Alien Meet Alpha

With the purchase of the Sony Alpha 100, I knew going in that it doesn’t have a PC sync terminal for studio flash connectivity like my Maxxum 7film camera. An adapter would be necessary to accomplish this. Trigger voltage is an issue with newer electronic cameras, but since I use AlienBees (B800 model specifically) which produce a sync / trigger voltage of less than 6V, these are safe to use with just a passive adapter. The Wein Safe-Sync adapter (around 50 bucks) just reduces all external flash trigger voltage from up to 400V down to 6V, so if you use strobes that already produce only 6V or less, you don’t need to spend that kind of coin for an adapter.

That being said, the official Minolta FS-1100 adapter is passive and doesn’t feature a PC sync connection; so I came across this generic passive hot shoe adapter on the ‘Bay and decided “Why Not?.” Actually I went online and did some research on this adapter before saying “Why Not?”. GadgetInfinity out of Hong Kong is the company I purchased this product from, although I have seen others supply it. I’ll give them a plug for having a reasonable price, quick shipping and good communication.

This adapter works fine with my Sony Alpha as long as the flash mode is set to ‘Fill-Flash’. It fires my AlienBees perfectly, and not that I will ever need to, but it does allow me to use the older Maxxum 2800AF flash with its standard shoe connection. Be careful what standard hot shoe flash you use. If it’s fairly old, it may have very high trigger voltage which could damage the camera using a passive adapter like this. Always discover the trigger voltage of any on-camera flash or studio strobe you intend to use with any newer electronic camera. Like sucks when a $20 EBay flash damages a new $1000 digital camera.

Steady As She Goes

Yes, my lack of patience got the better of me and I purchased the new Sony Alpha 100 DSLR. No buyer's remorse here however. I like the camera so far, great image quality, function control is better than I expected, anti-shake works very well; and even if Sony announces a 7D-like model tomorrow I won't regret it...much. I've got some youth sports event shooting to do this weekend so the Alpha will get its first field test.

So far the initial test shooting around the house has been positive. I was impressed with the level of detail the kit lens and CCD sensor capture. In the first posted image using the Macro mode setting, you can clearly see a small strand of spider web between the ear and head of this small action figure. I didn't even notice the web while shooting. Lighting was accomplished with an off-camera Promaster flash pointed up to bounce off of the ceiling. The highlights are blown out on this specific image, however the detail (including the web) is wonderful. The second image turned out much better overall. I was also able to handhold another non-flash shot at 1/6 of a second with acceptable sharpness at f3.5, amazing.

Alpha Test

I tend to reduce my shooting during the summer, 110 degrees will do that to you. Melted film can ruin anyone's day. With the mercury finally declining I decided to make the leap and acquire my first DSLR. In my camera bag, next to the Maxxum 7 body now sits a brand new Sony Alpha 100! So far I'm really enjoying this camera, although it is closer to a Maxxum 5D than the prosumer Maxxum 7D or 7 film camera, it is well constructed and has enough features to satisfy. The kit lens performs well and was given high marks by Popphoto.com. It is essentially a rebranded KM 18-70mm 3.5-5.6 lens (film equivalent 28-105mm). After familarizing myself with the buttons, knobs and menus, I attached a Promaster flash and started shooting around the house.

The kids are always the first victims and after rolling their eyes that daddy wants to take their picture yet again, they finally sat still long enough for me to fire off some test shots. The best part about digital is the instant feedback. There is nothing better than seeing the image right away and being able to immediately adjust settings to improve the picture.

Pop Photo Magazine Field Tests The Alpha 100

Being a long-time Minolta user I was saddened when the news came out that Konica Minolta was throwing in the towel in regard to its photography interests. In my opinion there was no better bang for the buck than Minolta photo gear. The price to quality ratio was always a factor for a budget conscious photographer like myself. Nikon and Canon, although the industry leaders were just out of my price range and Minolta equipment was my salvation. I still think the Maxxum 7 is one of the best film SLRs ever produced in regards to price, quality, ease-of-use, and just plain fun to shoot with. So I’ve been waiting anxiously for Sony, who acquired Konica Minolta’s photography business to release it’s first digital SLR so I can finally make the plunge into digital (beyond my little Canon A-75 digital shooter.)

