New camera (I have a problem? Nah...)

[Paul Taylor]

I recently bought two TTArtisan lenses that are M42 (75mmf1.5 biotar copy and the 100mmf2.8 which is a trioplan copy) so now I have quite a few m42 lenses. I typically use these with adapters for my other film and digital cameras. I thought perhaps I should acquire a native M42 camera. I perused through the usual suspects (Pentax) but seen a Voigtlander VSL1 TM on EBay for ~100 bucks that "works" (the bayonet mount versions of this camera sell for 4 times as much.) I didn't know anything about these, and it was the only TM variant (thread mount) listed on Ebay in the country - but looked to be in fantastic shape.

So I bought it.

The meter seems to work - but I doubt it accuracy so I strapped on the little shoemount lightmeter and loaded up some Ilford HP5.

First impressions are that it is a really nice little camera. Heavy, with nice controls. We will see what the shots look like.

 

[Paul Taylor]

Camera seems to work

 

[Brian Moore]

Yeah that camera seems to work just fine. Did you try the internal light meter at all?

 

[Paul Taylor]

The internal does appear to work - the next roll I put through it I will probably do 5-10 shots to test it's accuracy.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Really nice camera, and those TT lenses are excellent for the price. I had a couple when I had the first iteration of the Leica Monochrom, bought relatively cheaply but which soon developed black dots on the images, so it had to go, and the lenses with it. But they were excellent lenses.

Your three images are excellent. Adults can rarely stare at a camera like a child does. Cars have no problems, though.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

@Paul Taylor, The more I look at those two portraits, the more I feel compelled to tell you that they are simply beautiful!

 

[Paul Taylor]

Thanks all for the kind words! It is amazing how a child's lack of concern for self-image leads them to being excellent portrait subjects.