Yashica minitec, Point 'n' Shoot

A small simple point'n'shoot camera. It has an 32mm/f3.5 lens with autofocus, autoexposure, auto flash. The flassh cannot be switched off, but has a red eye reduction setting.
I loaded it with an Agfa 100xrg expired film and put some black tape to make the camera read for the DX code of 25 ASA. I found out later that the camera cannot read under 100ASA.

The pictures came out underexposed by two stops and with low contrast, but the lab scanner successfully scanned the negative. It seems that the camera takes well exposed and very sharp photos.

Samples:

I also took some multiple photos to make joiners.

Original scene panorama from 3 pictures joined with Autostitch  

Hand joined images.

Joined with Autostitch

and one frame scanned by my scanner. It was unable to pick up the color from the faint negative.

Argus A2 camera

The Argus A camera is the first 35mm camera made in the USA, by Argus, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Mine looks like the A2B model manufactured between 1945 and 1950. I cannot locate the serial number to be sure. I bought it from an antique shop for 15 euros.
It is a manual exposure camera with a built in extinction meter which I couldn't figure out how it works. It has a fixed 50mm collapsible lens. After extending the lens, focusing is done by turning the lens barrel until a click is heard.
If I come to understand how the film advances I will give the camera a try.

More from the Horizon 202 panoramic camera.

The camera has a bubble lever to keep the camera horizontal. That way horizontal lines in the middle appear straight while all other lines appear curved. If there are moving objects, the ones moving to the right of the camera look elongated while the ones moving to the left appear compressed.

The camera needs a small tripod to hold it in order not to get the fingers recorded in the picture.

One panoramic view of the monument

and one showing the surroundings

a vertical (and slightly croped) one

moving cars at 1/60th sec

at a mall



Horizon 202 panoramic

This is a rare find from the street sellers. It has a swing lens that turns from left to right, exposing the film little by little as the lens turns. It is a manual exposure only camera with two speed sets, a yellow one for low light (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 sec) and a white one for daylight panoramas (1/60, 1/125 and 1/250).
apertures range from f2.8 to f16. I would like an f22 and a 1/500sec speed but it is ok like this also.

I loaded the camera with a Kodak 200 ASA film and went to action. The camera takes 22 elongated 24x58mm pictures and need special scanners to get digitized. I was very pleased with the results. The angle of view is an enormous 120 degrees, needs attention not to include the fingers in the picture. It seems like the viewer takes part in the action.

Monastiraki square

A white banding visible is caused by internal reflections.

Minolta Riva Twin 28

A point 'n' shoot camera with dual lenses. A wide 28mm and one add on lens that makes the focal length increase to around 40mm. Not very usefull indeed. I bought it for 2 euros from a street seller.

I loaded a roll of Kodak Tmax 400 ASA and hoped for the best.

I was not very succesfull. There is a button to switch off the flash but candid images came out blurred, the autofocus was fooled many times, framing with the viewfinder was way off and the sky was burned out constantly.

and a two picture stitched panorama; the motor winder helps keep the camera fairy steady on the eye.

Pouva Start, my first film

I first repaired the shutter of my Pouva Start. When the photographer presses the shutter a spring moves one piece of the shutter exposing the film to light. Then a second piece gets kicked by the first, thus closing the light path from the lens. It seemed that the second piece was not moved succesfully so I taped the two pieces together. Now it works but I don't have the bulb B setting anymore.

Anyway, I  loaded the camera with a Fujifilm Reala 120 - 100 ASA film and went out shooting. I find there is a lot of vignetting in the pictures with overexposed and oversaturated colours.

Calatrava's bridge

 Monastiraki Square

 Plaka, view to Acropolis

 Old factory transformed to office building, I think the circle in the image is the shadow of the diaphragm

 At the University

 Unknown soldier monument in front of the Parliament



Canon EOS 630 with expired film

I put a roll from my long expired stock of Agfa 100 XRG films. I rated it on camera to 20ASA and went shooting with my old Sigma 28-105mm/f3.9-5.6 the Canon EF 28mm/2.8 and a Tamron 135mm/2.8.

with the Canon EF 28mm/2.8

with the Sigma zoom
at tele position

 and at wide

and the Canon EF 28mm/2.8 again