Adventures with Eastman 5222 Double-X

I’ve had a few rolls of Kodak’s 5222 Double-X screaming at me from the refrigerator for a while now. Every time I go grab a roll of black and white film, I skip over the Double-X and go for Tri-X or HP4. I’m not sure why because every time I shoot this fine film, I love the results I get.

If you’re not familiar with Double-X, it was introduced by Kodak in 1959 as a motion picture film. It’s a 250 ISO film with reasonably fine grain that delivers what I consider a vintage black and white look. Over the years, it’s been used on some great films like Schindler’s List, Raging Bull, Casino Royale and Psycho. 250 ISO makes Double-X a pretty capable general purpose black and white film but there’s one caveat; Double-X does not have the same exposure latitude of other black and white films…maybe a stop over or under and that’s about it. Nail your exposure though and this film delivers.

I loaded up my Pentax K2 with some Double-X on a sunny Sunday late afternoon. My lens was the SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7. I was grilling some chicken and playing with the dogs.

It’s alway nice to sip a nice glass of Cab while grilling.

I really like the tonal range of this film with nice inky blacks and bright whites. All of the in-betweens look very pleasing as well. It’s easy to blow out the whites if you’re not careful. The grain is definitely there, but it does have a cinematic look to it.

I had also forgotten how much I enjoy taking pictures with my Pentax K2. I need to use it more often and also need to stop reaching over the Double-X in favor of other films. There’s a reason Hollywood has been using this film for over 60 years.

Photographica

I became interested in photography in the early 1970s, shooting pictures with my Dad’s Kodak Retina IIc and dropping the film off at the corner drugstore for developing. Home darkrooms were a popular hobby among kids in those days and a few of my friends were developing and printing their own black and white film at home in makeshift darkrooms, so I set one up in my parent’s basement laundry room. All of the paraphernalia and chemicals bothered my mother to no end.

I put photography aside for many years to raise a family, getting bit by the bug again in the mid 1990s. I bought a Nikon N90s and built my dream darkroom in an extra stall in my garage. A divorce forced photography to the back burner again around 2000.

I moved to California in late 2010 and one night, while browsing eBay, just for fun, I started looking at old film cameras. I could not believe how inexpensive they had become. Just for kicks, I bought a Nikon FE2 for I think $60. That FE2 got me back into film photography. Over the past 12 years, I’ve been fortunate to have been able to afford, acquire, use and mostly sell for a profit, lots of legendary film cameras. These were the cameras I drooled over as a kid, while flipping through the pages of Modern Photography magazine. I never could have imagined that someday I would own the cameras I lusted after then.

Over the years, I have photographed many of the cameras and other photo gear I have owned. I’ve used the photos on this blog, on social media or some I’ve just shot for fun. A few are hanging in my den at home. Some of these I shot with whatever iPhone I had at the time. The others were taken with either the Nikon F2 or FM2n and the fabulous 55mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor on Kodak T-Max 400 or the original Fuji Acros. These are some of my favorites.

The FE2 that started it all

Why the Nikon F100 just might be the best film camera ever made

My Nikon F100 is the most modern camera I own. I also think it just might be the best film camera ever made.

Introduced in 1999, the F100 cost just over $1400 new. Nikon’s professional body at the time was the F5, priced at just over $3,000. I have owned and used both of these cameras and I will tell you that the F100 does just about everything the F5 does in a lighter, easier to manage package. The F100’s matrix metering is always spot on. It has super fast, incredibly quiet autofocus, especially with my Nikkor 50mm AF-S f/1.8 G lens out front. The viewfinder is big, bright and full of useful information. The F100 is pretty close to being the pinnacle of film SLR technology. Only the F6 is more advanced, but not by leaps and bounds. The best part…these cameras sell today for under two hundred bucks! The only complaint F100 owners talk about is the film door latch breaking, but I’ve had my F100 for years and have never had a problem.

If a digital SLR user wanted to shoot film, the F100 would be an easy transition. The F100 almost loads film itself. All you have to do is open the back, drop in the film canister, pull the film leader across to the red stripe and close the door. One light tap on the shutter release and the camera spools up the film, advances to the first frame and cocks the shutter. Set the camera in Program mode and the F100 will do all of the heavy lifting for you. Nikon’s famous matrix metering system will make sure every frame is perfectly exposed. At the end of the roll, the camera will rewind the film back into the canister.

