Here is a quick tip list
on letters for the HELP! desk:
Please confine yourself to only one question per letter. Both postal
letters and e-mails are fine, although we prefer e-mail as the most
efficient form of communication. Send your e-mail queries to editorial@shutterbug.net
with Help in the subject header. Although we make every effort, we cannot
promise to answer every HELP! letter.
When sending a response or suggestion that refers to a published letter
please include the month and page of the original question.
All postal letters to HELP! must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed
envelope to be considered for reply. We will respond to e-mail queries
with an e-mail.
George Schaub
Editor
Leica Historical
Society Update
I read with interest your reply to Bill Bullis regarding the repair
of Leica cameras on page 190 of the April 2003 Shutterbug HELP! department.
Although Dr. Hodges was secretary/treasurer of the Leica Historical
Society of America several years ago, current contact information is:
LHSA Administrative Manager, 60 Revere Dr., Ste. 500, Northbrook, IL
60062; (847) 564-2181. Also, the Society does maintain a list of repair
facilities that have been successfully used by our members, however
this is a member benefit and should not be considered an endorsement
of any facility by LHSA. Hopefully, you can correct this information
in your next issue. New members with a genuine interest in Leica photography
or history are welcome. Benefits include the quarterly Viewfinder Magazine,
the Leica Catalog of Leica merchandise wanted or being sold by our membership
as well as organized photo shoots, photo instruction, social events,
and an annual meeting featuring Leica experts and professionals from
around the world as well as a popular banquet. Membership and repair
information is available on our www.lhsa.org website.
Dr. Richard K. Santee
President, the Leica Historical Society of America
via Internet
Thanks for the updated information
on the LHSA. I’ll correct my reference files and post your data
for our readers as we get a number of inquiries about Leica brand equipment.
In fact, I’m in the process of having my Leica IIIf (that I bought
new in 1950) checked over so I can use it again as I did decades ago.
Leica Repair Recommendation
In response to the query by Bill Bullis, regarding the “Leica
Rebuild,” in your April 2003 issue, I would recommend Don Goldberg,
DAG Camera Repair, 2451 Thatcher Ln., McFarland, WI 53550; (608) 838-4769.
He has repaired my M3s a number of times, including re-doing the outside.
He is fast, fairly priced, and does excellent work. I hope this is helpful.
Monroe Cole, M.D.
via Internet
Thanks for passing this information
along. I’ll get it to Bill Bullis and add this Leica repair facility
to my master list. I much prefer suggesting any repair facility or firm
with which a reader has had personal experience.
Check The Lens
Last fall Bill Birnbaum inquired about low contrast negatives with his
Retina 1a camera. On a scale of 1-10, I’m betting a 10, if Bill
takes a good close look at the internal lens elements he will probably
find some “fogging” due to the loss of seal integrity in
the lens barrel. Just open the camera back and open the aperture to
f/3.5, then hold it up to a bright light and take a peek. It can be
either a hazy look or a defined pattern but more than likely he has
some type of mold that has taken up housekeeping on a lens element(s),
which would not be unusual in a camera/lens of that vintage. Been there,
had that. Essex Camera Services, Inc. cleaned mine to like new condition.
Dudley Stouch
via Internet
This sounds logical to me,
especially on a camera with a known top-quality lens. You can contact
Essex Camera Services, Inc., 100 Amor Ave., Carlstadt, NJ 07072; (201)
933-7272; www.essexcamera.com. Thanks for another good suggestion to
a reader’s question.
TLR Filters
Q. Where can I find filters and filter holders for my YashicaMat TLR?
Thank you.
Joe Dunseith
via Internet
A. I
believe your YashicaMat TLR takes the same type and size of bayonet
filter as my old Rolleicord IV purchased in 1954. The Camera People
stock many types and sizes of filters for older cameras. I just called
them and although you can buy some filters with the bayonet mount you
need (Bay 2, I believe), they said a more economical method would be
to get a Bay 2 adapter with a step-up ring for using 49 or 52mm filters
so you could then use regular size filters. You can contact them at
The Camera People, PO Box 1069, Bayfield, CO 81122; (970) 884-6045;
www.camerapeople.net. I’m sure they can provide what you seek.
