After more than a year, it’s the return of Perfect Product and the fourth installment in the series finds both Jason and James chatting about two of their most favorite cameras, albeit very different sorts of cameras. From the get-go, the TGN boys are chatting Father’s Day watches and Jason’s upcoming book signing at Lake Monster Brewing (details below but if you’re in the St.Paul, MN area - you’re invited!).
Film cameras might seem frivolous to generations where they were peak technology but as someone when remembers the transition away from film to the early digital in my childhood, it has been a thrill to discover the slow, tactile experience of old film cameras and home developing. I eyed many Nikon but I opted to pick up the original Canon F-1 that my dad once owned in the 70s as my first film camera, which is thrilling as all shutter speeds are fully mechanical and needs no battery other than the light meter. I also have a Minolta X570 which is a joy to use and have dipped my toes in medium format with a Bronica SQ - nothing looks more beautiful than seeing the worth through the large ground glass of a waist-level finder. In the end photography is photography and all that matters is the joy of making pictures and a beautiful end result that both digital and film can achieve, the best camera is the one that makes you want to go shoot!
I myself have been shooting with an F2 sans batteries and I adore the mechanical feel. Of course I have a little 1980s point and shoot for fun, but nothing rivals the F2.
I always loved the FM-2, as that thing didn't care if it had batteries or not (they were just for the light meter). (or going back to the '70s - most cameras were purely mechanical + light meter)
Thanks for the F3/T discussion. I bought one new almost 40 yrs ago (still have it) after wearing out the plastic parts on a Cannon AE-1. Back then, the T was not available in black - it came in bare Titanium (giving it a bit of the F2 look). Its never let me down and I certainly ran it through its paces. Things like that 6FPS motor drive, high eyepoint viewfinder, and waist level finder were icing on the cake. Its fun to look back all these years to what was state of the art (and may always be for a 35mm SLR). Was intrigued to see your camera in Gishani's feed - I'd never seen a black "T" before.
I forgot to mention my quiver of focusing screens - one of the hidden joys of having an F3. James asked what kind of focusing screen it had - well - pretty much anything you could want. One of the more entertaining/unique ones is the Type H: Clear Fresnel field with microprism focusing pattern over the entire screen area.
Great episode! I used a black Canon FTb for years in the mid 80's, and lusted after an F1. The Canon F1 and Nikon F2 and F3 were the pinnacle of SLR technology and just simple 'robustness'. Tools designed for professional that needed their gear to work. It's always fun to own and use something with history and pedigree.
Also, related to the Jason's comments about film cameras for sport or action. I feel that modern autofocus DSLR's make it easier to create successful shots, you could still do it 30, 40, 50 years ago.
I loved the podcast discussing cameras. After I became a professional photographer and and had to use the fastest auto focus equipment available, I would enjoy my leisure photography using a Nikon FM2n with a NIkon 50 mm f1.2. It had a titanium honeycomb shutter that would do 1/4000 with no battery. I quickly lost my ability to manual focus very quickly. But it was a lot of fun using that camera when I was not in a hurry.
Every time you all talk about cameras I start looking. We have a very trusty Nikon D300 but we hardly use it as it is so bulky. I have thought about selling it and buying a Fuji X100 or similar. Maybe it is time to pull the trigger.
I recommend pulling the trigger on a good quality used X100F or T. If you can swing it, go for the V. My X100T is currently my only camera and its a fantastic all rounder. Super small and compact, and the fixed 35mm equivalent does various shooting situations well. To tie this in with ep. 148, the X100 series is a great option as an affordable Leica Q alternative.
Absolutely love the new substack platform. Great, simple format. And the ability to search easily back in the archives is great. I always listen when I drive, so being able to get the links and read through later, having come to my email, is awesome.
Glad you mentioned Fuji as the poor man's Leica. We've had a X100s for a long time. Favorite camera ever. If you can sacrifice on the crop sensor, can't be beat. Have an X-T2 as well, but the X100 series is something special.
I honestly have never used filters except for underwater photography, where they can correct colors for the loss of the light spectrum. A 50mm f/1.2. That's a smoking lens!
Love the camera discussion, I’d like to add the Sony RX1/RX1R/RX1RII to the list. If the Leica is out of reach I think the Sony is a great alternative to the Q. (RX1RMKII) Full frame, 35mm F2 Zeiss Sonnar, leaf shutter, great viewfinder and phase detect autofocus, plenty of resolution at 42mp.