Sony announced recently that the Alpha 100 DSLR will be available sometime in late July, early August and several pre-release reviews have been posted on the internet as mentioned in my earlier post. Popular Photography and Imaging magazine has also just posted a pre-release field test. John Owens put the Alpha 100 through the test a couple of weeks ago on a two-day Alaskan trip put together by Sony to allow the press to evaluate the camera. That Alpha 100 field test from Pop Photo can be viewed here. I just wish the camera had a pc connector. I’ve never understood why new cameras, even entry level models don’t have a pc connector. How expensive can it be to add this convenient and sometimes necessary feature. The Konica C35 rangefinder, that I recently picked up for ten dollars at an antique store, has a pc connector and hotshoe for flash. The Konica wasn’t a premier camera when new, yet it sports this feature. For this reason alone I may wait for a semi-pro or professional model of the Alpha, if Sony plans to release one. I would assume they will. It looks like Sony’s initial foray into the digital SLR category is a winner, and it will be very hard for me to not purchase this camera, even though it is missing a couple of features I would prefer to have. I’m not a patient man, just ask my wife and kids!

An Alien In The House

Now that I have moved into my new house, I finally have an office/studio that can accommodate an actual studio lighting system. After much research and internal debate I chose the B800 kit from AlienBees. I wanted a system that would provide ample lighting for my limited budget. The B800 hit the target perfectly. Since this was my first foray into professional lighting, I wanted to start with a single light with the possibility to expand later. I don’t foresee doing any location shooting with this unit, but if that does come up the handy travel case that came with the kit will do the trick. The unit itself seems durable enough to handle mobile situations. With 320 true wattseconds and 800 effective wattseconds, controlled over a 5 f-stop range from full power to 1/32, the B800 gives me plenty of light for my needs. In fact my 15x14 room requires little more than half power for most situations at f8. The only thing I decided to change when I received the B800 kit was to replace the 100 watt modeling light, with a 150 watt light (max). Otherwise this baby was ready to go right out of the box. Once on the tripod I attached the 32” Brolly Box that I ordered with the kit, connected the 15-foot sync cord to my Minolta Maxxum 7, and got started.

Since I only have the single light I use a 48” collapsible reflector for fill. I configured a contraption for hanging interchangeable backgrounds and have just enough room to effectively use a 100mm lens for portraits. Using a Sekonic L-358 meter with the B800 is effortless and I was metering and test shooting in my little make-shift home studio the same evening the AlienBees light kit arrived on my doorstep. So far I’m happy with the results and can’t praise these lights enough. The fast recycle time and stepless power control allow for quick alterations. There will always be someone who has different opinions and experiences, but at this juncture, for my budget (or lack there of) the lights provided by AlienBees satisfy my needs.

Digital Revolution For An Analog Photographer

When it comes to photography I guess I’m an analog guy. I like film. I enjoy working in the darkroom, and get a rush every time the image appears on a piece of 8x10 photo paper after two minutes in Kodak Dektol (my preferred print developer). But after buying a Canon A75 point and shoot last year for family snapshots, quick picks and web photos of my camera collection; I’ve found myself hooked to the instant gratification digital photography provides. With the recent announcement of the Sony Alpha 100 DSLR, I can look forward to using my plethora of Minolta lenses on a quality digital single lens reflex. Although I’ll probably wait to see if Sony introduces a semi-pro or pro version of the Alpha, which I’m sure is likely. As an entry-level, midrange digital SLR the Alpha 100 looks like one helluva bargain for Maxxum users like myself who didn’t jump on the 6MP Maxxum 7D/5D bandwagon. I’m glad I waited. I just hope I don’t ignore my Maxxum 7 after taking the DSLR plunge, because I thoroughly enjoy using it. Here are some recent reviews of the new Sony Alpha 100 DSLR prior to its expected release in late July ’06.

Popular Photography – Sony Alpha 100 Review
Steve’s Digicams – Sony Alpha 100 Review
DPReview – Sonly Alpha 100 Review


When it comes to music however, I converted to digital early on. In fact I still have some CD’s from 1986 that I still listen to. That was ten bucks well spent. Now that digital music is experiencing a new revolution with the introduction of the Apple IPod and other MP3 players, like the Creative ZEN Nano Plus (I plug it ‘cause I own one and think it’s great) this new technology is an amazing source for photographic information. Podcasts, which are short audio clips usually in .mp3 format, can be found all over the internet on a variety of subjects. Several photography themed Podcasts provide quick tips and instructions for applying techniques, or reviews of new equipment. If you have an MP3 player of any kind and have not taken advantage of this ‘FREE’ resource you have nothing to lose by trying it. These are downloaded to your MP3 player just like music files, or can be played directly on your computer. File size depends on the length of the cast. Below are some websites that have several Podcasts that I have found informative and entertaining.

