Thrift Store Find: Pentax K1000 with a 28-70mm Zoom Lens.

This is a thrift store find. It's a Pentax K1000 with a 28-70mm zoom lens (f/3.4-4.5). The lens has no identification other than it's specs so I'm it is probably not an original Pentax lens. I will have to do a little research.

Other than a few dings on the filter mount ring, it's in good condition and seems to be fully operational.

It came without a lens cap, so the battery was dead. The Pentax K1000 has no on-off switch for the light meter. It turns "off" when you put the lens cap back on.

Battery Test for Pentax K1000:

Testing the battery on the Pentax K1000 isn't obvious. There is no switch or button.

To test the battery, set the ISO-ASA setting on the dial to 100.

Set the shutter speed dial to B (bulb setting).

Look through the viewfinder and look at the light meter needle on the right side. If the needle is in the up position and steady, the battery is good. If it is not, then replace the battery. The camera uses a 1.5v SR44 silver oxide battery or an equivalent. The LR44 battery is cheaper, but I don't recommend them, because they may leak and damage your equipment. I figure spending a little more money on the silver oxide battery is the better investment, because they last much longer than the alkalines and are lower risk for damaging the camera.

The battery compartment is on the bottom of the camera.

New Video: The Lomography Smartphone 35mm Film Scanner

I have posted a new video: "Out of the Box - Lomography Smartphone Film Scanner" on my YouTube channel.

This is the new film scanner from Lomography that uses a smartphone to digitize 35mm film negatives. Lomography hasn't yet released their software app that goes with the scanner, but they promise it will be soon.

In the meantime, Adobe's Photoshop Express on the iPhone works fine to invert the negative images. I know there is Photoshop Express on Android, but I don't know if it has the same feature set including Invert. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkGhPKIlXiI

The Lomography Sprocket Rocket - 35mm Panorama Camera

I received my Sprocket Rocket camera from Lomography last week. I am currently shooting a couple of rolls of film. It's an interesting camera, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it can do. The specs on this camera are:

30mm Wide angle lens

2 apertures: Sunny - f/16 and Cloudy - f/10.8

2 shutter settings: 1/100sec and Bulb

Focus: zone, with settings for .6m to 1m and 1m-infinity

Uses 35mm film. The negatives are double wide, so you will get 18 exposures on a 36-exp roll, and 12 exposures on a 24 exposure roll. (image size is 24mm x 72mm)

You can shoot with or with out image in the sprocket hole area of the film.

A special non-racheted film advance system, so you can wind BACKWARDS as well as forwards. This means you can back up on a roll to create some interesting double or multiple exposure images.

Hotshoe for flash

tripod socket.

It can shoot with or without exposed sprockets, via a removable mask.

Things to keep in mind.

While it shoots with standard 35mm film, the negatives are extra wide, so most labs will be able to process the film, but won't be able to scan or make prints. You will have to scan them in yourself, or send them out to a lab that will work with it.

I haven't tried them yet, but thedarkroom.com works with most types of lo-fi camera film, including 120 film and 35mm film from DIY Holga120 and the Sprocket Rocket.

Video: Shooting with Diana

Taking photos with your Diana+ is easy.

Your camera prefers a fast film, so be sure to get film with a rating of ISO 400. ISO is the measure of how sensitive your film is to light. The higher the number, the more sensitive the film is to light.

Slower films can be used, but you will have to adjust the aperture (Sunny,Semi-cloudy, Cloudy, P) accordingly. This just means, that if you are using a slower film, like ISO 200 or 160, that you use the Semi-cloudy or cloudy aperture when it is sunny out. These apertures have larger openings and will allow more light to hit the film, compensating for the slower film.

Think SAFE!

S - Shutter setting. For normal outdoor photos, set the shutter to N.

A - Aperture setting. Set the aperture to the appropriate symbol, depending out the lighting conditions.
Sunny
Semi-Cloudy
Cloudy
P (Pinhole) If you accidently have your camera on pinhole, your negatives will be very underexposed using the N shutter setting, so nothing will come out.

If you are shooting with a slower speed film (ISO 200 or 160), you will need to adjust the aperture accordingly.
If it is Sunny outside, choose the Semi-Cloudy aperture.
If it is overcast, choose the Cloudy aperture.

F - Focus setting. Determine how far you are from your subject and set the lens to the appropriate distance.

E - Expose your film by tripping the shutter lever.

Wind the film to the next frame # in the counter window, and repeat.

Thrift Store Find: The National Geographic Binocular Camera

This is a the National Geographic Binocular Camera that I found at a thrift store. It is a cheap plastic camera, with a 35mm half-frame camera built into the top of the binoculars, using a mirror to capture the image from the center optic between the binocular lenses.

I haven't run a roll of film through it yet, but I plan to soon.