Published at January 7, 2008
in cameras.
This is the oldest camera in my collection. It is at least 50 years old and it is older than me. I inherited it after my grand mother. It is a low cost popular, very simple slr camera made by the famous camera manufacturer company Ihagee from Dresden - the company that constructed first available SLR camera in 1936 (named Exacta). Exa is the cheapest and very simple sister of Exacta, though its look and design is the same quality as the bigger Exacta. The Exa model 0 (the one I got) was manufactured from 1952 till early nineteen sixties. The construction is very simple, reflex does not return automatically to the position, until you wind the film and springs. The simple hooded prism finder (so called waist-level finder, you have to look through it from the top, and the image is inverted in the horizontal plane) is the independent element that can be replaced. The shutter is circular and shutter speeds are limited to a range of 1/30 to 1/150 plus B. Kit lens is 1.9/58 Primoplan (1950) by Meyer Optik from Görlitz (town on the German/Polish border) is as simple as possible limited to 3 elements. More information about Exa and Exacta cameras by Ihagee: http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/exa-gallery.html.
Here are some shots of my Exa, that I took using my Samsung GX 10 with Schneider-Kreuznach kit lens (usage of photos reserved, see disclaimer).
cameras dresden exa exacta germany horizontal plane ihagee meyer optik reflex shutter speeds
Published at January 2, 2008
in cameras.
Samsung GX 10 is the camera I bought couple of months ago and it is my first digital SLR camera. After taking photos using hybrid one (Minolta A1 DiMage) I finally came back to SLR one, that time digital one. I decided to buy new camera very quickly, when CCD sensor in my Minolta A1 died in effect of structural defect. I was thinking about a few models, from Sony Alpha 100, Nikion D 40 and similar models. Finally I have decided to buy Samsung GX 10 or Pentax K10. There was couple of reasons. First of all both Samsung Gx10 and Pentax K10 (actually it is almost the same model, let me say twin cameras) have fully manual body with knobs for thumb and for forefinger, actually all of the functions and adjustments have dedicated button or knob, or at least are quickly accessible. I am taking photos only in full manual mode and I need to have quick access to all adjustments (cheap Nikon D40 has no forefinger knob). The second reason was very good quality of the photos and very good marks in the reviews of the camera. Actually the only problem is the low marks of the test of the darkness together with long times and high ISO modes. That test is conducted on very long time or B time whit the lens cap on. Despite that the night shots taken with the camera are marvellous. Other very important reasons why I bought Samsung GX 10 are: CCD cleaning system, magnesium body with silicone waterproof and dustproof seals, anti shake system and - one of the most important - wide range of lenses for Pentax SLR and dSLR cameras.
Samsung GX 10 is equipped with lens Schneider-Kreuznach D-XENON 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. The kit lens is ok and suits me fine mostly.
Samsung GX 10 is an excellent camera with lot of features and modes that make that camera more prof than amateur, and it is not only my opinion. Here is a short quote of Samsung GX 10 review taken from E Photo Zine (http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Samsung-GX10): The GX10, being the same as Pentax’s K10D, proves that the SLR market is no longer safely ruled by Canon and Nikon. As you see from the specifications above, the Samsung GX10 offers a product that will not only satisfy enthusiasts, but also many pros. It sits in a price point that includes Canon’s EOS30D and Nikon’s D80, yet it has features, such as waterproof seals, that bring it closer to the pro-spec Canon EOS5D or Nikon D200.
Technical specification after (E Photo Zine:
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Samsung-GX10):
- Effective Pixels: 10.2Mp
- Lens Mount: Pentax K-AF2
- Image Sensor: CCD, 23.5 x 15.7 mm
- Image Sizes: 3872×2592, 3008×2000, 1824×1216
- ISO Sensitivity: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 in steps of 1EV
- Storage Media: SD, SDHC compliant
- Storage System: DNG (RAW), 12-bit compression
- File System: Exif 2.21, Compliant DCF 2.0 and DPOF
- White Balance: Auto (TTL white-balance with 420-pixel RGB sensor), six manual modes with fine-tuning and preset white balance
- LCD Monitor: 2.5-in TFT LCD with brightness adjustment and wide angle view
- Focus Area: 11 point TTL autofocus
- AF Modes: Single Area AF, Continuous AF and manual
- Exposure Metering: 16-segment (coupled with lens and AF information) Multi, Center-weighted, Spot.
- Exposure Modes: AUTO SCN, Normal, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night scene Portrait, Flash off, Manual, Bulb Programmed Auto (P) with flexible program; Shutter-Priority Auto (S); Aperture Priority Auto (A); Manual (M)
- Exposure Compensation: ±3 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
- Shooting Modes: Single frame, Continuous (approx. 3fps), Self-timer, Delayed remote mode: 2sec delay.
- Shutter speed: 30sec to 1/4000sec in steps of 1/3 EV, bulb
- Hotshoe: flash synchronisation at up to 1/180sec.
- Flash Control: Auto, Manual, Auto/Red-eye reduction, Manual/Red-eye reduction. Wireless sync with optional SEF-54PZF, SEF-36PZF flash guns
- Built in flash: Guide No. 11 (ISO100/m)
- Weight: 710g (body)
- Other feature: Dust free (image sensor vibration system) Shake Reduction
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Published at November 26, 2007
in cameras.
Since for some time I have been asked about the manual for Zenit ET, and I ddin’t have one, I decided to describe the basics.
1. To open its body you have to pull up the small hand wheel on the top used to rewind the film.
2. To rewind the film you have to use the small hand wheel on the top together with a metal ring around the trigger button (you have to push that ring down - not the trigger - and hold to rewind the film)
3. Exposure meter: just right to the ISO/DIN ring and hand wheel you can find a scale built in the body of the camera. There is a indicating needle and a indicating ring. When they are overlying then it means that the adjustment of shutter time and aperture is OK. When the needle and the ring are in the different positions then picture will be overexposed or underexposed. Use the shutter time knob, aperture ring on the lenses to gain the proper adjustment.
4. Self timer spring and button are placed in the front of the camera.
5. The exposure meter in this camera is not TTL (through the lenses) and the sensor is placed just above the lenses. During examining the exposure try not to cover the sensor with your fingers.
6. As you probably noticed it is manual camera. It is not an electronic device. There is no film winding engine, no auto focus etc.
aperture ring auto focus cameras hand wheel lenses rewind self timer shutter time trigger button ttl winding engine zenit
