Photographic equipment

• Nikon D40

  After our beloved Elsa came to be, there are photo opportunities abound but not so much time for processing and scanning. I gave my wife a Nikon D40 for birthday, and I started using it also because of the speed and convenience.

  The "kit" zoom lens can deliver excellent results at moderate apertures (and focal lengths), but it isn't very useful indoors. So, when the Nikkor 35/1.8 G became available I got one, and it sits on the D40 99% of the time. The rest is spent on one of three Nikkors of 1970's vintage. The great thing about the D40 is that all Nikkors fit, even non-AI.

  When using these non-AI lenses you get no auto focus or exposure of course. The exposure can be guessed and then corrected using the histogram. Focus is hard with the default screen. I eventually gave in an bought a cut-down Nikkor screen with split image/microprims on the internet, and after some shimming the screen using strips of post-it, it works rather well both for auto and manual focus.

  • Nikkor 24/2.8 (35 mm equiv.)
  • Nikkor-N Auto 35/1.4 (50 mm equiv.)
  • Nikkor-H Auto 85/1.8 (135 mm equiv.)

  
  My wife's Nikon D40 with Nikkor-N 35/1.4

• Leica M3 & Leica M4

  I have these lenses:

  • Cosina Voigtländer Color-Skopar 21/4
  • Leitz Canada Summicron 35/2 "3rd version"
  • Leitz Wetzlar Summicron 50/2 "Dual range" Test pics
  • Cosina Voigtländer Nokton 50/1.5
  • Konica M-Hexanon 90/2.8
  • Leitz Wetzlar Tele-Elmar 135/4

  and I usually use these films:

  • Fuji Neopan 400 (B/W)
  • Fuji Astia or Sensia 100 (Color pos.)
  • Kodak Portra UC400 (Color neg.)
  • Kodak Portra NC160 (Color neg.)

  
  1968 Leica M4, with Summicron 35 (and Luigi halfcase), and with Nokton 50

  Admittedly, using a Leica is something of a statement. Quoting Donald Largo, Jr: "No batteries, no viewfinder blackout, no camera shake, no shutter delay, no auto focus, no auto exposure, no excuses."

  That about sums it up.

  
  1959 Leica M3, with DR-Summicron 50 (and Luigi halfcase), and with Hexanon 90

• Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 531/2

  

  The mighty 6x9 Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta... Mine has the simpler Novar (most have Tessar), but you have to stop down to 8 or 11 anyway to get a decent depth of field, and then you don't see much difference. The optics are clear, the bellows lighttight, the shutter spins nicely after almost 70 years.

• Rolleicord V & Rolleicord II

  

  The Rolleicord V with Schneider's Xenar lens is probably the biggest bargain in medium-format. It has equivalent optics to the Rolleiflex Tessar, and costs about half to a third. I also prefer it because you don't need to switch hands between focussing and winding. However, the trigger is a bit clumsy. Mine is fitted with a short "stub" release in the remote release socket.

  I also have a rather beaten-up Rolleicord II (Zeiss Triotar) which I got for SEK300. The images are soft and can be very flattering for portraits, but unfortunately it hasn't got a multi-exposure lock, and I think the shutter or something leaks light sometimes. It's retired.

• Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super

  

  I got this one as a gift from a co-worker! Now that's nice - although he was going to junk it if I didn't want it... in great shape, a little CLA took care of the stuck focus. However, during the first test roll it jammed. The pictures it took were OK but I don't think I'll be spending more to revive it.

• Zeiss Ikon Contax II

  

  The Contax is a fascinating camera. I've always felt I had to have one, and now I do. Unfortunately, my "bargain" (1600SEK) has a unreliable shutter which needs repair, and a scratched and slightly fogged Sonnar. But it's still fascinating. The gigantic rangefinder base, the quirky design, the double bayonet.

• Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 35

  

  This is a very affordable compact camera. Mine is the simpler version with Novar optics and Prontor 1-1/300 shutter, but if you can zone-focus it can still give good results. I can't zone-focus really, so it's not used much. And the finder is very squinty.