Trip down memory lane

[lucian]

A good friend asked me to view some cameras that may be going to an estate sale.

He was going to look at the guns and told the folks I would come along and look at the cameras. I figure a bunch of Brownies and Instamatics but I was wrong.

The first to make me drool was Graflex 4x5 Speed Graphic. My first "professional assignment" was in high school. I used a Speed Graphic with a 120 roll film adapter to cover a high school football game.

The next drool was over a Rolleiflex TLR. It was in rough shape and the film advance lever was sticky but drool just the same. I wanted one for many a year but settled for a Yashica Mat - money for high school/college kid was at a premium.

He had a couple of Minoltas (X300/XG-M) with several lenses. I was hoping for an SRT-101. I had a SRT-101 but sold it when money got tight.

Another major case of drool when I got to see and hold an Asahi Pentax 6x7. This looked like it was brand new. Wife has already said NO!

Oh well, I have all my film cameras on a shelf now that I'm just using digital. But it was worth the nostalgia effect.

Now back to surfing. I just had to share that. And if I'm lucky maybe my wife will ... ouch! Another NO!

[venchka]

You should have snagged the big Pentax. Wife would get over it.

[Daniel W.]

Speed graphic and football!? Be still my beating heart!

[lucian]

Well it was 1966. Near the end of the season the other staff photographer was to get a weekend game. But Mark had a hot date and offered me his 35mm rangefinder if I'd shoot the game.

I agreed. Dumb thing to do.

I was watching Artie running, waiting to get that touchdown pass. I thought he should be close when I looked up and got tackled on the side lines. The view finder was a lot smaller than the sports finder on the 4x5.

I got hit three times in that game. I was one sore puppy. I wouldn't go near a 35 mm camera for about 6 years.