Friday, March 20

Camera Crazy.

If you've been reading sfgirlbybay for a while, you might have realized I'm kind of obsessed with photography. I was actually a photography major in high school, working back then in the school darkroom, and loving the smell of those chemicals, and beautiful old SLR cameras. I still love those vintage cameras, as I know many of you do...and even though you can't find film for some of them, they still make for some interesting, decorative objets d'art. I picked up this beautiful retro-inspired Diana toy camera last week at Urban Outfitters, and can't wait to load her up with 120 film and take her for a spin!

There's also websites, like found photography who guide you in re-purposing these old cameras and giving them new life, allowing you to capture unique greatness again with their old lens. Famed photographer Arthur Elgort also has a wonderful book dedicated to the collection of of old cameras, Camera Crazy. I scouted around and found some old cameras I love and images of them that just make me smile.

This one's named Lucille, from sacredlotus.

Polaroid of a Vintage Kodak from harpy.


A treasured favorite from mainemomma2007.


Vintage Kodak Brownie Hawkeye from icklebird.


The Adventurer 620, also from sacredlotus.


A thrifted vintage Savoy from bugheart.

The Argus Seventy Five from Yvette Inufio.


A family heirloom Polaroid SX-70 from jodi*mckee.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm camera crazy as well. I just bought a friend the Diana F+ and I have been looking for one for myself...

I also have a Kodak Duaflex, 2 Argus 75's, a Polaroid Sun660, and a Yashica-Mat EM. Love shooting medium format!

-Bridget (Bee Roach)

Beverly Ash Gilbert said...

Wow - brings back memories. I can see Grandpa holding the old Polaroid...

Laura. said...

oh, i wants! so beautiful, my own camera craziness has been unearthed again recently.

jacklyn said...

yum! my husband is a photographer and i love his sx-70! i just love how it folds flat and you can carry it around like a purse. so sweet!

~jacklyn
peppermags.com

mimi charmante said...

Love love love this post! Great photos, and so nice to know I am not alone out here...
happy friday!

Amber said...

Hi! I have just bought a bright pink fish eye camera from Urban Outfitters (You can see it on my blog on the whats inside my bag bit). I got the first film developed the other day and its not too bad, though some are too dark. LOVE the vintage style looking one you got!

Anonymous said...

I'm so in love with that mint green Diana camera! I've been scooping that out for some time..But nothing beats a classic sx-70 polariod camera. Even the structure of them are just brilliant!

vadjutka said...

I love cameras as well! I have a fish-eye LOMO, and I love it...it is a pity that it is not digital..

Mary said...

I have the one my parents used taking photos when we were growing up. It looks just like that Brownie. Oops, showing my age!

Anonymous said...

love vintage, so can anyone explain the fascination with vintage items, particularly with 20 somethings that have no recollection?

A "cheery" disposition said...

I bought that camara about a year ago. I have to say it's hard to find film for it. I mean I went to 4 or 5 camara stores. I finally found some about 2weeks ago, sadly it was only black and white film (which I love black and white dont get me wrong but i wanted to see the cool colors the camara could create) I have not gotten them developed yet but im sure the pictures will turn out awesome bc it is just such a cool camara. Hope you have better luck with finding film then I did.

Heidi Ann said...

I wish I were better at photography. And I don't know much about cameras - but I love the pale green camera, and the one in aqua blue!!

Molly Donnermeyer said...

Oh please share your images when you make them. I have been thinking of buying one of these beauties for a while now.

Fiona Cartolina said...

I bought Doug a new Diana camera from Urban Outfitters last year - it's great. The a couple of weeks ago I spotted an old one at the local junk store. I asked the guy "how much for the camera" and he said - "oh just take it, it's rubbish, it's just a toy, it doesn't work!"
So now we have 2.
The best part is that the old one I got for free is really scratched up and grubby(perfect for what I have in mind). Can't wait to get some 120 packed into it and start roving around with my "toy" camera.

Shannon said...

pretty!

your high school had majors?!?!

sfgirlbybay said...

yep - i'm so old, my high school had majors. my other was spanish! ;)

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Anonymous said...

Victoria, Thanks for all of your camera inspiration. Your Sunday in Your City post a few weeks ago really sparked my interest again in old cameras. I'm not quite ready to give up the convenience of digital though so have been researching different lens options etc. If you haven't heard of it, you and your readers might be interested in the Lensbaby. www.lensbaby.com. I bought one last week and recently added the three additional optics which will give my digital similar results to these older cameras. There is even a pinhole lens. I can't wait to experiment this weekend. I did dig out my dad's old Agfa camera which is a remarkable piece of equipment. Thanks again.

lisa solomon said...

i've been eying that diana - it's such a good color.

can't wait to see what you shoot w/ it!

Anonymous said...

I have a cabinet with at least 10 cameras: 2 dianas, 3 holgas, rolleiflex, my grandpas camera, my very first ever polaroid I got when I was 7, my first serious camera was a pentax spotmatic, and my true love Leicaflex SL I bought in Paris when my camera died mid trip. I haven't touched them in three years and I feel so guilty! But I'll never part with them!

Helen said...

i love old cameras too! i'm bookmarking that found photography website, it looks awesome. just today i was looking at a kodak instamatic and didn't get it cos i figured i wouldn't be able to use it. i know they look nice too, but i just don't have the room.

Rosa said...

Oooh, I love all your cameras! Coming from a family of photographers, I don't have one cute camera! Oh dear. What have you started here? (I have seen the one at Urban Outfitters and walked away--blinders on.) Be still my beating heart.

jodi said...

what a great group!
thanks for including mine. =)

mrn said...

A girl after my own heart. I'm getting my Rolli out right now. Thanks for the inspiration.

Unknown said...

I LOVE my polaroid, holga and fisheye. LOVE. have fun with your new Diana:)

Anniken Zahl said...

I just found my old polaroid camera,- i LOVE the look!! So it isnt only me... Thanks for the IINSPIRATION!!

Elv Freiheit said...

Great collection of cameras. Old ones are so beautiful and full of character. Love them all!

mdv said...

so beautiful! Ilove cameras

Kristin Zecchinelli said...

wow what an honor i missed this! thanks