You just have to love a TLR. I've got a Mamiya C220 and a couple of lenses, but I've always wanted a smaller TLR with a fixed lens. That Ricohflex VII sure is a gem. I've heard of people converting them for 35mm film, but it kind of defeats the purpose of having a MF. Congrats on the new addition to the family. What's your opinion on the shutter speed selection?
Hi Scott -
Thanks for your comment. Actually, the Ricoflex is a variable focus camera - not a fixed lens. The aperture settings range from f3.5 to f 16 (marked) - one website I consulted said that it will actually stop down to f32 (the aperture lever does keep moving a good deal after the f16 marking.) It actually was a bit sharper in close up shots - and it can focus down to a meter or so...
Shutter speeds are really limited - bulb and then 1/25 - 1/100. I can't tell if the shutter speeds are continuous like the aperture settings, or if they go in steps. There is not stepping or clicking to the shutter control, so I suspect they are continuous. I may need to take it to a camera shop to find out for sure. I've been using a Holga, Argoflex, and Ansco, and few old Kodak Bellows cameras and have come to view B&W exposure as a combination of the shutter speed / aperture and development. With thing like the Holga and Argoflex, where you have no control over exposure, it's purely a matter of pushing or pulling the film. With cameras like the Ricoflex, you have more latitude.
It almost makes me want to formally learn the zone system.
I've heard of converting some TLRs and even Holgas to 35mm but never understood how it would be done - you have the window in the back for frame counting and without it, how would you know how far to wind the film? Even so - you really need the large negative to make up for the inherent limitations of the optics. I do think that most 35mm cameras were higher resolving out of the gate, because the resolutions of the old 620 / 120 cameras were good enough for larger film, but not at all good enough for 35mm.
Interestingly, the box / body of this Ricoflex is 100% identical to the body of a Kinoflex I have. The Kinoflex was converted to a pinhole camera before I bought it,but the latches, film loading, film winding, etc, are all exactly the same.
Love the photo. Wonderful feel to it. Fits the location perfectly.
Thanks again - it took me by surprise since I usually go an shoot the same old tombstones for tests.... The cold snow and wam sun made for some interesting patterns.
- MCC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mark Cassino Photography Kalamazoo, MI www.markcassino.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
