Old Haunts: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School + the UWS

Carnegie Hall

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Kodak PX125 in Diafine

I heard many great artists, chamber music groups and orchestras visiting NYC at this venue. In 1982, I was one of the few fortunate young violinists chosen to participate in Alexander Schneider's New York String Orchestra. We performed here on Christmas Eve! I've also played at Weill Hall as a chamber musician.

Shoten R50 Pentax K to Leica M adapter

Inasmuch as I love music and retrotech high fidelity music reproduction, I think it's healthy to take periodic breaks from hifi. Frequent visitors know that I also enjoy photography, especially using black and white film loaded in old school manual focus cameras. 

So today's blog is about the Shoten R50 lens adapter that's designed to take a 50mm (Note: a 35mm, 45mm, 55mm or 58mm, etc. won't focus accurately) Pentax K bayonet mount lens and fully couple to the rangefinder focus cam of a Leica M body from 0.7 meters to infinity. 

Leitz 8-Element Summicron 35mm f2

While organizing my Flickr, I noticed that I've uploaded over 700 images taken by the Leitz lens I use the most - the first version of the 35mm f2 Summicron. I've blogged about this lens in the past when it was merely an old user lens, which took very pleasing images.

However, in the recent years, this 8-element lens has caught the attention of aficionados,  skyrocketing its value. In fact a reverse engineered version of this lens is being remanufactured in China in limited quantities.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila 2011
Kodan Tri X in Diafine

It's not a razor sharp optic and the corners vignette wide open.

Macau 2014
Fuji Acros in Diafine

Hong Kong 2014
Fuji Acros in Diafine.

I like the way it creates an illusion of a three dimensional image with a smooth bokeh.

Austin Healey "Bugeye" Sprite
Kodak Plus X in Diafine
2016

It's sharp enough to capture essential details with good contrast.

Porsche 356 in NYC
Ilford FP4+ in Rodinal
2019

Carnegie Hall 2016
Kodak Plus X in Diafine

NYC 2016
Kodak Plus X in Diafine

High Line NYC 2016
Kodak Plus X in Diafine

SoHo NYC 2016
Kodak Plus X in Diafine

Segerstorm PAC 2016
Kodak Plus X in Diafine

Bunker Hill, WV 2017
Fomapan 100 in Rodinal

Toronto 2017
Kodak Plus X in HC110

Kensington Market, Toronto 2017
Fuji Acros in HC110

NYC 2019
Kodak Portra

Color rendition is on the cool and muted side.

New York 2019
Kodak Portra

Subtle tonal gradations are well preserved by this medium contrast lens.

Princeton U 2021
Kodak Portra

NoMad NYC 2018
Fuji Acros in HC110

The technical limitations of this lens contribute to its overall character and charm.

Water Jug 2014
Fuji Acros in Rodinal

Lincoln Center 2019
The Juilliard School (left) + David Geffen Hall (right)
Ilford FP4+ in Rodinal

JE Labs LP Collection 2022
Sony A7II

I like how this lens tames a digital sensor, just like I utilize vacuum tubes + transformers to turn a number crunching DAC chip into a musical device.

JE Labs HiFi 2022
Sony A7II

I love seeing the tonal quality of my hifi through this lens.😉

Analog LP Playback + Film Photography

Combining my passion for two obsolete technologies

Thorens TD124 MKII with heavy platter + Alfred Bokrand AS309 tonearm
Canon P + Canon 50mm f1.8 LTM 
Ultrafine eXtreme 100 in Kodak HC110 

Late last year, I acquired the classic AS309 tonearm for my Thorens TD124 MKII from Alfred Bokrand. I really can't hear a difference between the AB309 and AS309, even if I'm forced to split hairs. I'm just happy to own both!

Garrard 301 + Ortofon RMG309 + SME 3012 in JE Labs plinth
Tower 3 (Leica copy) + Leitz Summitar 5cm f2
Ilford FP4+ in Kodak HC110

This was my main turntable for over twenty years. Now the duty is shared with the Thorens TD124 MKII above, and the Garrard 401 below.

