I absolutely love how you deliver your message. It reminds me of story time and I think we all need a little of that in our lives, no matter how old we are.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

I've always considered a camera to be a time machine, a box which captures a moment in time. As a child that would appear to be almost like magic. It was pretty much the same for me, Nigel. I'm 74 and probably half a generation older than you, maybe even a full generation. My first encounter with photography was from a generation of older cameras, a Box camera. Memory tells me it may have been an Ensign, but it was so long ago I could be miles wrong. I do know that it took 120 or 620 film and the negatives were rectangular, so it may have been 6x4.5, but I recall having a daylight printing frame, like a small picture frame, where you put the negative in front of some sensitised paper and exposed it to sunlight for a minute or so. Those negatives seemed to make a larger image so maybe it was a 6x7? My first "proper" camera was a Halina 35x, I took that camera everywhere with me, until, at the age of 17 I saw a Contax look-alike camera in a second hand/pawn shop in North Shields. It was a Kiev 4a, of course, and I had to have it. That camera led me on a similar journey to yours, I suspect many on here could tell a story not too different, too. I like these almost ZEN like discussions, just as much as I like the lens reviews (and it's easier on my wallet too 🤣) George

@clivewhitely4315

Жыл бұрын

Today, in a thrift shop, I saw a book on Collecting antique cameras and had a look through it and was tempted. On my way out I spotted a range of lenses, Nikon and Tamron plus accessories that were quite cheap in my opinion and will return tomorrow with option to purchase. As a beginner I don't have many lenses and although are not professional level, from my research they have been given good reviews by those in the know.

“Photographic Hiatus” You have to love that British sense of humor. 😊

My first camera was an Olympus 35DC point and shoot with a very sharp lens back in 1978... i was 12 years of age. My dad bought it in Japan. It was a real camera for a boy at that time, loved it!

Nigel, I'm also your age, perhaps a year or three older. I'm in the US. My first camera memories were the Polaroid that my father used for work and the occasional vacation shot, but the first camera that I remember using was his old pocket Brownie, complete with his WWII military identification written in the case, which he somehow let me take on school field trips when I was about 12. Right now it sits on the shelf above my desk, along with his Kodak Retina Reflex III, which I can't recall him ever having out, although he surely did, judging by the photographs in our collection. The first camera I could call my own was a high school graduation present, a new Pentax ME Super with the 50/1.7 and a Vivitar 70-150. It lasted about 12 years before giving up. In the years since, I've used an assortment of whatever is at hand, but was rebitten by the bug about five years ago, when I picked up a used Sony A7R, and I've been "collecting" other cameras and plenty of lenses ever since, enabled by you and others here. My wife thinks I have a problem...but I can quit any time, I keep telling myself!

Thanks for sharing this "journey!" I go back just about as far, starting with a Kodak box camera and moving to a Nikkormat FT-2 in 1974, I think. Stuck with film all the way to about 2008, still love the Velvia shots from back then! Amazing blacks and saturation. An emulsion that really teaches exposure. My first digital camera was a D2H at a whopping 4 mega pixels! It had a proprietary Nikon sensor, and like your D-80 the color rendition was special. Nikon went from a CCD to CMOS sensor in the transition from the D-80 to the D-90. The CCD look is making a return these days with the prices of old CCD cameras going up where I live. Very nice video to sit with in my warm bed! Brings back so many memories......

Oh Nigel, I bend my old back. I’m maybe 3 years younger. And our gear path crossed several times, albeit I was a bit more for for the new (Apple QuickTake, Rest in pieces). No D80 but a D100, was semiprofessional back then… hiatuses galore, and now in midst more cameras I’ll ever need. Thank you so much for sharing, we are not alone.

I had a Diana camera too. Remarkably simple, but it still produced good photographs, properly exposed.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

I'm sure they work fine, but I had yet to learn the subtleties of operation at that time!

@crispin8888

Жыл бұрын

Zenography At 3, that's quite understandable. I had my first SLR at 16, the proceeds of a summer job. I could only afford body and bought the lens about 4 months later.

I really enjoyed the old pics. Soft as they are, they invoke an emotional response. Always the best kind of photo.

