joined a group from the "Shoot Film Auckland" FB group. I am also thinking about doing some workshops next year.
I'm not sure what type of tank you are using for 120 development but If I could take a guess I bet you are using the paterson style plastic reel tanks... those are horrible for 120 film in my opinion. I've heard you complain about getting the film on the reel in a few videos now all I can say is with the plastic tanks it was difficult for me too but I switched to the stainless steel reels and tanks and it's so much better.
I've forgotten the specific timelines, but if one looks at the model releases from Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax, etc., there were numerous models that were in production for 10, 15, or 20 years. I think the Nikon F3 was 20 something years, the OM-4t & OM-3T were 17 or 18 years in production. Over the last 10-12 years, top line model releases are every 2-5 years. Yet, for probably 95% of consumers, there is very little they can do with the latest Sony they can't do with a Nikon F3 or Olympus OM-4T with a little work for most subjects. Perhaps, more precisely, the Sony will do nothing to improve the composition over the Olympus film camera with the same subject.
Loading 120 in the spool is like having sex 😂 literally it has happened to me all the time as I normally load it in darkness inside the bathroom corner and not inside bag .
There's something so soulful about those old cameras; the mechanical aspect, the look,feel and, in the right hands, results.
This is a great video. I got an old Zeiss Ikonta 6x9 myself. I love using these old cameras. And there is something beautiful about people building things that last and people taking care of such things, so they last many generations.
Spot on! Not a single one of my favorite photographers use or used digital cameras. And look at all the fantastic photos from the pictorialist era of photography. They still look amazing!
I've never stopped using film cameras and have been using a darkroom since the 1970s.
Same equipment.
Simplicity,yes,wedded to a great deal of sophistication for its time.Math and images by the numbers.
There’s a lot of lost beauty in those old folding cameras.
Subscribed!
Thankyou
Great results from this wonderful old camera, Paul! Even the ones with light leaks are stylish! Film is not dead! Regards, M.
Here here thankyou
another awesome video.....love the light leaks ....been strictly film shooting and darkroom ,,,,,,,, keep the vids coming
Thanks Andy
Nicely done! The shots with the light leaks have their own charm. All in all I really like all the shots! There camera really sets a nostalgic look. There could be lots of times that it could come in really handy! I don't know it this would help on the film loading on the spools but back in the day when I shot and developed a lot of B&W film, I use to have a pair of scissors in the bag and would nip a little off the corners of the end of film so that it would start on the plastic developing spools better. It worked well for me.
A good example of using gear from the past within its limits. Well done, mate!
Andy
Thanks Andy
Your channel is getting better and better, there’s absolutely no doubt about that. I couldn’t agree more with your philosophy about the "camera arms race." I have no interest at all in making videos, the only 4K I care about is my Zorki. Hence with new cameras half of the technology is wasted on me. However, saying that I'm all for developing new technology, the analogue cameras I shoot were new once. We need new technology to keep this art form moving forward. Even the best camera in the world, and that’s another debate, doesn’t take a perfect lifelike image...yet. If I didn’t have my difficulties in all probability Id be obsessed with video by now, so maybe they are a blessing in disguise.
He is called Roger, he is brilliant and always experimenting and we can learn along with him. Like yourself he interacts with his viewers and answers all comments and is one of the best analogue photographers for having a picture in his mind for how his finished print should look. I don’t think there’s a better advocate for taking control of the entire image from choosing what film to load to having a finished darkroom print.
I liked your images, especially the self portraits. When I'm loading 120 I use the loose paper to help me to initially lead it into the spool making sure it doesn’t go in with it. It’s hard to describe but it’s a way I’ve found helps me. There’s nothing worse than a film that won't load for one reason or the other, and we’ve all been there. With me the more I struggle, the more frustrated I get and then mad, which only serves to make it harder.
Another brilliant video that covered a lot in a very cohesive way. Thank you.
Thanks Mark, as I say if it isn't broken don't fix it, your not missing out on too much. Take care.
Thanks Mark!
Shoot Film Like a Boss You’re welcome but I only told the truth.
I learned to load 120 and 620 roll film onto Nikor stainless steel reels before I was 6 years old. If your "film won't load" it's that you don't know how to load film on a processing reel. BTW, you IDIOTS, it's NOT NICK-ON it's NYE-CON. This from the owner of Nikon in 1974. Learn some Japanese...
Piękne kadry i super klimat,żadna cyfra nie zrówna się z analogami.Gratuluję kadrów!!
I watch SFLaB a few years now, you both have great film photography insights and vintage camera love ❤️
Great video ! I enjoyed your thoughts very much and got inspired ! Thanks !
