The Saga Continues
While the Leica is in the shop, I got permission to use my wife's Voigtlander
Bessa R3a along with the 28mm lens, not too fast at f3.5, but what the hell,
there's plenty of light out there right now
Since the R3a doesn't sport framelines wider than 40mm, I used the accommodating
Voigtlander metal viewfinder, which is very bright and contrasty - honestly, brighter
than the built-in viewfinder on my Leica M6 TTL. Oftentimes I don't use a viewfinder
anyways, so I don't have trouble with that.
There I go, snapping away, finishing off my wife's roll (Kodak 160VC) and happen to
walk across our "lab around the corner" after work. "papi, papi, papi" I heard.
Mind you, I live in a hispanic neigbourhood and usually don't pay attention to some
language I don't understand.
Until somebody grabbed me at my sleeve, I recognized the lab lady's kid "my mom
was looking for you". "Can you develop some b/w for me?" she asked...
"sure" I replied and started rewinding the Bessa, in order to get the color roll developed.
After like 5 turns, the rewind crank broke off. Fuck , the second camera breaking on me
within a week. The design of this piece is especially delicate, the folding crank has a hole
in it, in order to reveal a screw's head. Now, if the screw's head would be shorter, the
crank won't need a hole, thus be sturdier. Interestingly, Voigtlander has changed the
design on the newer Bessa models.
Comments (11)
How lucky!!! Always beautiful and impressive photography despite the camera! Keep up the good work and good luck for your cameras :)
Posted by Seat83 | June 4, 2006 8:00 PM
Posted on June 4, 2006 20:00
Broke the wife's camera! Sounds like you're in a camera black hole.
I broke the rewind crank on my R2 recently.
Photo Village carried the part and fixed it on the spot for about $15.
About 10 years ago was in Italy with my wife. She was there on business. Managed to drop the Canon A-1 which killed it. Got it fixed when I got back. Than took out the F-1 only to trip crossing the street as my wife was distracting me to look in a store window. Spent the rest of the trip using the Leicas and stopped window shopping.
Posted by Craig Nisnewitz | June 4, 2006 8:59 PM
Posted on June 4, 2006 20:59
I really liked this entry. It's like a miniature story to go along with an unrelated-looking photo.Although, what else happened to the kid? Where was mami from?
It just makes me think... damn, I gotta move to a big city. There aren't many hispanics in my white picket fence suburb.
Posted by dario | June 5, 2006 9:29 AM
Posted on June 5, 2006 09:29
Markus this is another gem, I love all the characters in this shot, the bearded lady?? the guy midshot looking at the dog, (he makes it special) and the the female following, I especially like the fact this just oozes life in all it's variety, I simply have to go to NYC, I just have to sell the kids or the dog to fund it!
Bad luck with the voigtlander, methinks the term albatross might be on the money for you and cameras. Take care
Posted by shooter | June 5, 2006 1:29 PM
Posted on June 5, 2006 13:29
thanks all - the Voigtländer is fixed already, thanks to the fab
service of Panorama camera here in NYC. They put a solid chrome
crank on there, which feels its going to outlast the camera.
lemme know when you've sold the kids, so we can meet to shoot :P
Posted by Markus Hartel | June 5, 2006 2:03 PM
Posted on June 5, 2006 14:03
What illness has the Leica suffered?
Posted by Craig Nisnewitz | June 5, 2006 8:06 PM
Posted on June 5, 2006 20:06
Och Markus did S smack yer bot for breaking her camera ???
Posted by edthened | June 5, 2006 8:34 PM
Posted on June 5, 2006 20:34
@ Craig - the rewind mechanism in the Leica gave up, I bought this camera used about 3 years ago
@Ed
no she didn't kick my b*tt, but was wondering if I treat my cameras in a certain way (actually, they get lots of use, but I'm pretty careful)
Posted by Markus Hartel | June 5, 2006 10:36 PM
Posted on June 5, 2006 22:36
Sounds like you got your moneys worth from the Leica. Can't imagine its going to be very much to fix it.
Posted by Craig Nisnewitz | June 6, 2006 1:04 AM
Posted on June 6, 2006 01:04
yeah that rewind crank scares the shit outta me.
Posted by joe | October 20, 2006 2:02 PM
Posted on October 20, 2006 14:02
Say hello to eliot erwitt from me
Posted by Anonymous | November 28, 2007 12:27 AM
Posted on November 28, 2007 00:27