A Huge Score

I’m amazed at what Erica and I have been able to find and obtain because of Freecycle.  This latest score consisted of a Nikon FM, an Olympus OM-10, and a Makinon 80-200mm f/4.5.  Each of the cameras came with a 50mm prime.  SCORE!

The Nikon works, at least I’m assuming it does, all the shutter speeds sound accurate and on the plus side, there doesn’t appear to be fungus in the lens.  The OM-10 has a winding problem, but loading up new batteries into it, the shutter speed is shown in the viewfinder.  Have to figure out why that’s happening before I decide its fate.  The two lenses for the Olympus have fungus on them, not good.  

It is amazing that people don’t take the time to research the stuff they have to give away.  The Nikon is going for anywhere between $40 and $120 on eBay.  It’s also good because the Nikon lens works on the D80 and I was trying that out this evening.  

When I get off camera flash stuff figured out and create a light box, I’ll take some pictures of the new gear.  Good practice for that type of image.

Quest for an interesting place

So after getting help by the_wolf_brigade on flickr, I’ve perused his blog and found the latest blog post interesting.  He talks about finding a subject and taking a ton of photos of it to create an exhibition of sorts.  I like it because it gives one a chance to take the subject and document it how you see it and feel it; the only downfall is, what can I shoot out here in Cedar Rapids that would be interesting and accessible.

Due to the flooding, downtown is a ghost town with lots of law enforcement watching over the area to prevent looting and further damage to the already destroyed areas.  I also don’t think there is anything interesting downtown to take pictures of anyway.  There is an abandoned barn not too far from here, but I think the landowner still uses the land and some of the other small buildings for storage.  Definitely worth a shot though.  I’m thinking that any abandoned place in Iowa would be reclaimed so the land can be used for agriculture.  

If any one who reads this is from Iowa and has a good idea of some place that would be good for pictures that is also accessible pretty much 24 hours a day (and is relatively close to Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area), would you please let me know.

More Triumph!

I finally fixed my other Pentax ME Super last night.  Very excited, but the one that sort of worked now doesn’t since I had to take a part from it due to losing the parts from the fixed one and the parts camera.  Damn pins falling into the carpet.

I do hope the camera doesn’t fail and I can start using it as my main camera for the long haul.