Pentax Auto 110 SLR Film Camera

The number of new and used vintage film cameras on e-bay fascinates me.

My latest rediscovery is the 110 film format. Unknown to most, Pentax made an unbelievably small SLR camera system for the 110 format called the Pentax Auto 110. A miniature single lens reflex camera that was introduced late in the 110 film format market.

The 110 film cartridge has garnered little respect over the years and by now is almost forgotten (although my Aunt Linda still shows up at family functions with her trusty Kodak pocket 110 camera!). When I mention the format to friends they give me a blank look followed by “ohhhh, yeaa…110.”


Many of these camera systems are still available (both new and used) on e-bay. I just started shooting with it and here are a few images. More soon.

Images shot with:
1978 Pentax Auto 110 SLR Camera.
Kodak Ultra 110 Color Print Film (400asa)
Processing by Dwayne’s Photo

More on the Auto 110 here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_Auto_110

http://www.submin.com/110/collection/pentax110/

http://www.pentax110.co.uk/

Super Zoom is Ka-Boom!

My first and (to date) only photograph of fireworks is a summary of the lens that shot it – unspectacular. The lens is a Kiron 28 – 210mm manual focus f 4.5 – f32 with an FD mount for Canon SLR cameras. Can a lens manufactured in the 1980s with such a dreamy choice of focal lengths be as fantastic as you want it to be?



I tend to be a bit romantic about older camera gear – only to find that the “too good to be true” lens really is. Commonly referred to as the Kiron “super zoom,” information on this third party lens for Canon has become scarce. Various postings on Photo.net and elsewhere speculate which company manufactured this lens and user reviews range from good to poor.





I really wanted this lens to be good, so I took it for a spin to shoot “Dirty Blondes” playing a music gig in Wayne, New Jersey this past Saturday. I used my 1973 Canon FTb body with the Canon 177a flash. Film of choice was Fujicolor Superia X-Tra 400 print film. The fireworks were unexpected, the band was great but in the end, The Kiron 28 – 210mm lens was just no fun.

Now a paperweight on my shelf, I’m sure that I will re-visit it in a year or two saying to myself – “It couldn’t have been that bad!”

Pictured:
Fireworks at Packanack Lake, Wayne, NJ - July 18, 2009

The Canon FTb wearing the Kiron Super Zoom

The fabulous Lisa Keane of the "Dirty Blondes"
www.dirtyblondesrocknroll.com/Home.htm

Ultra Wide & Slim

The “hipster” lomo photography crowd has an ongoing love affair with the discontinued Vivitar “point and shoot” ULTRA WIDE & SLIM camera. The all mechanical / all plastic camera uses 35mm film and has no electronics or need for a battery to function. With a fixed f11 aperture and a w-i-d-e 22mm lens, the camera delivers gorgeous lo-fi pictures. Current price tag on e-bay: $50. (if your lucky to find one). Demand is great enough that a company called SuperHeadz has manufactured a “knock-off” - available new for $30 here:
http://www.fourcornerstore.com/collections/frontpage/products/white-slim-angel



I deny being a “hipster” even though I recently purchased an ULTRA SLIM & WIDE at an over inflated price. Love the camera! Currently shooting…hope to post pix soon.

Suggested links:

http://www.fourcornerstore.com/

http://www.lomography.com/

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Vivitar_Ultra_Wide_&_Slim

I shot the above image in tungsten lighting using my Canon FTb
/ 50mm ssc lens and Fujicolor Supera 200 color print film. Processing and scan by Clark Color Labs.

I’m a lomographer and didn’t even know it!

Since digging my 35mm cameras out of storage last November, I’ve been spending most of my spare time shooting…and shooting….and shooting.

While always striving to make perfect images, I’ve achieved (for the most part) the complete opposite. Yes, a few images in my on-line “Flickr” photo gallery are, in my opinion, pretty good. Most however, are a bit off-kilter, making me (to my surprise) - a lomographer!

According to the Wikipedia:
“Lomography emphasizes casual, snapshot, photography. Characteristics such as over-saturated colors, off-kilter exposure, blurring, ‘happy accidents,’ and alternative film processing are often considered part of the ‘Lomographic Technique.’ Users are encouraged to take a lighthearted approach to their photography, and use these techniques to document everyday life.”