Another great video Paul. I like the light leaks. All the photos have an authentic vintage feel to them. Looking forward to the next video.
Thanks mate
Great video! I think your camera is an Ensign Carbine No.x , I do have a No.7 Ensign Carbine coupled with 100mm Ensar lens and a metal frame viewfinder. It’s solid built camera. I love it very much.
I got an Argus a camera from 1939 it’s just a beautiful piece and the feeling of holding it is amazing
man Camera Arms Race - exacctly!!!
How to you get the white borders round the photos? They look really great! Is there a particular software that you use for that?
Hi Sean, I just create a matt in Photoshop.
Paul, You're hooked. Keep going with film. Thx for sharing your experience.
Thanks Stuart
As I watch this I just happen to have an almost identical camera sitting on a shelf about 2 meters from me that has been nothing more than decoration. I believe it works so I need to try this 👍
You should. thats how I started shooting film about 4 years ago. I had an old Zeiss Ikon folding camera I had picked up at a camera fair purely for decoration for 30$. then one day just doing some research on it I found it used 120 film which at that point I knew nothing about, shooting only digital. bought a cheap roll of B&W to put through it and I was hooked after I got it back. to see the negatives and those first ever film photos I'd taken was a wonderful feeling. so I would say go for it! :-)
Very cool.. even the light leak images were good I reckon - tfs, very enjoyable
Thanks Alan
Great results, very 3D! I love the way you sped through all the bla bla of modern day digital cams.
Cheers
Great video Paul. There is something special about the images taken with those old cameras. I use an old Zeiss Nettar now and again and as you say, they are fun to use.
Thanks Tom
I would love to see some more portrait work on film. Thank you and thanks for sharing
Thanks Tony, more coming I am working on projects now.
I started shooting film this year and I draw nearer and nearer to it. No instant gratification. Requires patience and know how. I love to pick up vintage cameras and learn the history behind them. They're built like tanks - beautifully made. No surprise people still use vintage glass on digital bodies like Sony.
Nothing will ever beat natural film grain or colors, or the feeling you get looking at your shots for the first time. :)
I have a number of these old cameras, either inherited or that I have found in junk shops. Only issues are light leaks in the bellows (gaffer tape) and/or slow shutters - easy to compensate for. Love using them..
Yep they are fun
What a fun video! Thanks for it! BTW, I love your music selections.
Thankyou
They all came out good Paul you did well..Bae is the star... looking good...nice work and enjoyed it...
He is
The 120 film dark bag sauna disaster has happened to me also. Best reel is a Samigon which you can get from B&H. It has much wider prominent film guides which you can more easily feel in the dark bag.
Thanks Hainsey, I just brought something similar planning on doing a video on it.
I like the accidents. Looks like you might have a little light leak in the second roll. Not sure if there is a pin hole or crack in the bellows. In the dark, shine a flashlight into the back with the bellows extended.
Yes definitely a light leak you can see a light framing in the images.
Very cool photos
Thanks for the shout out Paul. Lovely video and images of your home. There is a shop near me with a few of those for sale. I may have to go and have a look! I've had tricky MF films in the past not getting onto the reel, especially when it's hot you start sweating buckets and panicking! Some light leaks are a nice little surprise though! Bay is great! Look forward to the next episode! Roger.
Thanks Roger
Amazing video, I guess for me going back to film photography, is getting those imperfection in the shots like shown in your test rolls. Lovely
Thanks Ali
Incredible video. I want that camera
I'm thinking about buying one like that, maybe an autographic. I just finished ordering 120 to 116 adapters. I've also got some 70mm microfilm that might work.
very nice video but how did you focus ?
Focus gauge on the side of the camera
@@PaulCSmithPhotographer so just by guessing or do u use a meter for accurate results ?
I've got a couple of folding cameras, which I don't shoot with enough. Never really compared them with digital cameras but from what I've seen online the lenses are as sharp as modern lenses as long as you the photographer has good enough eyesight to get it focused in taking into account the tiny viewfinders on most of them. Plus the added bonus of just looking ubercool using one.
The light leaks arn't mistakes....they're Art.
There is NO viewfinder focusing on 95% of all folding cameras ever made. You estimate the distance and set it accordingly. From taking thousands of Wedding and event images, I can estimate 10 feet with-in 3 inches. That's more than good enough for f11. The lens quality varies widely on folding cameras from poor quality uncorrected triplet lenses to super high quality 6 element Tessar types. Some triplet lenses are very good, and lots of four element lenses will make 20 times enlargements sharp as a tack. Light leaks are mistakes that should be addressed.
very cool interesting film great story, just what i needed.
