Sepia Saturday 771 - Cameras

The prompt of this week reminded me of my early photographic equipment. I remember a simple mirror reflex camera and a movie camera to record our kids' first steps. Since I do not remember discarding them, I started a search in several dark places. And yes, finally, I discovered the subjects of my search among the contents of a dusty cardboard box! It almost brought tears to my eyes. I had not seen them for years. These two cameras recorded our early family life. I am talking about the sixties. In those days, slides were popular, possibly because prints were more expensive? But before slides came into fashion, all our prints were in black and white. Developing those was not my cup of tea. I delivered the film to a nearby camera shop, which then forwarded it to a lab. And then, after waiting a week or so, the prints were ready to be picked up. Finally, you could see the result of your creativity. 

Exa IIb

Apart from an Agfa Clack (or was it the Agfa Box?), this Exa II b was my first 'real' camera. It was intended for 35 mm roll film with 24 or 36 exposures. It was manufactured by Ihagee in Dresden, which is situated in the former DDR (East Germany).  The lenses were interchangeable. Mine was a Jena 1:2,8 lens.

Exa II b with 50 mm Jena lens

At the time, this camera was also exported to the USA. Those models were engraved with the text 'Soviet occupied Germany'. Some habits never change...

I forgot what I paid for my Exa camera. But I do remember the price of the movie camera. It was $ 16,99! The camera was a Japanese product by the name of Hymart. I bought it in a small shop on Broadway, N.Y., during my second service trip for KLM to the USA, early October 1969.

Hymart Super 8 movie camera

I remember the main reason I bought this camera was because of the pistol grip. So the design was fine, but I also recollect that at the time, I experienced the purchase of film as rather expensive. 

Inside my Japanese Hymart

If my memory serves me right, a Kodak Super 8 film pack cost about 50% more than a 36-exposure slide film, also Kodak. But seeing the kids moving on a screen was priceless! 

The difference between these two analog cameras and their today's digital counterparts, is enormous! And I am not talking about making calls with your camera. Nobody thinks twice about that. But if you compare the performance of the lenses, especially in circumstances with bad or no light at all, there is a difference of night and day (no pun intended). 

In any case, I am glad I did not discard both oldies. Maybe, one day, my great-grandchildren will find the box with these two cameras and wonder what they are.

For more wonderful finds, please check the Sepia Saturday site.