Garrard 401 + Alfred Bokrand AB309 tonearm
Bessa R + Canon 50mm f1.8 LTM
Ilford FP4+ in Kodak HC110

A couple of blog readers and Instagram contacts have reached out regarding long delivery times from Alfred Bokrand. All of my transactions with him were done through eBay and on the average, delivery was within two months. I highly recommend that buyers order via eBay since it has a buyer protection guarantee.

TT Artisan Light Meter

 Eleven days after I uploaded my shoe mount light meter article, I took delivery of this light meter from TT Artisan. It came in a nice Japanese-style package!

The light meter requires a 3V CR2032 battery, which is not included due to shipping restrictions. A small screwdriver is supplied for installing the battery + a user manual. The official set up instruction is available on You Tube, so I'll skip those details.

I guesstimate it to be about 15% larger than the Voigtlander VCII.

Unlike the VCII, there are no alternative locations for the feet. As is, the light meter didn't clear the rewind knob of my Contax II and clones made in Kiev. A cheap and quick solution is some sort of an accessory shoe that can elevate the meter. 

Does it overwhelm a Barnack type body?

Despite the larger dimensions, the dials and markings are smaller than the VCII. Perhaps this only matters to a certain demographic that requires reading glasses, that's why I noticed it. 😉 

The TT Artisan has a 45 degree measuring angle vs. the VCII's narrower 30 degrees. This probably accounts for the 1/2 stop difference. Since it’s equipped with a Silicone photodiode, low light sensitivity seems to be as good as the VCII or at least at par with the Vivitar 24.

The Doomo Meter D shares similar technical specs with the Voigtlander VCII, including the svelte proportions of the latter at $125. I snagged my TT Artisan at the introductory price of $56/shipped. The price is now hovering at the $70 mark, but it still is the only shoe-mounted light meter with analog dials available new for under $100.

 

The Canon P is loaded with ISO 100 film. Watch out for the results in my Flickr!😊

My Collection of Classic Shoe Mount Light Meters

 

This collection of light sensing gizmos is merely a reflection of the gear head in me since I'm quite proficient with Sunny 16. My dad taught me how to take photos using his unmetered Yashica Penta J. When I see unloved vintage/classic camera paraphernalia for a couple of bucks, I am eager to provide a good home for them. If you want to see my handheld light meters, click here. 

Except for the Voigtlãnder VCII, all these light meters employ the match-needle system on an analog dial, which remind me of a slide rule, albeit, circular. For more information, the user manual (when available) is hyperlinked in the text under the picture of each light meter.

Leica Meter 2

 This selenium light meter doesn't need batteries. The light it is measuring powers the meter. However, selenium isn't as sensitive under low light conditions compared to a battery powered CdS (Cadmium Sulphide) or modern Silicone photodiode. It is smaller but thicker than the Voigtländer VCII and looks great on an early Leica Barnack body.

I paid a couple of bucks for this at an antique store a few decades ago. The selenium cell didn't react to light and the incident light attachment was missing. I sent it to Quality Light Metric and George Milton replaced the dead cell. I consider this more of a collectible than a user, thus, it spends most of its time inside its brown leather case, which prolongs the selenium cell's life. 

Gossen Pilot 2 aka Sixtino

Significantly bigger than the Leica Meter 2 and a tad more sensitive in lower light, this Gossen selenium also measures both incident and reflected light. In my nearly 30 years of scouring Photorama camera shows, thrift stores and flea markets, I've yet to encounter one with a dead cell. This is one of the three I own and this particular unit was recently acquired at a flea market for $7. A bit bulky and just slightly smaller in girth than the Sekonic L-208, it's a nice meter for daylight photo walks. Highly recommended if you want a battery independent light meter!

Kalimar Clip-On 

Not much information can be found about this relatively compact light meter except that which I've already linked. Kalimar was a US distributor of photographic equipment, which sourced cameras and photo accessories from all over the world and had their name stamped on the product.