Thank you for sharing I really love old cameras so I am enjoying seeing you put film through them. Guessing if you only got 8 shots this must have been a 6X 9 ? Your dog is such a star
:D Teddy
Yea 6x9 thanks!
My first post-digital film camera was a Voigtländer Bessa 6x9 folder from 1930s and it worked great - same size negative as my iPhone 4 (lightbox) at the time! Super portable and compact as well.
did you use the 120 film and substitute a take up reel? Curious as to how you did the adaptation. Love the results.
Hi Steve yes used 120 film. This camera takes 120 not 620 like most other old cameras.
Great work despite the film sweats. Love your stuff!!!!
Thanks man
Wow, that’s a beauty. I absolutely get what you say about an arms race. I’m very fond of the ‘good old days’ when photography life was so much simpler.
In 1977 I had manual control. Today I’m made so anxious by all the new elements in the latest cameras. I struggle to understand the features, or when I’d need them. I just want control of the shutter, aperture and ISO (ASA). Auto focus is handy as my eyesight isn’t as great as it once was - but I still enjoy manual glass on my Fuji, I enjoy my Hassy too.
Sometimes less really is more.
Totally agree Andrew
Hello May I ask what do i need to use to clean such camera? I ve got similar camera but I dont know what should I use to clean the lenses leather?
Also may I ask how did u put your camera on the tripod coz old cameras like this or atleast mine has different hole.
Be careful I used cleaning alcohol a bit of spit and a wet rag. But maybe do some research
Mine went straight onto a modern tripod
The mirror shot, especially on the 2nd roll is great!
No Ibis, no 4k, nor dual card slots, no flippy screen, eye detect or full frame sensor - how is this even possible?
Its not lol
Technically, it is a win over a full frame sensor as it's a bigger image size!!
I sometimes shoot with my 1925 Kodak No. 2 Model B. Had to get some adapters so I could shoot the 116 size film it takes.
I don't know if it has anything to do with the latest gear news overkill and announcements but I have gone back to film. I have a second hand xt-1 when I do want to shoot digital occasionally. I have just bought a canon A1 and iam slowly getting my developing gear back again. Iam sick of the incessant gear hunting and endless arguments about which camera has the fastest auto focus blah blah blah. Iam so glad iam back with my basic film camera and can't wait to start developing black and white film again. Nice to see a photography youtuber that hasn't jumped on the gear bandwagon.
I'm toying with the idea of an inexpensive medium format camera. Your success with being able to get a possibly non-working camera actually working is a financial risk I'm not comfortable taking which means that I'd be leaning towards a fully working camera and therefore, not really cheap. Any advice or encouragement?
Hi Julian, difficult, the camera in this episode cost me a few bucks, and really not a lot can go wrong with theses antiques, other that light leaks. But if you want a real camera Mamiya in my opinion is a good place to start for medium format, fairly cheap and good quality.
Great video mate, load film and shoot. I find myself shooting more film as well these days. Looking forward to trying out the new Kodak Ektachrome. Maybe you can try some in your Leica. Can't wait for that episode!
Yep that's coming soon ssshhh
Oh no!
Now that I've seen the whole video. Sorry to hear about the first roll. The light leaks are fine. Awesome shots.
Thanks Richard
love the vids dude. Keep it up
Thanks man
It's always surprising to see how nice the images are from cameras that old!
At the end of the day its just a light box and lens, its when we go digital that it starts to get complicated
I have two folding cameras. Both Zeiss Ikon Nettars, one 6x6 and other 6x9
what MP is that camera?
F all
Happy accidents are the best!
Thanks for sharing!
Your welcome
Nice selfie, Vivian Maier style. You see it’s not so easy with 120 mm film ... keep up with these interesting videos!
Cheers again Billy
Another great video! Love the analog content! Have you ever thought about an analog Zine? Would love to see you do one!
Another excellent video mate ,my first camera was an old Kodak folding camera my late father gave me in the late 70s that was a 35mm version it was an ex fire brigade piece ,I don’t know what happened to it ,thanks for great content Paul look forward to more 👍
Thanks Gary
Whatever the content, it’s a joy, Paul! You just find a way. Interesting camera, and a fun experiment. I kind of liked both rolls :). In my humble opinion you should also hold on to your camera! It’s a piece of history, beyond your bonding with it. PS: Bae really is a star, he must be a very good mate too! Thanks for a nice episode!