Thank you for sharing your story. I really enjoyed it. My first camera, as a 7 year old, was a box brownie, and the B&W films were developed in the sixties by a very old "Mr Snook", whose father worked for Francis Frith in the Victorian era. I bought a Fujica ST605 when I was 13 and, when I left school, I worked in a camera shop where I got to use many of the second hand cameras that came in (my favourite was the OM1, but I also enjoyed using the odd Yashicaflex). Today, although I mainly use an RX100 and an iPhone, I have recently bought an XT2, after watching one of your videos, which is a joy to use and has certainly rekindled my love of stills photography. So thank you for the recommendation.

Hello Nigel, thanks for your story! I had the following cameras: Porst with 126 film, Porst de luxe with 126 film, Polaroid 1000, Agfa Tele Pocket, Minolta XG-M, Contax RTS, Leica R8, digital compact cameras by Rollei and Sony, Canon 40D, Canon 1100D, Canon 50D, digital Olympus PEN models, Canon 6D, Sony Alpha 7 I and II and now the Nikon Z6. As analog cameras I purchased a Minolta XD, Minolta XG-A, Olympus OM 10. Best wishes Ralf

What a lovely honest video, I’m 72 and collect cameras, so all the memories you where revealing where opening vaults in my mind. I love the photographs that accompanied the film and I thought of some of the greats in film as I watched it. I believe your direct honesty and ability to make mistakes, make your vlogs so easy to watch, there not about you, they are about the love of photography in all its evolving years and history would be nothing if it didn’t educate the audience and explain the when’s why’s and how’s of life. DG uk

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Very glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

Great history of your cameras!! Its nice to know how and when you started photography. My first camera was Yashica FX3 with 50mm f2 lens that boosted my skills of wedding photography so quick. I am now a camera collector and have few practica LTL, some olympus om 1 to 10 series, 2 hasselblad 500 cm and 4 nikon dslr pro grade, few panasonic lumix. A large collection of lenses too. Its pleasure to have info about vintage cameras and lenses. Old russian and german lenses are unique built in glass quality. Since last 2 years your ch helped a lot to get cheap and quality stuff.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Glad you're enjoying the channel, thanks for watching!

Thanks for the history Nigel. You are quite a nice bloke.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Barry!

HaHa you were right Im all snug in the house watching you challengeing the cold. enjoy your chats they interest me my first camera was a Minolta X300 bought for me by a girl friend with a 50mm lens that began my journy into photography for me dont know how many rolls of film I put through that camera but it was a lot. I think I got a 7SI Minolta in the 80s which I still have the X300 sadly died on me at some point but a nice little camera fond memorys of it I learnt a lot from that camera. Im using a X-T 30 fuji at the moment with the 23mm F2 lens only just bought them I like the small size excellent pictures it can produce for street photography genral work. I have been shooting mainly black and white with it and I like the lens and camera. Thank you for the video Tony..........

Awesome video! I still have my first camera and it is still working. Asked my parents for it and I still remember the early morning that 8 year old me went to buy it for 25 rubels. It is the venerable Smena 8M. The condition was that I had to take care of it and I did.

Beautiful family pictures.

I would've loved to be able to see some pictures of the cameras you were talking about, but other than that, I truly appreciate what you share and I'm always waiting for your videos, because you're one of the few people I truly see enjoying just taking pictures, just like me

Loved this mini journey

Good video. Shows a good history of photography. We all do it as some point in time. Thanks for the video. Stay warm next time.

There's a seductive sound echoing down the years of my life. It was the shutter snap of the Spotmatic. It was a distinctive sound, very different from other cameras. A Pentax trademark, if I needed to give a name. In fact, the ME/MX series also possessed the same fabled shutter sound. That's what i miss most from the film days.

13:17 is really cool to see the little Alfa 145 in the background. not many left in the uk these days.

Bonjour Mr zenography Une bien belle histoire ,l'histoire d'une vie et d'une passion pour la photographie.Merci pour votre touchant témoignage.. Bonne journée.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Merci bien mon ami, glad you enjoyed it!

@rodolphenavarro4253

Жыл бұрын

Merry christmas to you and all your family.

What wonderful memories and what a fascinating video. Loved it, and your Dad sounds like a man who had some foresight regarding his son's talent.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

My first camera was a Kodak Instamatic which took 126 film, which was like two 35mm cassettes joined together and you just dropped it into the camera. Christmas prezzie when I was about 10. My mum had a posh version with focusing (picture of a person or picture of a mountain) and exposure control (picture of a cloud or picture of the sun). Strangely I can still remember the packaging which was vac formed like that used for expensive biscuits. My grandmother also had one and we always took the mickey out of her tendency to chop people's heads off.

