manila camera style - a conversation about cameras

Mar 09 2010 ∞

Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic F

Just sent in: A Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic F. Honeywell was the US importer of Pentax so they re-labelled everything from Asahi Pentax to Honeywell Pentax.

Its caretaker says:

I was looking for a decent and affordable film slr with metering capabilities which I could use during times when I find it hard to manually meter by myself. While researching on the internet I stumbled the Pentax Spotmatic and the legendary takumar lenses. I quickly fell for it. So I bought one last Christmas and I’ve been very happy with it. It was built like it could last forever.

To date, I now have a meager lens kit:
super-multi-coated takumar 28/3.5
super-multi-coated takumar 50/1.4
Jupiter-9 85/2

…and a sample photo:

We sure hope it does last forever, dude!
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Mar 08 2010 ∞
Gold not good enough? How about PLATINUM?!? Check out this Leica M6 Sultan of Negeri Brunei Darussalam Silver jubilee Leica M6, made in all Platinum-plated finishing on both camera and Summilux lens. Plus grey leather covering. YEAH! The lens has the same Malay engraving as the GLOD edition, which says SAMBUTAN JUBLI PERAK. PHOTO CREDIT: Mr. Peter Coeln from LEICA Shop®, Austria who also operates a popular Westlicht Auction House.

Gold not good enough? How about PLATINUM?!?

Check out this Leica M6 Sultan of Negeri Brunei Darussalam Silver jubilee Leica M6, made in all Platinum-plated finishing on both camera and Summilux lens. Plus grey leather covering. YEAH! The lens has the same Malay engraving as the GLOD edition, which says SAMBUTAN JUBLI PERAK.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mr. Peter Coeln from LEICA Shop®, Austria who also operates a popular Westlicht Auction House.

Comments
Mar 07 2010 ∞
Another gold one for ya! Here’s the Leica M6 Sultan of Negeri Brunei Darussalam Silver jubilee GOLD edition! The top plate has two royal emblems engraved. The first one is the Royal Crest while the other was written in Jawi and arranged in a pattern. Image courtesy of MATSUMOTO Camera Japan®.

Another gold one for ya!

Here’s the Leica M6 Sultan of Negeri Brunei Darussalam Silver jubilee GOLD edition!

The top plate has two royal emblems engraved. The first one is the Royal Crest while the other was written in Jawi and arranged in a pattern.

Image courtesy of MATSUMOTO Camera Japan®.

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Mar 06 2010 ∞
This week we feature “Limited Edition” Leicas that we wished were never made! Up first is the Green Bay Packer Limited Edition. According to this website: After twenty-nine seasons of not being in the Super bowl, The Green Bay Packers finally made it back to the championship game after the 1996 NFL season and won Super Bowl XXXI on January 26, 1997. Leica jumped on the merchandising bandwagon and released this special edition M6 with 50mm Summicron. With its golden cheese metal and green jersey-like covering, it was to be the greatest Green Bay Packer collectible ever. However, Leica made one poor design decision in this M6. They neglected to included either a Brett Favre #4, or a Reggie White #92 anywhere on the camera which resulted in a severe lack of interest. Sales were poor and most copies were eventually destroyed. A handful still exist, and I found one such in a camera shop in Wausau, Wisconsin a few years back and was able to get this photo of it. “Most copies were eventually destroyed!” Thank God! :-) Makes you wonder what a Tiger Woods limited edition Leica would look like… ;-)

This week we feature “Limited Edition” Leicas that we wished were never made! Up first is the Green Bay Packer Limited Edition.

According to this website:

After twenty-nine seasons of not being in the Super bowl, The Green Bay Packers finally made it back to the championship game after the 1996 NFL season and won Super Bowl XXXI on January 26, 1997. Leica jumped on the merchandising bandwagon and released this special edition M6 with 50mm Summicron. With its golden cheese metal and green jersey-like covering, it was to be the greatest Green Bay Packer collectible ever. However, Leica made one poor design decision in this M6. They neglected to included either a Brett Favre #4, or a Reggie White #92 anywhere on the camera which resulted in a severe lack of interest. Sales were poor and most copies were eventually destroyed. A handful still exist, and I found one such in a camera shop in Wausau, Wisconsin a few years back and was able to get this photo of it.

