I hope you guys are happy!!!

oftheherd · 08-02-2004

I have been in here for some time now, enjoying the conviviality and great store of knowledge. I have a Super Press 23 (6x7) so I can claim legitimacy for being here.

I constantly see and hear about 35mm rangefinders (I had one years ago, some kind of Olympus). I kind of liked it. But you guys not only talk about Liekas and Contaxes, which are out of my league, but Russian RF's and those cute little Japanese RF's from a few years ago, like the Olympus I used to have. Since I have enough 35mm SLR's and the Mamiya, I have so far resisted the impulse to purchase a 35mm RF. Until now!

I recently purchased an Olympus 35SP off ebay. Everything seems to work as far as self timer, shutter speeds, and aperture. I haven't had time to check auto or spot readings, as I haven't yet cleaned out the battery compartment from which I removed a PX13 battery with that funny white stuff which also attached to the battery compartment. Luckily it doesn't seem to have attached to the contacts and hopefully will clean well with vinigar.

My question for those of you who use them, what is the correct battery to use now? I purchased it partly for the auto and more, for the spot feature. Did they ever sell cases for this? Does eb*y usually have them? Anything else peculiar to this model I should know about would be appreciated.

Well, see what you all have done? Don't you feel bad?

Kris · 08-02-2004

I use SR-44 battery. It's 1.5 volts but hey, it works on my SP and I've tested it with slide film too.

About the eveready case, I got one but already threw it into the bin because I never use camera case/bag. Sorry.

taffer · 08-02-2004

Hehe, but now we're sharing part of our happiness with you in the shape of that really nice SP !

With mine I'm using a 1.4 V zinc air (hearing aid) battery, found a 6 pack in a trash bin. I had to put a plastic O ring around the battery as it's way too thin for the Oly's batt chamber.

I personally like that camera a lot, hope you'll be still happier with yours !

back alley · 08-02-2004

oftheherd has fallen and he will never get up!
you have joined us brother and now are one of us.

tell me, have you bookmarked ebay on your computer?
do you check out the fed 2s when visiting said auction site?
have you another 70s era rf camera in mind that you would like to play with?

down the road to hell & damnation...
there is no salvation...

joe

Todd.Hanz · 08-02-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by backalley photo
tell me, have you bookmarked ebay on your computer?
do you check out the fed 2s when visiting said auction site?
have you another 70s era rf camera in mind that you would like to play with?

down the road to hell & damnation...
there is no salvation...

joe

The only way now to stop the burning, to ease the pain and suffering is to buy another.............and another......and a n o t....

Todd

SolaresLarrave · 08-02-2004

There's a cure for the 35mm rangefinder curse! I had two Konicas, one Yashica GSN, a Minolta Hi-Matic G and a Canonet. Sold them all (except the Canonet) and got myself some Leicas.

I think I'll pay them off in a few years...

rover · 08-02-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by SolaresLarrave
There's a cure for the 35mm rangefinder curse! I had two Konicas, one Yashica GSN, a Minolta Hi-Matic G and a Canonet. Sold them all (except the Canonet) and got myself some Leicas.

I think I'll pay them off in a few years...

It sounds like Francisco is buying a Canonet every month.
That being the case, he is still offically addicted.

oftheherd · 08-02-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by backalley photo
oftheherd has fallen and he will never get up!
you have joined us brother and now are one of us.

tell me, have you bookmarked ebay on your computer?
do you check out the fed 2s when visiting said auction site?
have you another 70s era rf camera in mind that you would like to play with?

down the road to hell & damnation...
there is no salvation...

joe

Do you have spyware installed in my computer?

What really scares me now is that I am starting to look longingly at the eb*y listed Welta Weltini 35mm cameras (RF of course). And did you know Welta had a MF folding RF?

Does it ever stop once you start down this road? Help me somebody !!!!!! Please!!!!!! Aaarrrrghhhh...

xxzcfghkileccce ... cannot compute--canot compute ........

My name is oftheherd. I am a rangefinderaholic. Can I show you my ..... Where is everybody, how did I get here?

bmattock · 08-02-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by oftheherd
My name is oftheherd. I am a rangefinderaholic. Can I show you my ..... Where is everybody, how did I get here?

How did I get in this handbasket and where are we going so fast?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

PS - I am officially THINNING THE HERD. Loads of lovely fixed-lens rangefinders for sale. I have discovered...vintage solid-state stereo gear (www.audiokarma.org). Whee! Off to the races!

RichardS · 08-02-2004

Try this site
http://www.photobattery.com/
type in the number of the battery the camera originally took and it should list replacements for it.

Richard

oftheherd · 08-03-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by bmattock
How did I get in this handbasket and where are we going so fast?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

PS - I am officially THINNING THE HERD. Loads of lovely fixed-lens rangefinders for sale. I have discovered...vintage solid-state stereo gear (www.audiokarma.org). Whee! Off to the races!

THINNING THE HERD? Excuse me!!??

bmattock · 08-03-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by oftheherd
THINNING THE HERD? Excuse me!!??