Besides the capability of this camera, what really makes it the best ever film camera ever made is how affordable this thing is today. With careful shopping, you can probably get a body and an older AF-D Nikkor and stay well under three hundred bucks, maybe less. The F100 is an extremely reliable, well made, rugged, feature packed film camera that offers the user fully automated or fully manual shooting. And it’s a platform for a wide variety of some of the best lenses made. The F100 is a real value and an amazing camera. This end of the film era Nikon is a gem. I love mine.

A few weeks ago, I took my F100, loaded with some Kodak Color Plus to Timber Cove on California’s Sonoma Coast. Here are a few shots from that day.

A walk in my garden

I had some Kodak Ektar 100 in the refrigerator that was nearing expiration. To put it to good use, I took a walk in my garden with my Nikon FE and 55mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor lens. I suppose if I really had to sell all of my Nikon lenses and hold on to just one, this 55 would be that lens. Its macro-photography capabilities are amazing and it’s also a great, fast walk around normal lens.

Kimmie, our Golden Retriever, hung out with me and mostly napped while I shot these. She woke up momentarily to let me snap this photo. I imagine it must have felt good to snooze in the cool grass on a warm, late spring day.

I always finish my rolls with a mirror selfie. Helps me remember which camera and lens I used to shoot a roll.

I love Ektar 100 and would shoot it more often if it wasn’t so crazy expensive.

Point Arena, the Nikon FM2n and Kodak Tri-X

I have decided to make Kodak Tri-X my primary black and white film stock this year. I haven’t shot Tri-X consistently enough to really get to know it well, so this is a good exercise for me.

A few weeks back, I took a road trip up the coast to the little town of Point Arena, California and brought along my Nikon FM2n, 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor AI-s lens and a few 24 exposure rolls of Tri-X. Here are some of the shots that pleased me the most.

I had forgotten how much I enjoy taking pictures with my FM2n. It’s a manual everything minimalist SLR that really gets out of your way. I almost sold it late last year because prices for these bodies have really gone up. I’m glad I didn’t.

Preview Of Things To Come

I am currently shooting two new-to-me cameras. I have never owned or shot either of these in the past. Reviews coming. Stay tuned.

Nikon EL2. A camera that was only in production for one year: 1977

Nikon F Photomic FTN

A Sad State of Affairs

This is a blog about film photography and vintage gear, so I don’t talk much about myself or my political beliefs, but it’s hard not to feel sad and have some anxiety about the state of affairs in our country right now. I am 62 and I have never seen our country so polarized. There’s always been a right and a left, but I feel that, in the past, there were more people willing to walk towards the center and have a thoughtful dialogue. We would work together as Americans and get some positive things done. At least listen to the other side and think about it.

I’m from Upstate New York and the young man who went to Buffalo and killed innocent people comes from near where I grew up. I can’t imagine the anger and mental instability in someone that would cause them to do that. And I am horrified to hear that there are online groups that are given a platform to spread such hate. That the algorithms of these platforms even encourage this kind of content in order to sell advertising is utterly irresponsible. And honestly, do we really need to be manufacturing and selling these military style automatic weapons that can easily be modified to become mass killing machines by watching a how-to video on You Tube?

New Mexico is on fire. California is years into historic drought. The Colorado River is drying up along with big lakes that supply water to millions in the west. Huge chunks of glaciers are falling off into the ocean up at the top of the world. Historic heat waves are gripping many parts of the world. I’m watching all this while way too many people in our country, including those that can really make changes, continue to deny that anything is happening. They refuse to even listen to the science and consider that the science might just be right.

I grew up being taught that America is the greatest democracy in the world, but democracy is very fragile. It isn’t to be taken for granted. It only works if every American gets equal access to participate.

I began my career in broadcasting and over-the-air radio and television stations were held to a high set of standards with regards to delivered content. News was news and opinions were clearly identified as such. These days, mostly unregulated “news” channels are allowed to spew unchecked information and conspiracy theories as news. Many people belief this stuff, further dividing us. People I know who were, in the past, kind and reasonable, are now repeating and spreading hateful distortions.

I am sad and sometimes very angry. All this makes me anxious too and I don’t like feeling this way. I’ve decided to find my own ways to cope.

