History on lens and camera from Vietnam era (Page 4): One of my first cameras in the mid 70's I bought from a VN Green Beret and it was a YASHIKA something like this:...

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

One of my first cameras in the mid 70's I bought from a VN Green Beret and it was a YASHIKA something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-YASHIKA-Electro-35-GSN-Rangefinder-SPIDERMAN-Camera-/263188983977?epid=103008975&hash=item3d474930a9:g:xIoAAOSwUIhZX~VJ

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Iceman...

Firstly, Thank you for your service.

Was in-country for two tours. My MOS was aerial reconnaissance- we did it for for "undermined terrain detection" (locating bunkers and tunnels) on Kodak (inferred) Aerographic film. We used special cameras, I believe, made by Fairchild. Some of the cameras were specially mounted on/in the aircraft and sometimes we just shot form the doors of hovering gun ships at low altitudes.

I ran in to a number of photojournalists as well as photographers attached to the various armed services. The cameras of choice were the Leica M series. They are light weight, quiet, and seemed less susceptible to problems caused by moisture, rain and high humidity. The rangefinder focus is easy to use in difficult and hurried conditions, low light and in combative situations. The guys that used longer telephoto lenses did use Nikon F cameras- The Leicas had floating viewfinder masks for lenses from 35mm to 135mm, anythg beyond that reacquired an accessory viewfinder and possibly an accessory reflex housing adapter called a Visoflex to facilitate precise focusing- all not practical in a war zone. The SLRs were a better choice and the Leica had not yet been introduced. The photojournalists I met usually had the 35mm, 50, mm and 90 mm Summicron lenses, if I recall correctly. That was my choice, as well, for my own Leica M-3 that I used while in-country.

I only noticed the odd old olive drab painted Speed Graphic in use over there- a few old timers shooting for the "Stars and Stripes- not in combat conditions. I also came across a few of the old (box-like) Combat Graphics, (probably left over form the WWII or Korea era) while in training at Ft. Monmouth and the Army Pictorial Center at Astoria (NY). The idea of the Combat Graphic was to replace the Speed Graphics in that cameras will bellows were not particularly durable or rugged-able and could not be used shooting from aircraft doors- the slipstream would rip the bellows right out of the camera body! So...Combat Graphics and K-series Aerial cameras were the tools of choice in their era.

Yes- the Air Force guys had a few Graphic-XLs. They were some cool-looking sleek cameras that were indeed capable of sharp imagery (well- sometimes) but they were anything but durable and there were a few engineering flaws in the early models. Back home, Singer-Graflex was competing in the medium format market with Rollei, Hasselblad and a few of the Japaneses Manufacturers like Mamiya and Konica. Graflex, perhaps prematurely, issued the first XLs with the 80mm Planar (like the Rollei, Linhoff and Hasseblad) but the flange focus distances for those lenses was too critical for the plastic lens barrel focusing design of the KL system -it was meant for the Rollei TLRs with a fixed lens, the Linhoff Press 70 and the Hasselblad- all with very precise helical focusing mechanisms and film plane/pressure plate designs. The Graflex roll backs were kinda problematic as to flatness as well which exacerbated the issue so sharp focus across the format was erratic. Once theses problems were discovered, soon after he camera was placed on the market, the company replaced the basic normal lens with a 95mm Rodenstock model that worked well and the 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 backs were improved. The rangefinders, however, was still fragile and changing lenses was also troublesome- there was a cam that extended form the lens mount that was kinda fragile and a button at the top of the body had to be pressed to engaged the rangefinder to each lens- that did not work properly all the time!

Funny thing is, I found out about all of this XL scuttlebutt, which turned out to be factual, in the Army but when I came back to the world, I got a great and cheap deal on a complete XL kit- 2 bodies, 6 backs, 4 lenses and a special super-wide model with a fixed 47mm Super Angulon lens. I guess the former owner was frustrated adn just wanted to unload the gear. ! I brought the whole box full of stuff to Graflex in Rochester and the engineers and repair crew adjusted everything within 2 days- no charge- I was still in uniform! a week after I mustered out. I used the system to shoot weddings for years. At weddings we don't jump from serviceable aircraft, get shot at, muck around in the swamps,or have to record combat- well most of the time!

The most insane thing I remember about the interdependent photojournalists, back in the day, is that theses guys were just running around "loose" in active war zones- not "embedded" with the various units as they are nowadays. They had little or no real protection- at least it was not official. I heard there was a buzz-word of phrase, "looking for BOOM-BOOM" among freelancers who were seeking out war assignments. If they were not working for Magnum, Life, AP, UPI or some other agency- they somehow financed themselves and made their way over- CRAZY! Spoke and shook hands with David Duncan Douglas briefly- all the rest of the guys were just hard working stiffs- I hope they lived to became famous later on. Kennerly got the Pulitzer and served as Gerald Ford's presidential photographer.