Is it the idea of selling off cameras, or the slight resemblance to your user name that is fashing you thus?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

chenick · 08-03-2004

Nice camera!!

The alkaline 625 I had in the camera seemed to work OK, it might have underexposed a tad, but that can be compensated for by reducing the ASA.
What I currently do in my SP is use 675 zinc-air hearing-aid batteries. They're v. cheap & I'm still on the first one. Rather small, but either use some sort of O-ring as mentioned above or just screw the cap tight enough.

Another solution would be a battery converter from somewhere like CRIS- they're not at all cheap, ($30!!) but there's a place in the Netherlands which sells a cheap ($4) DIY kit http://www.rolleiclub.nl/batt-adapt-US.pdf

Great lens on that camera!

-Nick

oftheherd · 08-03-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by bmattock
Is it the idea of selling off cameras, or the slight resemblance to your user name that is fashing you thus?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Both. I will take care of the herd issue, but don't you feel like you are selling children?

bmattock · 08-03-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by oftheherd
Both. I will take care of the herd issue, but don't you feel like you are selling children?

YES! But I'm learning as I go.

When I got into collecting vintage watches - I bought everything I found interesting, regardless of condition. Or, I bought 'mint' and it wasn't. In any case, I quickly ended up with a bunch of broken watches. I told myself that I'd get them fixed/restored one of these days and put them away. Soon I had a hundred or so, only about 20 of them in condition such that I could wear them with pride. Still, the remaining watches all fit in a drawer - hardly a big deal.

Then I got into collecting vintage rangefinder (and SLR) cameras and the same thing happened. A few 'core users' and the rest in so-so condition. They took up a little more room, but hmmm, I guess I can find a place for them.

But then I got into collecting vintage stereo gear and two things happened...

First - the same problems as a) and b) above. Much broken 'mint' junk in addition to the good stuff. Second - it takes up a LOT of space!

And finally - I am now in reduced financial circumstances. Nothing horrible, and actually of my own choice - my wife and I wanted a simpler life. But it means living within a budget. So, new rules for Bill...

If I want to buy something, I must finance it by selling something.
If it is broken and I don't see myself fixing it in a year, out it goes.
If I don't take pictures with it / listen to it / wear it often, out it goes.

We'll see if I can stick to this, but hey - what good is it to have a plastic tub full of every sort of rangefinder - when you don't take them all out and use them - and someone else could be enjoying them?

OK, so that's that. Yes, it is hard - but I gotta.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

back alley · 08-03-2004

that's a very disciplined approach bill.
good luck with it.

btw - i'm in my second week of non smoking!
very pleased with myself.
and you? still going strong, i hope.

joe

bmattock · 08-03-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by backalley photo
that's a very disciplined approach bill.
good luck with it.

btw - i'm in my second week of non smoking!
very pleased with myself.
and you? still going strong, i hope.

joe

Joe,

I've never BEEN very self-disciplined where it came to my pleasures. But I *am* trying...

This is the beginning of week 8 of no smokes. Going strong on that, thanks for asking!

Congrats on your second week - it does get better! Hang in there! Call me if you need someone to talk to about it!

This recent re-ordering of my life was quite intentional...

I quit being a road warrior.
I moved from Albuquerque to North Carolina.
I quit smoking.
I bought a house.
I intentionally took a much lower-paying job that is making me happy instead of wealthy.

I *want* to lose weight and get healthier as well.
And, get my rotten teeth fixed. I'd love to be able to smile again.

This is all just part of that process - get rid of things that I don't need/use or see myself needing or using. Live within a budget like normal people do.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

oftheherd · 08-04-2004

Wow, what strength you have; moving from Albuquerque to North Carolina. The rest should be fairly easy.

Watch with the cigarettes. The 8 week point is sometimes a toughie. You know you can do it so why not just try another with a friend? Don't!!! I congratulate you on quitting. It isn't always easy. I couldn't tell you how many times I quit before it finally stuck some 25-30 years ago.

bmattock · 08-04-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by oftheherd
Wow, what strength you have; moving from Albuquerque to North Carolina. The rest should be fairly easy.

Hey, I like it here in NC!

Quote:

Watch with the cigarettes. The 8 week point is sometimes a toughie. You know you can do it so why not just try another with a friend? Don't!!! I congratulate you on quitting. It isn't always easy. I couldn't tell you how many times I quit before it finally stuck some 25-30 years ago.

I haven't declared victory yet - I have a good friend who was off 'em for two years and went back - ultimately he did quit and has been off 'em now for over ten years...but still...

I sometimes dream about smoking. But it is getting a bit easier to deal with. I hope it will be OK, but I'm being careful.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Russ · 08-04-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by bmattock
Joe,

This is the beginning of week 8 of no smokes. Going strong on that, thanks for asking!

This is all just part of that process - get rid of things that I don't need/use or see myself needing or using. Live within a budget like normal people do.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Bill

Congratulations on the smoking deal. Stay with it. As for being a "normal" person, you collect and use rangefinder's. You'll never be normal. Hell, I should partially blame you for contributing to my abnormality.......

Did you receive my E, from the Kiron Kid address?

Russ