My grandma has been going through her rather vast collection of "stuff" she has been collecting over the years. And she recently came across a few boxes of Cameras & related equipment and prints she had acquired from an estate. Well, this collection has come to me, mainly since I do some amature photography (mostly as a hobby, but some commercial).

Well, it turns out there are quite a few interesting items in these boxes. 4 Cameras The main and most interesting one is pictured below. It is a Graflex Series R.B.



It was manufactured between the years 1923 to 1937. And this one in particular served some time in the Pacific and overseas during the US involvement in World War II.

The gentleman whom owned it was enlisted as a Naval Journalist. And I have quite a few photos he took while on one of the Battleships( a really cool one where the water is spraying over the prow) and a plane (Vought F4U Corsair) launching from an Aircraft Carrier. In the air (on what I assume was a bomber) and on land where there is an image of a jeep that has been completely destroyed. There is even a photo of H.S.Truman boarding one of the ships he was on. And a picture of with some of his favorite photos hanging behind him. And there are a few Naval Officers(for example Rear Admiral Tooley). And even a signed photo of a Russian Ace pilot.

It is really a unique and fascinating feeling looking at these old prints. It's a rare opportunity to peak back in time and see personal glimpses from the greatest generation of our time. And one that not many people have seen.

It is unfortunate though, that some of the original negatives have turned up missing over the years in storage. And some of the larger prints which are rolled together have become so tightly rolled that it takes two people to even unroll them. (If anyone knows a way to make the paper of the prints relax so that I can flatten them without jeopardizing the images, PLEASE let me know).
Sorry, meandering a bit.

The camera is actually in pretty good shape. And even the viewing baffle on top (which is made of leather), like the case in the photo. Seems to not have any light leaks, but it is getting very dry and crackly... I am really considering looking to see if a Museum would like to put it on display. But I sure would like to take 1 photo with it, just to say I got to use a piece of history.

Of the 3 other cameras, one is a most excellent Medium Format (not my photo, but a weblink). And I am planning on using this one quite a bit. I've never used an actual twin lens camera or a medium format, so this will be pretty educational. (what is interesting about a medium format, is that the frame is 6" x 6" square. Which really should make for some interesting composition over the traditional rectangular shape of the 35mm film frame).

There is also a (also not my image, but a weblink) 35mm. IT has 5 different lens's. All are pretty fast (f2.. From Macro to 200mm telephoto... Plus a few converters, flashes, etc. I cannot wait to use these... though I wish the lens's would work on my new dSLR Canon I got for Christmas...

At least I'll get to do some film shooting. Something I have actually never done.

(The last is one of the early Instamatic's with a crazy range finder method for determining proper focus. IT is the (again, not my image, but a web link)).

~Floyd

... Well both...

I would commit serious mayhem to get my hands on those Mamiyas. Although the pro dslrs are approaching medium format in resolution, those Mamiyas make gorgeous images. My Canon 1D looks more filmlike because it uses a CCD chip, but still not there. I do love the instant gratification of digital, though for landscapes the medium format Mamiya would be fantastic. Not that you need f2 for that. I'm meandering.

Floydski, have you visited fredmiranda.com? Most of the pictures there are taken with dslrs, but there are a few of the northern California coast taken with medium format and they put the rest to shame. Must run to work but I'll see if I can link to them later.

Elle