Discussing Alternate Cameras - The Road Not Taken
Apr 1, 2019 12:39:44 #
rmalarz wrote:
Initially, for an SLR, I wanted to upgrade from a ... (show quote)
The Retina is designed beautifully isn't it Bob? I just recently bought the Retina Ilc in perfect working condition.
Apr 1, 2019 16:39:56 #
Shutterbugger2
Loc: Chicago
I was interested in Alpa cameras because the normal lens was a macro focusing lens, as I recall, a Kern Macro Switar lens. When I had the opportunity to test one, I found the lens was full of aberrations and not near as sharp as I thought.
Apr 1, 2019 21:42:50 #
JHS
Loc: Carmichael, CA
Shutterbugger2,
You are correct it was the Kern Macro Switar, 50mm F1.9, and it focuses down to 7". Mine is extremely sharp, without any aberrations. It came with a test negative of a resolution chart, tied to the lens serial number. I think I paid $165 for it in 1968. It has served me very well right up to when I switched to digital. Sorry you were given a defective one to test. That seems to be unlike them.
John
A letter of reprimand is better than no mail at all!
You are correct it was the Kern Macro Switar, 50mm F1.9, and it focuses down to 7". Mine is extremely sharp, without any aberrations. It came with a test negative of a resolution chart, tied to the lens serial number. I think I paid $165 for it in 1968. It has served me very well right up to when I switched to digital. Sorry you were given a defective one to test. That seems to be unlike them.
John
A letter of reprimand is better than no mail at all!
Apr 9, 2019 14:21:45 #
Keen wrote:
Cool. I liked to experiment, and investigate tech, and tended to collect photo gear instead of coins, or such. I always wanted an FM3a, but never quite got around to it.
Too bad you never had a chance to own a FM3a. I had an FM (my very 1st camera), FE, FM2, FE2, FA, and finally the FM3a. I loved them all but I have to admit that I felt the last was the very best.
And, Davey, I'm glad that HarryO pointed you to Rockwell's link. I agree with him on this one. It was a beautiful machine.
Apr 11, 2019 14:40:32 #
I must have been about 9 or 10 years old when the Leica M4 came out. I frequently left nose prints at our local camera store and I dreamt about how cool it would be to take pictures with a Leica and especially the brand new M4. So I kept on torturing my dad to let me buy a used Russian Leica knockoff with my saved up money but he said no every time and was insistent that they were crappy cameras. He had worked for a camera manufacturer (ADOX) building prototypes and so he knew about the dubious quality of those Russian cameras. He soon after built me a little ADOX rangefinder made out of 3 or 4 broken cameras. I had that for years until I bought a Canon FT-b.
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