As much as I don’t like to disconnect, I am going to watch less news and consume more uplifting content.

I am going to see if there are things I can do in my own community to make a positive contribution in some very small but meaningful way.

I am going to spend more time getting out with my cameras and making photographs. The creative process energizes me and is good food for my soul. The exercise and fresh air doesn’t hurt either.

I am working on a photo book of black and white images I’ve made since living in California. Curating the content for that book has made me feel so fortunate to have spent the last decade living in such a beautiful place. I might try and sell the book. At the very least, I’ll put a copy on my coffee table.

I still have faith that we are going to turn this ship but it’s a big ship and big ships take a lot of time to turn. I don’t have tons of time left in my life so I am gong to do what I can to have an impact in a good way. And I am going to lean hard into my photography.

Score!

Seems every online seller I have tried recently is out of stock and backordered on my favorite color film—Kodak’s marvelous Portra 400. A lot of Kodak color print films are in short supply theses days. Today, I just happened to stop by my local mom & pop photo store and lucked out! They just received a fresh shipment of film! I bought some Portra, Gold 200 and Tri-X. Score!

Boomerang Cameras: The Canon A-1

I have bought and sold a lot of film cameras over the past 12 years and as I wrote a few blog posts ago, there are a few I have regretted selling. One is the Canon A-1. I bought my first A-1 from a photographer friend in Alameda. He was dumping his 35mm gear and taking a giant leap into large format 4x5 photography. I shot a few rolls in the A-1 and, deep into GAS, put it away and moved on to other cameras.

When I finally decided I had way too many film cameras and wanted to reduce my collection to just a few that I loved and shot regularly, the Canon A-1 didn’t make the keeper list. Thinking back, I am not sure why I decided to sell my A-1. It was a pleasing camera to use; small, lightweight and capable. And I got very good results from the camera and the FD lenses.

A few months ago while browsing eBay, a nice Canon A-1 popped up in my feed. I dove into the listing and saw a nice camera from a seller with good feedback. Prices on A-1s, on many film cameras for that matter, have jumped up considerably the last few years. This one was a bit more money than I wanted to spend, but it looked well cared for and the seller seemed honorable. So I bit.

Of course, having sold off all of my Canon FD gear, I needed a lens. While I waited for my camera to arrive, I went shopping for a 50mm f/1.4 Canon FD lens and found a nice late version for a decent price. The camera and lens arrived within a few days of each other.

I popped a battery into the Canon, fitted the lens and put the camera through its paces. Everything seemed to work just fine, but the camera had the Canon squeal, an annoying sound that A-1s,AE-1s and similar models make. Doesn’t seem to affect operation, but the wheezing of the shutter drives me crazy. So I packed up the camera and lens and sent both off to Jim Holman at ICT for a CLA.

My camera was back in a flash from Jim, relieved of its cough and fully serviced. I loaded up a roll of Kodak Color Plus and took the Canon for a test drive.

A Weekend With The A-1

While the A-1 has several shooting modes; shutter priority, aperture priority, manual and program, I love just setting this camera into the full program mode and using it like a point and shoot. On Saturday, I took the camera on a hike at Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, CA. The 1400 acre park, on the slope of Sonoma Mountain, features some wonderful trails, historic structures and the ruins of Wolf House, a 15,000 square feet home Jack was building for his beloved wife Charmian that burned just before they were set to move in. It was a delightful day with warm sun and a cool breeze.

The park has a variety of trails, from open meadows near vineyards to shaded strolls along stands of California Redwood.

I learned a lot about Jack London that day. He was an interesting man…a novelist, journalist, photographer, explorer, farmer…and he deeply loved his wife Charmian. In Charmian, he found his true love. His soulmate.

The next day, we packed up some snacks and loaded our dog up for some fun on the beach. Kimmie loves a good game of fetch.

There were gale force winds that day on the Sonoma Coast. Kimmie demonstrates.

I enjoyed my reunion with the Canon A-1. While I am more of a Nikon man, I really do like the Canon FD lenses and I think the A-1 is the best FD platform for me. You never want to say never, but I am pretty certain I won’t be selling this camera anytime soon. I like it and it’s nice to use a copy that is functioning as- new.

