110/16mm Camera Image Quality

[G1DRP]

It dates to a law passed by the City of London when crossing London Bridge. I do not have a quick reference on that. It was supposed to prevent sword play but when drafted it mistaken was written that when north bound on was to have be on the upstream side, when it should have said when north bound on was to have be on the downstream side. No one bothered to check the wording and the wrong side was passed. In the rest of the world the convention was to keep the swords on the outsides of the thoroughfare.

Thanks for the info.

 

[MattKing]

It has nothing to do with Henry Ford. Prior to the American Revolution, from the first colony, North and South Americans had it correct by staying to the right on the roads.

Sorry - not correct:
Just over 100 years ago, we joined the heathens:
https://scoutmagazine.ca/2018/01/16...t-city-on-the-continent-to-drive-on-the-left/
And Newfoundland didn't switch to 1947.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Sorry - not correct:
Just over 100 years ago, we joined the heathens:
https://scoutmagazine.ca/2018/01/16...t-city-on-the-continent-to-drive-on-the-left/
And Newfoundland didn't switch to 1947.

Now I learned something. Thank you. I understand that Sweden switch the country over in one day. That must have been challenging and exciting.

 

[MattKing]

And of course, they still drive on the left in Japan.

 

[G1DRP]

The lady, just left of centre, clearly didn’t appreciate my Minox EC!

 

[G1DRP]

These images are the result of my first attempt at using the Minolta 16ii. I took the camera to work yesterday, loaded with expired Plus-X (Eastman 5231 from a 100’ roll) and developed it in RO9, 1 + 50 for 13 minutes at 20C. Now I know I’m getting even frame spacing, I’ll take the camera out and photograph something more interesting.

 

[xkaes]

The lady, just left of centre, clearly didn’t appreciate my Minox EC!

A question and a comment.

First how could she know that you had a camera?

Sounds like you need a spy/angle finder. Did they make one for the EC? I use them all the time on my Minox IIIs and Acmel MD (and Minolta MG-s).

 

[xkaes]

These images are the result of my first attempt at using the Minolta 16ii. I took the camera to work yesterday, loaded with expired Plus-X (Eastman 5231 from a 100’ roll) and developed it in RO9, 1 + 50 for 13 minutes at 20C. Now I know I’m getting even frame spacing, I’ll take the camera out and photograph something more interesting.

Looks like the camera is working fine. I'm not familiar with that film and developer, but it seems grainier than the 50% smaller Minox negative. I usually shoot Delta 400 (at ISO 200) & D-76 it.

 

[Bronson Dugnutt]

The Minolta 16 series is phenomenal if you can cope with the fixed-focus. That is one aspect that I think limits their wider use. My Minox B has a fixed aperture (wide open!) but you'll see far fewer complaints about that limitation

Carrying some close up lenses in your pocket for handheld use provides closer focusing distances.

The old Polaroid 540 kit is my favorite as it comes with a tape for measuring distance.

(Not my listing - provided as an example only.)

Spoiler: 3rd party ebay link

Polaroid Close-Up Lens Kit #540 Case Tape Measure 3 Lens Vintage Still-Life | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Polaroid Close-Up Lens Kit #540 Case Tape Measure 3 Lens Vintage Still-Life at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[G1DRP]

A question and a comment.

First how could she know that you had a camera?

Sounds like you need a spy/angle finder. Did they make one for the EC? I use them all the time on my Minox IIIs and Acmel MD (and Minolta MG-s).

They didn’t make one for the EC. I have one for my Atoron Electro and I’ve got a Minox reflex finder, which not all that useful really.

 

[G1DRP]

Looks like the camera is working fine. I'm not familiar with that film and developer, but it seems grainier than the 50% smaller Minox negative. I usually shoot Delta 400 (at ISO 200) & D-76 it.

It’s basically an older iteration of Rodinal. I’m going to slit some ADOX HR-50 and try that next.

 

[G1DRP]

The Minolta 16 series is phenomenal if you can cope with the fixed-focus. That is one aspect that I think limits their wider use. My Minox B has a fixed aperture (wide open!) but you'll see far fewer complaints about that limitation

Carrying some close up lenses in your pocket for handheld use provides closer focusing distances.

The old Polaroid 540 kit is my favorite as it comes with a tape for measuring distance.

(Not my listing - provided as an example only.)

Spoiler: 3rd party ebay link

Polaroid Close-Up Lens Kit #540 Case Tape Measure 3 Lens Vintage Still-Life | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Polaroid Close-Up Lens Kit #540 Case Tape Measure 3 Lens Vintage Still-Life at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

I’ve got quite a few Minox cameras. The C is my favourite, as I always seem to get better results from them.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The lady, just left of centre, clearly didn’t appreciate my Minox EC!

