safeman

Here is the story of my life as a picture taker. I am not and never did want to be a photographer--too much work and not enough fun. Somebody told me one time that the worst thing I could do was make my advocation my vocation. I took it to heart. This story begins in 1950 when I was 7 years old and continues until today.

My mom gave this to me in 1950 to take pictures of my new little brother

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To shoot in landscape you turned the camera and used the viewfinder shown here


My first new camera on my 10th birthday

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An Argus C-3 that someone needed worse than I did


An Exakta. My first SLR


1968 Nikon F I'm in the big time now

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First Through The Lens Metering

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OMG my wife gave this to me sometime in the 80's! Was my pride and joy--still is

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1991 My last film camera

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2018 I'm one of the digital crowd

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hankm1 Loc: Mount Prospect IL

So nice you kept the cameras (except for the purloined ones)!!
I got the bug when I was 11 years old and won an Argus with flash
and carrying case at the local movie theater showing horror films
during the summer, e.g The (original) Blob, Tarantula.
Have you tried using any of the older ones recently?

safeman

I still shoot the Bronica occasionally. I have always liked the 2 1/4 format it makes me take my time, and shooting Velvia 50 gives wonderful images. I also like the response of the phone camera crowd when I break out the massive beast. They almost cringe at the sound of that massive mirror cycling.

TBerwick Loc: Houston, Texas

Same here. Love the sound of the Bronica SQ mirror slap. Still have my Gossen Luna Pro and a Zone VI spot meter, particularly when I'm planning a B&W shot.

repleo Loc: Boston

I wish you had a picture of the Exacta. That was my first SLR too. It had a waist level viewfinder. Everything was handed 'opposite'. It had a pull out blade that cut off the exposed film so you didn't have to use a whole roll before developing.

fourg1b2006 Loc: Long Island New York

It's wonderful that you still have those cameras. I enjoyed looking at them.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

I remember having #1 and was fascinated by having to turn it on its side for landscape. I played with that one a lot.

srfmhg Loc: Marin County, CA

Great set Safeman.