In retrospect, I would have to say that I have been as much a collector as user of film cameras. My shelf in the family room sports a number of Kodak and Ansco models from the 40’s to the 60’s, all of which have been used with acceptable results. The Kodak Brownie Holiday, of which I have two, has produced some exceptional images on 127 film.

When younger, in order to change from one camera system to another, I was often forced to sell some existing equipment to have adequate funds to acquire the new desired equipment. Both Hasselblad and Mamiya equipment were let go in this manner, only to be acquired again in later years. Some items were sold, simply because they were not up to my standards in quality. The Intrepid line of large format cameras, both 4x5 and 8x10 have proven to demonstrate almost non-existent quality control, as examples. I bought and sold both their 4x5 and 8x10 models and let them go on Ebay, due to quality issues that could have been caught during production.

Now retired and financially secure, there is no longer a need to sell existing equipment to acquire new. I sold a cherished 1950’s Agfa Isolette III, with 3.5/F Solinar lens some years back and near immediately regretted my decision. It was refurbished by Certo6 (Jurgen Kreckel) with a complete CLA (clean, lube, and adjust), in addition to rangefinder calibration, new skin, and new bellows. A truly pocketable folding German medium format camera of beauty and function. Waited a long time for another of his to appear on Ebay, as he has recently been doing mainly repairs, rather than selling. About six weeks ago, a peek on Ebay revealed what I had been waiting for and I hit the Buy It Now button without hesitation.

The Isolette III was produced between 1951 (the year of my birth) and 1960. The top end Solinar lens was competition to the Zeiss Tessar, and having owned copies of both, prefer to Solinar for the unique images it can render. Have put about four rolls of Kodak T-Max and Ilford HP5+ through it in the last few weeks. Here are a few images from those initial forays:

Pump House-Little Girl’s Point, Lake Superior

After purging both my 4x5 and 8x10 Intrepid large format cameras (due to the aforementioned quality issues), I purchased a Shen Hao PTB-45 camera for 4x5 work. No longer interested in hauling heavy 8x10 equipment around in the Northwoods terrain at 72, so I will stick with 4x5 as my largest format. The vast majority of my work is medium format with the Hasselblad and Mamiya cameras I own. I have owned a large number of 4x5 and 8x10 cameras over the years, including those by Ebony (RW45) Kodak (8x10 Masterview), Zone VI, Svedosky (8x10), and Chamonix (4x5). The new Shen Hao, like the Chamonix, is built in China and demonstrates both beauty (Walnut) and high quality. A very light large format camera to finish up my years with.

I have had one brief outing the the PTB45 earlier this week and exposed four sheets of Ilford HP5+, which were developed in PMK Pyro. Here are a couple of those images that were used for Cyanotype contact prints.

Cyanotype Print Toned in Tannic Acid-Machine Shop Door at Historic Montreal Mine

Cyanotype Print Toned in Tannic Acid-Window Detail-Machine Shop, Historic Montreal Mine

Now that I am retired, there are no exucses for not keeping up with this blog, which has been mute since 2022. Heading for the historic village of Fayette on the Garden Peninsula on Lake Michigan this weekend to photograph and camp at Fayette State Park with my younger brother, who also lives in the U,P. While Karl is a digital only shooter, I plan on shooting both medium and large format, in addition to the Polaroid SX-70 Sonnar. The historic village of Fayette is a ghost town from the late 1800’s with many of the original structures of the village preserved and nestled on beautiful Snail Shell Harbor of Lake Michigan.

Spring is finally here in the Western Upper Peninsula, as evidenced by the emergence of the beautiful and petite Trout Lily wildflowers as seen on my morning three mile walk. I photograph both wildflowers and specimens from my 17 perennial gardens as still life subects from now till the last frost, primarily with the Polaroid SX-70.

What a gift to read that David Gilmour will release his first Solo album in many years come this September, to be followed by a tour.