Some other observations from this weekend of photography:

• I enjoy shooting the dogs at play, but I think I need a telephoto lens. I am considering the Nikkor 80-200mm AF-D or AF-S zoom (not the latest versions for sure, but best for my budget) to use on my F4 and F100. It’s a big lens, but manageable. It has a built in tripod collar and has good reviews. I want an auto-focus lens to properly capture the pups at play. Let me know if you have any input for me.

• I’ve been ordering film from Amazon. They seem to have my favorite film stocks, especially Kodak. Prices are decent and I get my film the next day. I have had good results from the Tri-X I bought off of Amazon, but so-so results from color. As is the case with lots of Amazon stuff, you really don’t know where the products are sourced. In the case of film, storage is important and who knows how or where when it comes to Amazon. I am thinking I will go back to buying from B&H, Freestyle and the Shot On Film Store. I feel they take more care.

Rediscovering Kodak Tri-X

As a teenager in the 1970s, I shot a lot of Kodak Plus-X and Tri-X black and white film. Both were readily available at the corner drugstore, inexpensive and easy to home process. When I got back into film photography in 2010, I gravitated to the tabular grain emulsions of Kodak T-MAX 100 and 400 because I wanted finer grain in my photographs.

I guess I carried it around in my head that Tri-X was more suited to gritty street photography or documentary style shooting, so I’ve done most of my 400 speed black and white work these past 12 years on T-MAX.

With film getting more and more expensive these days, I keep looking for bargains and saw some Tri-X online for a decent price…three rolls for 24 bucks, which seemed pretty darn good. So I bought some.

I shot my first roll of Tri-X since forever in my Nikon F3HP with the 55mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor lens. Most of what was on this first roll were personal shots, but I finished the last few frames during a Sunday afternoon of wine tasting at Grigich Hills Estate Winery up the Napa Valley in Rutherford.

If you are into wine at all, you know that Mike Grigich gained international recognition when the Chardonnay he produced at Chateau Montelena blew the competition away at the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, basically putting California on the map as a top wine-making region. Grigich later partnered with Austin Hills (of Hills Brothers Coffee fame) to establish Grigich Hills Estate.

I am not a big white wine person, but the Grigich Chards are pretty incredible and their Cabs are some of my favorite reds. While tasting, I clicked off a few shots with my Nikon. Yes, glasses are empty because Mike’s wines are delicious.

Stopped to walk around Oakville Grocery on the way home. I’ve shot this sign many times before.

The late afternoon sun was playing off of some pillows when I got home. The 55/2.8 lens is tack sharp I think.

There is some grain in these photographs, but not nearly what I had imagined there would be. And the tonal range is quite impressive. The results of this roll have changed my mind about Tri-X. I am going to shoot more of it. The price has gone up to $34 for three rolls. I bought more anyway.

Back to the beach with Ilford HP5+

For nine years, I lived on a little sliver of land in Northern California between the Pacific Coast Highway and the beach. I never took one second of that time for granted because I knew, deep down inside, it would not be my forever place. And I was right. A new job opportunity in 2019 took me just far enough inland to make daily commuting impossible...so I moved. And even though now, I live only an hour and twenty minutes from the coast, I find I can only get back to the beach a few times a year.

A few weeks ago, we grabbed our dog Jazz and took her to the beach to play in the surf and sand. I had a few rolls of Ilford HP5+ that I wanted to try. This was my first time shooting this film, so I was excited to give it a try. I fitted a Zuiko 100mm f/2.8 lens to my Olympus OM-1n.

Olympus OM-1n with Olympus Zuiko 100mm F/2.8 Auto-T

The light that day was hazy sun. I recently acquired this camera and I’ve run two rolls through it, one color and one black and white. Both rolls looked under exposed, so I am pretty sure the meter is off. I am going to send it back to the shop I bought it from and ask them to re-calibrate.

Spending some time at the beach was good for my soul. And Jazzy enjoyed herself immensely.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to eBay

I’ve been writing quite frequently here about my effort to reduce the number of film cameras in my arsenal down to just those that bring me the most joy. I have to say that I have done a pretty good job and the timing has been right as the price of film cameras is the highest I’ve seen in a decade.

An interesting thing has happened to me during this process…I have found myself really missing a few of the cameras I have parted ways with. So much so, that I’ve gone out and bought replacements for them. One of the cameras I’ve deeply regretted selling was the Olympus OM-1.

