But I do not regret doing so for decades.
So, in the high mountains of Arizona, between 4,500 feet and 6,500 feet altitude, we had a wonderful snowstorm that dumped more than 2 feet of snow on average. So it was time to use the famous Ukrainian ARSAT 30mm lens on my Salyut-S made in early 1970s. This lens is fisheye-like as if the edges are cropped it behaves like a ultra wide angle lens for medium format photography.
I have two wonderfully working Salyut –S and one non-working, patiently sitting on the shelf in case I need a spare part to fix the working ones… Actually I have dozens of such multiple classic cameras in 35mm and medium format that I have collected over the past 5 decades. And since it is practically impossible to find a repair person for these “antiques” I have learned the tricks of camera organ transplant or at least resuscitation!
Here are my two cameras. The ARSAT 30mm wide angle lens weighs about one kilogram, and the 150mm Kaleinar – 3B is not far behind. The 90mm Vega – 12B is a delight to use and its uncoated lens always “interprets” what I see in slightly different way…
Here is a side view
And a top panorama of the waist level viewfinders.
I will not write much about this handmade camera (1957 to 1982)and lenses but for those interested here is a good discussion on the Net:
So, there is a 300+ year old Alligator Juniper tree in my backyard. It is native of northern Mexico and its name reflects the texture of its bark that is like alligator skin. The tree is about 20 feet tall but its branches cover more than 20 feet in a perfect circle. Even in the heat of the desert summer it is enjoyable to sit under it and benefit from the aromatherapy its oily juniper leaves provide.
I have a small hammock under that tree for reading or to reminisce.
The heavy snow had bent all the branches and the snow almost covered the stand legs of the hammock. Perfect setup for a wide angle photo which is shown at the outset of this essay.
It was a clouds moment when I went under the tree and took a contre-jour shot with a 100 ASA film, lens open wide to its maximum of 3.5, and a speed of 1/125 second. I wanted that dreamy effect with the snow reflecting light all around the tree.
I did not crop when printing it with my 1950s HANSA Pro enlarger. The bending of the branches are a bit exaggerated because of that.
But this lens can also behave like a fisheye lens if shots are taken by pointing the lens upward. Here is a photo I took in Vienna of a street mime with the famous Stefansdom Cathedral as background.
On the same day I took a photo of schoolchildren surrounding a mime. In this instance I cropped while printing for a super wide view.
… There is something very relaxing when using a 50 year old Soviet medium format camera that weighs 5+ pounds with a special lens…
January 29, 2021
© Vahé A. Kazandjian, 2021
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