Another great video!! I particularly liked your old photos and it's given me the motivation to dig out some of my own.

This is a gem of a video!

I had a Poloriod swinger camera when I was 10, and then a Minolta 110 type film camera. I had alot of fun with them, from 1966-1972. My dad shot an Argus rangefinder from 1962-1972 then a Canon AE1, that he had bought in Thialand, or Japan. I borrowed that camera alot. He was color blind. I never saw him use a light meter. He mostly photographed family vacations, for the neighborhood slide shows. Those slide shows were fun too. I think it's important for a child to shoot a system camera, if possible, like a Canon Rebel. Important for them to study art, and composition also. Great show you have. Always fun! Thanks again.

What a Journey 🙂😄📷😎👍👊👋👋

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Indeed!

I love your channel so so much ❤

Another lovely video!

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Many thanks!

Great episode, thank you Nigel. The heart of my camera collection has a reacquired copy of almost every model from my 'journey', starting with an Ilford Sporti, a hand me down from an Aunt. There was a Zenith, an early Praktica L which broke in a week. I saved for a Minolta but the shop talked me into a Canon, I shot Canons for over 40 years. I don't think I ventured beyond the 50mm kit lenses until I started with EOSs, perhaps by then I had the disposable income!

Very good episode! My first ‘good’ camera was a Realist 35mm my aunt gave me for high school graduation in 1964. She add a box of Ektachrome slides she took with it to show me what different exposure settings did. I did understand apertures and shutter speeds from her having me set her Leica’s at times. I have yet to take pictures this good. In Vietnam n Olympus Pen half frame, before leaving that place I bought my first SLR, a Canon FX and an FL35 mm and FL 135mm. I still have them all , except the Olympus, that I gave to another Marine before I left for home.

Loved this. Maybe your best video. You tell a great story. More like this please Nige,

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Shaun - interesting that this one seems to have been well received - I was worried it might not do much! Very glad you enjoyed it.

Great video. Really liked it!

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

My photography began in the late 50's with a molded Bakelite camera from Kodak. It used 127 film. And produced small, square photos. Next up was a short time with a bulky TLR camera for 120 film. And finally in the late 60's I got to use my first 35mm SLR. I've loved these 35mm SLR's ever since!

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

A good 35mm slr is very, very hard to beat!

I like the old one stories. Well done. My 1st one camera was a Kodak instamatic 33.

Very nice episode Nigel. I’m the same age as you, and had similar cameras, just different brands on this side of the pond. I used Olympus OM cameras at Uni. Not reliable for me, and I eventually went to Nikon also. The weather here in New England went the same way, it seems like we went from summer to winter in a very short time, and it’s snowing now. Stay warm!

My first camera was a Comet 11S, made by Bencini, of Milan. They were sold through the Boots the Chemist chain of shops. My Mum worked for Boots, in the Church Street, Croydon, store, (now closed). She received a staff discount, and this camera was my birthday present from her, and Dad. I saved up my pocket money, and purchased a few of the accessories that were available for it. I still have that camera, and it's accessories, and it still works!.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Hello Peter, I hope all's well. I had a Bencini Comet recently, a fine looking thing for sure and very solid, if a little simple. Great for a youngster finding his way though, and it led to lots of lovely Exaktas and Prakticas! Thanks for looking in mon ami.

@petersnow389

Жыл бұрын

@@zenography7923 Merci beaucoup mon ami et herreux Noel

Nigel, have you ever tried a Voigtländer Vitomatic IIcs or a Voigtländer Vitomatic IIIcs? Ingenious, small rangefinder cameras with a fixed lens, 1:1 viewfinder and an ingenious solution for loading film even more easily and quickly. The IIcs and IIIcs have a battery-operated light meter which, like the aperture ring on the lens, is mirrored into the viewfinder completely mechanically. The only difference between the Voigtländer Vitomatic IIcs and the Voigtländer IIIcs is the built-in lens. In the IIcs it is the Voigtländer Color-Skopar 2.8 / 50mm. In the IIIcs it is the Voigtländer Ultron 2.0 / 50mm, both very high-quality and characterful lenses. All Vitomatic predecessor models have either a light meter that is powered by selenium cells or no light meter at all, which is why I asked you about these models. Small addendum: I am of the opinion that these two cameras are a real and partly better alternative to Leica cameras, even if you have a fixed lens and the fastest shutter speed is 1/500.

