This Way An Analog Camera Nerdery Storm Cometh: Multi Post Preface.

Normally my nerdery Random Neural Firings come in single file allowing me to describe my nonsense in one or two blog posts.

This time not so much.

A number of unrelated events ended up crashing into each other unexpectedly. For a number of reasons. Mainly time. Where I usually get out and about fairly frequently a little thing called “the hawk” has delayed my usual shenanigans. This changed what would have been a couple of analog therapy galavants into one. Which actually worked out well and made for a nonsense comparison I had not considered previously.

Still there? Good. Here we go.

#1. An overdue Analog Therapy session.

Had been having a lot of fun with the solid as a rock Canon EOS A2. Though I know inanimate objects have no feelings I felt a little bad for another Canon SLR odd duck that I rather like. The Canon T80.

While it is widely disparaged, I rather like it. And I fully admit that finding a new old stock with as new protectors still affixed played a part in this.

I am a sucker for new old stock. I will ignore the dings about its looks. I rather like the way it looks and it was very of the time. These are the valid demerits in my opinion (w/ buts).

Focus tech was not ready for prime time.
- There is a reason it was a one and done.
- But… While slow, once you learn how to play along with its shortcomings (does AF much better on a tilt when struggling) and with a little patience, it is quite accurate. Worst case, a flick of the switch, and you can manual focus with the little wheel at the front of the lens.
Technically no manual mode or Aperture and Shutter priority modes.
- An immediate no go for many.
- But… Once you learn the modes all is not bad. I typically shoot aperture priority. With that I shoot mostly wide open if possible and will stop down only to avoid an over exposure. If you choose the graphic with one person highlighted that is what the camera will do automatically without forgetting to stop down in bright scenes as I sometimes do. Choose the mode with several people highlighted and that works for groups. Choose the motion graphic mode and that shoots at the highest shutter possible. Easy to work with.

As far as upshots.

Once the controls and modes are understood it is an easy camera to use.
AE has been rock solid.
I rather like the very 80s design aesthetic. It strays from the slick, shiny, and/or cheap feeling design of its contemporaries and has a nice grip and texture, making it easy to hold on to. Also does without the rather loud graphics that seemed popular at the time.
Good lenses. Given the humble lens specs I was not expecting a lot but as I found out in an earlier side by side with this camera system it holds its own well.

For that reason, I decided to do another Analog Therapy post with the T80. Speaking of that earlier comparison…

…we can consider the post to come later down this list a bit of a rematch of sorts.

#2. Fighting GAS with what is in my bag.

KEH came for my neck recently.

In my defense, I was not even on their website. I was minding my own business somewhere on the internets and a KEH ad whispered:

You want a Konica Hexanon M mount 50mm f/2 lens for the Konica Hexar RF, don’t you?

Why yes. Yes, I do.

Here you go. See, it is far more affordable than the Leica option.

<Makes the mistake of looking at sample images taken with that lens on Flickr.> Then I should definitely buy it then, right?

It made it into my virtual cart and everything. That is when the voice of reason crashed the party.

You already have an M mount 50mm lens! One you really like. You have always gone on about how well it behaves stopped down to f/2. Use that instead. If you get another 50mm lens that will be just another decision you will need to make.

…dang it voice of reason. Always messing things up between GAS and I.

So I decided to prove this assertion and fight off another unnecessary lens purchase (Big talk from someone who once collected nearly all of the native 50mm-ish Sony primes.) by taking the 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1 out for a spin.

#3. The hawk.

That is it. Not the hunting bird. The colloquial euphemism use of the word for it being brick… Not explaining that. I could continue this for a while stringing these callouts to unnecessarily cold weather together so let’s move on. That is all I have got. Sure, I grew up in Upstate NY as some would point out so one would think I was used to this. But, here is the thing…

I HATE cold weather with a capital HATE.

I never got used to it and cursed the winter season every year when it arrived. My bloodline was not meant to live under those conditions and no one can convince me otherwise. I often complain about standing at a bus stop in -32 degree windchill having no pleasant thoughts about the region from which I hail. I lobbied for a relocation southward to the household governing body, but having no vote in the proceedings, I had to wait until I was under my own management. I understand their reasoning. 1960s Alabama and North Carolina was no picnic. But at my first opportunity, I had always planned to book it South. And including a 9 year stop through NYC (Not far enough. Discovered winter rain there, which is of the devil.) where I fortunately acquired a wife that is exactly what I did.

I now watch whimsically as locals freak all of the way out, raiding the local stores for all of their bread, eggs, and milk, in preparation for being locked in for the great kind of sleet, maybe a bit of snow, but most likely just rain storm for maybe a day once or twice a year. Far better than the ridiculous, “We do not acknowledge snowfall until it is measured in feet and unless your front door is snowed over best believe you are going to school and work.”, nonsense I dealt with growing up. Seriously… -32 degrees wind chill? Just no. Words and phrases I have not heard since moving south.

Windchill.
Lake effect.
Nor’easter.
Bomb cyclone.
Alternate side parking.
- NYC thing. Which I gave up on getting right. Left you wondering if your car would be there when you returned.. you know… besides it being stolen like my Honda Accord was once while my wife and I were dating. So we just gave up and bought parking spots in The Bronx.

And I am the better for it. Yes. I love NYC and its people.

GORDON PARKS PHOTOGRAPHERS COLLECTIVE HARLEM AND SOHO-VILLAGE PHOTO WALK

No place like it. But now I prefer to visit during certain months until I find that elusive money tree and can summer there.

I will not be writing a post ranting at weather, but I did want to point this out/sneak this in somewhere so here we are. So what was going to be two photo walks became one.

#4. Rematch!

Somewhere along the way I had acquired some Fujifilm 400 in a three pack. One of my favorite inexpensive films. Had loaded it into the T80 already. Then it dawned on me. I had done a quick T80 vs Hexar RF comparison before.

Even gave it the apt title beauty and the beast. Sorry T80. In isolation I like you just fine. But that Hexar RF knocks the aesthetic thing out of the park when sat side by side.

For that first post I used wider, slower lenses. But this time around, since I am using the 7Artisans lens…