I Dream of Cameras

This episode starts out great, then gets better and better. It’s informative and witty, talking about the real joys of film. There are distinctive gear reviews, as Jeff raves about his new Pentax MX, possibly triggering the IDOC effect on eBay. And of course, there’s plenty of vapid gladhanding, as Gabe hits one LA camera show after another. Plenty to hear here, so tune in! well looky here! Bad Review Guy updated his bad review [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wbino0pkb727kakcqn8t6/Updated-bad-review.png?rlkey=7zrx2f1e6oqwhlefwazn6rrc3&dl=0] on iTunes! guess he's still listening! as for the rest of you, leave us a good one, OK? Busy Gabe went to his first camera meetup since the Palisades fire: Beers & Cameras [https://beersandcameras.com/los-angeles] in Venice… saw a pristine Widelux F7 [https://www.dancuny.com/camera-collecting-blog/2025/3/5/panon-widelux-f7-camera] with the coveted filter set [https://www.flickr.com/groups/61476403@N00/discuss/72157594352520690/], purchased from Blue Moon Camera [https://bluemooncamera.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorgeYleZfCLgEZNKZuTwr1f8WxUfVttpUPx1q1w5j80ltNrJtqE]… got gifted the beat-up black-paint Nikon F [https://www.destoutz.ch/typ_finish.html] of his dreams… went to the LA Camera Expo [https://www.lacameraexpo.com/] in Burbank… also received from spider_dude [https://www.instagram.com/spider_dude/?hl=en] two Walker Evans books, incl. Walker Evans & Company [https://www.artbook.com/0870700324.html]… and met up with Claire Hinkley [https://www.instagram.com/claire_hinkley/?hl=en] to shoot with the Mamiya C33 [https://photodom.blog/most-affordable-medium-format-out-chere-mamiya-c33/], the Leicaflex SL [https://casualphotophile.com/2020/09/04/leicaflex-sl-review/] and the Nikon FE [https://photothinking.com/2024-02-06-nikon-fe-feeling-it/] Jeff's yearning for a Pentax MX [https://casualphotophile.com/2024/06/23/pentax-mx-review/] took him from MX [https://www.35mmc.com/11/11/2019/pentax-mx-review/] to ME SE [https://blog.jimgrey.net/2022/04/11/pentax-me-se/] to (courtesy of the good folks at K&M Camera [https://kmcamera.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooc3MLwpL8NpbKrQSS2Ept0AsfGBLTmaKgK3gIHuY2P2UCsQ7Yq]) the Nikon FG [https://casualphotophile.com/2016/08/10/nikon-fg-camera-review/]… but then back to the MX [https://gotfilm.org/2024/04/20/a-look-at-the-pentax-mx/], which is lovely - it's a K1000 [https://thenoisyshutter.com/2022/08/20/classic-camera-review-pentax-k1000/], only better and smaller! podpal Ollie [https://www.instagram.com/oliverotcasek/?hl=en] grabbed a groovy Kiev 10 [https://www.serialforeigner.photo/gear/kiev-10/] at Unique Photo in Philadelphia [https://www.uniquephoto.com/philadelphia] Jeff took in the excellent Weegee [https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/weegee] and American Job [https://www.icp.org/exhibitions/american-job-1940-2011] shows at ICP [https://www.icp.org/]… and had coffee with Sissi Lu, discussing the triumph of her Do Not X-Ray bag [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1893084-REG/sissilu_donotxray_do_not_x_ray_film.html]and her love of the Pentax One Seven [https://www.instagram.com/p/DCFFcUeycoG/] now Jeff's Eurotrip is imminent... and ChatGPT [https://chatgpt.com/]’s camera recommendations were uncanny! finally, we tackle as much of the Prodigious Mailbag™ as we can handle till it’s time for Jeff to have burritos with his girlfriend