This CdS light meter requires a PX625 Mercury cell, which is toxic and no longer available. The use of a modern PX625A yielded inconsistent readings. So I hacked a dead PX625 and inserted a 675 sized Wein-cell hearing aid battery into the PX625 shell. Voila! The needle moved when I pressed the button and got readings that were consistent compared to my known light meters. It's also more sensitive in lower light than the selenium meters. 

Sekonic Twinmate L-208

Sekonic is a Japanese company but the Twinmate L-208 is proudly made in the Philippines. Its Silicon photodiode is powered by a single CR2032 lithium battery and has a light sensitivity range of EV3 - EV17. It is a significant improvement over the above selenium and CdS light meters. Just like all the previous ones, this can measure both reflected and incident light.

 Given its size, I think it looks better on a TLR camera. I really like the center match-needle/analog dial ergonomics compared to the $40 digital light meters from China fitted with tiny buttons to navigate around a squinty LCD screen. Is it necessary for every device to resemble a smart phone nowadays?

Vivitar 24

This CdS meter was designed to be powered by a Mercury 675 battery. Surprisingly, it works great with a modern LR/SR44 without modification. The specified EV range of -1 to 24 maybe a bit optimistic but it's pretty close to the VCII meter in terms of low light sensitivity and accuracy. It has no incident light capability, just reflected light. 

Just like the L-208 this is also a center match-needle type light meter with an analog dial that's easy on the eyes and shows other shutter speed/f-stop options. Slightly more compact than the L-208 and sleeker in design. This has become my go-to light meter for photo walks while the Voigtländer VCII takes a rest.

These are easy to find on eBay for $20-30/shipped, which IMO should be the ceiling price. Otherwise, they will be priced out of the market by the minuscule computerized light gadgets from China, which are probably(?) more appealing to hipsters jumping on the analog (film) photography bandwagon.

Voigtländer VCII

I paid under $200 for this light meter in the mid 2000s and it's still available for $225 from Stephen Gandy at cameraquest.com. Not cheap but in the big scheme of things, it has paid for itself. Its accuracy and sensitivity are probably surpassed only (albeit, slightly) by the built-in meter on my Leica M6. The Si photodiode is powered by two very common LR44/A76/357 batteries and it only measures reflected light. It's not a match-needle type of meter. Instead, it sports a dial for shutter speed and another dial for f-stop/ISO setting + LED indicators. This is an analog design with only a hint of digital (LEDs) and IMHO, MoMA worthy!

Hot on its heels is a new kid on the block, the similarly sized, styled and spec'ed Doomo Meter D at $125. It's ironic that this retro-clone of the VCII is also the most expensive shoe mountable light meter manufactured in China. 

Perhaps analog dials and retro tech logic do command and deserve a premium? Hmm...🤔  Right before I clicked the publish button, I noticed something new in the TT Artisan's website. Let's see how that goes...😉

DKL and Exakta mount lenses + Exa camera

Soulless creatures will assert that I love listening and looking at distortion when I say that triode amps make music sound more gratifying while classic lenses make pictures look more pleasant to the eyes.

They can carry on with their SINAD and MTF charts while I enjoy the 21st century with retro tech gadgets, which were designed by human ears and eyes aided only by primitive computers and instruments.

Leica M and LTM lenses have significantly appreciated in value, with M42 lenses following at their heels. However, the German lenses below can still be found at reasonable prices in DKL and Exakta mounts. These are just as easily adapted to current mirrorless interchangeable lens camera bodies.

DKL Mount Lenses

Zenit 11 + DKL>M42 lens adapter
Schneider Kreuznach 45mm f2.8
(click for sample pics)

I pulled this Schneider Kreuznach Xenar 45mm f2.8 out of a Kodak Instamatic Reflex camera. It doesn't have the sharpness nor resolution of its bigger brother below but it renders nice colors with low to medium contrast. The short throw focus and compact design makes it a nice street shooter.