The OM-1 was the first in a line of compact and exceptionally well made 35mm single reflex cameras from Olympus. The OM-1 was introduced as the M-1 in 1972. There were several refinements over the next few years with the final version, the OM-1n, hitting the market in 1979. I reviewed this camera in depth here a few years ago, and there are many other reviews, most better than mine, online. Hardly anyone has a bad thing to say about the OM-1n other than it uses a battery that is no longer available. That problem is easily fixed during CLA with a conversion to adapt the camera to modern batteries.

I sold my original OM-1n on eBay and I’ve really missed it. So much so that I reached out to one of my trusted sellers, John Titterington of JT Cameras to get another. John is a fine camera tech and sells Olympus and other vintage cameras on eBay. All of the cameras John sells have been serviced and re-calibrated to accept modern batteries. I ended up buying two OM-1n bodies from John, one black and one chrome. I know…so much for thinning the herd!

Olympus OM-1n with early 50mm f/1.4 Zuiko Auto-S

I took my black OM-1n, 50mm f/1.4 Zuiko and some expired Kodak ColorPlus with me to Sedona, Arizona a few weeks ago. I had intended to do quite a bit of hiking and photography while I was there but unfortunately I turned my ankle and had to stay off of it for a few days. Once rested, I took a short and easy stroll into Boynton Canyon and clicked off a few snaps.

After finishing this roll, I remembered why I loved the little OM-1n so much. It’s a delight to use. Feels so good in the hand. Simple. Jewel-like build quality. A big, bright viewfinder with awesome split-image focus screen and a meter display that never gets in the way of the photographer. One other thing that some reviewers have complained about—the rough feel of the film advance lever—is easily remedied during a CLA. Mine is smooth as silk. I don’t think I will be parting with my OM cameras anytime soon.

There are two other cameras that I regret selling. I’m on the hunt for those now. Hey…what can I say? :-)

eBay No Pay

I have been buying and selling on eBay for nearly 18 years. My experiences, both as a buyer and a seller, have been very very good. I have only been disappointed in what I have purchased a handful of times and for most of those transactions, it was because I did not pay close enough attention to photos or the descriptions of what I was buying.

Only once was something misrepresented by the seller. It was my first Pentax Spotmatic and the seller did not disclose corrosion in the battery chamber that had found its way into the camera. I paid nearly nothing for that body though so I just chalked it up to experience.

Lately however, there is a new trend; Buyers place a bid, win and never pay.

This has happened four times to me during the last 8 months. It’s more a nuisance than anything because I eventually re-list the item and it sells. Once it was an international buyer and the other times, US buyers with positive feedback.

The buyers do not respond to communications and just simply ghost me. I don’t get it.

A New Camera Strap

I have not treated myself to any new gear in a long while, so when a photographer friend suggested I try the Sevilla leather camera strap from ONA, I figured I would indulge.

I have an ONA Bowery leather camera bag which is just magnificent. It’s well made and the leather just keeps looking better as I use it.

The Sevilla costs $65. ONA ships quickly. I had my strap two days after I ordered it. Opening up the package flooded my senses with the rich deep smell of leather. ONA’s leather just smells wonderful.

In the ONA tradition, the strap is very well made with robust rings and built-in strap protectors. It’s a 40” strap which is just perfect for me. ONA says the strap will hold ten pounds but I can’t imagine ever wanting to carry 10 pounds of camera on my shoulder.

I think I will try the Sevilla on my Nikon F3. The antique cognac color of the leather will look nice against the F3’s black body. More to come.

You can find ONA straps here.

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you the best over the holidays. Health and happiness in 2022 too!

Cameras for sale

I am working on my goal of reducing the number of cameras in my collection. Cameras are meant to be used, not stored. So I am going through the difficult process of parting with those I do not shoot often enough. I’ve shed a few tears in the process.

I am including a link to the current items I have for sale below. Whenever I list cameras for sale on eBay, I will occasionally get messages from buyers complaining that my prices are too high. I am not sure why someone would take the time to tell a private seller that they are asking too much for anything they are selling online. Vintage cameras, like vintage automobiles, are worth whatever someone is willing to pay. And if the price seems too high, don’t buy it.

