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Really old school
Feb 23, 2019 11:25:45 #
Modern cameras are truly wonders of technology. These cameras are a great bargain when compared to the cameras of decades ago using constant dollars. But what about really old "technology". How many of you have used either of these technologies in the past?
Feb 23, 2019 11:41:26 #
Yep, I've seen, and used, that SnapShot Dial. I probably have one in a box somewhere!
Feb 23, 2019 11:48:00 #
sailorWB wrote:
I have used the Kodak Snapshot dials. They had a family of them. lol Welcome to the forum.Modern cameras are truly wonders of technology. These cameras are a great bargain when compared to the cameras of decades ago using constant dollars. But what about really old "technology". How many of you have used either of these technologies in the past?
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Feb 24, 2019 08:33:02 #
Feb 24, 2019 08:34:56 #
Feb 24, 2019 09:16:51 #
I have an entire book full of dials. They are still handy for certain kinds of problem-solving.
Oh, that little extinguishing type of "exposure meter" is a neat little gadget. Haven't seen one in years. Collector's item for sure.
Oh, that little extinguishing type of "exposure meter" is a neat little gadget. Haven't seen one in years. Collector's item for sure.
Feb 24, 2019 09:17:06 #
sailorWB wrote:
Modern cameras are truly wonders of technology. These cameras are a great bargain when compared to the cameras of decades ago using constant dollars. But what about really old "technology". How many of you have used either of these technologies in the past?
Interesting. Never saw one. May e-bay. Thanks for posting.
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Feb 24, 2019 09:17:43 #
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
I have an entire book full of dials. They are still handy for certain kinds of problem-solving.
Oh, that little extinguishing type of "exposure meter" is a neat little gadget. Haven't seen one in years. Collector's item for sure.
Oh, that little extinguishing type of "exposure meter" is a neat little gadget. Haven't seen one in years. Collector's item for sure.
Cool!!
Feb 24, 2019 09:39:25 #
`
For exposure, I found the piece of paper
packed in with the film was handier than
carrying the dial around. But I did have
the "Big Book of Dials". I just didn't tend
to carry it around. It has extension factor
and lighting and various other dials.
.
For exposure, I found the piece of paper
packed in with the film was handier than
carrying the dial around. But I did have
the "Big Book of Dials". I just didn't tend
to carry it around. It has extension factor
and lighting and various other dials.
.
Feb 24, 2019 09:51:01 #
Feb 24, 2019 11:28:59 #
Alafoto
Loc: Montgomery, AL
User ID wrote:
`
For exposure, I found the piece of paper
packed in with the film was handier than
carrying the dial around. But I did have
the "Big Book of Dials". I just didn't tend
to carry it around. It has extension factor
and lighting and various other dials.
.
For exposure, I found the piece of paper
packed in with the film was handier than
carrying the dial around. But I did have
the "Big Book of Dials". I just didn't tend
to carry it around. It has extension factor
and lighting and various other dials.
.
And don't forget the "sunny 16 rule"
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Feb 24, 2019 13:02:46 #
My dad used several of those in his time. It is so nice to have an exposure meter in the view finder today. And to be able to preview the shot, takes so much anxiety out of photography. We all have to give a lot of respect to our dads who managed to get fairly decent pictures in the film days without those modern features that we enjoy today.
Feb 24, 2019 13:54:28 #
It seems to be that the term "old school" has too many negative connotations- it's like "technical ageism"! I am not reactionary and I certainly don't pine for the old analog system or the wet darkroom. I don't really miss the film and I embraced digital photography from day one.
Yes, the automation and advancements in the latest cameras are awesome but I am afraid it may have brought on a generation of SOME lazy and distracted photographers with too much gadgetry, automation, and complexities that get in the way of artistry and down to earth craftsmanship.
I peer into my viewfinder and it looks like the flight deck of a 737- too much data. All I am interested in is my composition- too many bells, whistles, and indicator lights. I don't know of any serious older photographer who ran around looking at a book full of DIALS, but they, the dials, certainly came in handy for certain calculations when required. The dials and guide book were important learning tools to help us do things instinctively- our eyes were our best exposure calculators and rangefinders.
The programmed modes are convenient when we need to gun and run but many folks have become so dependent on some of their camera's automated features that they are too preoccupied with taming their "beasts" rather than concentrating on the aesthetics and/or anticipating the action or expressions. If y'all don't believe this, just scan this entire forum. Every day there are dozens of issues; "my back button focusing doesn't work..., my autofocus is doing strange things..., my exposures are too much to the left or the right"- they are scrutinizing their histograms more closely than their compositions! There are more complaints about faulty software than one would expect in a major business or banking enterprise. Computer crashes- files disappearing, images vanishing from memory cards- worse than old-time darkroom bloopers and accidents.
