Some of the pics look sharp but they aren’t. Even when back or front focused, there is no part of the negative that is truly sharp. And the negative is like 20 times the size of a 35mm negative (or something like that.)

I’m starting a new project on bicycle culture in Seattle and I don’t necessarily want to lug a Toyo 4×5 around with me everywhere I go…even though that would be totally awesome. So I tried to use this antique 6×9 camera that has been on my shelf for ages.

I turns out it is almost impossible to use…to take a picture you have to use a tiny uncoupled range-finder window to find distance to subject, then adjust focus on the lens, set aperture and shutter speed, cock the shutter and make sure you aren’t double-exposing your negative.

All of this to get a picture that is not even very sharp at f22!!

So this camera is out of the running, obviously.

The ironic thing is that I owned a Mamiya 7 for a year or so and made beautiful pics with it. I sold it in part to finance a new Canon 5D. Now I have the urge to shoot film again….and well…maybe I’ll end with the Mamiya 7 I’m bidding on in Ebay. Or maybe I’ll win the Pentax 6×7, or maybe….just maybe….I’ll buy a Rolleiflex or Seagull TLR. Or if I win the lottery, a used Plaubel Makina 67.

I know Shawn is chuckling over this