There is nothing wrong with the cameras I list for sale. No “as is” or “for parts.” These are all cameras that I spent considerable time searching for and often invested more money into service and/or upgrades. In most cases, I paid more than I should have because…well, because I really love nice old cameras.

You can see what I am selling here.

Regrets: The Leica M6 TTL

There are many photographers who blog about which film cameras to buy. I’ve decided to write about some of the cameras I truly regret selling. First up, the Leica M6TTL.

I bought my Leica M6 TTL rangefinder and 35mm Summicron lens at the Leica Store in San Francisco on a bright, crisp morning in early November 2014. I had been watching eBay for several months, drooling over M6 listings and just happened upon this nice one which was at Camera West in Walnut Creek. An email inquiry to Camera West was answered by the shop’s owner, Sean Cranor, who I discovered also owned the Leica Store in San Francisco. When I mentioned that I was gong to be in the City that weekend, Sean said he’d be happy to send the M6 over to their sister store for me to look at.

I had recently sold my Leica M3 and rigid 50mm Summicron, so I had cash when I arrived at the beautiful Leica camera shop just outside of Chinatown. The M6 was in mint condition and they had a spectacular 35mm Summicron in the used lens case. Leica film camera prices were still fairly reasonable seven years ago, so I bought the M6 and 35 ‘cron and still had some cash in my pocket for the weekend.

I picked up a few rolls of Fuji Acros and shot this pic of the front of the store. My first Leica M6 shot.

I had my Nikon F2AS with me that weekend with the intention of making some photographs at Fort Point at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. With my new Leica in hand, plans changed and I finished off the roll chasing light at the historic structure.

On the walk back to my hotel, I shot this close-up of the controls on a fire engine.

The M6 and 35mm lens inspired me that day. And I appreciated the small package of body and lens. The Leica’s meter readout was minimalist—two arrows showing under or over exposure. When both arrows are lit, you have the correct exposure.

Top plate of the Leica M6TTL— simple and straightforward

I made some of my most satisfying images with the M6.

I was deep into gear acquisition syndrome at this time and traded the M6 kit for a Leica M8 digital camera. I didn't much get along with the digital M and sold it a short time later. I have always deeply regretted selling the M6 and that 35mm Summicron. For one, it was the Leica rangefinder that best fit my shooting style. Two, I bought it when M6 bodies were still somewhat affordable. They’ve really gone through the roof since.

If you are considering a Leica M film camera and are on the fence about which one to buy, consider the M6. It’s a fairly new camera compared to the M2, M3 and M4 and has a very competent built-in meter. And oh my…those lovely Summicrons!

Damn…I wish I still had mine.

F3 By The Sea

After 13 years of shooting lots of different film cameras, I am finding that my Nikon F3 is one of my favorites. Here a a few shots taken on some expired Kodak Portra 400 film using my 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Ais lens.

My Annual Blog Post About Servicing Old Cameras

I just got my Pentax LX back from service. Jim Holman at ICT Camera did a fine job. The mirror was sticking on some of the slower shutter speeds. It’s a common ailment with this camera. Pentax built a world class professional grade 35mm SLR, but used the worst mirror bumper foam material ever. Over time, the stuff turns into a gooey mess. Jim replaced that and did a full CLA (clean-lubricate-adjust). My LX came back good as new.

I follow a number of Facebook film camera pages and there’s a running debate about the merits of repairing old cameras versus just buying a replacement. A few years ago, I could see both sides of the argument. Film cameras were still relatively cheap and in some cases you could replace your ailing Pentax ME or Olympus OM-2 for about the same cost as the repair.

More people are shooting film these days and prices for good film equipment has gone up. If you have a camera that you love shooting, it makes more sense now to get it serviced. Even if it is working just fine, investing in preventative maintenance is a good investment.

Here are some repair shops I have used and can recommend. These are no particular order.

DAG CAMERA: Don Goldberg is the master of all things Leica. I have sent him Leica SLRs and rangefinders. His work is top notch and his prices are reasonable. He is easy to connect with. His turnaround times for me have been just a few weeks.

ICT CAMERA: Jim Holman works on most every brand of film camera. He is also an expert on lens CLAs. He quit his full time job a few years ago to devote his full attention to his repair business. He does fine work.

SHERRY KRAUTER: Sherry worked on my Leica R5, but she focuses mostly on Leica rangefinders. She also has a nice online store. She’s been in business since 1976 and is a legend in Leica circles. She is also fun to talk to.