Love this episode! I just recently got into photography during the pandemic. Been using the Fujix100F but thinking of upgrading to the V. Your argument to go further for the q is tempting! Thanks for another great perfect product!
Listening to this on Father's Day. This episode stirred a lot of memories for me.
I was born in 1983 in Orange County, CA. My father was DEEP into amateur photography. Every vacation was to some scenic place in the West: Yosemite, Sequoia, the Painted Desert, Bryce Canyon. Dad would stop at seemingly all the overlooks and huddle under the black hood with his view camera, while my mom bravely attempted to keep my brother and I from losing it. If he wasn't hiding under that damn hood, he was looking through an Olympus OM-1, with the braided leather strap around his neck.
Dad is 71 now, and he no longer has a home darkroom, having put up his film cameras after we moved to South Carolina. I've never shared his interest in photography, but when I called him today so we could wish each other a happy father's day, perhaps nudged by listening to Jason's tribute to his Nikon, I asked Dad if he could show me how to use his old camera. I know he's not going to be around forever, and when he's gone I'm going to be left with the artifacts of his life. I'll have his old Olympus, and I want to have learned how to use it from him.
Been hunting a bargain priced F3/T for a few years, one of these days. Great episode and now I want to dig through my pile of vintage film cameras and take some shots.
I'd like to get into photography... the problem is, I am either at work or at home 99.9% of the time. In some way I'd hope that buying a kit would get me out on the weekend more, maybe even saving up my work leave for a trip once or twice a year? I am so used to staying at home, I'm not sure that'd be the case... Anyways, cool episode. Excited for the next Perfect Product sometime down the line!
Howdy. Aside from this podcast; I have a band question. Where do you recommend I go to get a Nice black bund strap for my SKX013? I have never owned one before and want to give it a try! Thanks guys.
Loved this episode! Any experience with older Leica rangefinder competitors? I’ve picked up a Canon P recently with a 50 1.4 and 35 1.8- could. not. be. happier!
Film cameras might seem frivolous to generations where they were peak technology but as someone when remembers the transition away from film to the early digital in my childhood, it has been a thrill to discover the slow, tactile experience of old film cameras and home developing. I eyed many Nikon but I opted to pick up the original Canon F-1 that my dad once owned in the 70s as my first film camera, which is thrilling as all shutter speeds are fully mechanical and needs no battery other than the light meter. I also have a Minolta X570 which is a joy to use and have dipped my toes in medium format with a Bronica SQ - nothing looks more beautiful than seeing the worth through the large ground glass of a waist-level finder. In the end photography is photography and all that matters is the joy of making pictures and a beautiful end result that both digital and film can achieve, the best camera is the one that makes you want to go shoot!
I myself have been shooting with an F2 sans batteries and I adore the mechanical feel. Of course I have a little 1980s point and shoot for fun, but nothing rivals the F2.
I always loved the FM-2, as that thing didn't care if it had batteries or not (they were just for the light meter). (or going back to the '70s - most cameras were purely mechanical + light meter)
Well said!
"Secret life of Walter Mitty" is my favorite movie and this camera rec is something I had never thought to look up.. great choice 👍
Thanks for the F3/T discussion. I bought one new almost 40 yrs ago (still have it) after wearing out the plastic parts on a Cannon AE-1. Back then, the T was not available in black - it came in bare Titanium (giving it a bit of the F2 look). Its never let me down and I certainly ran it through its paces. Things like that 6FPS motor drive, high eyepoint viewfinder, and waist level finder were icing on the cake. Its fun to look back all these years to what was state of the art (and may always be for a 35mm SLR). Was intrigued to see your camera in Gishani's feed - I'd never seen a black "T" before.
I forgot to mention my quiver of focusing screens - one of the hidden joys of having an F3. James asked what kind of focusing screen it had - well - pretty much anything you could want. One of the more entertaining/unique ones is the Type H: Clear Fresnel field with microprism focusing pattern over the entire screen area.
Great episode! I used a black Canon FTb for years in the mid 80's, and lusted after an F1. The Canon F1 and Nikon F2 and F3 were the pinnacle of SLR technology and just simple 'robustness'. Tools designed for professional that needed their gear to work. It's always fun to own and use something with history and pedigree.
