Analog film photography and cameras

Got some 5x4 to dev, can't remember if I have my dark slides the right way or not.

Gaaaaaaaaaaah

kodak 200, Chinon CM4-s.

Neat!

yeah top one's magic

Wow, great photos! Suddenly my life seems so pedestrian :P

I've posted this on a few analogue photography forums but figured i'd post it here as well.

I found a rare photographic device which I imagine you won't have come across before. It seems to be in good condition considering its age and where I found it but there are a number of issues which are stopping it from working. I am posting this in the hope that this forum might teach me a bit more about it and hopefully set me on the road to repairing it. If you are interested and have a few minutes spare read on:

To cut a long story short (or at least shorter);

• A few weeks ago I found an interesting case in a skip in South East London.

• It contained an old photographic instrument called the ‘Coreco Automatic Color Camera, Model 300’. There is very little to be found on the internet about this device.

• Through some research I have found that the camera was produced in the 1940s with the purpose of taking fully automatic close-up medical photographs.

• By playing around with it I think I understand how the camera functions. It uses a novel automatic system to control the variables that affect an exposure.

• The variables are controlled physically, by the proportions of a variety of attachments. Each has a different purpose/intended subject.

• The attachments included in the case I found are intended for various special applications, notably photographing the interior of the vagina.

• I am intrigued by the mechanics of this camera and have decided I want to get it to function again.

• I have identified a number of problems which I think are preventing the camera from operating there may be more that well come up along the way. I am hoping this forum may hold some answers to these.

You can read a full write up on what I know about the camera on my blog here:

http://morriswild.tumblr.com/post/33843359142/on-the-2-10-2012-on-a-wet-autumnal -day-i-found-a

I have documented the device photographically in this set on my flickr account which you can see here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwmwmwmwmwmw/sets/72157631782577016/

Each image is annotated, If you are interested enough please read through it, this should get you up to speed with how in my opinion the camera functions.

I have a basic knowledge of photography and no experience in Camera repair however I think in essence this camera is a simple device. The three main issues I see with this Camera are these:

1. The Integral lighting system is mains powered, and runs via a transformer from an American style plug. There may be issues with incompatible Voltage/Current, I have no real knowledge of electronics. Regardless of this the wiring is more then 70 years old and may need replacing.

2. The bulbs are all blown; replacements may be difficult to source.

3. The shutter winding system seems to be jammed

So, what advice can you give me?

I will be documenting my progress with the camera on my blog:
www.morriswild.tumblr.com

• The attachments included in the case I found are intended for various special applications, notably photographing the interior of the vagina.
  
  
  

Are you hoping to get it back to its original use?

Etiquette. Do you lot ask permission before you snap say... a market stall? I certainly would if I wanted to photograph a person specifically - though more often than not that simply means I don't take the photograph at all. Thoughts/Other situations?

^ +1

Been pondering exactly the same question for a while. Asking permission is the polite thing to do, but you'll probably lose the moment you tried to capture?

Take the picture then ask I reckon.

Over here I don't bother asking. If it's abroad and particularly touristy I try to ask. Especially if it's obvious and that person (or people similar to them) have to endure us tourists constantly taking snaps of them. Feels a bit like taking photos of animals in a zoo otherwise.

CYOA - do you have teh fear of someone taking particular exception of them being photographed and demanded the entire roll?

I don't always ask, verbally, but I try to see if the person(s) are ok with me taking pictures right now, through eye contact or whatever.
When people are shirty because of 'that stupid camera' in front of their face it will show on the picture anyway later.
When there's consent, the pictures are usually much, much better.

On the other hand I know some people who are pretty successful with a rather forward approach,
and sometimes you need to be forward like that to get the picture, yes,
still it's nice if you can avoid acting like an asshole I think.

Over here I don't bother asking. If it's abroad and particularly touristy I try to ask. Especially if it's obvious and that person (or people similar to them) have to endure us tourists constantly taking snaps of them. Feels a bit like taking photos of animals in a zoo otherwise.

CYOA - do you have teh fear of someone taking particular exception of them being photographed and demanded the entire roll?
Not second para so much, more the first bit.

I'm currently in indonesia and I don't want to appear like some kind of poverty tourist. But there are some very photogenic (totally inappropriate word) scenes here and I'd like to capture some, but don't want to come across:

/

Have been tinkering with my hip-shooting abilities on the rangefinder but I'm not going to get a chance to develop any film out here and am shit at gauging distance - framing from the hip must be a nightmare. I've only brought a 50mm with me though so that's kind of forgiving I guess.

Read a tip that seemed to make a lot of sense. With the hand you hold the camera in, point at what you're shooting with a finger. Even if it's from the hip, we're somehow hardwired to be good at pointing at stuff

Job done;

Zone focusing is best and quicker for this situation.

#ubinscobled when - 'you get advised to get a new camera'.

Had I thought of this before, I wouldn't have brought the M6.

Read a tip that seemed to make a lot of sense. With the hand you hold the camera in, point at what you're shooting with a finger. Even if it's from the hip, we're somehow hardwired to be good at pointing at stuff

will give it a go, ta.

He's done well.

^^ lol!

Job done;

Waist level finder is best and quicker for this situation.

ftfy.

Too big and bulky, and autofocus a hit or miss.

In all seriousiness, I'd practise zone focusing so you can able to get the shot without having to rely on the rangefinder.

Set a higher f-stop, says F/8, so the subject will be in focus between 1.5 metres to 0.8 metres if you set the focus at 1 metres, this way you won't have to worry about the subject being out of focus.

Gracias. Practice is deffo worth it with that any camera. My uncle left it to me so I've always touched it with kid gloves but no time like the present to get used to it.

Zone focusing is easy once you get your head around it.

Perhaps try practising on a digital camera though so you don't waste oddles of film?