Diana f+ Camera Has Just Arrived

After several weeks of waiting, I've finally received my Diana f+ Instant Camera.

The kit I received came with the Diana f+ camera, the Instax Mini back(adapter lens), the 120 film back(120 take up spool and spool adapter,masks for endless panorama and 12 shot), Diana Flash, flash adapters, flash gels, and manuals and close up adapter.

My first impression is that despite the camera being made of plastic, it appears to be pretty well made.  All the backs and adapters fit together well and all the buttons function as they should.  The controls are pretty straight forward.

Getting the kit seemed like the best deal.  I really wanted the instant back to potentially use with some other film cameras I have.  My thought was that if the plan didn't work out, I could still use the Diana camera with the Instax Mini film.

Instead of having numeric representations of shutter speed and aperture, the Diana camera has letters and symbols.  Below I will list the generally accepted values for the settings on the camera(culled from various sources around the internet and my own experience with the camera):

Shutter Speed
"N" = 1/60th
"B" = bulb - as on any camera with this setting, the shutter stays open as long as the shutter release is held down.  The Diana comes with a small plastic piece that can be placed into the shutter slot to keep it down during particularly long exposures.  The way I use this, is that I setup the camera in the position and aperture setting I want to use.  I leave the lens cap on, set the shutter into the down position and then remove the lens cap.  Wait for the desired time, then replace the lens cap.

Aperture
Pinhole = f/150
Sunny = f/22
Party Cloudy = f/16
Cloudy = f/11

Film
Any 120 film will work with the 120 back installed.  If using a meter to determine exposure, do so as normal.
The instant back uses the Fuji Instax Mini film.  This film is rated at ISO 800.  When the adapter lens is fitted to the camera body, behind the lens, it drops the exposure by 1 EV, so treat the film as ISO 400 when taking into account exposure readings.

My one issue with the Diana Instant Back is that it uses the not common CR2 batteries. It would be great if the camera allowed for use of AA or AAA batteries(alkalines or rechargeables).  The CR2 are expensive purchased locally, so I recommend getting them from an online retailer.  I've found them online in various places for half of what it would cost me in a brick and mortar store.

Exposure
This is an all manual camera, so I used my light metering app on my Moto X to verify the what the instructions for the camera said to some hard values.  It was pretty spot on.

Parting Thoughts
Really - this is a fun camera to shoot.  I still have a lot more time I want to spend with it, but I can see me using this more and more.  Once I get the hang of it, I'll try and adapt the Instax back to other analog cameras I own to see if we can make it work with them as well.

Vintage Camera Product Shoot

Mamiya C33 TLR Medium Format Film Camera

Ah, yes...the product shot.  Generally when you here "product photography" you think of all those online catalogs or books you get in the mail.  Perfectly lit items, shown in all their glory.  Which is great, and they should be as we want our clients products to be shown in their splendor and glory.

Kodak Signet 35 Rangefinder - 35mm Film Camera

Creative Process:

For this shoot, we decided to try something a little different.  Using something we first heard from Joe McNally, "don't light everything" and the old adage that sometimes less is more.  Only one light is employed for these images.  We thought this would be an interesting way to shoot these vintage cameras to show their character.

The way the light is positioned allows us to show the textures of the materials the cameras are made of and the macro lens allowed us to get up close and personal with the details of the cameras.

We also thought it an interesting idea to shoot these cameras, some of which date back to 1931 with the newest digital SLR that Nikon makes right now, the Nikon Df.

Yashica Lynx 5000E Rangefinder 35mm Film Camera

Yahsica Lynx 5000E Meter Switch

Location:
Home Studio

Gear:
Nikon Df
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro
Nikon SB-26 Speed Light
1/8" Grid
White Reflectors x 2
Light Stand
C-Stand With Boom Arm
Justin Clamp
Umbrella Adapter
Radio Popper JrX

Voigtlander Brilliant TLR Medium Format Film Camera

Voigtlander Brillaint Lens CloseUp

EXIF Info:

1/200th, ISO 100, f/8-f/16
Speedlight at 1/16th power

Graflex Speed Graphic Medium Format Film Camera Lens CloseUp

Mamiya C33 Lens CloseUp with Shutter and Aperture Controls

Lighting Setup:

One light on the boom arm of the C-stand in front and above the subjects. 
The reflectors are used as the background and surface - using the white side of the reflectors.

Post Processing:

Very minimal.  We shot the images with the standard picture control.  So, we used Lightroom to add some contrast and clarity.

Analog Photography - Some New Things For Me

I never thought I would go back to and explore the world of film again.  Not since I last shot my Nikon N90s, have I shot film - probably 10 years ago!

This Christmas, my wife has surprised me with some vintage cameras that she thought would be a nice touch to my office when I get it redone.
She found the following for me:

• A 1930's something Graflex Speed Graphic
• A 1930's something Voigtlander Brilliant TLR
• An unknown aged Zeiss Ikon something or other(still researching)

Oddly enough, all the cameras she found on eBay and the aperture and shutters still work perfectly on them!!

Speed Graphic (c) Wikimedia

What I plan to do is put these cameras to the product photography station and get some great images of the cameras themselves for you to see.

I've already started running a roll fo 120 film in the Voigtlander, so we will have some of those to share as well.  Maybe even another surprise as I might start experimenting with some Fuji Instax film in these cameras as well.

The camera collecting bug has firmly bit me, so now I am on the lookout for those interesting cameras of yesteryear.

Kodak Signet 35
(c) shozo.jp

To that, I found a good deal on a Kodak Signet 35, which is a 35mm rangefinder camera.  And guess what, I think that it works as well!!  The triggering of the shutter can be a little sticky at times, but the timing seems to be there....I just found a roll of Kodak Max 800 in the closet....so guess what I'm going to be doing for 24 exposures!  :D

We have a Diana F+ Instant on order as well, so you can come along for the ride with us on that, too!

So, really - stay tuned and get ready for a smattering of some good old fashioned film camera reviews mixed in with the usual articles you'll find here.