Topic: Coronet Commander II first roll back

[Miles]

The Plastic half frame Coronet Commander II first roll is back, some expired E6 shot in Madrid the other weekend.  Need another one now to mod the back eh Mr. Wenn.  Will try Acros in it next methinks.

[Miles]

Couple more. landscaped.

[Ed Wenn]

Glad it worked. Looks like it's in good nick and I'm impressed with the light and colours that you got with it. Not sure I'd bother keeping it 'as is' though because you don't really get anything special from it (other than more shots from your 120 film and a slightly strange aspect ratio). I'd chop the back up and then look for another one to use as standard if you hate the modified one.

Once you open up the mask at the back you start getting the really interesting results. I know you've seen these, but I'll include them here for others who haven't:


Kruja Castle Wall by Ed Wenn, on Flickr


4 Figures by Ed Wenn, on Flickr


Clive, James (X2) & Graham by Ed Wenn, on Flickr

[LT]

here are some from my modified commander (must dig this out - I forgot I even had one):

[Ed Wenn]

Lovely stuff, Leon. I'd forgotten you had a Commander too (if one man's allowed to say that to another on a public forum.... ) These two are great. I love the first one in particular because it reminds me of The Fens.

[Phil Bebbington]

Ed, I think  we need a rank structure in place here. I was going to wander down the standing to attention road, but, I dare not!

[Nigel]

There are some really great shots there guys.

I have a problem with modifying old cameras, i love the idea, but when it comes to it I just can't bring myself to do it. Strangely i don't have the same problem with new, like the Holga for example. Weird that! 

I've got a box Brownie I bought with the explicit intention of using it for pinhole - but I just can't. So the lens is still in there, although I've never used it! Maybe there's a a support group of some kind I can turn to? 

[Francois]

My rule of thumb when it comes to hacking something is to start with the "can I find a second one" question. If the answer is yes, then I hack away... not always successfully I might say (the streaker camera comes to my mind right now...)

[Miles]

Ed & Leon - Very nice, the hacking is great as the tailing off at the edges is very cool.  You're right, Std. it's a little "too good" though I like the ecomomy and odd aspect.

I was going to hack and then thought it would just be like my Coronet 6x6, but the fact the Lens was made for half the format does make that end result sexy.

How do you find framing with the Std. Viewfinder ?

With hacking I think, if it was cheap at birth, it's ok ...

[Ed Wenn]

Framing-wise you just point to the centre of your subject and make a mental note that "I'll be getting half again extra on each side"...or something like that. It looks like it should be something that would be a pain, but after inspecting your first film you'll probably just take to it without giving it much thought. I don't have mine to hand to check this next bit, but if there are 2 red windows at the back then I think I covered one up permanently and just used the other one as you would a normal camera.

BTW, if you cut the mask away to the max, you get a picture which is wider than 6x6, so it's worth hacking to try out yet ANOTHER aspect ratio 

[Miles]

Tempted now... Maybe one move roll through as STD. But that might be boring ...

Matron !  The scalpel please ...

[Ed Wenn]

"I promise....this won't hurt a bit."
 

[Miles]

Done it now and loaded with crappy GP3 as a test.  I also opened out the top and bottom a tad too, makes it about 5x5.  It's coming with me to Cuba 

[Ed Wenn]

Awwiight! That's more like it. I can imagine Cuba will work well with it. Remember, just point everything dead centre and assume that the other stuff will work around the edges 

When are you going?

[Miles]

Tomorrow morning, just finished work on a crummy finance call with my head full of dreamy 127 monochrome and cigar fug. Gonna crack out the Eastman Bullet, hoping the Commander gives a similar effect but with cheaper 120 

[Ed Wenn]

Good for you. Have a great time.

[Francois]

Enjoy the warmth...