A face like that could stop a truck.

 

[xkaes]

The Minolta 16 series is phenomenal if you can cope with the fixed-focus. That is one aspect that I think limits their wider use. My Minox B has a fixed aperture (wide open!) but you'll see far fewer complaints about that limitation

Carrying some close up lenses in your pocket for handheld use provides closer focusing distances.

The Minotla 16 & 16 II cases have two small pockets inside for the auxiliary lenses. (The ones for the Minotla 16 do not fit on the 16 II -- and vice versa). The 16 II set included a new #0 lens for infinity focus at any aperture -- which the original set lacked. It makes a big difference for scenics.

http://www.subclub.org/shop/minolta.htm

 

[G1DRP]

Yashica Atoron. ADOX HR-50.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Sweden switch the country over in one day.

After spending a year and a few million kroner on an ad campaign to be sure pedestrians looked the correct direction before stepping off the curb...

 

[Sirius Glass]

After spending a year and a few million kroner on an ad campaign to be sure pedestrians looked the correct direction before stepping off the curb...

Still a problem for almost everyone else in the world when they first step off the curb [kerb] in downtown London.

 

[MattKing]

If you are downtown anywhere, and are not in the habit of looking both ways, best avoid one-way streets!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Still a problem for almost everyone else in the world when they first step off the curb [kerb] in downtown London.

If you are downtown anywhere, and are not in the habit of looking both ways, best avoid one-way streets!

If one looks to the left for an oncoming bicycle, car or truck [lorry] in London on a two way street, a tour of a the closest hospital may be added to your itinerary. <<splat!>>

 

[cannotShootStraight]

Does any one of you have experiences with the MEC 16SB? It has the fastest aperture lens at f/2.0 for a 16mm camera which also has 6 elements (so maybe it is of higher quality), manual focus as well as manual aperture and shutter speed. So everything one can expect from a normal camera.
As far as I can tell it also doesn't use a cartridge like the Minolta 16 but it has two separate cans and the film is transferred from the left can to the right can.
I am just a little bit worried about buying one because they were made in the 60s and are quite old and a bit pricey (> 100€)

 

[Thwyllo]

I don't know this lens specifically but I wouldn't get hung up on the "more elements = better IQ" argument because it's a bit fatuous.

The stellar 'Afghan Girl' lens, one of the best Nikkors ever made, only has five elements for example, and the basic Tessar design is only four elements. Sometimes less is definitely more

 

[guangong]

The Minox lens has phenomenal resolution, as I understand, due to fixed aperture and focal length (it’s over 75 yrs since my high school physics class). Minolta 16 has variable f stops.
I have used both for a long time...the Minolta since first introduced (with the iridescent body, fashionable for aluminum cups and plates In the 1950s) and later used Minox. I remember Minox III displayed in store window at the time, a luxury item. Minolta was far cheaper.

 

[Cholentpot]

I've got a Minolta Weathermatic A in my hands now. I assume it needs a new gasket but I doubt they're available. I guess I'll try it out as a 'water resistant' camera.

Anyhow, been developing and scanning my 16mm stuff from over the summer. Here's a shot from a Praktica MTL3 with Tri-X rolled through it.

And a bunch from a Minolta 16II also with Tri-X. I got a seat right behind the Boche.

 

[xya]

Does any one of you have experiences with the MEC 16SB? It has the fastest aperture lens at f/2.0 for a 16mm camera which also has 6 elements (so maybe it is of higher quality), manual focus as well as manual aperture and shutter speed. So everything one can expect from a normal camera.
As far as I can tell it also doesn't use a cartridge like the Minolta 16 but it has two separate cans and the film is transferred from the left can to the right can.
I am just a little bit worried about buying one because they were made in the 60s and are quite old and a bit pricey (> 100€)

I have this camera and yes, it's one of the best 16mm ever made https://www.subcompactcam.com/16mm_mec_16_sb.htm. It uses 2 single, easily reloadable canisters which should be present. Putting film is easy, the camera needs perfs, single or double, both are possible. On mine the light meter still works perfectly which is very handy. It's a technical beauty.

Picture quality is very fine, but yes, with a cheap Kiev 30 you get good pictures as well as the Kiev has a bigger format.

 

[cannotShootStraight]

Okay, I pulled the trigger on the MEC 16SB. It will be the start for me regarding buying bulk 16mm film, reloading the canisters in the dark and probably developing my own B&W film.
Hope I can share some pictures in a couple of weeks.