Hey- sorry for the additional history. Frankly and personally, I don't like reminiscing about the war itself... just the photography part- keeps me somewhat sane!

Y'all VETS- stay healthy, wealthy and wise. God bless you!

IcemanKS Loc: RI USA

Me, September '69, west of Tam Quan, An Do valley, II Corp. And me Veterans Day 2016.
Was with Charley Company, 4th Batallion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), 173rd Airbone Brigade. I am the poster of the original post. Nikon D5300, Nikon 1 J2, Leica C-Lux 2.
iCE

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

Iceman...

Firstly, Thank you for your service.

Was in-country for two tours. My MOS was aerial reconnaissance- we did it for for "undermined terrain detection" (locating bunkers and tunnels) on Kodak (inferred) Aerographic film. We used special cameras, I believe, made by Fairchild. Some of the cameras were specially mounted on/in the aircraft and sometimes we just shot form the doors of hovering gun ships at low altitudes.

I ran in to a number of photojournalists as well as photographers attached to the various armed services. The cameras of choice were the Leica M series. They are light weight, quiet, and seemed less susceptible to problems caused by moisture, rain and high humidity. The rangefinder focus is easy to use in difficult and hurried conditions, low light and in combative situations. The guys that used longer telephoto lenses did use Nikon F cameras- The Leicas had floating viewfinder masks for lenses from 35mm to 135mm, anythg beyond that reacquired an accessory viewfinder and possibly an accessory reflex housing adapter called a Visoflex to facilitate precise focusing- all not practical in a war zone. The SLRs were a better choice and the Leica had not yet been introduced. The photojournalists I met usually had the 35mm, 50, mm and 90 mm Summicron lenses, if I recall correctly. That was my choice, as well, for my own Leica M-3 that I used while in-country.

I only noticed the odd old olive drab painted Speed Graphic in use over there- a few old timers shooting for the "Stars and Stripes- not in combat conditions. I also came across a few of the old (box-like) Combat Graphics, (probably left over form the WWII or Korea era) while in training at Ft. Monmouth and the Army Pictorial Center at Astoria (NY). The idea of the Combat Graphic was to replace the Speed Graphics in that cameras will bellows were not particularly durable or rugged-able and could not be used shooting from aircraft doors- the slipstream would rip the bellows right out of the camera body! So...Combat Graphics and K-series Aerial cameras were the tools of choice in their era.

Yes- the Air Force guys had a few Graphic-XLs. They were some cool-looking sleek cameras that were indeed capable of sharp imagery (well- sometimes) but they were anything but durable and there were a few engineering flaws in the early models. Back home, Singer-Graflex was competing in the medium format market with Rollei, Hasselblad and a few of the Japaneses Manufacturers like Mamiya and Konica. Graflex, perhaps prematurely, issued the first XLs with the 80mm Planar (like the Rollei, Linhoff and Hasseblad) but the flange focus distances for those lenses was too critical for the plastic lens barrel focusing design of the KL system -it was meant for the Rollei TLRs with a fixed lens, the Linhoff Press 70 and the Hasselblad- all with very precise helical focusing mechanisms and film plane/pressure plate designs. The Graflex roll backs were kinda problematic as to flatness as well which exacerbated the issue so sharp focus across the format was erratic. Once theses problems were discovered, soon after he camera was placed on the market, the company replaced the basic normal lens with a 95mm Rodenstock model that worked well and the 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 backs were improved. The rangefinders, however, was still fragile and changing lenses was also troublesome- there was a cam that extended form the lens mount that was kinda fragile and a button at the top of the body had to be pressed to engaged the rangefinder to each lens- that did not work properly all the time!

Funny thing is, I found out about all of this XL scuttlebutt, which turned out to be factual, in the Army but when I came back to the world, I got a great and cheap deal on a complete XL kit- 2 bodies, 6 backs, 4 lenses and a special super-wide model with a fixed 47mm Super Angulon lens. I guess the former owner was frustrated adn just wanted to unload the gear. ! I brought the whole box full of stuff to Graflex in Rochester and the engineers and repair crew adjusted everything within 2 days- no charge- I was still in uniform! a week after I mustered out. I used the system to shoot weddings for years. At weddings we don't jump from serviceable aircraft, get shot at, muck around in the swamps,or have to record combat- well most of the time!

