Art and the magic of film

For interest, we've listed some of the other cameras that you can borrow from us in a tutorial session.

YASHICA ELECTRO35 GS

This 35mm rangefinder was the chosen favourite of many photojournalists. It is a semi-automatic meter controlled system - you just dial in the designated aperture and either a red or yellow led in the viewfinder indicates if your shutter speed is high or low.

It has a sharp fixed Yashica f/1.7 Color Yashinon lens and we've even got its original case with the two lens adapters that were designed for it (which, admittedly, need some getting used to).

These cameras have two slight snags with them...the first being is that they can suffer from what's known as the "Pad of Death" where a spacer underneath the release button wears down, making it unable to actuate the mechanism properly. We're keeping a VERY close eye on our "Yash" for signs of this. The second snag is that the orignal battery that powers this camera isn't made anymore! However, it's very easy to get a battery combination that works fine.

This is a little bit of legend of a camera.

ZEISS IKON NETTAR 510 "BOB"

Our smallest folding camera, dating from around 1935. The Nettar 510s are about the size of a wallet. Equipped with a 75mm lens, this is a 645 format camera with an oddity. Like many folding cameras of its time, to ensure that the camera is wound on correctly onto the next frame, one had to sight the registration marks on the backing paper with the red view window at the back...only, in this case, the view window is on the wrong side. To use modern 120 film, the film has to be wound onto another reel such that it can be reverse loaded!

Rollei 35

There aren't enough good things to say about this little camera which dates from the 1960s. Everything about this camera is designed to fit in the photographers hand. An inbuilt lightmeter, a collapsible lens so that the camera can fit snug in a pocket. The three element Zeiss Triotar lens delivers crisp, sharp images. It's simply lovely to use and it's a lot of fun!

One thing we have found with Rollei 35s is that they are VERY efficent on film usage, often being able to get another frame or two out off a standard 135 film reel. Hence, the interframe gaps can be quite small!

Hasselblad V series 500C/M (Victor)

We could not leave out this camera. Technically, it's one of our retired camera units but it can be used upon special request.

Designed under the supervision of Dr. Victor Hasselblad and with the mechanical genius of Bjorn Heden, the V system entered the photographic world with the 500 C - the C/M (M for modified) allowed for interchangeable focussing screens and hoods. Our 500C/M is pictured with an older 12On film back.

These are legendary cameras as well. They were designed with the one of the most comprehensive suite of interchangeable accessories known. Regarded for their square format in 6x6, the V system cameras could also shoot in 645 thanks to the interchangeable back system. A partly exposed film can be shielded and removed mid-way, being replaced for another type of film.

The lenses were made by Zeiss (with the variable focal length lenses being made by Schneider). Our 500C/M is approaching 44 years old and is a joy to use.