The History of Photography: 1992

Know Your Equipment: So you blow three grand on a brand new medium format rangefinder and finally, for the first time in ages, it's simple and convenient to take a picture with the lens cap on. Here my merciless wife Karla laughs at me as I take her picture one frame after a blank one. She's supposed to be languidly trailing a finger in the water while looking wistful and dreamy, not mocking me. Mamiya 6, 75mm lens

Henry born. My mom dies. Make trip to Britain to scatter her ashes. I consider switching to autofocus gear, but it would take nearly everything I own to move evenly over to an 8008 and 35-70 zoom. I try it out but can't possibly justify it so keep my Nikon stuff. Feeling this may be the last time I see some of these relatives, and wanting good images, buy Mamiya 6 with 75 and 50 mm lenses. I didn't use the Rollei because flash was such a hassle (it requires a handle bracket and PC cord and when you bounce it, you get a facefull of flash) and it required a separate meter. The Mamiya gave me two lenses, a hot shoe and a built-in meter.

I get it only about a month before going and shoot about 8 different emulsions in 120 and 220 while there. Fortunately, the pictures turn out great, since these are indeed the last images I get of my grandmother and one of my aunts, who also dies of cancer. Discover a couple of times that it is possible to use $3,000+ Mamiya system with lens cap on. Also discover it is possible, though difficult, to advance 120 film through camera with pressure plate in 220 position. I didn't use the Rollei because flash was such a hassle (it requires a handle bracket and PC cord and when you bounce it, you get a facefull of flash) and it required a separate meter. The Mamiya gave me two lenses, a hot shoe and a built-in meter. How handy.

Once home, I find an old Kodak DP-12 mailer, shoot a roll of Kodacolor in the Mamiya and send it off to Rochester. Four months later it returns with 3½ inch square prints. What service.

Secrets of Professional Camera Care

Take Care of Your Gear: So you purchase this medium format camera of uncompromising quality and you get a Handy Pocket Guide for the New Mamiya 6! Wow! I can carry this Handy Guide in my camera bag and find out the secrets of the professionals! Sort of. Inside, a cute little Mamiya guy points to valuable photo hints ("if the pressure plate is set incorrectly, the lens cannot be focused properly") and in the back are these pictures of a Mamiya 6 being abused. This amused me no end and Mamiya must have heard about it because they discontinued this Handy Guide; a friend of mine later bought a Mamiya 7 new and he didn't get one!

More Photo Hints from 1992

Make Your Subject Comfortable: Here's newly arrived 7 pound Henry, completely immobile, meeting 24 pound Mozart the inquisitive cat. Imagine lying immobilized while a cat which weighs 3 times what you do comes along for a look and the onlookers say, oh, isn't that cute. Cute my foot! says Henry ("Waaahhhh!"). He survived this episode. Nikon FE, unsure of lens, Vivitar 283

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