Konica C35 AF

Week 47 - Konica C35 AF that came in a box of free cameras that my stepfather obtained from a local newspaper listing. Modern Photography from April 1979, touts this as the "First Auto-Focus Still Camera," with a non-interchangeable 38mm f/2.8 Konica Hexanon, with apertures up to f/22, focusing to 3 1/2 ft. It has an electronically programmed shutter, with flash, powered by two AA batteries. Available film speed settings from 25-400. The magazine article lists the original price as $283. An in depth explanation of how the auto-focus feature works from the magazine article below-

“Adjacent to the viewfinder, on either side of the “Konica C35” nameplate, are the windows for the Honeywell patented Visitronic auto-focus System… the Visitronic autofocus Systems can be classified as a dual-image comparator linked to the lens by an electromechanical system. As you cock the shutter the lens moves completely forward to a ready position. When the shutter release is pressed, the lens begins to move backward, under spring tension, toward its infinity- focus position until it receives an electrical signal indicating proper focus. At this instant a claw engages a toothed rack affixed to the internal lens barrel, and the lens is automatically locked in proper focus position.”

— Modern Photography - April 1979

I loaded the camera with Fujicolor 200 film and carried it along for a visit to see my mother-in-law. We decided to go to Elizabethtown for the annual Christmas parade, though, my heart was not really in it with my mother's recent passing. I thought I would try to get a few snaps of my great-niece and nephews in the parade, but we were facing the sun, which I think hindered the auto-focusing and auto-exposure on the camera. The close-up shots that I took of Brenda and her mom came out much better, I may want to try this camera with some black and white film with the subjects closer to the lens. 

The roll was processed with Film Photography Project C-41 Kit (which I'm hoping will finish out my project before needing replacement) and scanned with Epson V500 Photo.

Kodak Pazzazz Camera

Week 46 - Kodak Pazzazz 110 Camera that my stepfather found while going through his desk, which he then gifted to me (along with a few other lo-fi cameras). A web search for information on the Pazzazz indicated that it was manufactured in Mexico, but the model I have shows a "Made in U.S.A." stamp on the top. The camera came in two colors, rose and turquoise, and was a very simple 110 load, point, and shoot camera. There is an on-off switch for the flash, requiring two AA batteries.

I had not been shooting on the project for a couple of weeks as I was taking care of my mother in her battle with breast cancer and I was heartbroken when she passed two weeks ago. It's been hard to pick it up again, but I want to finish the project so that I can start the new year with hope for a less painful, loss-filled one than of 2016. My father passed in early spring, then our beloved family pet beagle, Cinnamon, two weeks later, and now my mother. Even though my parents have been divorced for many years, and I had been very distanced from my father, both of my parents had a significant, meaningful impact on my life.

My stepfather had been going through some things, and found a few cameras that he thought I might like, and this little pink (fushia?) camera was in the bunch. The name simply called out that I shoot with it, and I still had a fresh roll of Lomography Lobster Redscale 200 110 film to load it with. I had returned from work after being on family leave and wanted to get back into my routine of walking at lunch break and shooting photos of the city. I shot the entire roll of film on my lunch hour that day, but I admit, I wasn't very discriminating in my compositions.

As you can see in the resulting photos, this camera with this film requires lots of light, perhaps I should have saved a few shots to use with the flash on the camera. The film was processed with Film Photography Project C-41 kit and scanned with Epson V500 photo.

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 531A

Week 38 - Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 531A received as a gift from my sister-in-law. She gave it to me stating that her father had given it to her years ago, but she knew that I would get more joy out of owning it than she would. It's a very nice piece to add to my collection, but I was more excited that it was still in working condition and that I could put a few rolls through it. I've had the camera for several years and this week is not the first time that I have used it, but it really is a nice little camera so I took it off the shelf.

I loaded the Super Ikonta 531A with expired Kodak Portra 160NC (I know I said I wasn't going to use any more expired film for this project, but this batch of film has been tested). The camera has a Compur Rapid shutter with speeds of 1 to 500, a Carl Zeiss Tessar Jena f3.5 lens. The shutter release has a lock which will not allow a double exposure. There are 16 6x4.5mm frames on a roll of 120 size film. The shutter must be cocked before pressing the button and sometimes I forget to do that, thinking the camera is jammed. As best as I can determine from my web search, it is a prewar model made in the late 1930's.

My mother is under home hospice care, so I have been spending a lot time at her house, but this past weekend Brenda and I had a break for the day. It was a beautiful fall-feeling morning as we drove out to Gettsyburg and went on some of our favorite parts of the auto tour. I had to catch up on my camera project so I was shooting with this camera and the following week's camera, a Rollei Prego 90. Look for those photos later this week. I tried to capture some interesting landscape photos with a few cannons thrown in and of course, a couple of photos of the always lovely, Brenda. We happened upon a cannon firing demonstration by Confederate Reenactors and I was able to snap a photo of a Union Reenacting couple.

The roll was developed at home with the FPP C-41 Home Kit and scanned on Epson V500 Photo.