New York Institute of Photography
Studiolighting.net
PhotoshopTV (provides audio and video files)
Popular Photography & Imaging

New 8-Megapixel Imaging Chip From Micron

The idea of shooting up to 10 frames per second at a resolution of 8-megapixels or 30 frames per second at a 2-megapixel resolution using a consumer grade digital camera is an inviting prospect from Micron. Here is an article regarding Micron's recent announcement of a new sensor that can achieve these results. This could greatly increase the capability of 150-300 dollar digital point-and-shoot camera models. Even though I love film, the digital photo world just keeps getting better and better. I'm still waiting for the new Sony Alpha DSLR (Minolta Maxxum mount support) with baited breath.

Konica C35 Comes Home

Once in a while I come across a surprise find when searching the aisles of local antique stores. Usually the prices are laughable, like forty dollars for an old Ansco Shur-Flash box camera in questionable condition. These can be found for five to ten bucks on EBay plus shipping, so when I see these price tags I always roll my eyes and laugh. Recently I found a little gem on a shelf hidden behind some old Polaroid Land cameras. This Konica C35 caught my eye as it is small and sleek, not much bigger than my Canon A75 digital camera. Introduced in 1967, it features an automatic Copal shutter with a speed range of 1/30 to 1/650 of a second plus Bulb for long exposures. The 38mm Hexanon lens is apparently of a four element design and opens up to f2.8. Focus is from 3.3ft to infinity and supports external flash with a built-in hot shoe and PC socket. It still had a battery with some life left in it, and upon testing seemed to work just fine. The tag read 10 bucks which meant I found a new addition to my ever growing collection.

A couple of years ago I attended some photography classes at a local community college and at one point the class began using the studio lights in the classroom. It was a surprise to the instructor that most of the students didn’t have cameras with PC connectors. Most had brand new SLR’s from Nikon, Canon, Pentax, etc., but these cameras, including my Minolta Maxxum 5 don’t include this feature. Luckily I had brought my trusty Minolta Maxxum 9000 that day, so I was one of the few who could actually plug their camera directly into the light system. I assume it is a financial issue which causes most camera manufacturers to not include this in their beginner and amateur SLR camera models, but can it really cost that much to add a PC connector? All the more reason why I find it humorous that this ten dollar compact Konica C35 from an antique store shelf can plug into my home studio light system, while a two hundred dollar (at the time) Maxxum 5, or similar SLR can’t.

Since the camera is automatic, no manual controls for shutter and aperture settings, I set the focus for six feet, loaded a roll of Fuji Superia Xtra (ISO 400) and handed it to my five year old son when I got home. After informing him his pictures will be blurry if he takes shots while jumping on his trampoline, a few of his shots actually came out (when he wasn't bouncing - see the dog shot.) I like this little camera. It’s handy for quick grab shots and small enough to put in a jacket pocket or my daughter’s diaper bag when we go out as a family.

America Made TLR's Too!

Since we've had something like 130 days of no rain here in the Valley of the Sun Stroke, I recently had some time to drive over to Superior, Arizona. Superior is a sleepy town east of Mesa, with a long history in Mining. I took this opportunity to use my Ciroflex, an American Classic twin lens reflex. The Ciroflex is one of the few higher-end TLRs produced in the U.S.A., and had only a short production life from 1948 to 1951 before Graflex purchased the Ciro Camera Company and re-branded the Ciroflex (Model F) as the ‘Graflex 22’. The Model F, last in the line of Ciroflexes, is the one to own as it was the only model featuring a coated, four-element lens produced by Wollensak.

I slapped some Fuji Superia 120 roll film (ISO 100) into this little beauty and started shooting when I came across a small park that was home to a grand old, red caboose and other railroad related items. Notice there are no clouds in that beautiful blue Arizona Sky! This Ciroflex model has a nice range of shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/400 with both ‘B’ and ‘T’ settings for long exposures from its Rapax leaf shutter. As with most lenses of this era f8 and f11 provide the best results, in my opinon. F3.2 – f22 is the full range of the 83mm Raptar lens. I highly recommend this camera if you’re looking to get into a medium format TLR for less than forty bucks on EBay. The Ciroflex (Model F) is an underrated post-war classic that's perfect for those sunny Saturday afternoons.

