Nature stuff and the Praktica FX

[Dean Williams]

Still haven't done worth a darn with this oldie and verticals, but it's darn handy for low level subjects.  One last go round with this old SLR before I get back to more fun with the Kiev RF...Fall is pushing pretty hard here, and it's time to run some color through it.











Fuji 800 Superia, (no tripod).

[nelsonfoto]

Man, those are better than I woulda figured out of that camera... and 800-ASA too!? What is top shutter speed on that camera? What time of day were you shooting?

[Dean Williams]

Shutter speeds top out at 1/500, Craig, then a slightly odd jump down to 200, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and half sec.  These are at 1/100th, if I remember correctly.  About four in the afternoon, down in the Clearwater river gorge, with little direct sunlight.  
The old Yashinon lens is from a circa 1964 J5 Yashica SLR.  Seems to be a pretty good (and heavy) lens.
The mirror locks in the up position about a quarter of a sec before the shutter fires.  Then it stays up until you wind the camera.  No instant return mirrors on these '52-'53 models.

[sandeha]

Nice shots, and yes, the WLF does have some advantages.  

I've just made a pinhole out of a scrap M42 back-end for my FX-2, so just waiting to finish the roll ...

[Graham Serretta]

Nice work, Dean.  I was trying similar last weekend without a wlf and wound up crawling around the forrest floor on my belly, which according to the best beloved, is why I can't get low enough!

[P C Headland]

Nice, especially with 800 film.  Looks like it would make a good weapon too - looks like it has a nice weight.

Can you swap the WLF, or is it fixed?  Is there a sports-finder built in?

[Dean Williams]

Yeah Graham, iit's handy for getting low down and in the dirt.  I don'g have to put my chin (or belly) in the mud to focus for ground level shots.

Paul, the WLF is not interchangable.  Has a magnifier, and built in sports finder, but it's kind of slow shooting, with knob winding and having to stop the lens down before each shot.  About the only sport I'll be shooting with this is full contact mitten knitting.

[Gene M]

Most excellent. I hate the finder on those things.