The most insane thing I remember about the interdependent photojournalists, back in the day, is that theses guys were just running around "loose" in active war zones- not "embedded" with the various units as they are nowadays. They had little or no real protection- at least it was not official. I heard there was a buzz-word of phrase, "looking for BOOM-BOOM" among freelancers who were seeking out war assignments. If they were not working for Magnum, Life, AP, UPI or some other agency- they somehow financed themselves and made their way over- CRAZY! Spoke and shook hands with David Duncan Douglas briefly- all the rest of the guys were just hard working stiffs- I hope they lived to became famous later on. Kennerly got the Pulitzer and served as Gerald Ford's presidential photographer.

Hey- sorry for the additional history. Frankly and personally, I don't like reminiscing about the war itself... just the photography part- keeps me somewhat sane!

Y'all VETS- stay healthy, wealthy and wise. God bless you!

Iceman... br br Firstly, Thank you for your servi... (show quote)

Interesting addition to the thread.
And the clarification on the XL focus issue I remember it had.
Thanks.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

IcemanKS wrote:

Me, September '69, west of Tam Quan, An Do valley, II Corp. And me Veterans Day 2016.
Was with Charley Company, 4th Batallion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), 173rd Airbone Brigade. I am the poster of the original post. Nikon D5300, Nikon 1 J2, Leica C-Lux 2.
iCE

Iceman, thank you for your service. I have ordered a book due to this thread. Keep up the good work.

IcemanKS Loc: RI USA

Thanking everyone for their history, personal comments. It's a good day and thankful to be alive. Who'd a ever figure to get out of there alive.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

GoofyNewfie wrote:

Doesn't look like the non- ttl meter to me.
I don't see the meter lens on the finder, though it's not as clear as it could be.
More likely one of the later versions.
Have a look Here

It's the middle one. I have an FTn, shown at the bottom.

IcemanKS Loc: RI USA

jccash wrote:

Iceman, thank you for your service. I have ordered a book due to this thread. Keep up the good work.

I've ordered two books as well that appear early in theses postings.

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

IcemanKS wrote:

Me, September '69, west of Tam Quan, An Do valley, II Corp. And me Veterans Day 2016.
Was with Charley Company, 4th Batallion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), 173rd Airbone Brigade. I am the poster of the original post. Nikon D5300, Nikon 1 J2, Leica C-Lux 2.
iCE

Iceman, like all of us Vietnam Vets, you've hardly aged at all.

Welcome Home, brother.

krl48, 2/16, 1st Inf Div, 69-70

Bowlan Loc: Puget Sound

I was a combat photographer in the Air Force and we used a little bit of everything. We had Pentax and Nikon for 35mm work. And we used the Graphlax XL for 120. Aerial work was usually 35mm but on occasion we would use the XL in a helicopter or bigger aircraft. We did use the motorized versions of the 35 if we had the room. A very interesting year to say the least. But got some great pictures.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

GoofyNewfie wrote:

I need to see Dennis Hopper's part in Apocalypse Now again.

...as historically inaccurate as *that* movie is, maybe they got that detail right? ;0)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

burkphoto wrote:

It's the middle one. I have an FTn, shown at the bottom.

What was the small white button used for in the middle one?
One of the photogs for the paper I worked at had that version. He was more senior than me, but somehow I got one with the newer FTn finder.

Edit: read the link I posted, duh! Battery check button.

Bowlan Loc: Puget Sound

Started my AF career with a crown. Lugged it, and the accessory case, all over Eglin AFB in Florida. When I got the XL I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Light and you could carry a lot more 120 rolls in a pocket than 4X5 sheet film holders. Great camera. Sad to see it go. I do still have a crown graphic that I haven't used in a while. Have to take it out for a spin.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

chasgroh wrote:

...as historically inaccurate as *that* movie is, maybe they got that detail right? ;0)

I thought it interesting that the rewind knob never moved while Dennis Hopper's character was shooting. I don't think that was an accident. I think it added to the character.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

GoofyNewfie wrote:

I thought it interesting that the rewind knob never moved while Dennis Hopper's character was shooting. I don't think that was an accident. I think it added to the character.

...aside from the artistic part(s) of the flick that I enjoyed I thought it was pretty humorous...now I have to see it again! This thread is cool, it would have been a wonderful and satisfying job to be a war correspondent. I had my first DSLR, a Ricoh Singlex, while in-country but shot like a dumba$$ most of the time. Never had any contact with the press, that I know of, my Cav Troop moved around and you'd think I would've noticed...but no, sigh. If I had to do it all over again...heh...I'd do the same thing!

CW2 Charlie Groh, B Troop 7/1 Cav