Bracketing Practice
Q. I have been reading some of the tips on photography and a lot of
them have details on bracketing, and I was wondering what bracketing
is and how it helps to take a good picture. Thanks.
AJ
via Internet
A. Bracketing
exposures is typically done when you encounter unusual lighting situations
that might confuse the camera’s metering. If you are shooting
color negative or black and white negative film you normally don’t
need to bracket any exposures since the film’s broad latitude
can still produce a printable negative even if the exposure is not particularly
accurate. But, if you are using sensitive color slide (transparency)
film which typically requires exposures within plus or minus one/half
an f/stop for optimum images, then bracketing can be desirable. Some
cameras have bracketing capability built-in when they will shoot one
frame at the metered exposure, then one 1/2 stop or more and one 1/2
stop or less. If the camera (SLRs normally can do this) allows you to
set your bracketing range you can vary the bracket range to a stop over
and under and sometimes set for three or five bracketed exposures in
varying amounts of over/under. Bracketing is only practical on inanimate
subjects as an outdoor scene or still life as you would not obtain the
exact expression or pose you intended if you tried to bracket on human
or animal subjects. Hope this helps clarify bracketing for you.
Hasselblad Queries
Q. I’m a senior citizen, recently retired. My interest in photography
is boiling over and I just received a Hasselblad 500CM with a Carl Zeiss
Planar f/2.8 80mm lens. I have been reading most photography magazines,
but Shutterbug is the best! I am completely ignorant about this subject
of photography so I have a few questions that I need answered and you
are my source. 1) What is the difference between a Sekor and Planar
lens? 2) When to use extensions and which is best for close-up photos?
I’m using my grandkids for these shots. 3) I have a Sunpak Auto
544 thyristor flash. Where can I purchase an extension cord to fit the
Hasselblad? 4) Most all Hasselblad cameras come with an 80mm lens. Why
is this lens so popular? 5) Kiev makes a 45Þ viewfinder (cheap)
for Hasselblad. Is this a good investment for a guy like me on a limited
budget? I will be purchasing accessories from the Shutterbug buyer’s
list only. I have many more questions, but this list is enough at present.
Charles D. Russell
Cleveland, OH
A. You
have a very nice medium format camera for learning about photography.
I’ll try to answer most of your initial questions. 1) Sekor is
the brand name of lenses that fit the Mamiya cameras such as the RB
and RZ67 and M645. They are not compatible with your Hasselblad. 2)
Extension tubes are primarily used for extreme close-up subjects. I
doubt that you will need one for most portraits or general subjects.
Extension tubes require an exposure correction since they move the lens
farther from the film plane. An easier method of adapting your 80mm
lens for moderate close-ups would be to purchase a close-up lens that
fits onto the bayonet front of the Hasselblad lens. A #1 close-up lens
would probably be strong enough for general subjects, and no exposure
correction is needed. 3) You should be able to purchase the proper extension
cord for your Sunpak Auto 544 handle-mount flash at most better dealers.
You will need a cord that has a PC terminal on the camera contact end.
Have you tried contacting the Sunpak distributor, ToCAD America Inc.
at (973) 428-9800? They should be able to direct you to a cord source.
4) The 80mm lens on 6x6cm format cameras is the equivalent to the so-called
50mm normal lens found on most 35mm SLR cameras. This focal length “sees”
a similar field to that of human eyes, thus it’s considered a
normal lens. 5) I know of the Kiev accessories and cameras, but have
no personal experience with them. I would think that a moderate priced
Kiev viewfinder should be a handy accessory if you don’t find
the normal waist-level viewfinder on your Hasselblad convenient to use.
We are pleased to hear that you find Shutterbug interesting and your
main source for learning about photography. We hope this brief information
assists you getting your new camera into more active use. Good luck.
I’m sure you will enjoy learning more about photography with this
camera.