“Most copies were eventually destroyed!”

Thank God! :-)

Makes you wonder what a Tiger Woods limited edition Leica would look like… ;-)

Comments
Mar 05 2010 ∞

The "I thought the only use for food containers in photography would be limited to those flash diffusers that look like instant noodle bowls" post.

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Mar 04 2010 ∞

Could this possibly be our first NSFW entry?

Maybe! But it’s definitely a hot one!

A Seagull TLR, sent in!

What caretaker Jameson has to share:

Been a while since my last contribution; have been busy adding to my collection. :) This is my first TLR. I use this to get “Lomo” style photos. I get better control plus multiple exposure too.

I love using this in low light.

And here comes (and now you’ll know why), my favorite part:

I really dig those double exposures (and yes, I do read Playboy for the articles).

Playboy DOES have good articles.
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Mar 02 2010 ∞

Oh Baby, Baby!

A Nikon F4, sent in!

Boy are we lucky to have this, and I’ve been waiting for one! In terms of SLR design, this one ranks up there for me alongside the Canon T90. This beast is just sexy, and a delight to use.

This body was designed by the famous Giorgetto Giugiaro, the same designer of the Back to the Future DeLorean and 007 Louts Esprit - all stuff I find too cool!

In the words of this F4’s current possessor:

No, this isn’t about F4 the Korean boy band. It’s about the tank of a camera Nikon made in the 80’s. Here’s a great specimen coupled with a great walkabout lens of the same era. Everything works great on this cam and the AF is surprisingly quick. Or perhaps I just had low expectations.

Holding this baby makes me wish Nikon released a DSLR in this body. I prefer its ergonomics over the F5 or current DSLR bodies.

Sadly, this isn’t mine and is on the selling block. I’d love to have to one someday. The idea of being able to use any Nikkor on it (save probably for G lenses) is very appealing.

Sorry, no sample pics as the roll that was in it was so old it was cracking. At least I know there are no light leaks. :p

Comments
Mar 01 2010 ∞

Two Medium Format Cameras, Sent In!

MCS’ friend, Miguel, who sent us both the Nikon FG and the problematic Yashica, now sends us a couple of MF beauts!

In his words:

Aside from the 35mm films i have, i also bough a Yashica Mat EM and a Mamiya M645 fitted with 2 lenses! The yashica mat was full of problems. I had to find a replacement lens because the lens was full of fungus and it was really foggy even after CLA. it was plain dirty so i had to spend a few more bucks for it to be really useful. For the Mamiya M645, the only problem i had with it is with the lenses. The lenses had fungus so i had to get them cleaned. No shots from these guys yet. but they’re all good now so i cant wait to shoot with them.

Thanks, Miguel! Keep ‘em coming!

Comments
Feb 27 2010 ∞

8x10 Deardorff, Sent In!

A 8x10 Deardorff with a Hermagis Eidoscope 1920 Soft Focus Barrel Lens, sent in!

It’s Hu-yoooooj! Check out the comparative size of the camera and film!

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Feb 26 2010 ∞

A Nikon FE, with a great story and photos- sent in!

Our friend Migs sent in this Nikon FE, with a great story:

Sending you a photo of my FE and some samples shots. The FE was my dad’s which I now use. I learned the basics on photography on this little tank and still shoot with it from time to time inspite of going digital. This cam has filled several albums with photos of family vacations, graduations, get togethers and what not.

Though the FE can shoot aperture priority (Auto), its quite kooky and I seldom rely on it. Never really had to anyway. The shutter speed dial is perfectly situated so that I can adjust it on the fly without taking my finger off the shutter release.

It’s also kinda cool that the FE does not indicate what it is overtly on the body. Simple and practically anonymous.

Thanks for putting up manilacamerastyle. It’s great browsing and reading about old film cameras. As they say, they don’t make ‘em like they used to. ;)

Thank you too, Migs… for sending this in and continuing to support our site!

And, as you guessed, here comes my favorite part - the photos!

A frame in a frame in a frame! Nice!

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