@zenography7923

3 ай бұрын

I'll look out for one, thanks for the tip!

@SchwarzPoet

3 ай бұрын

@@zenography7923 With pleasure 😊

Your early relationship with cameras sounds very much like mine. My parents had a box camera which was kept high in a cupboard out of my reach. On the rare occasions it came out, summer holidays and Christmas mainly, it was always with warnings not to touch. The black box one mustn't touch had its mystery compounded when my mother had the film developed at a chemist, even the advertising had pixies. What magic was this! It lead to a fascination with cameras and photography, including many years in darkrooms. Incidentally, Diana cameras were often sold on the cheap racks of toy shops, along with itching powder and whoopy cushions. I was astonished to find the price of one today. Ditto Lubitel TLRs, which were about £12 in the 1980s.

I learned that you really need a Pentax k-5 in your life 😂. All joking aside thanks for telling us your story. It was very interesting Merry Christmas or whatever you are celebrating this time of year.

@scrptwic

Жыл бұрын

I agree Nigel needs a Pentax in his life my old Pentax *istDL sells for as little as $ 25.00 on Ebay I bought it new and still use it . I was shooting Christmas Directions in the park with it the other day if I can get good pictures with it the new cameras are a snap to use

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Thanks mon ami, you too!

I shoot Sony also. Your shows about adapting lenses from film cameras interest me alot. Great way to get a unique look. The Sony A72 makes manual focus as sharp as can be. Sometimes I use the A72 feature called HDR Painting. I also liked the show that you recently did about lense maintainence. Used glass is a great fun thing. Thanks alot!

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Indeed, fun is the key here and those old lenses and a nice modern mirrorless certainly provide it. Thanks for tuning in!

Thankyou for that Nigel actually shivering indoors cos my CH boiler bust.... Dont think my journey would be from 3yrs old.. realistically from 11years old I would say... but hey ho... Your diatribe was really good.....I am older than you but still with photography....its very marmite you either love it or you hate it.... that stupid saying the camera never lies.... well of course it does...nobody would like photography else!!! Great Video thanks Nigel.. Oh I do know Castleton but never found your camera honest!!!

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Hey Phil, hoe all's well. Glad you enjoyed it!

My first camera was a Halina 110, circa 1980. It cost 10p from a Bring-and-Buy sale. Though it turned out the boy who'd brought it to the B&B sale did NOT have his parents permission to give it to the sale, and a deal was made to pay an extra £3.00 for it. I didn't own a proper manual film camera again until last year! (Lots of point and shoots and then digitals in the years between though.)

@arcanics1971

Жыл бұрын

NB: I had the Halina until I was around 18! so almost a decade.

01:46 - The pedal car in that condition would be very valuable today, enough to buy a few tasty cameras.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Indeed it would, but like many things it's got lost in the sea of time!

You've exactly captured the way I felt when I got my first camera in 1970. It was a plastic toy from the lucky dip at Dad's work Christmas party , but it took 35mm film, and it seemed miraculous to me that I could use it to freeze a moment in time and then look at again weeks or months later. Still does, really.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Magic!

What a charming episode, Nigel, just great! You should get back to the CCD sensor from the D80 though, I have a D40, a Konica Minolta 7D and a Pentax K10D with CCD sensors, I think they can deliever some of that Kodachrome glow that I miss. Stay dry and warm!

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

You're right, they do have a little of the Kodachrome about them - time for them to make a comeback I think!

I would love to have a long conversation with you about this I bet you could go on for hours and there is so much I could learn since I am very much a beginner please keep up these great videos!

