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 Correspondent limited edition.

Leica Correspondent

In collaboration with Lenny Kravitz – the musician, actor and designer– Leica Camera AG, Wetzlar, presents a special camera edition.

Don McCullin's Nikon F

Larry Burrows' Leica

A correspondent's camera bears scars from the situations in which it it has been, a correspondent bears scars from the things they have seen. 


No Lenny Kravitz, artificial wear and an inflated price is nought to do with photojournalism.

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.

Nifty fifties and Canon EOS cameras

An un-scientific comparison of 50mm lenses.

There are available a plethora of lens mount adapters that allow one to mount almost any lens onto a Canon EOS digital camera.
It is possible to mount lenses using the Nikon F mount, Olympus OM and M42 lens mounts (among others) by the use of a mechanical adapter. The Canon FD mount is not usable for general photography unless an adapter with optical elements is used to maintain infinity focus.
So... what's the point of mounting an older or off brand lens on a modern digital SLR camera?
Only one way to find out, let's take some pictures!
First, here's the selection of 50mm lenses that were tried.

Selection of nifty 50mm lenses
(click image for a larger view)

Below are examples of the same photo, or as near as can be, taken with these lenses and the appropriate lens mount adapters. (Click on the pictures to view a larger version)

A Global "Camera Style"

Global Camera Style - Yahoo Pipe

A number of "Camera Style" blogs have popped up on the web in recent times. These sites document some fantastic, often vintage cameras and the people that use them.
It seems to have begun with John Sypal's Tokyo camera style.
From Ottowa to Jakarta and Oslo to Tokyo, courtesy of Yahoo pipes (please be patient, it may take a little time to load), here’s a mashup of the feeds from 30 or so similar sites to produce a "Global Camera Style".
If you’re a fan of any of the camera style sites and love browsing photos of vintage cameras, subscribe to the RSS feed here,  or view on NetVibes.

Old and Curly SL66 Camera Leatherette

The time has come. The Rollei needs a skin transplant.

The original covering has become hard, curled and inflexible.
No matter what glue is used the darn stuff just won't stay put!

I guess I shouldn't complain too much, it's hung on there since 'bout 1970.

M42 Adaptors - some are more equal than others.

Today there is an enormous range of affordable M42 or Pentax screw mount adapters available. Here is a Nikon Ai example under $10.
Using an M42 adapter you can adapt any ol' screw mount lens to fit many 35mm, digital SLR or even a micro four thirds cameras.
Such adapters are an excellent way to breathe some life back into older lenses.

However try before you buy,