Also, related to the Jason's comments about film cameras for sport or action. I feel that modern autofocus DSLR's make it easier to create successful shots, you could still do it 30, 40, 50 years ago.
I loved the podcast discussing cameras. After I became a professional photographer and and had to use the fastest auto focus equipment available, I would enjoy my leisure photography using a Nikon FM2n with a NIkon 50 mm f1.2. It had a titanium honeycomb shutter that would do 1/4000 with no battery. I quickly lost my ability to manual focus very quickly. But it was a lot of fun using that camera when I was not in a hurry.
Just watched the first episode of The Investigation. The lead detective is wearing an SKX? 👏🏽
Good catch!
Yes, I believe that's correct!
It's very good (the series not the watch! Well, the watch is obviously good too...ah, you know what I mean! 😂)
Every time you all talk about cameras I start looking. We have a very trusty Nikon D300 but we hardly use it as it is so bulky. I have thought about selling it and buying a Fuji X100 or similar. Maybe it is time to pull the trigger.
I recommend pulling the trigger on a good quality used X100F or T. If you can swing it, go for the V. My X100T is currently my only camera and its a fantastic all rounder. Super small and compact, and the fixed 35mm equivalent does various shooting situations well. To tie this in with ep. 148, the X100 series is a great option as an affordable Leica Q alternative.
Absolutely love the new substack platform. Great, simple format. And the ability to search easily back in the archives is great. I always listen when I drive, so being able to get the links and read through later, having come to my email, is awesome.
Glad you mentioned Fuji as the poor man's Leica. We've had a X100s for a long time. Favorite camera ever. If you can sacrifice on the crop sensor, can't be beat. Have an X-T2 as well, but the X100 series is something special.
Thank you so much for another great chat!
I’ve just bought a NOS F3 hp with its fifty 1.2, a wonderful wonderful piece of kit!
Jason have you any tips for b&w filters?
I honestly have never used filters except for underwater photography, where they can correct colors for the loss of the light spectrum. A 50mm f/1.2. That's a smoking lens!
Love the camera discussion, I’d like to add the Sony RX1/RX1R/RX1RII to the list. If the Leica is out of reach I think the Sony is a great alternative to the Q. (RX1RMKII) Full frame, 35mm F2 Zeiss Sonnar, leaf shutter, great viewfinder and phase detect autofocus, plenty of resolution at 42mp.
Love this episode! I just recently got into photography during the pandemic. Been using the Fujix100F but thinking of upgrading to the V. Your argument to go further for the q is tempting! Thanks for another great perfect product!
Listening to this on Father's Day. This episode stirred a lot of memories for me.
I was born in 1983 in Orange County, CA. My father was DEEP into amateur photography. Every vacation was to some scenic place in the West: Yosemite, Sequoia, the Painted Desert, Bryce Canyon. Dad would stop at seemingly all the overlooks and huddle under the black hood with his view camera, while my mom bravely attempted to keep my brother and I from losing it. If he wasn't hiding under that damn hood, he was looking through an Olympus OM-1, with the braided leather strap around his neck.
Dad is 71 now, and he no longer has a home darkroom, having put up his film cameras after we moved to South Carolina. I've never shared his interest in photography, but when I called him today so we could wish each other a happy father's day, perhaps nudged by listening to Jason's tribute to his Nikon, I asked Dad if he could show me how to use his old camera. I know he's not going to be around forever, and when he's gone I'm going to be left with the artifacts of his life. I'll have his old Olympus, and I want to have learned how to use it from him.
Thanks for this episode, guys.
Lovely memories, I hope you have a blast shooting his old camera.
Been hunting a bargain priced F3/T for a few years, one of these days. Great episode and now I want to dig through my pile of vintage film cameras and take some shots.
I'd like to get into photography... the problem is, I am either at work or at home 99.9% of the time. In some way I'd hope that buying a kit would get me out on the weekend more, maybe even saving up my work leave for a trip once or twice a year? I am so used to staying at home, I'm not sure that'd be the case... Anyways, cool episode. Excited for the next Perfect Product sometime down the line!
Howdy. Aside from this podcast; I have a band question. Where do you recommend I go to get a Nice black bund strap for my SKX013? I have never owned one before and want to give it a try! Thanks guys.
Loved this episode! Any experience with older Leica rangefinder competitors? I’ve picked up a Canon P recently with a 50 1.4 and 35 1.8- could. not. be. happier!