Is that a lawsuit in the frame?

Even though it seems movies and television shows these days have product placement in every scene, photographers may now have to take greater care with what is within the frame when shooting. Interesting observation.

Pleased to meet the 45mm MD Rokkor-X

I'm impressed with the Minolta 45mm Rokkor-X f2 lens that came with a recently acquired XD-11. My previous post covered the external face lift I gave the camera, and I have finally got around to developing the test roll I initially ran through it. Fuji Superia XTRA has become my standard color 35mm film for tests and general use. It's inexpensive, yields wonderful results and the ISO 400 speed gives me the ability to utilize it in my small home studio as well as outdoors. These samples were taken inside using Manual Mode on the camera. Lighting was provided by a B800 Alien Bee strobe with a 48in white umbrella. Exposure determined using a Sekonic L-358. I don't remember what the reading was, although it's written down somewhere, probably f5.6 or f8 @1/60. The XD-11 has a flash sync peak of 1/100, but I generally use 1/60. The second shot was probably taken at f4. Again, these are quick test shots so I didn' t bother to use a second light source or reflector for these indoor images.

When using the metered Aperture and Shutter Priority modes it seems the camera is around one to two stops under exposed. This is fairly typical of cameras of this vintage. The 45mm MD lens itself, commonly referred to as a 'pancake' lens, provides a nice perspective, and I've read many Minolta users prefer the 45mm to the 50mm focal length. Not much is lost going from f1.7 on the standard 50mm Minolta lens to f2 on this 45mm. I don't do a lot of low light shooting and rarely use my lenses wide open, so I'm more concerned with the smaller apertures. This lens stops down to f22. It features the common 49mm filter size for this era of lens. Since it can be picked up at very affordable prices (less than fifty bucks) on EBay I highly suggest getting one if you don't already have it, and want to play with an additional 'normal' focal length.

Out with the old, In with the new!

Minolta teamed up with Leica and released the XD-11 in 1977, which would also become the Leica R4. Even though the camera itself was a technical marvel, featuring metered Manual, Aperture and Shutter-Priority modes, the beautiful soft leather covering chosen for the first few production runs would eventually prove to be a problem. Apparently it didn’t take long for shrinkage of the leather to occur and it would peel back from the edges exposing the metal camera body underneath. The camera I received from the ‘Bay’ this Christmas was no exception. Although mechanically sound, the leatherette reminded my of shrinky-dinks, a popular children’s item from the same era, as every edge had pulled back away from the camera as though it had been baked in an oven.

This made the XD-11 a perfect candidate for new leatherette from cameraleather.com. I picked out their seal grain red, however if you’re a traditionalist, they do offer a close replica of the original soft, black leather covering. It is a damn shame that the original covering shrinks so bad with age, as it is a welcome change from the standard thin leatherette on most classic SLR cameras.

Removing the old covering was surprisingly simple. On many other cameras including the Autocord, I usually have to scrape off the old stuff, which can be quite messy. But on the XD-11 the old covering just peeled right off with very little adhesive residue, which resembled rubber cement, to remove with nail polish remover. The leatherette kit for the XD-11 from cameraleather.com is a simple three piece set, but fits perfectly and looks fantastic. I love how easy the pieces are applied. It only takes a few minutes to complete. One day when I feel like spending a little more I may try one of their snake skin or lizard skin options. I’ve got some classic Russian rangefinders that would look bad-ass with scales! Images from both of these cameras, the XD-11 and Autocord will be posted as soon as I have them developed. Additional information regarding both of these cameras will also be available from my website in the near future.