Thank you Csaba, yes this one will be staying. Take care
Great video, Paul - and I loved the happy accidents you achieved and the photos you got in the re-run. It is an "arms race" and the latest crop of mirrorless products launched onto the market has shown just how desperate companies like Canon and Nikon are to get onto the playing field that Sony has developed. Having been a product manager, you not only want to be as good as the competition but better, but I won't be swapping my D810 for a Z7 (or any other system) anytime soon. When I started taking photography seriously when I hit my teens in the early 70s, there was competition but camera life cycles were usually in the range of 6-10 years. What we all craved was some faster film and a bit less grain. I have nothing against digital; hell, I have a couple of digital cameras myself. However, despite the argument that digitalisation and automation is meant to set the photographer free to be more creative, I can't say that I'm seeing any evidence that standards and originality is improving. Keep up the great work and let's keep pushing film and simplicity.
Paul you make some really valid points, in the pursuit of image perfection we are overlooking the importance of content. I brought a brand new camera 2 years ago the E-M1 MK2 now an upgrade is on the horizon and soon it will be seen as worthless and outdated. I applied for a photography contract some time ago it was suggested I got a bigger camera so I would look more professional and improve my chances of gaining more work ... hilarious! Thank you for watching.
@@PaulCSmithPhotographer Absolutely. Much as I love the convenience of digital, I get a much bigger kick out of seeing the end results coming out of my 35mm and 120 kit. I haven't got a darkroom these days and I'm quite time-poor - but I'm about to start processing B&W film again, courtesy of Cinestill's new Df96 monobath. I have a couple of canisters on order. Also, I'm following advice from one of your vids - which is something I'd sort of forgotten and that's to slow down and spend the time looking for the composition. Otherwise, the best I can hope for is a glorified record shot.
They make professional plastic reels that have a shelf to guide the 120 roll in. They work great. You could also cut a business card and slide it in the top groove, just in front of the take up start on the reel. Creates a shelf to help guide the film in, makes it easy to load.
Wow thanks for that thats a good idea, thanks for watching!
The camera is an Ensign Autorange, (manufactured between 1932- 1935) it was also called Autorange 20, a quality foleding rangefinder. Vertical rise of lens array by lever, cross movement by milled wheel. The rangefinder is coupled with the lens focussing mechanism, operated by a radial focussing lever on the baseboard. Picture size is 2 1/3 X 3 1/4 in. One model also featured both a brilliant finder and wireframe finder with slotted finder on the back of the camera. The body is of metal covered with genuine black leather.
Thanks for that, love the workmanship and quality on this old thing
Another interesting vlog nice😀
Yes I’m subscribed to shoot like a boss already 👍
Yea he's good
No way bro. I love the wars. I get the previous generation for a steal
You are a war profiteer, well done
great episode, love that dog
Jesus, I have the same camera! Have no clue when or how or from whom I got it. But mine has the opposite problem - the sliding mechanism is bend so the camera will not close. It's really dirty and I'd guess the lens has mold inside. I almost thought to trow it away. But after seeing this video, I guess I'll give it a second chance and I'll take it to the same guy who fixed my Olympus SLR's, Zorki 4K and recently my Yashica LM (6x6) which I'm enjoying right now and running the first film thru it, all do I have the camera for at least 7 years by now...
Lens on these are easy to clean, the front element screws off and the rear can be accessed easily in bulb mode
@@PaulCSmithPhotographer The thing is, the lens on my copy is quite corroded, just another thing to worry about...
came for the photography. stayed for the doggie
Interesting. Preferred the light leaks myself.
Me Too
Oh no, the dreaded film sweats!
Yea Lol, thats a good one
Someone listens to the FPP...
Ha ha, always listen to that shoe ;-)
@@CraigPrentisPhoto What show?!
@@MarkHickford super positive.
Very cool Paul! So true about the camera arms race.
Oh and those light leaks were cool too!
Living in Queensland, Aus. I can feel your pain, many years ago trying to load 120 in a dark bag on a particularly hot, humid day, I had the same experience.
The film just wouldn't go on, so the solution I came up with was to immerse the whole bag underwater (making sure there was enough water so the bag didn't come in contact with the film), it went on quite easily, and the film was none the worse for wear... other than the kinks and some damage from the film sticking to itself that were introduced in the original phase.
Certainly NOT something to be recommended, but it saved me, or rather the film, on that particular occasion. Remembering this I think the next investment might be one of those pop-up change bags.
Hi John, yes its not a nice experience. Thanks for watching.
