Allan Johnson 5/12/16 Allan Johnson 5/12/16

My First Experience With A Hasselblad Medium Format Camera

Recently I was lucky enough to pick up a Hasselblad 500 EL/m from eBay. Surprisingly I only paid about $180 and it works perfectly. The only damage is has is some of the chrome parts are pealing, and the focus screen has some marks on it. Thankfully those do not effect the final images the camera produces.

The Hasselblad 500 EL/m for those who are not familiar with this type of camera is a Medium Format film camera that has a motor to move the film to the next from after an exposure

The Hasselblad 500 EL/m for those who are not familiar with this type of camera is a Medium Format film camera that has a motor to move the film to the next from after an exposure was taken. Due to the batteries not being available anymore mine came with an adapter for a 9v battery. I had to buy the lens separate so I got bought a Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm F2.8 (the lens cost over $250).

It came with the 120 film back which unfortunately did not work so I went to a local camera store to see about repairs. The estimate I received was going to cost about $150 for a total over haul. The problem was I needed it for the weekend to try it out at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Lucky for me they had some backs there and I was able to buy a newer one that matched the age of the camera for around $130.

So at this point the camera was really setting me back in the money department, but I was excited to have such a nice and cool looking camera to try out. Now I have not used film in a long, long time and this camera unlike my other film cameras has no light meter built in. So back to eBay I went and got one cheap for around $15. AS usually it worked but not like it should. No matter what I did I could not get it to zero out. I figured if I could just compensate I would be fine, but alas I kept forgetting and well my pictures came out a bit darker then I would have liked.

Lucky for me I walked the floor with my Nikon D800 first and then the Hasselblad so I still got pictures that look good. When I was looking at the pictures I noticed some light leaking into the frame (examples below). Doing some research it looks like I may have a light leak in my film back where the dark slide comes out. Sounds like a simple fix of just replacing the foam inside that may of rotted over the years. Again thats going to cost at least $15.

120 file seems to be easy enough to get. I used Kodak 400 Tmax B&W for these shots (five rolls for $25 or so). I want to try out some color 120 film, but every time I go to the camera store to get it they are sold out. I guess I’ll have to order some before my vacation. I sent my film out to be processed to a place called The Darkroom. Since I wasn’t sure how they were going to come out I did not order prints and only ordered scans. Three rolls with their best scanning option cost me about $60.

So other then costing me more then I originally wanted, I do love my Hasselblad. The photos I took with it are IMO not that great at all. Thats not the cameras fault at all. I chalk it up to a bad light meter and myself. Like any camera you buy, the more you practice and play with it the better you will get. I am looking forward to getting some nice images out of my Hasselblad in the future.

So after all is said and done I spent around $660 for the camera, lens, film back, film, and processing. Was it worth it? To me yes to some of my friends who I told about it no, but to me its all in the name of fun and art of photography. I am hoping to take it out again this weekend and trying to see if I can get some nice shots down at the shore.

Allan Johnson 6/9/15 Allan Johnson 6/9/15

Luxebell C100 Aluminium Metal Skeleton Review

This is my review on the Luxebell C100 Aluminum Metal Skeleton for GoPro Hero 4 cameras. This is a metal case that can be used to protect the GoPro from being damaged while out of the waterproof housing. This is especially good for when you want to use it to make a video blog or interview since the internal mic is not being muffled by the waterproof housing. Watch the vid for the rest of the review and don’t forget to subscribe! Enjoy!!

Links to the two items shown in the video at Amazon.com:
http://bap.pics/LuxebellGoProAluminiumMetalSkeleton
http://bap.pics/GoProHero4SilverEdition

Luxebell C100 Aluminium Metal Skeleton Thick Solid Protective Case + 37mm Uv Filter for Gopro Hero4 Camera

$29.99 $32.99

Buy on Amazon

GoPro HERO4 SILVER

$399.99

Buy on Amazon

Allan Johnson 5/23/15 Allan Johnson 5/23/15

My new toy the Rode Podcaster USB Microphone

This video is to show off my new microphone, the Rode Podcaster USB Microphone. I will be using this to do videos while I am at home as well as voice over to some other videos I have in the works. I must say it is a ver nice microphone for the price and look forward to using it more in the future.

See the links below to check out the items talked about in the video.

PSA1 Studio Arm: http://bap.pics/RodePSA1StudioArm
PSM1 Shock Mount: http://bap.pics/RodePSM1ShockMount
Podcaster USB Microphone: http://bap.pics/RodePodcasterMicrophone

RODE PSA1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm

Too low to display

Buy on Amazon

Rode PSM 1 Shockmount For Podcaster

$39.00

Buy on Amazon

Rode Podcaster USB Dynamic Microphone

Too low to display

Buy on Amazon

Allan Johnson 5/12/15 Allan Johnson 5/12/15

Fast Review of the Rode VideoMic Go On-Camera Shotgun Microphone

This is just a fast review of Rode's VideoMic Go On-Camera Shotgun Microphone. This is just to show you how it looks and works. I'll be making a video later with sample audio so everyone can hear it.
I have used this mic to shoot a couple videos and it worked pretty good. I still wasn't setting up the camera settings exactly right so it didn't sound the best it could so thats the reason for another video test later.

Check out the Rode VideoMic GO here.

Rode VMGO Video Mic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone Super-Cardio

$81.67

Buy on Amazon

Allan Johnson 2/22/15 Allan Johnson 2/22/15

Review of Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens

This is my first attempt at a gear review. I recently bought a Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens to replace my Nikon 55-300 DX lens.
I bought it due to upgrading to a Nikon D800 FX camera. The DX lens works on it but the results are not as good on that type of body.
So this is a real world testing of the Tamron lens. I have some pictures in the video but here is a link to them on my website so you can see them better due to YouTube compressing them in the video. http://bit.ly/Tamron70-300TestImages

I like the lens so far and its a good "upgrade" from the DX lens if your on a budget. So until I get the money for a better lens this will do for me. I paid under $150 for the lens which I didn't think was to bad. You can check it out here http://bit.ly/Tamron70-300Amazon

Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens with Built In Motor for Nikon Digital SLR (Model A17NII)

$164.95

Buy on Amazon

Allan Johnson 12/11/14 Allan Johnson 12/11/14

Website Overhaul

Today my site was reviewed on Tony & Chelsea LIVE! and boy what an eye opener. I was embarrassed when the site kept popping Tony back to the front page and not to where it should have taken him. So seeing that and the advice from the both of them I have started an overhaul of my site and what images that will be on it. I can't thank Tony & Chelsea enough for the eye opener!