Autocord Face Lift

I’ve read many good things about cameraleather.com on several photography forums, but never bothered to try them…until now. Over the Christmas holiday I acquired two wonderful pieces of Minolta history; the XD-11 and Autocord. The Autocord is a high quality, and often overlooked, Twin Lens Reflex produced between 1955 and 1966. Apparently twenty-four different models were available. This particular model is simply referenced as the Autocord ‘Export.’ Introduced in 1958 it features a Seikosha MX shutter, 1-1/500 sec., and the standard 75mm Chiyoko Rokkor lens. Although it arrived in mechanically sound order, the exterior had seen better days. Of course as long as the lens is clean, and the shutter fires correctly, the exterior of a camera has no affect on picture quality. But a wonderful classic shooter like the Autocord deserves better than peeling and faded leatherette. This is a beautifully styled camera and I wanted it to look as good as the pictures it takes. So a few clicks on www.cameraleather.com provided a solution at a very affordable price. I chose the seal grain blue leatherette for the Autocord and couldn’t be happier with the results.

Cameraleather.com makes ordering and payment easy using Paypal. They have a few different options for the Autocord, depending on the model you have. The Autocord Export doesn’t have the built-in meter, so additional holes were not needed. I included the necessary camera information with the order and in less than two weeks received the leatherette kits for both the Autocord and XD-11. The XD-11 is profiled in another post. The pre-cut, self-adhesive leatherette comes on a kind of wax paper and is very easy to work with.

Most of the old leatherette came off fairly easily as it was already decaying. However the back and bottom of the camera required some scraping, and nail polish remover is perfect for removing the original adhesive residue. Once the body was stripped, applying the cameraleather.com kit pieces was a snap. Simply pull the desired piece off the backing paper, line it up on the camera and apply it. Press down firmly once in place and you’re done. All of the pieces fit precisely and within fifteen to twenty minutes the Autocord looked brand new. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.

The seal grain blue is a great choice for any camera, as is the seal grain red which I chose for the XD-11. I’m now hooked and will be ordering more kits from cameraleather.com. For me, it increases the pride I already experience when out and about shooting with these classic cameras. Like a new paint job on a classic muscle car, it may not improve the ride but you look damn good behind the wheel. I highly recommend cameraleather.com if you want to breath new life into that old shooter.

From Russia to Phoenix: Brief history of Kardon

Ritz Collectibles is a great local camera shop here in Phoenix, Arizona, where I’ve spent many hours and dollars. The owner Sandy Ritz provides a wide selection of classic cameras, lenses, accessories and repair services. In a recent posting on Shutterbug.com Mr. Ritz provides a wonderful, albeit capsulated look back at a mostly unknown historical camera and its creator Peter Kardon. It is also a cautionary tale of what to expect when partnering with the U.S. military. I doubt much has changed over the last sixty years in that regard. There is information at the end of the article referencing a book that expands on the Kardon history, and contact information for Ritz Collectibles.

Digital takes no prisoners...

I forgot to mention in the previous post that Nikon also has recently announced it will no longer produce film cameras, other than the FM10 (through Cosina) and the F6. Opting for a nearly digital-only arsenal, Nikon’s move was definitely the precursor for things to come; and now with the death of Konica Minolta’s photo divisions, modern options for 35mm film users are getting thin. I for one will fight ‘til the bitter end when they pry the Maxxum 7 (and as many classic cameras that I can carry) out of my cold, dead hands.

Digital killed the photo star!

“Dammit!” Konica Minolta has announced the withdrawal plan for its camera business and photo business. Today’s revelation marks the end of over one hundred years in the photo business for this once great company. I’m a Minolta guy, proud and loyal. In regards to a quality for the cost ratio, Minolta SLR cameras can’t be beat. The Maxxum 5 and 7 are perfect examples of ‘more bang for the buck’, but digital imaging is picking off film related divisions one by one. Kodak recently announced it’s out of the black and white photo paper business, and Polaroid is discontinuing several films, but I believe this is the first big photo company to completely throw in the towel. I can’t think of a film SLR that has more features than the Maxxum 7, for the price. Of course opinions vary, but budget-minded shooters love Minolta. Because the Maxxum 7D has the Anti-shake technology built into the camera, all current Maxxum lens can be used to take advantage of stabilization. Not so with Canon, who built the technology into the lens, making lens prices two to three times that of Maxxum-mount lenses. We can argue the finer points of Canon DSLRs vs. Minolta DSLRs, with the main issue being Minolta only has two; the 5D and 7D. I’m the first to admit Canon has the bigger arsenal when it comes to camera bodies and lenses, both in film and digital, but I always find myself rooting for the underdog, which may be another reason I like Minolta products. This is a photo company that has made many historical innovations within the camera world, the Maxxum and XD series being fine examples, but they never quite reached the level of Nikon and Canon.

