Found this site through another of my addictions Japanese Nostalgic Cars. Name is a clue to what I own and where I live. Being a 'film-slinging-dinosaur' is in my DNA. Grandmother was a photographer and got me into it. First camera was an Argus brick, which I still have some where. After that came a late '62 vintage Nikon F with the bulls-eye meter. Since then it has just gotten worse. Was a newspaper guy for a bit, but succumbed to the dark side of television quite some time ago. Never stopped playing with the still cameras. I was a Nikon guy at heart, with a F, F2 and two F3HPs in the case. When I was given all of my grandmother's cameras, my eyes were opened to smalll format rangefinders. I fixed both of her broken Olympus 35RCs and started to use them. In researching those 2 cameras, I discovered Russian Leica and Contax copies... it was all downhill from there. The stable now includes Zorki 3,3M and 4; a FED 2; a 1948 Kiev 2 and a Kiev 4. I still have and shoot with all my Nikons and have recently started branching out into Japanese vintage rangefinders. Although the Nikon S series and the Canon Leica copies are beyond my price range right now. Here are some shot of and with the Russian ladies.
Zorki 3, fresh off the boat!
Shot with the Zorki 3 on the same day it came in
Early 1949 Kiev 2 with ZK 50mm, after a small amount of CLA
Favorite shot from the Kiev 2 of a buddy's son
Early Zorki 4 with the engraved shutter dial(speeds don't wear off like the others)
Shot from the Zorki 4
Notice that I really only have pics of the russian stuff. I haven't really bought any lately, they have gotten way expensive. Started buying them for 10-20 bucks a piece and CLA-ing them myself. Now, they are showing up in Pottery Barns and such for crazy 'designer' prices.
Hope to learn and grow abit by being here and maybe help some myself. I won't post everyday, but I will lurk every chance I get.