BLUE MOON CAMERA: If you are ever in Portland, Oregon, make a point to visit Blue Moon Camera & Machine. What a wonderful store! And they do repair work too. I sent my Canon F-1 there and they brought it back to life. Reasonably priced and good turnaround.

SOVER WONG: Sover is the world’s expert on Nikon F2 repairs. The F2 is the only camera he works on. Send your F2 to Sover and it will come back just like new. He also does modifications to Nikon F2 metered finders and does Nikon F2 repair clinics. Up until a few years ago, my F2 was my favorite camera, then my eyesight changed. For some reason, no matter which Nikon diopter I tried, I could not see clearly enough through the viewfinder to focus. The F2 is the only old camera I have this trouble with and I have no idea why. Sadly, I have sold my F2s.

YOUXIN YE: Where do you send your Canon LTM rangefinder for CLA? Youxin Ye’s YYeCAMERA. Youxin also works on Leica M and screw mount bodies. Competent work and great communication.

ERIC HENDRICKSON: Eric is to Pentax what Sover is to the Nikon F2. Eric works on the Pentax Spotmatic series, K1000, LX, ME, ME Super and MX. He is not the most chatty fellow because he is so busy, but his work is exceptional, his prices are very fair and his turnaround time is exceptional.

MARK HAMA: Mark is the man to send your YashicaMAT or Electro 35 to. I thought my Yashica rangefinder was toast. Mark brought it back to life.

JOHN TITTERINGTON: I found John on eBay when I was looking for a nice Olympus OM-1n. John works on Olympus, Nikon, Minolta and more. He is a great source if you are looking to buy a camera because everything he sells has been fully serviced.

Those of us who love and use old film cameras are very fortunate that there are still highly skilled folks out there who can keep our equipment operating as designed. Many of these technicians have invested a lot of money buying up old parts and donor-body cameras, since replacement parts are mostly not available from the original manufacturers. They are a vital part of our film photography community and deserve our support.

And then...there were ten

As happens with many of us who dabble in analog photography, I accumulated many more cameras than I had time to shoot. So I have slowly and thoughtfully sold or gifted away much of my collection. I wanted to make sure that the gear went to good homes. To photographers that would use them and love them the way I have. Mechanical cameras are made to be used and not sit on a shelf.

I think I started with close to 40 cameras. Here is where I am now:

Nikon FE and FE2: I love these two compact Nikon F bodies. Both of mine have been serviced and they are small. lightweight and easy to carry around all day. I mostly shoot the 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 Nikkors on these bodies.

Nikon F100: The most modern camera I own. I bought a Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF-S lens…the only lens I have ever purchased new…to mount on this marvelous camera. It’s the retro-styled lens that was released with the Nikon Df digital camera. It focuses fast and silently on the F100.

Nikon F3HP: It actually took me awhile to appreciate Nikon’s last manual focus professional film body. For me, the F3 was an acquired taste and the more I shoot it, the more I like it.

Nikon F4: I only take my F4 out for a walk a few times a year because it is big and heavy. When I do shoot with it, I always marvel how good this beast feels in my hand. The F4 is fun!

Pentax Spotmatic SP: It wasn’t until I sent my Spotmatic off to Eric Hendrickson for a CLA and mounted the legendary 50mm 8-element Super Takumar lens that I came to fully appreciate this simple mechanical SLR and amazing Pentax lenses. I have both chrome and black body versions.

Pentax MX: This little SLR is so small it almost disappears in your hand. My 50mm SMC Pentax f/1.2 lens is bigger than the camera.

Pentax LX: I have owned three LX bodies. Sent all of them to Eric for CLA and have sold two for a small profit. When the LX is working properly, it is a joy to shoot.

Leica R4S MOD-P: Just like the F3, it took me awhile to warm to Leica’s SLRs. After owning and shooting the M2, M3 and M6 rangefinders, the Leica R cameras are a totally different experience. In the end, I am an SLR guy and while the rangefinders were sold for a tidy profit, my R bodies remain.

Leica R7: The last R body before Leica totally redesigned their SLRs. The R7 has a multitude of shooting modes and a big and brilliant viewfinder.

This isn’t the final cut by any means. I’m learning what I like and what I don’t. Photography is an evolving experience.