Bessa Lives!
I’ve got a few things that need addressing – like the dust on this scan, and apparently focus is important – but the Bessa 66 is functional!
This test shot was from Reading Terminal Market, in front of DiNic’s last Friday. Not too shabby for a 1938-era camera.
I dropped off two more rolls today (this is Neopan 400; I also shot some Ilford HP5) and we’ll see if I improved any over the weekend.
Some of the technical blunders I ran in to on this roll:
- Focus estimation problem (this has no live focus; you focus-by-distance)
- Double exposure (
automanual-wind, and apparently I didn’t do that once) - Frame misalignment (Wound too far for one frame, causing two to overlap)
- Dust on the scanner, picked up by the film immediately (waaaaaay more than I thought there could ever be)
Miraculously, over- and under- exposure weren’t nearly as much of a problem as I thought they would be. I metered the first roll with an actual light meter and my 5D. The next two were done by the Sunny 16 rule (i.e. guesstimating). We’ll see how well I did when I get them back tomorrow…
So I think this camera’s a keeper. I’ll be replacing its yellow filter, and sending it off for a CLA and bellows replacement. As soon as I’m done shooting “test” rolls. 😉
sweet! i have a wire frame ‘viewfinder’ camera which focuses by distance scale too. it’s a 120 format camera with a 100 degree wide angle of view so it’s not too much of an issue for me to leave it on infinity.
One of my 1960’s rangefinders (a Konica Auto S2) has a faulty rangefinder, so that one has to be guess-focused. That must be why I’ve only ever put one roll through it…
Your little adventure is prompting me to dig out an old film camera. And like I said the other day, we should have a Philly Photobloggers film day someday. No digital cameras allowed.
So, you’re moving on up from the cardboard box.
Albert: I’d love to see some panoramas from that gear – sounds like a blast!
Mark: love the idea of a film-only photobloggers event.
John: from 1880s technology to 1940s!
Dust is a problem at all points of the process. There could also be dust on the film, when shot. If you develop on your own, you can get it on the film when you dry it. You are going to have to get good at the healing brush thing.
I am looking forward to seeing the camera.
Go film