Although I’m sure the suggested Sony product will be good, (the new Sony Cyber-Shot R1 10.3mp is getting excellent reviews) I’ll miss the Minolta logo on the front. I haven’t made the leap to a DSLR yet, mainly because the 7D was only 6mp and I’m too cheap to drop a thousand bucks on a camera. Hey, I love photography and have earned some nice money for my services, but my slightly-used Maxxum 7 (that I picked up for a song) keeps the overhead fairly low. Depending on what the Sony/Maxxum DSLR (that they claim is coming) offers I will probably have to make the plunge soon. If it’s not a Sony/Minolta product I’d lean toward Canon for the sheer vastness of their product lines. With heavy heart and bowed head, I say ‘Minolta we will miss you.’

Another one bites the dust!

Polaroid has announced that they will discontinue its 665 instant film within the first six months of 2006, due to production limitations. This is a high quality, 3 ¼ x 4 ¼ inch, black and white, peel apart film that produces a usable negative along with positive print. I’ve used this film with Polaroid 340 and 360 Automatic Land cameras, achieving pleasant results. Recently the fate of Time-Zero film was sealed with a similar announcement. No more emulsion manipulation using the classic SX-70 instant cameras, and now no more Polaroid negatives, as 665 will be sharing the same fate. For the time being 55 film has dodged the bullet; this is used for 4x5 inch instant usage.

Don’t shelve those old land cameras just yet, 664 and 672, two great, peel apart, black and white instant films are also still available. Hopefully 669, color print peel apart film won’t be on the chopping block in the near future. I’ve had some 665 waiting patiently in my fridge for several months, this news gives me the inclination to slap some in the 360 Automatic Land camera and do some shooting. I quite enjoy the looks I get from passers-by when I’ve got this huge photographic throw-back held up to my eye. Plus these classic instant cameras are very common finds at yard sales and swap meets for next to nothing. While the film still exists, I highly recommend picking up any old Polaroid that accepts this peel apart film and experiment. In fact the cameras themselves are cheaper than the film used in them, as well as the batteries often needed. The 340, which has a glass lens, many of these cameras have plastic lenses, requires a 4.5v battery (hard to find) which will set you back up to 7-14 dollars. These aren’t the most practical cameras to use but they sure are fun. Check out The Land List site for more information regarding most instant cameras from Polaroid.

New Year Bargin

EBay can be a camera collector’s worst nightmare, or a place where dreams can come true. Fortunately this time around it was closer to the latter (maybe.) While scanning the Minolta auctions recently I came across an XD-11 listing. This 35mm single lens reflex has been described as one of the best manual focus SLR cameras made by Minolta. It was developed in association with Leica (another camera brand I’ll probably never be able to afford), for their ‘R’ series of Leica SLR cameras. Introduced in 1977, the XD-11 (XD-7 outside of the USA), features TTL metered Manual, Aperture and Shutter Priority modes. Shutter speeds from one second to 1/1000 plus Bulb, and will even function without a battery at 1/100 when set to ‘O’ on the speed dial. It has a faster X-sync than the popular X-700 camera, 1/100 versus 1/60 for the X-700, and even a separate exposure compensation dial with a range from -2 to +2. All-in-all a great camera from the 70’s and this auction caught my eye due to the current low bid. There were only a couple of hours to go, and the seller described the camera as functional but with some possible exposure issues. The Minolta f/2 45mm MD Rokkor-X lens attached to the body was apparently in perfect condition as well. So I bid. What the hell, it was late, I didn’t expect to win it and I went to bed after submitting a maximum bid amount. To my surprise the next morning I had won this classic SLR for about twenty bucks. Yeah, 20 bucks!? A great deal for just the lens let alone a camera too. It’s a good thing the XD-11 has a tough metal chassis. Upon receipt of the camera it is obvious this baby has been dropped at least once. Even small dents can mean trouble. A portion of the plastic around the eye piece is broken, but the viewfinder is still bright, albeit slightly dusty. The lens is perfect, and since it will fit all of my other MD mount manual Minoltas, I’m not out anything if the camera won’t function properly. The original soft leatherette is pealing back due to shrinkage, which I later read is a common issue with early models. Again, www.cameraleather.com will solve that problem. After closer inspection the camera does seem to function accurately. Of course I won’t know for sure until the first fateful roll of Agfa APX 100. If she works it will be proof that Minolta built cameras to take a beating and still perform well. There is a great repair shop here in Phoenix called Ritz Collectibles (www.ritzcam.com) that may be able to work some magic if I discover this XD-11 has been abused beyond use. If possible; results coming soon.

