Shooting 6 x 9

My first try with the Zeiss Ikon Ercona, apparently i did not do enough research on zone focusing... Will need to practice more before my trip to China Some of the pictures that i took yesterday.



Zeiss Ikon Ercona, Acros 100, R09 

Zeiss Ikon Ercona 1956-1958

My first contact with a folder camera was probably the outing with Fionis and Hollie at the Riders Club. Back then, i knew very little about this camera and we uses it as a prop.

The 2nd contact with this folder camera was during the Rochor photowalk where Eddy was carrying a very nice Zeiss Ikonta that allows him to shoot a 6x9 format on the 120mm film. I was a little surprised to see how small and compact the camera was especially with the ability to do a 6x9 format. It triggered an immediate comparison with the Fuji GW690 which had been imprinted in my mind all these while when i think about a 6x9 format.
Of course i do not know about the quality of the prints from these 2 but what i was comparing was the size of the camera.

To be frank, I wasnt really interested in these cameras and with the many different system that i owned, i thought i should stay away from these folders. Especially so when they are mostly half a century old.

It was only last week, when i was having a dilemma on whether i should bring a medium format camera for my coming trip to China. It seems impossible especially with my DSLR and RF in the list. Although im not bringing alot of lenses on this trip, It still seems rather heavy to have one more TLR in the bag. This was when the folder camera came floating in my mind.
Instead of searching for a 6x6, i took the chance to pick a 6x9 format and i came across this listing on a Zeiss Ikon Ercona..which allows both a 6x6 and a 6x9 format.
The price was low for its condition and i just bought it straight away. Here's a little write up of this camera from the camerasite.net
"The somewhat rare Ercona , which dates from about the late 1950s, was produced in the Zeiss factory in the former East Germany by VEB Pentacon, Dresden. Ercona takes optionally 6 x 6 or 6 x 9 negatives on 120 film. Similar clone is also russian Moskva I. They both are almost identical to the Stuttgart-made Ikonta 523/2 cameras. Shutter is Prontor -S, 1 - 1/250. There are some Erconas with Tempor shutter."

More write up on the camera below
http://www.thecamerasite.net/03_Folder_Cameras/Pages/zeisercona.htm http://www.certo6.com/cameras/zeiss-ercona

 I opted for an EMS delivery and i received it within 5 days from Bulgaria. It came as a complete set with case and manual(Sadly its in German)
For a 50 years old camera, the condition was very minty.





 Just nice to test out the camera tomorrow and practise on zone focusing before my trip.

Beautiful morning

It look extremely serene this morning...yellow flowers filled the tree...

Praying

Yashica EM, Lucky 200, HC110

After work at Kino

I love the bookstore...especially a visit after work. It just takes my stress away... Well, i guess that its not just me? I love how Kino stacks and arrange their books, i also love the ambiance there Leica M2, Canon 50mm f1.4, Legacy Pro 400 @ 800, Ilfosol3

Church and Lightning

The sky was turning red and i can see the lightning from far...
I was lucky to have my Canon 60D with me..looking around for a suitable position, i found this old church in the direction of the lightning.

It might not be the best shot but it was my first...



Canon 60D, EF 85mm f1.8

A walk thru Joo Chiat

I was feeling a little bored at home on a sunday and so i took my Bronica SQ-Ai with me for a walk at Joo Chiat.
After all, i need to finish this roll of long over due film in the camera.

The Old Trishaw. Although i have been here before, this is the first time that i noticed this trishaw parked here.


A hidden Barber shop...


At the Guan Ying Temple, where i always feel serenity here.


Bronica SQ-Ai with 80mm f2.8 PS, Tmax 400,
HC110, Dil H

Chasing Light

I have always wanted to do a series on light fall...but given my working timing, i always missed the best light moment..
Coincidentally, i was sicked on Monday and on my way to the Clinic, i decided to catch as many light fall subjects as possible...

The lazy cat sun bathing (Im really terrified of cats, so luckily its having a good nap)


The girl on the bus...i was literally waiting at this spot for one to appear and i didnt wait too long...


At the Poly Clinic, i spotted this lighted spot and it didnt took long before a guy came over to his paper.


Lighting is always an important and inseparable factor with photography, with nice lighting, half the picture is complete.

Leica M2, Canon 100mm f3.5ltm,
Legacy Pro 400 @ 800, Ilfosol3, 11.5mins..silverfast scanning software

A Moving Masterpiece: The Qing Ming Painting of Song Dynasty

These were taken awhile back during Chinese new year visit to Expo for the Moving Masterpiece exhibition on the historic Song Dynasty painting, “Qing Ming Shang He Tu” (动感清明上河图)

Thanks to my Aunt and Uncle who sponsored this visit.


It was quite an eye opener back to history with animations and detailed explanation on the painting.








The Main gallery featuring the moving painting




The place was packed with crowds.

M2, Canon 35mm f2,
Fuji Proplus 100, Pushed to iso 200

Canon EF 85mm f1.8

I was eyeing this lens for the longest period ever since i owned my Canon DSLR but i didnt really get it for some reasons until now.

Thanks to Hollie, i finally bought my 2nd prime lens after my EF 35mm f2. Both seems to be the lower priced prime lens from Canon but top performance in my opinion.

Here's some of the shots i took..mostly at f2,




Love the close focusing for this lens, down to 0.85


Some out of shapes bokeh...ops


Overall, i love the quietness and the fast focusing on this lens. The image is sharp and contrasty. This is definitely a good lens for its price!

He looked lonely

We came across this guy on our way to Lavendar, he was sitting alone by the side of the road topless. On him, i see scars left behind by the hardship of life..Phil approached him to take a picture and he agreed to our surprise..



He then told us that he wasnt afraid to appear on any photos or even taken away by the police.


That's the perception of street photography here in Singapore...
The old folks find it intimidating to have their pictures taken as they always fear that the pictures will be used against them for some reasons. The cause of the society and country that we are in?

Canon P, Canon 50mm f2.2, Kodak Colorplus 200

One last visit to Rochor

An organised street shoot at Rochor by Phil..before its gone...
This place is known for its colorful structures...








Canon P, Canon 50mm f2.2 & Canon 100mm f3.5, Kodak Colorplus 200