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View Full Version : GUESS WHICH camera took this picture?

sleepyhead
11-12-2007, 06:30
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/532100629_48088c9096.jpg


A: Ansco box camera

B: Leica MP with 35mm Summicron
varjag
11-12-2007, 06:38
It is rather small image to tell much, but soapy corners, blur corresponding to medium shutter speed, and a hint of pincushion distortion leads me to believe it is Ansco :)
dmr
11-12-2007, 06:40
My guess is the Ansco box, since you probably would not post this poll just to show that the Leica can take a clean clear photo. :)

I do admit that I'm not sure. I've said over and over that it's impossible in many cases to assert that a photo was taken with a particular brand of camera or lens.
NB23
11-12-2007, 06:40
If the building is naturally deformed, then it's the Leica. Otherwise, the severe pincushion distortion would be attirutable to the lens, which tends to the Box camera.

A Bigger and better scan should instantly reveal the truth without a doubt.
fidget
11-12-2007, 06:41
I'd guess that it was the Ansco, based mainly on the low view point.
FrankS
11-12-2007, 06:43
I can see the medium format smoothness: Ansco!
like2fiddle
11-12-2007, 06:51
Doesn't look as sharp as I'd expect the Summicron to look, and the image is begging to look more square than it is - I vote Ansco.
RML
11-12-2007, 06:54
Since you're putting it like you did, I assume it's the Ansco. But it doesn't matter. What matter sis that you take the shot, with anything you have at hand at the moment.
Tuolumne
11-12-2007, 08:54
If the building is naturally deformed, then it's the Leica. Otherwise, the severe pincushion distortion would be attirutable to the lens, which tends to the Box camera.

A Bigger and better scan should instantly reveal the truth without a doubt.

You have really good eyes. Can you describe to me where the pincussion distortion is and how to look for it?

/T
varjag
11-12-2007, 09:02
Look at the upper row of windows, they curve inside.
NB23
11-12-2007, 09:07
You have really good eyes. Can you describe to me where the pincussion distortion is and how to look for it?

/T

It's very easy. Once you know what to look at, it just jumps at you.

The upper part of the picture, you will notice the building's windows tend to go down the more you reach the center and then go up again at the corners.
Add to this the white line on the street at the bottom, which tends to go up towards the center. Usually, when pincushion starts at the very edges of an image, it is severe pincushion: Imagine the center!

So all in all, the lens is exteremely bad. No way a Leica lens will be like that.
Pablito
11-12-2007, 09:17
Another approach is to look at the content of the photo. American cars from the 70s or 80s (two in the same photo..), "Disco Fashion".."Records"....while it's possible this was taken today, it's more likely that it predates the production of the MP
Tuolumne
11-12-2007, 09:25
Look at the upper row of windows, they curve inside.

Thanks. That's subtle. But once you see it, you can't NOT see it.

/T
Gabriel M.A.
11-12-2007, 09:56
GUESS WHICH camera took this picture?
It's a trick question: people take pictures ;)
xayraa33
11-12-2007, 10:09
Another approach is to look at the content of the photo. American cars from the 70s or 80s (two in the same photo..), "Disco Fashion".."Records"....while it's possible this was taken today, it's more likely that it predates the production of the MP
if I used my 1957 M3 with my 1970s Summicron, I would most likely get a quality image on par with the MP and the 1970s Summicron for the same scene.
MikeL
11-12-2007, 10:11
It's a trick question: people take pictures ;)

Gabriel, that could be your signature, "Cameras don't take pictures, people do". You could be the founder and card carrying member of the NCA.

Thanks for the poll sleepyhead.
shadowfox
11-12-2007, 10:11
I know, it's the Leica MP *through* the Ansco Box :D
David Goldfarb
11-12-2007, 10:24
The first things I noticed were the pincushion distortion, soft corners, and low viewpoint, which I then read in the previous comments, so I also selected the Ansco.
Gabriel M.A.
11-12-2007, 10:32
Gabriel, that could be your signature, "Cameras don't take pictures, people do". You could be the founder and card carrying member of the NCA.
LOL - I don't think I can do an impression of Mr. Heston. I don't think "You'll have to pry my Summilux from my dead, cold hands" has a nice ring to it ;)

Or "I intend to dedicate my remaining time as president of the NCA to ensure that the First Amendment is safe from Rudy and all those who threaten it"
sleepyhead
11-16-2007, 01:15
Yes, it was the Ansco Box.

You all are a very observant bunch - TRUE, the pincushion distortion is OBVIOUS, but the comments about the LOW VEIWPOINT and TONALITY are less obvious, but clearly available to the trained eye.

By the way, my point in this poll WAS NOT to say "hey, a $2 camera can take a picture THAT COULD be mistaken for a picture taken by very expensive equipment".

MY POINT was to just show how those old "worthless" boxes are kinda fun to use, and the results are NOT WORTHLESS.

Nice week ya' all.