Testing the Hi-Matic G

One of the cameras I found in my Grandmother's attic was a Minolta Hi-Matic G.  The "G" isn't a true rangefinder like other Hi-Matics, it is zone focus, it has no manual override and the lens is a 38mm f2.8--so not as fast as some of the more popular classic rangefinders.  When I found it, the camera was in rough shape.  The old battery had leaked, causing corrosion inside the battery compartment and also on base plate.  Even so, it was free and worth trying to clean up.

Based on some Internet research, I used vinegar to clean the corrosion and it worked very well.  I was also able to take off the base plate which made cleaning out the battery compartment easier.  I ran a roll of very expired Agfa APX 400 through it (I found this film in a desk drawer in school about six years ago; I think it had been sitting in the drawer for some time).  The negatives scanned somewhat light, but I was able to fix that.  It is possible that the meter in the Hi-Matic is less than accurate particularly since the battery that it is designed to work with is no longer legal.

Here are some pictures from a visit to my grandparents' house.  For an old beat up camera and expired film, I was happy with the results.

Outside in the backyard:

One from the kitchen:

An Unexpected Beginning

I never expected that I would ever start a blog. But at the same time, I never expected to have a small collection of vintage cameras. However, after my aunt died, we found a few interesting cameras--being the only person in the family interested in photography, they became mine.

While I normally shoot digital, these old cameras started a new interest in film. Living in New York City, decent black and white film processing can be prohibitively expensive. So after a little research, I realized I can develop film in my apartment. The rest, as they say, is history.

So that is the back story. This blog will be the companion to my portfolio website, and feature some of my more personal and experimental work. Mostly film, mostly developed by me, and mostly shot on a recently purchased used Nikon FE. And yes, I do have a couple of rolls of Kodachrome that I am looking forward to shooting in the near future.