Alright, I would expect to see some difficult exposure or focus issues in extremely unfamiliar lighting and shooting circumstances but most of these issues and complaints are arising when r folks shooting landscapes and birds in pretty standard everyday daylight conditions. Perhaps a good old exposure dial and the "old school" f/16 rule would be helpful.
The comprehensive understanding basic depth of field and hyperfocal distances would be a boon to many landscapes and sports shooters, except all the newfangled camera and lenses don't have those old school focus or DOP scales anymore so if the AF ain't working and they don't feel like focus stacking in post-processing, they are out of luck! Image stabilization? Ain't anyone using tripods anymore- then the forget to turn their I.S. off and encounter othere problems. Thir auto ISO jums up tp 64,000 and then the complain about noise- one thing you coud say about the film day- a roll of ISO 3200 did not unexpectedly jump into your camera- you loaded in there and knew what to expect.
How many times are there questions about someone getting strange color or contrasts in their images, only to find out that the had their camera set for some bizarre exaggerated pre-set in the menu? I prefer my menus in restaurants!
$$$- Who said the prices of cameras are proportionate to pre-inflation dollars! I think much of the gear is grossly overpriced especially considering they are not made in North America by union workers, or in Europe or Japan by master craftspersons or at space-age production facilities. I get that feeling that they are gonna be produced by subcontracting to places where they will be mass-produced by underpaid labor. The gear will "expire" and end up in the landfill!
New Testament theologians still study the Old Testament, young folks study ancient history, and some antiques can be very valuable. Y'all should check out some of the OLD SCHOOL- you may be pleasantly surprised! Lots to learn there.
Yes, the automation and advancements in the latest cameras are awesome but I am afraid it may have brought on a generation of SOME lazy and distracted photographers with too much gadgetry, automation, and complexities that get in the way of artistry and down to earth craftsmanship.
I peer into my viewfinder and it looks like the flight deck of a 737- too much data. All I am interested in is my composition- too many bells, whistles, and indicator lights. I don't know of any serious older photographer who ran around looking at a book full of DIALS, but they, the dials, certainly came in handy for certain calculations when required. The dials and guide book were important learning tools to help us do things instinctively- our eyes were our best exposure calculators and rangefinders.
The programmed modes are convenient when we need to gun and run but many folks have become so dependent on some of their camera's automated features that they are too preoccupied with taming their "beasts" rather than concentrating on the aesthetics and/or anticipating the action or expressions. If y'all don't believe this, just scan this entire forum. Every day there are dozens of issues; "my back button focusing doesn't work..., my autofocus is doing strange things..., my exposures are too much to the left or the right"- they are scrutinizing their histograms more closely than their compositions! There are more complaints about faulty software than one would expect in a major business or banking enterprise. Computer crashes- files disappearing, images vanishing from memory cards- worse than old-time darkroom bloopers and accidents.
Alright, I would expect to see some difficult exposure or focus issues in extremely unfamiliar lighting and shooting circumstances but most of these issues and complaints are arising when r folks shooting landscapes and birds in pretty standard everyday daylight conditions. Perhaps a good old exposure dial and the "old school" f/16 rule would be helpful.
The comprehensive understanding basic depth of field and hyperfocal distances would be a boon to many landscapes and sports shooters, except all the newfangled camera and lenses don't have those old school focus or DOP scales anymore so if the AF ain't working and they don't feel like focus stacking in post-processing, they are out of luck! Image stabilization? Ain't anyone using tripods anymore- then the forget to turn their I.S. off and encounter othere problems. Thir auto ISO jums up tp 64,000 and then the complain about noise- one thing you coud say about the film day- a roll of ISO 3200 did not unexpectedly jump into your camera- you loaded in there and knew what to expect.
How many times are there questions about someone getting strange color or contrasts in their images, only to find out that the had their camera set for some bizarre exaggerated pre-set in the menu? I prefer my menus in restaurants!
$$$- Who said the prices of cameras are proportionate to pre-inflation dollars! I think much of the gear is grossly overpriced especially considering they are not made in North America by union workers, or in Europe or Japan by master craftspersons or at space-age production facilities. I get that feeling that they are gonna be produced by subcontracting to places where they will be mass-produced by underpaid labor. The gear will "expire" and end up in the landfill!
New Testament theologians still study the Old Testament, young folks study ancient history, and some antiques can be very valuable. Y'all should check out some of the OLD SCHOOL- you may be pleasantly surprised! Lots to learn there.
Feb 24, 2019 13:56:57 #
I still have all the old Kodak books for just about everything they ever made including the old chemistry books for making your stuff from scratch........yikes !
It's nice to see these things after so many decades now.
Thanks
It's nice to see these things after so many decades now.
Thanks
Feb 24, 2019 14:08:12 #
As I said I have many books and dials and they are useful but I never used the Leudi extinction meter. I much rather guess because the extinction meter is just too expensive to use.
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