2016, or is it 1973 again?

Sony PS-HX500

Kodak Super 8

What the! ...Perusing some reports from the recent 2016 CES trade show in Las Vegas, I see products announced or released that include at least five vinyl turntables and one Super 8 camera from Kodak.

The turntables are;

• Audio-Technica AT-LP60-BT,
• Crosley Radio Snap,
• House of Marley Stir It Up Turntable,
• Sony PS-HX500 (which looks almost identical to my ancient Sansui) and  
• Technics SL1200-GA)

Was this the most retro or hipster CES to date?

Descriptive adjectives and ebay.

What's ebay doing to the English language?
Recently, two advertisements were posted with the following pictures. 

Extremely good condition A-1 The camera pictured on the left  (click for larger pic) was described as "Extremely good condition". I have no arguments with that, if anything it is an undersell. The owner has treasured this 30 year old camera and looked after it well.

Excellent condition A-1

In contrast, the camera pictured on the right  (click for larger pic) was described as "Excellent condition". Really? In what context can that be described as excellent condition?

Either the seller's day job is  as a real estate agent, or it is excellent as in "Excellent, it still looks like a camera after several hammer blows".

Leica M Monochrom

Leica M Monochrom

This week Leica have announced a new camera, the Leica M Monochrom. Surely, as a monochrome only sensor, it will cost ¹/₃ the price of a colour M9 ;)

As a Leica there is of course no possibility of such a "cheap" price.
The Monochrom is certainly a niche camera, but there will be a significant number of Leica affectionados who put themselves on the Leica Monochrom waiting list.
After all, Leica users have given up autofocus and other creature comforts, why not sacrifice colour to be more obsessive about the sharpness that a monochrome sensor can deliver.

Replacing SL66 Camera Leatherette

The leatherette covering on my Rollei SL66 was in a pretty bad way. It was shrunken, lifting off most surfaces and the glue was seeping out of the edges. Curiously it was only the camera body and film back that had the problem, the covering on the lenses and finder is still in great condition.