Fujica ST801 + DKL>M42 lens adapter + Schneider Kreuznach Xenar 45mm f2.8
Ultrafine Extreme 100 in Rodinal 1+50

Sony A7II + Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Xenon 50mm f1.9
(click for sample pics)

The Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Xenon 50mm f1.9 was the standard fast lens supplied with the Type 034 Kodak Retina Reflex S, III and IV + Retina IIIS rangefinder camera. It outperforms all the lenses discussed here in terms of speed, sharpness, resolution, color rendition and contrast. This lens is big and heavy.

Fujica ST801 + DKL>M42 lens adapter + Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Xenon 50mm f1.9
Ultrafine Extreme 100 in Rodinal 1+50

Zenit 11 + DKL>M42 lens adapter +
Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50mm f2.8
(click for sample pics)

This Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50mm f2.8 is normally found in a Bessamatic, also a compact design like the Xenar above but heavier. It's almost at par with the Xenon in terms of sharpness, color saturation, resolution and contrast. However, vignetting becomes apparent at wider apertures compared to the Xenar and Xenon.

Fujica ST801 + DKL>M42 lens adapter + Voigtlander Color Skopar 50mm f2.8
Ultrafine Extreme 100 in Rodinal 1+50

DKL Adapters

Voigtlander Color Skopar 50mm f2.8 DKL Lens + DKL>M42 lens adapter + M42>NEX lens adapter

The monochrome film pics above were  taken by the DKL lenses mounted on my Fujica ST801 M42 camera body via this DKL>M42 lens adapter. This adapter can also be mounted to an M42 adapter for your favorite mirrorles interchangeable lens digital camera body.   

Schneider Kreuznach Retina-Xenon 50mm f1.9 lens + M42>NEX lens adapter

NOTE: DKL lenses with built-in aperture rings aren't compatible with either of these lens adapters. Scroll down this link for more info.

Exa Camera + Exakta Mount Lenses

The Exakta VX camera was immortalized by James Stewart's character in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. I don't know if Hollywood contributed to the asking price for these cameras, but we'll focus on its cheaper siblings instead.

Ihagee Exa + Isco-Göttingen Westar 50mm f2.8
(click for sample pics)

Based on the serial number my Ihagee Exa + Isco-Göttingen Westar 50mm f2.8 was produced between 1956-1959. It's a very basic design with 4 shutter speeds -1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/150 + B and the mirror was integrated with the shutter mechanism. It came with a waist level viewfinder, which can be replaced with various focusing prisms including an eye level viewfinder that's interchangeable with the higher end Exakta. The Westar lens is a basic single coated triplet. I got it from my friend Mike, who's also an audio hobbyist.

I've only shot two short rolls with this camera. I'm having issues getting used to the waist level viewfinder, which might be psychological since I don't have trouble using medium format twin lens reflex cameras. 

Isco-Gottingen Westar 50mm f2.8 + Exakta>NEX lens adapter

Ihagee Exa II + Meyer Görlitz Domiplan 50mm f2.8
(click for sample pics)

I've been hunting for a Meyer Görlitz Domiplan 50mm f2.8 in M42 for many years but couldn't justify the asking prices for a single coated three element lens. So I ditched the M42 idea and got an Exa II camera with a Domiplan lens cap instead. The Exa II was upgraded with a focal plane shutter with speeds from 1/2 - 1/250 in geometric progression + B and was fitted with a fixed eye level viewfinder. This camera was manufactured between 1960-1963, which makes it just a tad older than I am. 

As long as the Exa and Exa II are loaded with ISO 100 film, the limited shutter speeds is a no brainer. It's just like shooting my Leica II and its Fed and Zorki cousins. Just as I expected, the Domiplan and Westar triplets can be very sharp in the center. From there, it builds up lots of character towards the edges, especially at wider apertures. 

Vintage glass + digital camera bodies take the edge out of pixels just like triodes and transformers make music more harmonious.

Good light and happy shooting!