Blog de Pakscot

Premier appareil photo années-1982

Mamiya ZE

Source http://herron.50megs.com/ZE.htm

The first version in Mamiya Z series of cameras. ZE was introduced in July 1980. This camera has an an aperture priority automatic exposure control with AE lock and two stops exposure compensation. Only automatic functions, which means that you can not manually set the shutter speed.
Some Mamiya ZE cameras are marked ZE Quartz. Perhaps the American models.

You might have noticed that several merchandises are sold with different names in Europe than in USA. The reason might be that limbo about what the yankees are suffering. Everything should be biiig. I have been told that even the dwarfs are bigger in America ; )

Mamiya is very easy to use and that has obviously been the aim. The camera in the picture is equipped with a Mamiya Sekor E 2,8 /28mm lens. You may familiarize yourself with some Mamiya Sekor E lenses

Deuxiéme appareil photo année 1983

Fujica AX-3

From Camerapedia.org

The Fujica AX-3 was manufactured by Fuji during the 1980s and was their mid line SLR during that time, just below the top of the line Fujica AX-5. It was introduced to the United States in 1980. The focal plane shutter is electronic, and speeds range from a high of 1/1,000th of a second to a low of 2 seconds. The camera also includes a bulb setting. Flash sync is 1/60th of a second. Selected shutter speed is shown along the left side of the viewfinder by an LED indicator. The AX-3 displays the aperture setting in the top of the viewfinder through a mechanical linkage. The AX-3 uses a center weighted averaging meter with silicon photo cells.

The Fujica AX-3 is an aperture preferred automatic exposure camera. Full manual control of aperture and shutter speed is also available. The camera requires a battery, to fire the shutter, operate the meter, and light the shutter speed LEDs in the view finder.

The AX-3 has a Fujica X mount, which takes Fujica X lenses. Although often difficult to find, a decent selection of these lenses are available on online auction sites. Additionally, the AX-3 is compatible with all other X series accessories, such as the X auto winder.

Troisième appareil photo année 1983-1986

Nikon FE (1978/1984)

Source http://www.thecamerasite.net/

The FE was introduced in 1978 and the production continued until 1983/1984. It is an aperture-priority manual exposure camera, very similar to the FM except, that Nikon FE has also an aperture priority system of exposure automation, first developed for the Nikkormat EL in 1972 and later refined in the Nikon EL2.
Nikon FE has the same compact copper/aluminum alloy body as the Nikon FM. Both cameras, FE and FM were widely used as a sole or back up body because of their ability to operate without batteries. A major strength for Nikon FE is the F mount that has remained virtually unchanged since its introduction in 1959 , thus FE and FM models work with all Nikkor lenses, past (Except the OP Fisheyes and Ultra wide Fisheyes Nikkor), present and even the latest AF-D lenses.

Unlike the FM, Nikon FE has interchangeable focusing screens. It takes the same backs and motor drives. It has two needles in the finder one is the setting of the camera's shutter speed knob, and one is the exposure chosen by the light meter. Just match the needles and you have a correct exposure. In the A setting the shutter speed is indicated by a needle.

Le moyen format 1984-1986

Lubitel 166B

Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubitel

Lubitel (Russian: Любитель, Russian for Amateur) refers to any of the several medium format twin-lens reflex cameras manufactured in Russia by LOMO. The design is based on the early 1930's Voigtländer Brillant camera with various improvements.

They are often considered toy cameras due to cheap price, bakelite and later plastic construction and low build quality. However the Lubitels use 120 film, feature Cooke triplet, all-glass lenses and shutter speeds can be set from Bulb to 1/250 of a second. Apertures vary from f/4.5 to f/22. These characteristics are closer to those of an amateur TLR of the fifties than a toy or disposable camera. They can achieve excellent results when the lens is stopped down but, as with any 3-elements lens, the results will be soft by today's standards at larger apertures.

Lubitel cameras are often used by art photographers or amateurs looking for a cheap introduction to medium format.

Quatriéme appareil photo années 1987-1989

Contax 139Q

Source http://www.camerapedia.org

The Contax 139Q was introduced in 1979. The camera was designed as a smaller 35mm SLR that was still full-featured, and was intended for use by serious amateur and semi-professional photographers. Like other Contax cameras of that era, it used bayonet mount, manual focus Carl Zeiss T* lenses. The 139Q had a quartz-timed, electronically-controlled vertical metal shutter that was very advanced for its day, as well as a machined aluminum chassis and bearing-mounted film advance and shutter mechanisms. The camera featured through-the-lens (TTL) synchronized flash with the TLA20 and TLA30 flash units. A 45mm, f/2.8 Tessar lens was introduced specifically to mate with the 139Q and provide the smallest top quality SLR in the world. Other new features included manual or aperture-priority exposure controls, a DOF preview lever, full exposure information visible in the viewfinder (with individual shutter speeds lit by LED), an AE lock to hold metered shutter speeds, and an improved flash sync speed (1/100th sec.). The 139Q could also be fitted with an optional winder for powered film advance.

Cinquiéme appareil photo 1989-1991

Yashica FR1

Source http://www.camerapedia.org

The Yashica FR1 was an electronically-controlled SLR camera, first introduced in 1977. Based on the earlier Contax RTS and Yashica FR, the FR1 combined some of the best attributes of those cameras. Equipped with the C/Y common bayonet mount, the FR1 could accept a variety of Yashica / Contax lenses and was targeted at serious amateur and professional photographers who did not need the added features of the more expensive Contax RTS. It had an electronically-controlled shutter with speeds from 1 sec. to 1/1000 (plus B), two exposure modes – manual and aperture priority – as well as DOF preview, self-timer, and full exposure information visible in the viewfinder. Production ended in late 1981.

Sixiéme appareil photo 1991 à ce jour (2011)

Pentax MX

Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_MX

The Pentax MX was a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera produced by Asahi Optical Co, later Pentax of Japan between 1976 and 1985. It was Pentax's flagship professional SLR until the introduction of the Pentax LX. Internally, the MX is essentially a smaller, lighter version of the Pentax KX, and otherwise has little in common with the rest of the Pentax M-series. However, the MX was designed as the mechanical twin sister of the remarkably successful entry-level Pentax ME.

The MX was solidly built, and featured a fully mechanical construction, including a mechanical shutter of the horizontal cloth type. Only the light metering system was dependent on batteries. The MX is all manual: it does not feature autofocus or autoexposure modes such as aperture-priority, shutter-speed priority, or full program.

Due to its complete lack of automatic functions, but excellent array of manual controls, the MX is often selected as a camera for photography students to practice their technique. The depth-of-field preview function renders the MX superior in this one respect to the earlier and cheaper K1000.

Septième appareil photo 2005 à ce jour (2011)