Classic Camera Revival – Episode 135 – Mystery Camera Challenge V

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We’re going back to the Mystery Camera Challenge, only this time Alex is picking out cameras for the team from his collection and choosing cameras that will certainly challenge the folks who are used to certain types and styles of cameras. At the same time, Alex takes on a camera from John’s collection. The team also discusses tips and techniques for photographing the fall colours that will be coming sooner rather than later.

Mystery Camera Challenge V
This time around, Alex digs into his own camera collection, looking for cameras for our gang of misfits that aren’t exactly their bread and butter cameras. And comes up with some interesting choices that pushed the team to new highs or lows.

Classic Camera Revival - Episode 135 - Mystery Camera Challenge V

Agfa Isoly Jr.
The Isoly Jr is a simple camera designed for children from the Isoly line. A simple single-element lens and a strange sort-of 4×4 image size allow for sixteen shots per roll of 120. The oddity made Alex select it for John, and John was surprised at the image quality.

Agfa Isoly Junior – Agfa Meniscus Lens 8cm f/11 – Fomapan 100 @ ASA-50 – Rodinal
Agfa Isoly Junior – Agfa Meniscus Lens 8cm f/11 – Fomapan 100 @ ASA-50 – Rodinal
Agfa Isoly Junior – Agfa Meniscus Lens 8cm f/11 – Fomapan 100 @ ASA-50 – Rodinal

Minolta Weathermatic 35DL
The Weathermatic 35DL is a weatherproof/underwater 35mm point-and-shoot camera that Alex selected for Bill. It’s chunky, all yellow and all automatic, which made it the perfect camera for Bill, who is used to all sorts of manual control.

Former CN Right of Way
Minolta Weathermatic 35DL – Minolta DL 35/50mm 1:3,5-5,6 – Ilford Delta 100 @ ASA-100 – Ilford Ilfotec HC (1+31)
Beidge Over the Mill Pond Stream
Minolta Weathermatic 35DL – Minolta DL 35/50mm 1:3,5-5,6 – Ilford Delta 100 @ ASA-100 – Ilford Ilfotec HC (1+31)
Waldies Blacksmith Shop Sign
Minolta Weathermatic 35DL – Minolta DL 35/50mm 1:3,5-5,6 – Ilford Delta 100 @ ASA-100 – Ilford Ilfotec HC (1+31)
Off Main St. In Milton
Minolta Weathermatic 35DL – Minolta DL 35/50mm 1:3,5-5,6 – Ilford Delta 100 @ ASA-100 – Ilford Ilfotec HC (1+31)

Holga 120N
When it comes to James, he loves high-end gear with precision control and optics, which made Alex pick the Holga 120N; with little control and everything guessing, it’s certainly the opposite of what James is used to!

Holga 120N – Optical Lens 1:8 f=60mm – Rollei RPX 100 – Rollei Supergrain (1+12) 6:30 @ 20C
Holga 120N – Optical Lens 1:8 f=60mm – Rollei RPX 100 – Rollei Supergrain (1+12) 6:30 @ 20C
Holga 120N – Optical Lens 1:8 f=60mm – Rollei RPX 100 – Rollei Supergrain (1+12) 6:30 @ 20C
Holga 120N – Optical Lens 1:8 f=60mm – Rollei RPX 100 – Rollei Supergrain (1+12) 6:30 @ 20C

Graflex Century 35
John’s choice for Alex was dead on the money; the Century 35 is a rare camera in that it was only available for sale for two years; despite the American branding, the Century 35 is a Japanese-produced rangefinder by Kowa. And Alex enjoyed working with this heavy little rangefinder.

Classic Camera Revival - Episode 135 - Mystery Camera Challenge V
Graflex Century 35 – Kowa Opt. Works Prominar F.C. f/2.8 40mm – Fomapan 400 @ ASA-200 – SPUR HRX (1+11) 12:15 @ 20C
Classic Camera Revival - Episode 135 - Mystery Camera Challenge V
Graflex Century 35 – Kowa Opt. Works Prominar F.C. f/2.8 40mm – Fomapan 400 @ ASA-200 – SPUR HRX (1+11) 12:15 @ 20C
Classic Camera Revival - Episode 135 - Mystery Camera Challenge V
Graflex Century 35 – Kowa Opt. Works Prominar F.C. f/2.8 40mm – Fomapan 400 @ ASA-200 – SPUR HRX (1+11) 12:15 @ 20C

Falling For Fall
While it’s only the first week of September, now is the time to prepare for those fall colours in the next couple of months. You’re going to start to see the sun going down earlier, making it easier for those beautiful golden hours which light up the colours of the leaves. As for the film, you will want to choose ones with a warm colour palette; for the slide film, that is Fujifilm Provia 100F; if you want something in C-41, Kodak Gold 200 or Ultramax 400 are excellent choices. Kodak Ektachrome E100 is a good choice if you want to cool things down. If you are a sucker for intense saturation, try Fujifilm Velvia 50 and Kodak Ektar 100. Or even give the new CineStill 400D a try; that will make the reds pop and glow! When you’re out, try to meter and shoot for highlights, this will help get those colours to pop and try and aim for good side light; early evening and mid-mornings are your friends at this time of year. Don’t procrastinate; get out if you see that things are exactly how you want them; a delay could mean the difference between colour and nothing. And, of course, keep an eye out for those colour forecasts; they will help you plan your timeline.

Want a subscription to SilverGrain Classics and are a fan of Classic Camera Revival? Visit their shop online and buy a magazine or a subscription? Looking for a good spot to get your gear and material fix check out Burlington Camera (Burlington, ON), Downtown Camera (Toronto, ON), Film Plus (Toronto, ON), Belle Arte Camera (Hamilton, ON), Pond’s FotoSource (Guleph, ON), Foto Art Camera (Owen Sound, ON). In Quebec, Photo Service (Montreal, QC) and Studio Argentique (Montreal, QC), Out West there’s Kerrisdale Cameras (BC), The Camera Store (Calgary, AB) and Beau Photo Supply (Vancouver, BC). Additionally you can order online at Argentix (Quebec), buyfilm.ca (Ontario), the Film Photography Project or Freestyle Photographic. Looking for development options, check out these labs that have our support, Boréalis Photo Lab, Old School Photo Lab, The Darkroom, and Film Rescue International.

Also you can connect with us through email: classiccamerarevivial[at]gmail[dot]com or by Facebook, we’re at Classic Camera Revival, Twitter @ccamerarevival, and Instagram (@classiccamerarevival)!

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