[OT] off topic camera stuff for

[Guest guest]

Teague wrote:

> hey lynn, do you know where I can get one of those cool black and white

> cameras that you hold about waist high and look down into? I've always

> wanted one of those.

>

> andrea

=================

Hi ,

I think you mean a TLR camera. TLR means, Twin Lens Reflex. There are

two lenses on the front of a brick shaped camera. You hold it at waist

level, and look down onto a ground glass (a piece of glass that shows

you the image you're about to shoot). Did you know that when you look at

the image it is shown as a mirror opposite using this normal viewfinder.

You get used to it after a while, seeing everything right to left

instead of left to right

I don't have a TLR, but I know about them and have used similar cameras.

My close friend has a very nice TLR that belonged to his mother, who

stole it from his father

The good thing is, these cameras don't only use black and white film for

black and white pictures. You can use color film just fine. They do take

120-format film, which is much bigger than regular 35mm film. Call your

local photo lab and ask them if they can process 120-format film before

you invest in a camera like this.

Now - if you want to do black and white pictures, you're lucky that

today you can buy a special film that will produce black and white

images, but it can be processed through color-film chemicals. Your photo

lab won't need special black and white film chemicals. It will make your

life easier if you're just dabbling in photography for fun.

If you really want a TLR, then you might want to consider a Yashicamat

(made by Yashica), or a Rolleicord (made by Rollei - who also makes a

very expensive line of Rolleiflex TLRs and other cameras). These are

going for about $50 to $100 on ebay these days, in reasonable condition.

These are antiques now days, so you'll need to make sure you buy from a

trustworthy seller who can evaluate the camera honestly as to whether it

is in good working condition, or if it has been serviced recently.

(Hiring a service person to restore it can be a good investment, but if

there is a lot wrong, it can also get expensive quickly).

Some pages for you to read:

Yashicamat:

http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/yashica66.html

and

http://www.photo.net/photo/nature/mat124.html

If you want to play with medium format film, or black and white film, or

even color film (!) then you might also have fun with a camera that is

actually regarded as a toy. The artsy folks (me included) LOVE these

horrible little cameras to death, because the lenses are so rudimentary

that the awful images they create actually become fascinating works of

art. The cameras cost only about $20 max. Check out this nifty gallery

of what some great photographers have done with Holgas.

http://www.toycamera.com/

I'm sorry to see most of my stuff being sold. But, if I can get my

thyroid straightened out, maybe I'll feel good enough to work enough to

buy more again in the future, and get back out doing some more

photography (which I also used to do all the time).

Hope this isn't too much info!

If I can be of any help, please feel free to ask

-Lynn