Thoroughly enjoyed the video. My memory has never been good so I used photography as a diary along with the sheer thrill of having a camera in hand. We had a polaroid which probably got me interested in photography. Like I mentioned earlier, my memory isn't great. Like yourself, my first SLR was a Praktika with a CZJ 50mm which I used for a couple of years and then a Chinon CG5 with a 35, 50 and 180mm I think. Fantastic camera. University got in the way and everything changed for me and photography took a back seat for 20 odd years. Bought a Nikon D3000 (🙄) with a dodgy 35-80mm f4 D lens for a bargain (£117) in 2015. Learnt everything I know about DSLR's on it and now own a Nikon D300s which I absolutely love.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Those are some nice memories; glad you enjoyed the video!

in addition to my reply, amongst the find, was a fujima p300 cine camera. If anyone sees this contribution before I get to it(late. 3-4 PM) I would be much obliged for their thoughts. I have an idea to practice filmography with it and or utilise to have a mix of digital and analogue filming to get a unique result/effect. Many thanks

Aged 14, father gave me a Cosina CSM he'd bought from his mate at work, to keep me away from his Rollei gear 😀

My first camera was given to me by my grandad, it was an Ilford Sporti and I still have some photos I took with it. In fact one of them is one of the best photos I have ever taken!

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Wow, that's early promise if I ever saw it!

I think my first camera was a Kodak Instamatic. I used that a lot before I progressed to a Pentax MX. That gave me good service, until it was relegated to a cabinet. Years later I had it serviced and it started all over again.

I’ve really enjoyed this video, very entertaining! And congratulations on your fantastic journey. I haven’t come across any of your videos mentioning vintage Voigtlander lenses being used on mirrorless. Wondering if there is a reason for that, just curious. Thanks!

I remember, early 9o, when I was a young father and wife and I wanted some peace, I would give the children one Praktica each. There would be peace and quiet, only shooting could be heard. Unfortunately, none of them are involved in photography. Thanks for the memories

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Ah well, at least east germany's finest bought you some quiet time!

There's nowt wrong with talking about your personal photography journey, every photographer has their own, me included. I still remember my Mum letting me take a photo of my brothers and sister when I was 4 or 5 years old. A Kodak Instamatic with the 126 cartridge film. Photography to me back then was magic. It still is to be honest.

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

That's the word right there - magic!

1963 yashica Lynx 1000, cañón ftb, leica 1a,3f,3g,m3,m5,m6, nikon f2t, f3t, hassy 500 cm,swc, olympus om1, Pentax from a spotmatic 500 to an lx. Only held on to the Nikons and a few Leica and the hassies. Rest where flips.. rolleiflexes,contactes,linhof técnica with 3 zeiss lenses. Ahh the perks of managing a pro retail camera store. Lol

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Gosh, those sound like perks indeed!

I wonder about your FED camera. Hello from ex USSR

D80 to D90 was when Nikon switched from CCD to CMOS sensors, if I remember correctly. That would explain the decline in colour rendition😄 I still have an old D200, which has the same lovely CCD sensor as the D80. Super nice colours, as long as you don't challenge the iso too much!

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Yes, iso was a bit tricky with these as in there's not much to play with - but those colours certainly compensate!

my 1st camera was 1/2 frame which took to the isle of wight pop fest 1970. age 16...next was a zenith slr then a canon av1 1979 then a digital samsung s850 2008 then panasonic g3. I now use olympus and sony a7r2....cameras

Hi Nigel. Would love to hear your life story, perhaps what career(s) you've had and everything else you might want to divulge to your followers. Hope this request is not too cheeky!

24:45 Unlike some people I'm not a bokeh expert but that looks a bit, well, weird! What lens is it?

Your d80 feels like my fuji5700 or my Canon I unfortunately full spectrumed

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Those CCD sensors certainly make a nicer image - time they made a comeback!

Pentax Q s-1 Panasonic Lumix GM5 Olympus E-PL5 Olympus stylus 1 Olympus E-P3 Ricoh GR ii Panasonic LX100ii Panasonic Lumix GX1 Sorry for bother you with so many models to your way I just wanted to ask for an expert opinion hope you can help me as I'm not aware much of what to get just some basic need for a hobby and the selection above is what I narrowed it down, just wanted to know which one of then are more compact and fun to use Would really appreciate it

Talking of 2 crows well 2 crows were standing at the end of a culdesac one cold day.... And a black cat breezed up thinking he would scare them... but he was very wrong....and they stood their ground... and sent him packing.... (true story)...hey hey hey....

@zenography7923

Жыл бұрын

Those crows sound like tough guys!

Were you 3 years old in 1968? In 1968 I was 16.

☺️ "Promosm"