@@PaulCSmithPhotographer yes ironically the more you panic the sweatier and therefore harder it becomes!!!! haha since then I've developed films all over the world in bathrooms etc without a hitch by being aware of suck potential pitfalls :-)
Enjoyed this vlog Paul ... what a great old camera for it's age & love your camera porn shoot's . Yes their is so much new stuff out their these days, but when you look at some second hand market buys, theirs some great bargains out their, that pretty much do exactly the same job .... Less the big price tag. I always like to have a sniff around on Trade Me from time to time & always pick up cameras that have a lot of accessories that come with them in which to buy on line new most of the time is the same price that you just payed for the whole camera & kit !! Hope to catch up next week for a bit of off shore photography ... see what the weather brings mate !!
Looking forward to it mate
You can use 120 film in your 620 Box Brownies, you simply transfer the 120 film on to the 620 spool.
Cheers Ill try it
@@PaulCSmithPhotographer 120 film on to 620 spool , the film is now backwards so you put film on to a second 620 spool, watch for the end where the film is attached with tape, if you get a bulge just re-position the tape. This will be tough to do in a bag, a dark room is best, good luck.
Hi Paul, still my fave film shooters channel, always looking forward to seeing your “next” episode. Would love to meet up with you at some point and make a video with you. Interested?
Hey mate I will go check your channel out, thanks for the nice words, really appreciate it.
Oh I totally agree, let's start a talks on this Camera race, but Paul ever since after Wold War II cameras as they were being progressive in time since the very First Photokina now I heard Phtokina will be a Yearly now Event, Com on-how can you do with A Digital model unless if Ricoh makes a Solar Power model again, and this time it will have a USB connection that will connection to make Coffee on the road. Don't worried I have my vintage film models, my Zeiss, Nikons, Graflex, and Canon film models along with my digital including my first SONY FD models to my Mirrorless babies. But had to put away my darkroom stuff, lug out the film scanners, and now I am retired, and I have all the time in scanning after 45 years of shooting, and still shooting film.. Thank you.. P.S. I also have a 1904 Premo 4x5, and a 1931 Kodak Recomar roll camera.
The muzak ruins this - I might come back when you drop it.
Looks like we wont be seeing each other for a while
Mmmm .. Taylors port ... good choice of prop.
Lol
Most people will think iam mad but I've decided to turn my back on digital and go back to film like the early days when I first started in early 2000's. I think the latest announcements and tribal like agruments over card slots etc has made me sick of photography. I want a more pure experience and I think you get that with film.
Hey Shaun I can so relate to that
I totally Agree, I too have my share of Vintage models like: 1933 Kodak Recomar 18 6x9/6x6, 1933 Plaubel Makina Model 2 6x9, and 1938 Zeiss Ikonta 6x6, and a 1933 Foth TLR Focal Plane Twin Lens, along with my Bronica S2A, and Nikon SLR Gear, and Canon RF Canon 7, and Vt Trigger Wind 35mm, with along my DSLR, and Mirrorless, But I use my Old Manual Focus Nikkors to use... I cannot understand why people like to BRAG in Digital Cameras like Kai W, As this person that you had with the Bad Michael Caine Accent... This person I cannot understand, and during the Hong Kong Dispute, he did not even Care about it...
Hey Paul have you ever considered a photography get together with some locals for a fun shooting day out ?
Hi Jagbir, I occasionally do a few photo get together s, just this Saturday gone I joined a group from the "Shoot Film Auckland" FB group. I am also thinking about doing some workshops next year.
I'm not sure what type of tank you are using for 120 development but If I could take a guess I bet you are using the paterson style plastic reel tanks... those are horrible for 120 film in my opinion. I've heard you complain about getting the film on the reel in a few videos now all I can say is with the plastic tanks it was difficult for me too but I switched to the stainless steel reels and tanks and it's so much better.
I've forgotten the specific timelines, but if one looks at the model releases from Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax, etc., there were numerous models that were in production for 10, 15, or 20 years. I think the Nikon F3 was 20 something years, the OM-4t & OM-3T were 17 or 18 years in production. Over the last 10-12 years, top line model releases are every 2-5 years. Yet, for probably 95% of consumers, there is very little they can do with the latest Sony they can't do with a Nikon F3 or Olympus OM-4T with a little work for most subjects. Perhaps, more precisely, the Sony will do nothing to improve the composition over the Olympus film camera with the same subject.
Loading 120 in the spool is like having sex 😂 literally it has happened to me all the time as I normally load it in darkness inside the bathroom corner and not inside bag .
True Pritush I was saying "I cant get it in" a lot! Lol. Thankyou
I sometimes put the lightproof bag in the freezer to reduce heat buildup
I have the same exact camera
that camera would of been ok if it was not for the light leaks of the bellows try again put a black cloth over the bellows you will be surprised