Been Busy was in Vancouver now in California

Been pretty busy getting back in shape working as a few months gets you out of shape and forget things. I have had some time to get out and take some pictures but being pretty lazy here in California. Have shot some film but not a whole lot using the Ikota most of the time and have a Minolta Autocord that I am using some. We that pretty much up dates what is going on but hope to add some new picture to the web site so might check that out but long ways from being up dated.

On the Road Again

Well I have been home and staying pretty busy and not taking time to keep the blog up. I hope to do a little better job while I am on the road and be able to share some pictures from my travels. I have completed a three part video that I have on youtube about replacing bellows on Isolette and Speedex models. Both of these are great cameras even though a lot of people will shy away form the Ansco Speedex models but these are very nice cameras and can usually be picked up at a good price. The Speedex models are basically just a re branded model of an Isolette. I don't care what lens it comes with you can still get some fine pictures from them. Actually I kind of like the Speedex R over the Isolette III because it was made for export to the U.S. so it is in feet instead of meters. Well check out the videos when you get a chance and maybe I will post them on here sometime soon.

Minolta Autocords perform Great

It has finally come a time that I have to sell off some of my TLR's and folders. I just got a couple Minolta Autocords back from being CLA'd and shot one of them and as all Autocords I have shot in the past it took really nice pictures.

I have a couple folders and I put new bellows on and fixed the focus as most have bad bellows and frozen focus. Took these out on there little film test run and they really did well. One is a Agfa Isolette I with the Apotar lens and the other its export model the Ansco Speedex 45 with the Agnar lens. They say the Agnar are the bottom lens and the Apotar ids the middle to the Solinar but as hard as the Solinar is to find today I would say the Apotar is the top lens and Agnar second. For my taste they both performed well and really can't tell them apart I don't think. Who ever ends up owning either of these camera for the money I think they will be really happy. I have a couple pictures handy from them so will post now.

Busy working on cameras and not taking pictures

I have 2 cameras loaded to go out and shoot soom shots and they have been siting for a week now. Been working on making a bellows for a Agfa Isolette 6x6 and then have a old Minolta Autocord torn down and rebuilding it. Waiting for some missing screws for it and then hope to get it back together. Finally did get around to making the shutter tester that I have had parts to make for a few months. No pictures but been busy and scanning a bunch of negatives over and getting organized. Pictures soon

Minolta Autocord 1958 Model great camera For Sale

Well haven't posted for awhile and now I am at home and been here a few weeks. I came home as Elena has to have an operation so we are waiting for that. While I have been home trying to check out some cameras I have around. Elena and I went to the Charlotte County Fair and took a couple cameras with us. She sported a new RolleiMagic I while I took a Minolta Aotocord 1958 Model. The RolleiMagic performed really about what we had thought it might but she said very boring doing everything automatically.

The Minolta Autocord performed as the other Autocord that I have and enjoy shooting. This 1958 model sports the Seikosha-MX shutter, 1-1/500 sec, with LV, Synchr.X-M-F and the usual great Rokker lens 75mm. This camera is in great shape and wow takes great pictures. Check out a few more pictures taken with this camera on my Flickr site and Minolta 209024. Will have some more white ups on some more cameras hopefully here in the near future. This camera is for sale if any one is interested drop me an email.

No pictures today no time to take

Well my work day started out early today as the site I had to visit was almost a 4 hour drive. I left early with the idea to get out early and head back and be at the hotel before dark. Well that part went well I left at 6:30am and got there OK and got done early and so headed out and on schedule to be at the hotel before dark. Couple hours down the road and raining but has all day so that was expected. About 2 hours to go and get to Interstate 5 south and now the road is closed because of snow. They have no idea when it will be opened and it must have started snowing shortly after I went through this morning. Well now I can get a hotel and hope it will be clear early morning or take another route. I have work tomorrow so decided best to take another route. Well this route is heading east and back over some mountains and through the high desert. This is a long ways and it was snowing in the mountains but here it is not the elevation that it is in the other pass so not too bad. Does it snow in the high desert; well I will say I had heard it can but today I saw that it does. Well anyway after lots of miles and rain, snow and getting dark I finally made it to the hotel. Only took about 7 hours for the return trip so have a pizza ordered and going to take it easy.

Today just a day of staying in

Well stayed in today and developed all the film that I had taken not really all that much. Today the rain started and supposed to rain all week. So not much else going on a couple pictures of my darkroom and sorry about the focus on the one. It is laundry day and will start that here before to long that is always fun!