Author Topic: Got a Gakken! (Read 4793 times)

astrobeck · « **on:** June 17, 2012, 09:29:18 PM »

Got a Gakkenflex kit on Friday, assembled it last night and took it out for a spin this morning.
It's one fun camera!

These shots with Fomapan 400
dunked in Arista developer for 7 minutes with an inversion here and there.
I always scan in color then usually convert to B&W.
One of the shots I left unconverted to give it a sepia sort of look.
Let me know what you think?
Thanks!

Francois · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2012, 10:04:58 PM »

I guess Mr. Bob doesn't take his car out for a ride too often

How come is it you get all the nice places to go shoot and all I get are traffic cones almost as far as the eye can see?

astrobeck · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2012, 10:09:22 PM »

Living just 8 miles south of historic Route 66 helps a lot!

sapata · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2012, 10:11:01 PM »

These are nice... the first shot in particular!
I have one as well traded here but didn't had the chance to try yet...

I want one of those cars

jojonas~ · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2012, 10:11:47 PM »

oh, becky. such a perfect subject for that camera! the vignetting really gives a nice feel to these shots. looking proper old

I'll be looking forward to more~

edit: btw, did you install the aperture disc in the standard way?

astrobeck · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2012, 10:28:18 PM »

Thanks!
sapata, I want an old car too, but my budget only allows a photo.

And you'll be surprised at how cool the Gakken is to use!

Jojonas, I installed the aperture ring behind the lens (nearer the camera body), so I guess that is the standard way?
I wasted a lot of film as I think I wound too much between shots. Out of a 24 exposure roll, I got only 17 photos.

hookstrapped · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2012, 11:05:45 PM »

Quote from: astrobeck on June 17, 2012, 10:28:18 PM

Thanks!
sapata, I want an old car too, but my budget only allows a photo.
And you'll be surprised at how cool it is to use!

Jojonas, I installed the aperture ring behind the lens (nearer the camera body), so I guess that is the standard way?
I wasted a lot of film as I think I wound too much between shots. Out of a 24 exposure roll, I got only 17 photos.

I really like the first shot.

You're supposed to wind the mark 180 degrees per frame advance, but I found that doesn't always give enough space between frames so I overwind a little bit (about 1/8 of a revolution). I get 28-30 shots on a 36 exp roll that way.

jojonas~ · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2012, 08:25:14 AM »

180 degrees works fine on mine. But I guess with these plastic fantastics every one is unique

Magnus · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2012, 08:37:26 AM »

Lovely shots, especially Mr bobs car.
I also have to wind 180 degrees + "a bit more" to prevent overlapping frames.
Easily one of the coolest cameras to use.
It weights nothing and feels almost fully automatic with the one shutterspeed and one aperture to choose from

But watch out for emerging light-leaks. Mine lost a screw holding one of the side panels, and it took a couple of rolls before I found it.

Paul Mitchell · « **Reply #9 on:** June 18, 2012, 09:17:34 AM »

Wonderful Becky especially Mr Bob's car. Route 66 is firmly on my bucket lest

Paul

charles binns · « **Reply #10 on:** June 18, 2012, 09:37:15 AM »

Stunning!! What a great place to have as a testing ground for your cameras.

Phil Bebbington · « **Reply #11 on:** June 18, 2012, 10:51:23 AM »

Cracking, Becky!

Late Developer · « **Reply #12 on:** June 18, 2012, 01:24:55 PM »

Lovely shots Becky.

I've heard the song and seen movies that have featured / mentioned "Route 66" but, until today, I hadn't checked to see where it went from / to. IT'S HUGE........!!

Must investigate further as I can see it becoming a subject for a future holiday. Is it still largely intact and driveable?

Francois · « **Reply #13 on:** June 18, 2012, 02:31:27 PM »

LD, you just have to listen to the song to know where it goes

Quote

Well if you ever plan to motor west
Just take my way that's the highway that's the best
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it winds from Chicago to L.A.
More than 2000 miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri
Oklahoma city looks oh so pretty
You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino

Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri
Oklahoma city looks oh so pretty
You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino

Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66

Now, you might want to check our the Google World Wonders Project
http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/worldwonders/route-66/#ql=2

astrobeck · « **Reply #14 on:** June 18, 2012, 04:44:09 PM »

Quote from: Late Developer on June 18, 2012, 01:24:55 PM

Lovely shots Becky.
Is it still largely intact and driveable?

My husband and I have driven the entire length of the route during various vacations and long weekend jaunts.
Parts of it are intact with Oklahoma having the longest original uninterrupted stretch of it...about 60 miles if I recall correctly.
Lucky for me, New Mexico has some nice original stretches with a fabulous segment that goes through downtown Albuquerque.
Amarillo, Oklahoma City, St Louis and Chicago also have some fine stretches as well as does Flagstaff, Arizona.

My favorite map of it is a quirky hand drawn one by Bob Waldmire. It is a work of art and fun to read and follow along.

Route 66 is a photographers dream as it takes the traveler through cities, towns, ghost towns, and long scenic stretches of open highway where nothing is really something.

If anyone drives it, bring lots of film because you will easily waste lots of it!
Oh, and the animated movie "Cars" has a lot of themed scenes taken from Route 66.

chricela · « **Reply #15 on:** June 18, 2012, 08:17:09 PM »

Those shots are great, Becky.

Think I have to get one of these !

Britt Aximon · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2012, 09:44:09 PM »

A camera, so fun to use. I got a red one, and it is adorable.

I like those photos very much, specially the second one. Really great.

gary m · « **Reply #17 on:** June 19, 2012, 12:02:09 AM »

The Gakken is definately a fun camera. Alot better than the more expensive Blackbird Fly.

jojonas~ · « **Reply #18 on:** June 19, 2012, 08:43:58 AM »

Quote from: gary m on June 19, 2012, 12:02:09 AM

The Gakken is definately a fun camera. Alot better than the more expensive Blackbird Fly.

yeah, I thought I wanted the bbf... before I saw the gakkenflex! nothing of the nice packaging and flexibility beats the focusing coupled lenses for me. oh, and the blur~~

Andrea. · « **Reply #19 on:** June 19, 2012, 08:53:23 AM »

Lovely images!
I have the TLR recesky - possibly the same although it does potentially have three apertures - especially if you take the front plastic bit off the taking lens. it's then a f0.95 or something then!

jojonas~ · « **Reply #20 on:** June 19, 2012, 09:33:54 AM »

Quote from: Andrea. on June 19, 2012, 08:53:23 AM

Lovely images!
I have the TLR recesky - possibly the same although it does potentially have three apertures - especially if you take the front plastic bit off the taking lens. it's then a f0.95 or something then!

if you could see my grin now!!?

I'll have to try that~

I have been thinking before about getting another camera and taking the viewing lens from that and use as the shooter.