Edmonton Photographic Historical Society

     Collecting this Nikon N2000 was a bit of a mistake. Until I added it to my list of cameras, I wasn’t aware I already had one. That one was acquired ten years ago, and came with a Tokina 25-50 mm zoom lens, but I might have passed this one by if I knew I had one.      Of course this one only cost $20, came with a spotless case and the Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8   lens and was a better buy than the other camera I bought the same day. That camera—a Pentax P3—didn’t work, while the Nikon fired right up!      The Nikon N2000—also known as the Nikon F-301 in other markets — was made around 1986, although other sources say it was made between 1985 and 1990.   It was the first camera— made of polycarbonate contained a motor drive with the new “Brite View” screen that didn’t black out the focus aids at smaller apertures and the only manual focus camera with a motor drive built-in.        It had manual, two program and apertu...

     Yesterday I collected three photographic items. Turns out I either have all three, or I have one pair that are very similar and two items the same.      Starting at the top with the square Rollei flash on the Paxette’s hotshoe, I collected the Rollei F19BC flash at a Value Village. It was the first item I have found at that relatively new Value Village in about ten visits, so that in itself was a minor triumph of collecting! It was 30% off senior’s day, so it cost me just $2.93 tax in. It is a 4-AA battery/one auto range flash in the “square flatface” design Rollei used.        Turns out I had already collected a Rollei 128BC and posted an article on our former web site in the last year. It looked pretty familiar and here is why. Rollei made two almost identical flash with over lapping production in two countries!        This is information copied from the official Rollei site— # 450010 E19BC 1971-1975 Germany ...

Our camera club monthly meeting subject was to be “Plastic Cameras”. Of course we all have some, so the problem is more how to find them in your own collection, or should the cameras be acquired in the month between meetings. Technically plastic cameras can be any material from bakelite to injected plastic materials so all disposable cameras, many simple reloadable 35 mm and even many roll film cameras—828, 127, 120, 620—that are largely unadjustable would fit the mandate.      When I had a chance to buy this Minolta F10BF for $1, I thought it would make a good plastic camera.   It— is fixed focus has no shutter speed or aperture adjustment hasn’t a selftimer, cable   release socket or tripod fitting      The flash can’t be turned off. In a way the only exposing adjustment is automatic switching from 100 to 400 ISO using a single Dx contact. Changing of ISO might only affect the red-eye reduction LED being turned on when flash is going to be used....

The local thrift store founder I have known for 40-years motioned me over. She whispered,” I have a special camera I saved for you!” Then she handed me this sugar-cube sized keychain camera-viewer. We laughed together and then I headed by her to see what I could find in the thrift store.      I tried playing with the camera/viewer and found the “shutter” button wasn’t advancing the slides. So, being me, I pried the camera open.      If you insert a blade into the shutter button’s surround you can pry the two halves apart. This is what you would find if it had been assembled correctly. I found the almost dried out elastic—that yellow object—had popped off and so the mechanism was not working. These are the parts (starting at the left side)— A short “arm” pivoting on a post the band is wrapped around. It has a notch the center hub’s small posts drop into. The centre disc of “slides” has a centre hole the disc rotates around (the rubber band runs around the to...

     There were two Rollei flash that looked pretty much the same (see below). This is the more recently collected F19BC . It takes 4-AA batteries, has the standard locking PC cable attachment, as well as a standard hotshoe connection. It has one auto setting for use at   3.5 m / 12 feet and less. At ASA 12 / DIN 12 the auto setting would be f/2.8. At 100 ASA / 21 DIN the auto f/stop would be f/8.   At the far end of the calculator using 1600 ASA / DIN 34 film, the auto f/stop is well below f/22 (maybe f/32-f/64). Rollei has a curious switch that— locks and slides to unlock the PC cable when slid it fires the flash manually      These flash have a captive battery door that slides a bit to unlock and then flips open.      Of note is the depth of the auto cell’s mount. The cell has tunnel vision of the field in front of it! The cell cover—that closed results in having a manual flash—has several small detents but the flash should have ...

Warning! Lithium batteries can ignite. Don't try using them unless you are aware of the dangers! I am a little discouraged by those who use vape products. When they finish their vape unit, some users pitch them. I started picking them up while on my daily walks. They all contain a battery that is considered hazardous waste. They also contain bits of electronics and plastics. Once you learn their assembly you can tear them apart. It has occurred to me I have many of the bits to make battery packs for old electronic flash.      All the batteries—in these items—have a little over 3 VDC. It should just be a matter of wiring one into a two AA battery flash and you’re done.      Then I noticed many of the vape products have charging ports. Now it should be possible to use the battery and then recharge it! This is some of the inside bits of a pocket vape device. The long blue unit is the battery.   The black display panel shows the switchable output—10W and 2...

     The Feb/1985 Minolta Maxxum 7000 was both a surprise and a world leader into the future of autofocus cameras. Previous cameras had autofocus in their lenses, but the Maxxum debuted with its autofocus driven by the camera. All 12 lenses introduced with the Maxxum coupled with the body’s autofocus motor through a blade coupling.      The other startling thing about the Maxxum was its autoload, auto advance. auto-rewind built-in motor.   It was powered by four AAA batteries.      An accessory battery clip attached to the battery mounting site allowed four AA batteries to power the camera.      Speaking of powering, the Maxxum turned on when your finger touched the shutter release. If you happened to be wearing gloves the camera would turn on as soon as you pressed the shutter release even slightly.        There was one autofocus spot in the middle of the viewfinder. The meter was sensitive from -1 to ...