More at Optimar

Everytime I go to Optimar I spend at leat two hours talking to Ms. Yeda. She has always something interesting to show: old or new pictures (mostly from her family), old magazines, photobooks, etc.

Last time she showed me some of their cameras like these two Rolleiflexes, both with Planar Lenses: at left is a 2.8F with prismatic viewfinder and at right is a 3.5F with Tele Mutar 1.5x.

Exacta Varex IIA with three lenses: Zeiss 50 mm f/2.8.

Zeiss Flektogon 25 mm f/4.

And Meyer Goerlitz 400 mm f/5.6 with shoulder strap.

A Bolex 16 mm movie camera with Kern Switar 17-85 lens in perfect condition.

Bolex 8 mm movie camera (working).

Cosina Super-8 boxed.

Kodak 16 mm movie camera working smothly.

Keystone 16mm projector (not working – so far).

More Books and Cameras

Speaking about books, a few time ago I decided to develope my films (B&W and chrome only; no color negative). So I bought the book “Formulario Fotografico” by Reinhard Viebig that brings most known formulas for film development. I got it used and cost me 5 US dollars (shipping included). Back cover is all white.

“Cameras Classicas” by Mario Bock gives technical and historical details of some classic cameras. As far as I know it is the only book in portuguese language about this subject.

My friend Andrade Mendes (the “dream fridge” guy) sent me this picture of photo books and his lovely Leica M3 and Hasselblad 500.

But I think he wouldn´t mind if I post a few more pictures I downloaded from his flickr.

Leica M4-P, M3, III and M8 along with more photo books.

I love this picture: The Three Amigos (Rolleiflex 2.8F with Planar 80 mm f/2.8; Wide Rolleiflex with Distagon 55 mm f/4; Tele Rollei with Sonnar 135 mm f/4). Not to mention some Rollei photos behind the cameras.

More info regarding Tele and Wide Rolleiflex here.

And below, more of his Rolleiflex colection. Top shelf: Rolleicord, Rolleiflex 2.8E, 2.8C, 2.8D and another 2.8C. Bottom shelf: Rolleiflex 3.5F with Tele Mutar 1.5x, 3.5E, 3.5D and 3.5A with a very strange focus knob.

More info about all Rollei models here.

Rolleiflex 2.8F Xenotar

This is my Rolleiflex 2.8F with Xenotar lens (I asked a friend to take this picture). It is the camera which I use the most and I carry it along with me wherever I go. Some guys use Leicas, I use Rolleiflex. I cover the meter with electric tape to avoid it from being misused.