Jeff’s back from the Caribbean island of St. Barth’s with a report on his new favorite beach camera, while out in the West, Gabe’s renewed camera collection continues to burgeon... as does the enmity of one listener each time Jeff mentions the Pentax 17. Find out why in the latest un-dour, un-flaccid episode of I Dream of Cameras, because provocation is our forte! Gabe shot his Kiev 60 [https://casualphotophile.com/2017/11/13/kiev-60-ttl-camera-review/] and the Bronica ETR-Si [https://www.filmshooterscollective.com/analog-film-photography-blog/bronica-etr-si-review-colton-allen-8-11] and is eyeing: black Leicaflex SL [https://casualphotophile.com/2020/09/04/leicaflex-sl-review/] 35mm f4 Schneider lens for Leicaflex [https://lens-db.com/schneider-kreuznach-pa-curtagon-35mm-f4-for-leicaflex-leica-r-1970/] and Mamiya Universal [https://www.lomography.com/magazine/19558-mamiya-press-universal-the-mac-daddy-of-the-medium-format-rangefinders] meanwhile, Jeff is eyeing: Pentax MX [https://casualphotophile.com/2024/06/23/pentax-mx-review/] Weltron 2007 [https://www.stereonet.com/forums/topic/284267-weltron-2007/] Atari 4-Player Football [https://thedoteaters.com/?bitstory=bitstory-article-2/atari-football] Alpa Si 3000 [http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Alpa_Si_3000] Nikkor F [https://www.destoutz.ch/nikon_f_nikkor.html] Jeff's St. Barth's report: the Ona Union Street [https://jolsonweddings.com/education/ona-camera-photographer-bag-review] camera bag was ideal of course he brought the Hasselblad XPan [https://www.hasselblad.com/about/history/xpan/], but at the last minute subbed in the Canon EOS Rebel 2000 [https://danfinnen.com/review/canon-rebel-2000-eos-35mm-slr-review/] for the Olympus XA4 [https://casualphotophile.com/2018/11/12/olympus-xa4-macro-review-great-things-in-small-packages/], and it was the perfect beach-party nighttime-flash trash camera he shot mostly Portra 160 [https://www.decafjournal.com/kodak-portra-160-review/] and 400 [https://fstoppers.com/film/unofficial-film-film-look-long-term-review-kodak-portra-400-502260], but also tried some Santacolor 100 [https://emulsive.org/featured/film-stock-review-santa-color-100] and Film Washi X [https://jamesgreenoff.com/washix/], which it turns out are the same thing! Kodak Aerocolor IV [https://www.kodak.com/content/pdfs/KODAK-AEROCOLOR-III-Negative-Film-2460-datasheet-en.pdf] no hand-check madness on this trip - Sint Maarten, Saint Barthélemy, all security personnel were totally obliging - once again we credit the Sissi Lu [https://www.instagram.com/sissi_lu] DO NOT X-RAY bag [https://www.sissilu.com/printshop/p/do-not-x-ray], now available at a camera store near you good travel buddies: Zeiss lens wipes [https://sportsoptics-shop.zeiss.com/lens-wipes-30-ct-box/] and a rocket air blower [https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Giottos-Rocket-Air-Blower-Review.aspx] let’s help Lina Bessonova [https://www.instagram.com/linabessonova.photography/?hl=en] and handcheckfilm.com [http://handcheckfilm.com/]! when you travel, send a report to her contact page [https://www.handcheckfilm.com/contact] so she can keep this valuable resource up to date Gabe recommends Graination [https://graination.ca/?srsltid=AfmBOor8ReGRhFTG1Fy2eYuoK1ljjccRPCGeYQcyHyRtBGUTWBWJN6GY] in Toronto, a coffee shop and film lab we stick our snouts deep into the Prodigious Mailbag™, where a listener savagely upbraids Jeff for calling the Pentax 17 [https://us.ricoh-imaging.com/product/pentax-17/] by its proper name (here’s proof [https://www.instagram.com/tokyocamerastyle/p/C8VoTJ2SLLA/?img_index=1]) finally, look for our appearance on an obscure podcast called Camerosity [https://camerosity.podbean.com/], talkin’ Alpas [https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/alpacams.htm]

