I am continuing to introduce cameras that I intend to used for the Frugal Film Project and My Inner Monet Most of the cameras under consideration are Pre-1940. Although the Agfa Isolette first appeared in 1937, I believe my model is Post-1940. The Isolette was one of the earliest cameras to include significant plastic in the upper viewfinder housing.
The camera features a fold-down cover.
The Isolette is 6X6 Format. And we have a surprise ‘sample’ from the first roll of film:
Why not start the Year 2021 with some film tests………..
I had casually tried some Retro 80S on the drive home from Phoenix in 2019. But I wasn’t really planning on a comparative study and my image were not in pairs. So I decide to set-up a real study comparing Retro 80S AND Retro 400.S This is Part I where I will discuss Retro 80S.
The tests were conducted using 120 film and my Mamiya-7 cameras both with IR 695 filters. Ilford SFX-200 was my standard for comparison.
All of the SFX-200 imafes are on the left, and the Retro80S on the right.
In my first images from 2019, I had used a Dark Red filter for the Retro 80S. applying the IR 695 to the Retro 80S made it more contrasty than preferred. So I thin for an future use I would recommend using just a Dark Red Filter, instead of the IR 695 for the Retro 80S film.
Next up to start the year: Retro 400s……
I choose this image to sum up my feeling about the Year 2020:
A Word from My Inner Monet
Check here for my 202 0opes and Dreams.
What am I looking forward to for 2021?
Well, my brain tumor decided to return with a vengeance at the end of 2020, leaving me partially blind and with an uncertain future.
My Hopes? To maintain the stability of the sight that I have and retire on disability. Technically I am legally blind and cannot continue my work. But I can see well enough to continue with my photography. And there is a slim chance of visual improvement.
Right now I am waiting….Patience. As my surgeons try to decide if more surgery will help……
Hopefully Next Year will be better!
So I am going to go ahead and make plans for 2021, including photographic plans:
+Of course, continuing my own Blog
+Working with Pre-194’s cameras for My Inner Monet
+Continuing with the Frugal Film Project
+Continuing the Thursday Doors
+Continuing the Inspired By Series
+Adding more Pinhole work, consistent with My Inner Monet…..
+Occasionally entering contests; although not a high priority.
So I am Looking Forward to a Happy, Healthy and Productive 2021
Hoping that 2021 is a less ‘Prickly’ Year!
My Submission for the Light, Space & Time 2021 Women’s Competition:
Still time to enter if you like……..
Spent our Anniversary in the Superstition Mountains Region…Lost Dutchman Mine State Park and environs:
Now on our way home…………
I decided to summarize my participation in the @ILFORDPhoto #CameraChallenge on Twitter, and posted on my Long’s Peak Journal.
@ILFORDPhoto and @_JasonAvery sponsor Photo Challenges on Twitter……..
@_JasonAvery
No Doors Today. Celebrating our Day of Thankfulness……some calm and relaxation……
By the time you read this we will be on our way back to the Phoenix Mayo Clinic for the next 30 days. We made arrangements to stay at the Condos we had used before.
After talking to the second neuro-surgery teleconference it was decided to run some additional tests before scheduling surgery. I will tell you that I had started the steroid therapy and there was some improvement, especially for my left eye. Undoubtably this is the source of my extended testing.
Now I have the results or a preliminary evaluation…..Surgery now or Later? The vote for surgery later (maybe). We are in a wait and see mode hoping to stabilized my vision and move forward. I wii definitely ready to hear that news.
So I am off into the Mountains for a drive today. Still testing ‘old cameras’ and ‘new’ films. Taking it easy for the rest of this year. And can I Say “Hallelujah, Amen”!
I looked back at my archive and found that I’ve only posted a couple of my Pre-1940’s Camera Unboxings. Well, the Agfa 645 (a.k.a. the Billy Clack No. 51) from circa 1934 is making it’s first major appearance for the Frugal Film Project Tri-X 400 year end finale. So you first must experience the ‘Grand Unboxing’.
I’ve removed identification to protect privacy. But I did want you to know that this gem came from Slovakia……
And it was very well packed:
This one happened to come with a nice case:
So let’s take a look at what’s inside………
And taking a look inside. We see that it is a Portrait-style 645 camera design:
And the Final Camera loaded and ready to go! By the way, this IS a 120 film camera and shoots 16 images.
So you will be seeing posting for Frugal Film OCt-Nov_Dec 2020 from this camera. And good ‘extra’ prints will also be posted. If you would like more details about the Billy Clack No. 51, like where the name come from, visit the link at Art Deco Cameras.