What a laugh I got (and am still having) knowing how “hip” I am without even knowing it (still laughing). Most of the “lomo” credit really goes to the processing lab I use - Clark Color Labs. I’ve been sending 90% of my film there because they are the cheapest lab on the planet earth. They will process, print and scan a 24-exposure roll of film for $4.85us postage paid. We’re not talking fast service here, either. A minimum 5-day turnaround to get your scans on-line and another 4 days to get your prints. If you have any interest in the “lomo” trend, please do send your film to the fine folks at Clark Color Labs. They’ll screw it up…making you a “lomo” king.



Sadly, I’ve realized too late how “hip” I was as I recently switched my processing to my local Target photo center. I’m not a lomographer at all…my new stuff is…picture perfect.

Visit me on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelraso/

Clark Color Labs:
http://www.clarkcolor.com

More on Lomography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lomography
http://www.lomography.com/

They closed my Saturn dealership!

The NY Times recently reported:

"Saturn, one of three brands that General Motors plans to drop, has been running ads that tell skittish car shoppers, 'We’re still here.' But Saturn is getting harder to find. One of the company’s largest dealers shut down four of his six Saturn stores in Wisconsin on Wednesday."

Yup, no kidding. Saturn shut down my local dealership here in North Jersey (laugh)...which was a big factor for me in leasing my '08 Saturn Vue. Convenience. Practically walking distance from my home, making car maintenance E-Z. Damn you, GM. I'm not happy!

More here:
www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/business/16saturn.html

Goodbye, Analog Television

The United States Congress set June 12, 2009 as the final date that full power television stations can broadcast analog signals. As of June 13, 2009, full power television stations will only broadcast digital, over-the-air signals.

Assuming that you currently have Cable TV, this means that old black & white or color TV you have in the garage or basement will not pick up a signal without connection to your cable or a digital converter. I’ve had digital television for quite a few years now, delivered to my TV via my regional cable company. I’m no stranger to cable TV. I worked for Comcast Cable for six years and spent many a morning, coffee in hand, BS-ing with the engineers that monitored the signals going out over the wire. As far back as the early 1990s, this conversion was being planned.

Is the signal better? Not in my opinion. I find the digital signal to be “thin” – with digital break-up…often. How about HD signal or the new LCD TVs? Not impressed. Analog, I will miss you.

Pictured above: May 1971. My Uncle Mike installing a state-of-the-art analog TV antenna on the top of a house in Toms River, New Jersey. My dad took the shot.

Frisky's Fifteen Minutes of Fame

I’ve decided this year to devote quite a bit of my spare time to the digital scanning of all of my photos. I started photography as a hobby sometime in 1977 – so it’s conceivable that my one-year commitment may reach far beyond 2009. That combined with my frenzied picture taking as of late – has meant that so far – I’ve spent every free moment either scanning, snapping or uploading to Flickr.com. No complaints here. It has been great fun and I’ve met lots of new cyber pals on the Flickr site. My renewed hobby has certainly jarred and opened many memories that were long forgotten.

Take Frisky, for instance. A very nice cat and one of many pets that I rescued or gave a home to during the 1990s. Frisky is better known as “The FBI Guys Cat” as he was found and made part of the cast for a comedy show that I was involved with at the time. The year was 1991. I had been producing a regional cable show in New Jersey since 1988. The show (called Meadowlands Showcase) played on free TV in the New York tri-state area. I was employed at Comcast Cable and my job gave me the flex of working with a “co-op” of other cable systems. Seven or eight different cable companies made up the core channel know as The Cable Television Network of New Jersey (or CTN as it was called). I was a member of their Cultural Sub-Committee. So, in my off hours at my job, I (and a core group of volunteers) produced Meadowlands Showcase. A monthly show featuring local bands, short films and original comedy sketches that we produced. “The FBI Guys” was one such sketch. For Episode 1, the script called for the casting of a cat. My house was home for many cats at that time in my life. For whatever reason, I didn’t use one of my own feline friends so, fellow FBI Guy and show creator, Paul Darrigo decided he’d find the cat for the role.

The night was dreary and rainy. Paul was driving on Rte. 3 in Secaucus, New Jersey – on the desolate and filthy shoulder of the road was a small cat – wet and shaking in fright. Paul pulled over, grabbed the scared animal and brought him home. I first met the kitty when he was brought to the Lyndhurst studio facility for one of the shoots. After all the video shooting was completed, Paul announced that he couldn’t keep the cat. As I had said – I already owned quite a few cats – so I just brought him home – to my house in Northern New Jersey. Fifteen minutes of fame and a guaranteed shelter for life.

I no longer live in that same house but I did find Frisky a good home. With the recent discovery of the photo and video clip, I made a phone call to check up on him. He’s doing quite well, living his December years with love and comfort.