Gabe spills the tea — about the cameras he’s hunting for as he rapidly rebuilds his collection — while Jeff spills the coffee. That’s it. He spills it. Then recounts a whirlwind European trip featuring a phantasmagoria of phenomenal photographica. New York, London, Paris, dry-dock — everybody talk about pop IDOC! Jeff bought a camera bag! okay, he found a used Ona Union Street [https://jolsonweddings.com/education/ona-camera-photographer-bag-review] at B&H [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/], but whaaaaat???? … then he went to London … got an odd little book at The Photographer's Gallery [https://thephotographersgallery.org.uk/homepage] on Analog Photography [https://www.ebay.com/itm/116501302193] visited Camera City [https://www.instagram.com/cameracity_/?hl=en], said hi to Pany [https://www.instagram.com/p/CgERwn2IBrb], did not buy a Bronica RF645 [https://cameralegend.com/2022/01/09/the-bronica-rf645-review-the-last-bronica/] visited Aperture Photographic [https://www.instagram.com/aperturephotographic/?hl=en], gaped at the amazing inventory, talked with Simon about photography with a Pentax Stereo Adapter [https://www.pentaxforums.com/accessoryreviews/pentax-stereo-adapter-49mm-52mm.html], did not buy an absurd Contax Preview [https://lens-db.com/camera/contax-preview-1982/] visited Mr Cad [https://www.instagram.com/mrcaduk/?hl=en], kibitzed with the legendary Alex Falk [https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_2gw28oCYf], did not buy a rare and tantalizing Wrayflex [https://mikeeckman.com/2024/06/wrayflex-ia-1953/], once again got the book [https://www.johnwade.org/the-wrayflex-story] instead … then on to Paris … visited Photo-Vincent [https://leica-opera.com/], met the man himself, drooled over a black Alpa 6c [https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/alpa6.htm] and the 30mm lens for the XPan [https://www.35mmc.com/16/09/2022/hasselblad-xpan-and-its-fabulous-30mm-f-5-6-lens-in-mississippi-by-andrew-morang/] there was zero hand-check madness on this trip! we credit the Sissi Lu [https://www.instagram.com/sissi_lu] DO NOT X-RAY bag [https://www.sissilu.com/printshop/p/do-not-x-ray] the sainted John-Michael Mendizza [https://www.instagram.com/jmmendizza/] sent Gabe a Rolleiflex 2.8c [https://www.35mmc.com/13/10/2020/rolleiflex-2-8c-review/] and Jeff a Zeiss Taxona [https://www.35mmc.com/26/11/2016/zeiss-ikon-taxona-review/] how’s Gabe getting on with his half-a-cookie Olympus Pen FT [https://casualphotophile.com/2020/02/27/leica-m-slr/]? he’s on frame 56… the viewfinder’s a bit dim, so Jeff unfortunately altered him to the existence of the Pen FV [https://www.35mmc.com/02/08/2019/olympus-pen-fv-review/] Gabe’s up to twenty cameras of his planned thirty-camera collection, and here are the items on his hit list: Mamiya RZ67 [https://fstoppers.com/review/review-mamiya-rz67-medium-format-modularity-and-fantastic-sharpness-553844] Kiev 60 [https://casualphotophile.com/2017/11/13/kiev-60-ttl-camera-review/] with Volna-3 lens [https://radojuva.com/en/2012/10/obzor-ms-volna-3-2-880/] Mamiya C330 [https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2018/07/17/the-mamiya-c330-a-dream-camera-by-dirk-dom/] black Leicaflex SL [https://casualphotophile.com/2020/09/04/leicaflex-sl-review/] Pentax MX [https://casualphotophile.com/2024/06/23/pentax-mx-review/] (he’s already got the 40mm pancake [https://casualphotophile.com/2017/02/09/smc-pentax-m-40mm-f2-8-pancake-lens-review/]!) a brassed black Nikon F [https://www.destoutz.ch/nikon_f_black_bodies.html] and the 35mm Sigma art lens for the Canon EOS 3 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf1Wcp8dyFQ] Gabe got a Yashicamat LM [https://www.the3rs.uk/the-yashica-lm-review-a-true-piece-of-engineering/] and a Minolta SRT-101 [https://www.35mmc.com/29/09/2020/minolta-srt-101-review/] from Maria Elena Rodriguez [https://www.instagram.com/madriguez6/] opened the time capsule camera bag, went back to the Palisades house with Brandon [https://www.instagram.com/studlysteadman/], and unearthed more cameras Jeff has a final book recommendation: Tight Heads [https://www.allnight-menu.com/shop/tight-heads] by Candy Clark [https://www.instagram.com/candyclarkamericangraffiti/] we finally voyage to the very bottom of our Prodigious Mailbag™  and end with a challenge: write lyrics for our theme song! you could win fabulous prizes!