Visions of Minolta dancing in my head…

Two classic Minolta cameras made their way to me this holiday season. Something I’ve wanted for quite a while is an Autocord. I’ve read this underrated and often overlooked Twin Lens Reflex can hold its own against the other classic TLRs of that era. It’s always Rollei this and Rollei that from classic camera users, but hey, I’m a Minolta guy. I’m also a working stiff, so although Nikon, Canon, and Rollei products are in my sites, my wallet and the dark, gaping chasm within it, prevents me from owning any of these ‘signature’ cameras. When I can pick up two to four cameras (sometimes even more) for the price of a single Rolleiflex or Nikon rangefinder, it’s hard for me to justify the purchase of either. OK, I admit it, I’m Cheap! Minolta has always produced high quality products at affordable prices. The Autocord is no exception, and who knows, one day I may bite the bullet and join the ranks of Rollei owners. Of the 24 models of Minolta 6x6 TLRs this model of the Autocord was produced in 1958 and is referred to as simply the ‘Autocord (Export).’ It’s essentially an Autocord LMX without a built in selenium meter. The Seikosha-MX leaf shutter is still snappy, although the slower speeds need some TLC. It has a nice speed range of one second to 1/500 plus Bulb for long exposures. The f/3.5 75mm Chiyoko Rokkor lens is clean and I’m looking forward to discovering what this lens can produce. Overall the camera seems to function correctly, but the leatherette is history. It’s all but gone on one side and crumbling everywhere else. This gives me a great excuse to utilize www.cameraleather.com a resource I have visited many times but have not yet patronized. Also the Autocord has a PC connector and X-flash sync so I’m excited about testing it in the studio with my B800 Alien Bee flash unit. I may even do some side-by-side testing with another ‘non-Rollei’ TLR, the Ikoflex Ib from Zeiss Ikon. Fun to be had…results coming soon.

New Year Gear!

The camera elves were kind to me this holiday season. Three new additions to the camera collection have arrived and I’m itching to clean them up and give them some deserved attention. I’ll give a quick profile for each one here, however, more in-depth information can be found on my website (once I finish the site’s facelift – hopefully soon.) I don’t have any image samples at this time from the cameras, as they have only recently arrived on my doorstep. The first camera I received this holiday season was the Ansco Super Regent, also known as the Agfa Super Solinette. Although dusty, as most EBay samples are, it seems to be functioning normally upon initial inspection. One of my favorite classic 35mm cameras is the Kodak Retina IIIc, and the Ansco Super Regent is obviously Agfa/Ansco’s attempt to compete. Both cameras were introduced in 1954, and both produced by German companies. Nagel produced the German-made cameras for Eastman Kodak, while Agfa Camera Werk in Müchen engineered this camera. Both cameras are 35mm folders with a coupled rangefinder, however the Retina IIIc opens to the side, while the Super Regent opens down. Both feature a Synchro Compur leaf shutter with speeds from 1 second to 1/500 plus a Bulb setting for long exposures. Both have flash sync and feature a quality 50mm lens. Although I doubt the f/3.5 tessar-type Solinar on the Super Regent will impress me as much as the first class f/2 Schneider-Kreuznach Retina-Xenon. I still expect good things from the 4-element Solinar. The Super Regent lacks the built-in Selenium meter of the Retina IIIc, but since the meter on my Retina IIIc is dead (a common drawback to using a 50 year old camera) I won’t miss not having one on the Super Regent. Focusing on the Super Regent is a little tough, as the dial is very close to the camera body. It’s just a knurled ring and doesn’t have an easy-to-use lever like the Retina IIIc. Luckily the rangefinder on this little gem seems to be calibrated correctly (I’ll find out soon enough), and adjusting it seems to be easy, if necessary. The Super Regent does not have a self-cocking shutter so you will have to remember to cock the shutter using the lever on the lens barrel prior to making an exposure. The Ansco Super Regent is an affordable, quality alternative to the more expensive Kodak Retina IIIc, which I’m sure was Agfa/Ansco’s original intention. Now to put some film in this baby and put it to good use…