Cruiseliner.

• Where: A lake in Bavaria.
• Camera: Rolleiflex 3.5F
• Film: Fomapan 100 Classic
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

Second test roll with the Rolleiflex 3.5F.

Brutalist.

Sailing boats.

Boatsheds.

• Where: A lake in Bavaria.
• Camera: Rolleiflex 3.5F
• Film: Fomapan 100 Classic
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

First test roll with the Rolleiflex 3.5F. I took it for a walk to the lake right after I got it and took a few shots on Fomapan 100 Classic. My copy is one of those that has all the bells and whistles and everything is working splendidly. Every time I use Rolleiflex TLRs I am surprised by the quality of the taking lens. Neither clinically sharp nor smudgy soft. Overall a very pleasing rendition of reality.

Thunderlies.

Shore.

Surfboard.

Ducks.

Glen.

• Where: Maisinger See, Tegernsee
• Camera: Mamiya ZE-X
• Lens: Sekor 50mm f/1.7
• Film: Kodak T-Max 400 (expired)
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

Second test roll with the Mamiya ZE-X and the Sekor 50mm f/1.7. There were a couple of images on that roll that I would call “good” and match the aesthetic I like. For this post, I decided on a few images that “speak to me” in a way the other photos did not. For some pictures, it depends a lot on my current mood. Only a small handful of images seem always to fit this criteria. Those are the ones that I would call “subjectively great”. The selection this time does not fit any particular theme. It is as random as the grain on the negatives.

Channel.

Art.

Mirror.

Bench.

Overgrown.

• Where: Maisinger Schlucht
• Camera: Nikon F6
• Lens: Leica Summicron-R 90mm f/2.0 (Leitax F-mount mod)
• Film: Agfa APX 100 (expired)
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

A few frames of overgrown trees from the Maisinger Schlucht. Shot through the Leica Summicron-R 90mm f/2.0 lens adapted to F-mount with a Leitax kit.

Mushroom.

Moss.

Shallow.

Stumped.

Lake.

• Where: Maisinger See
• Camera: Mamiya ZE-X
• Lens: Sekor 50mm f/1.7
• Film: Agfa APX 100 (expired)
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

First test roll with the Mamiya ZE-X and the Sekor 50mm f/1.7. This is a neat little camera. The shell is mostly plastic, but it is solid and lightweight. It sports a feature that tries to prevent the exposure time from getting longer than what the user is likely to be able to hold steady when shooting without physical stabilization. While the camera is not very expensive, it is difficult to find one in a reasonable condition on “the bay”. It seems this camera was not one of the big successes for Mamiya. Nonetheless, if you can find one in good condition, treat it well and it will treat you well.

No idea what this is.

Bench.

Close-up.

Oldschool.

• Where: Somewhere in Bavaria
• Camera: Minolta XD-5
• Lens: RMC Tokina 28mm f/2.8
• Film: Kodak Double X
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

First test roll with the Minolta XD-5 and the RMC Tokina 28mm f/2.8. I love the shutter sound of this compact Minolta camera. Click-sirrr. While the RMC Tokina 28mm f/2.8 lens is nothing special, there is nothing to complain about, either.

Safe harbor.

Sailing home.

Holy diver.

God rays.

Clouds.

• Where: Somewhere in Bavaria
• Camera: Nikon F
• Lens: Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 
• Film: Kodak Double X
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

First test roll with the Nikon F. While this is a good camera, it is my least favorite from the F line. The film advance lever on my copy is just a piece of metal, rough around the edges and painful on the thumb.

Lighting.

Grafitti.

Boat.

Three.

Swan.

Classic house.

• Where: Somewhere in Bavaria
• Camera: Nikon FE
• Lens: Zoom-Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 
• Film: Kodak Double X
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

First test roll with the Nikon FE and the Zoom-Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5. A nice camera body, but a bit tricky to use lens. The lens allows focusing beyond infinity depending on the focal length. That means that you can’t rely on the focus scale. Thus, some of the first images on the roll are naturally out of focus.

Fountain.

DMV.

Pond.

Grass.

Traffic warden.

• Where: New York
• Camera: Nikon 35 TI
• Film: Kodak Portra 160
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

Part ten of the Portra York series. The last one. New York from the streets.

Times…

… square.

The empire in the distance.

Small and tall.

Seymour.

Reflection.

AMC truck.

Brooklyn bridge.

• Where: New York
• Camera: Nikon 35 TI
• Film: Kodak Portra 160
• Scan: Nikon Super Coolscan 9000

Part nine of the Portra York series. Bridges. Again.

Manhattan bridge.

Manhattan.

Across.

Underneath.

Support.