A long-awaited catch-up in which Gabe reviews the events of the past month. The biggest news: he bought a half-frame camera! WHAT IS UP WITH THIS DUDE? Tune in for the rollicking debrief! how’s Gabe doing? well, he: took some trips to the Palisades house with Brandon [https://www.instagram.com/studlysteadman/] found the remains of many cameras, including Rolleiflexes [https://www.filmshooterscollective.com/analog-film-photography-blog/rolleiflex-buying-guide-1-11] was interviewed by National Geographic [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/] reporter Gideon Mendel [https://www.instagram.com/gideonmendel/?hl=en], who documents such things [https://gideonmendel.com/climate-artefacts/] and has returned to shooting! with the Rolleiflex 3.5E [https://juliantanase.com/rolleiflex-3-5e-the-affordable-one/], Nikon FE [https://photothinking.com/2024-02-06-nikon-fe-feeling-it/], Leica M6 [https://kelseysmithphotography.net/blog/leica-m6-review-legendary-film-camera-worth-it?srsltid=AfmBOor2XmF6c-TAV71ppPTBlwybG4wjej-zO15L1FpMSP6nrJEy-NTN]… ...but not the cameras in the bag he grabbed on the day of the fire  Trev Lee [https://www.instagram.com/trevlee/?hl=en] thoughtfully returned the Rolleiflex Gabe had traded him for his Leica M5 [https://jakehornphotography.com/blog/leicam5] Gabe went to the LA Camera Expo [https://www.lacameraexpo.com/], which is shaping up great while in LA, Jeff shot with: Rolleiflex SL350 [https://lens-db.com/camera/rolleiflex-sl350-1974/] — sublime! Canon F-1 Lake Placid Olympics edition [https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Canon/Canon-F-1-Olympics-'Lake-Placid'.html] — underrated! Rollei C35 [https://www.filmfurbish.com/rollei-35-cameras-explained] — ridiculous! FujiFilm GA645 [https://shootitwithfilm.com/fuji-ga645-camera-review/] — confounding! upon departure, he removed all batteries from idle cameras [https://photo.stackexchange.com/questions/8756/can-i-leave-the-batteries-in-my-camera] ‘cause he’s compulsive and he swapped Alpas! the 11si [https://www.setadelstudios.com/blogs/news/109047430-the-watch-makers-camera-alpa-11si-w-kern-50mm-f1-9?srsltid=AfmBOop_RfsxhEk0F98CvoP9maio6Na8aPvFQw24bZICIsfMd9Gc8BON] and 50mm Kern-Macro-Switar [https://tahusa.co/lens-review/alpa-kern-macro-switar-ar-50mm-f19/] came east, while the 10s [https://lens-db.com/camera/alpa-10-s-1973/] and 24mm Angenieux [https://lens-db.com/p-angenieux-paris-24mm-f35-type-r61/] stayed west! shocking half-a-cookie news! Gabe bought an Olympus Pen FT [https://casualphotophile.com/2020/08/28/olympus-pen-ft-review/]! while Jeff failed to snag a Zeiss Tenax II [https://mikeeckman.com/2019/11/zeiss-ikon-tenax-ii-1938/], so he bought the book [https://www.amazon.com/Tenax-II-Precision-Fast-action-Camera/dp/1389318036] by Wes Loder [https://wesloderwriter.cc/] instead and he received a cool Lego Retro Camera [https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/retro-camera-31147?age-gate=grown_up]as a gift from Todd [https://www.instagram.com/outoad53/] and Mistie [https://www.instagram.com/mistie_loves_louis_v/] may we draw your attention to Andy Gray [https://www.instagram.com/andyfgray/]’s amazing IDOC-inspired Pentax MF [https://www.graypoupon.com/film/cameras/mf] mod page a rare treat! Jeff dined with Sunny 16 [https://www.instagram.com/sunny16podcast/]’s Clare Marie Bailey [https://www.instagram.com/claremariebailey/] and her brilliant musician friend Gwenno [https://www.instagram.com/gwennosaunders/] at the storied Chelsea Hotel [https://hotelchelsea.com/] we take an emotional dip into our Prodigious Mailbag™ and finally, we urge you to see Bob Trevino Likes It, starring our friends Barbie Ferreira [https://www.instagram.com/barbieferreira/?hl=en] and French Stewart [https://www.instagram.com/french_stewart/?hl=en]

Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 8:11 a.m. PST. Text from Gabe Sachs: “Well, all I can say is… I bet I have culled my camera collection faster than anyone else in history.” In this episode, Gabe recounts his experience during the Palisades Fire, which destroyed over a hundred Rolleiflex TLRs. Tune in for all the details.