Allan Burgess, Author at Rangefinder-cameras.com

07/12/2014 by Allan Burgess 7 comments

Yashica Electro 35 (from 1966) big, old-fashioned, but takes great photographs

Yashica Electro 35 The Yashica Electro 35 was one of the first old range-finder cameras I purchased. It is very big, heavy, and old-fashioned, but make no mistake, it takes great photographs. This thing is amazing! In my opinion, it is also one of the best looking of all the old 1960s and 1970s range-finders.…

26/01/2016 by Allan Burgess 0 comments

Pentax P30 (1985) Light Weight Program and Manual Exposure

Pentax P30 I really like the Pentax P30. It is quite small being almost as compact as a Pentax MX. It also reminds me a bit of the old Pentax ME Super which immediately proceeded it. Some cameras I just like. The P30 is one of them. The Pentax P30 came out in 1985 making…

07/04/2015 by Allan Burgess 1 comment

Pentax MX (1976) pro quality 35mm film SLR

Pentax MX manual only If you have never handled a Pentax MX you are in for a real treat. This little compact camera is an absolute joy to handle. If you can find a good working black paint version you really have struck gold – the black paint models are highly prized by Pentax users and collectors. The…

19/02/2016 by Allan Burgess 2 comments

Ricoh XR-1s 35mm film SLR and XR Rikenon 50mm f2

Ricoh XR-1s manual exposure The Ricoh XR-1s is a manual-exposure-only 35mm film SLR. Though nothing fancy it has depth-of-field preview, self-timer, black paint, battery check, and a switch that turns the meter off, and locks the shutter, when the wind-on lever is returned to its normal position. Shutter flash x-sync is at 1/125 second flash sync…

07/02/2016 by Allan Burgess 0 comments

Pentax K1000 – Manual SLR Popular with Photography Students

Pentax K1000 – Basic and Reliable The Pentax K1000 single lens reflex camera is robust and simple to operate. It is a mechanically operated single lens reflex camera (SLR) with manual focus, and manual exposure control, only. Although there is a single 1.5-volt button cell battery (A76, or LR44, or AG13) housed in the bottom…

15/11/2015 by Allan Burgess 0 comments

Christchurch Cathedral prior to and after the Earthquakes

Christchurch Cathedral The cornerstone of the Anglican cathedral in the city of Christchurch was laid on the 16th of December 1864. The transepts, chancel and sanctuary were not finished until 1904. The cathedral spire stood 63 metres (207ft) tall. The building is located in the centre of the city, surrounded by Cathedral Square. The first…

11/11/2015 by Allan Burgess 2 comments

Christchurch Before and After the Earthquakes

Christchurch Before and After the Earthquakes I have lived in Christchurch City most of my life. I find it difficult to describe the sense of loss at the disappearance of so many of the city’s buildings following the series of devastating earthquakes starting with the magnitude 7.1 shake on 4 September 2010. It is as…

23/09/2015 by Allan Burgess 0 comments

Using a GoPro for Inexpensive Wide Angle Photographs

GoPro Wide Angle Photographs Using the GoPro as a stills camera to take wide angle shots. You may not have considered the GoPro as an alternative to an expensive wide angle lens for your 35mm digital SLR. You aren’t going to get as good a quality as you are from a purpose made digital camera…

05/12/2014 by Allan Burgess 5 comments

Canon A35 Datelux (1977) features pop-up-flash and date stamping

Canon A35 Datelux (1977) I liked the look of this camera the moment I first saw it in a second-hand goods store. It looks cool in black. The construction of the Canon A35 Datelux is mostly of metal with just a few plastic parts. It weighs 540g so has a reassuring bit of heft to…

06/12/2014 by Allan Burgess 8 comments

Minolta Hi-Matic 7sII (1977)

Minolta Hi-Matic 7SII The Minolta Hi-Matic 7sII was is one of the best of the Japanese rangefinder cameras made before the age of plastic “point and shoots” and SLRs had completely taken over the majority of the market. It was introduced in 1977 and had all of the best features. These included an excellent…