I had a Miranda Sensorex from 1980 to 1986, with Miranda Lenses: 28mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, 200mm f3.5, 2X converter. I bought the whole Miranda kit in a case for only $150 because everyone was moving over to electronic cameras with copal electric shutters (the Sensorex has a mechanical curtain shutter and no electronic control). I used the 50mm lens with the 2X converter as a 100mm portrait lens and the beard stubble on a mans face was so pin-sharp that a professional photographer doubted that I had really used a 2X converter. Adding the 2X converter to the 200mm lens made a f5.6 400mm telephoto lens, the extended bayonet connectors of the 2X converter and the 200mm lens made the long lens feel loose and floppy but this didn't affect the pictures which were sharp. I also had a Braun 370 BVC flash which was powerful and the thyristor circuit produced accurate flash exposures. By 1986 the Miranda Company was closed and electronic cameras had totally taken over the market. I was moving to a new country and sold all my photographic equipement (including my Opemus III enlarger, timer and darkroom equipment) for almost a give-away price - I think it was about $100. I'm very pleased to see from your video that the Miranda is remembered as a high quality camera. At 19:00 you suggest that Miranda was too much competiton for Nikon. I know that in business, the financial backers (banks) often pull the plug on manufacturers who are in competion with other producers which they also control, so it's possible that Miranda was sacrificed so that the over-priced Nikon could dominate the professional level 35mm market.
Hallelujah!!! Mine arrived today. I bought it blind (online). The seller claimed not knowing much about anything. Could not manage to open the back, could not tell me about shutter velocities, apertures, battery ... not a thing (not sure if he knew his own name). I bought it regardless (What can I say? Just went comando on the whole thing). For my surprise all is excellent, dare I say; in almost mint condition! Shutter, lens, light meter, timer, all spot on! Praise Ansel in the skies!! My take is that this one sat on a drawer somewhere for a loooong looong time. It did not see much action at all. It is either that or you were absolutely right about the toughness of this beauty! Other thing that took me for a loop was the weight of this thing! whoa, that's a heavy beast!!! Just threw a film in it and I am dying to check the results! Thank you for the encouragement!
Nice! And that's a great find in that condition, too. Feel free to share a link to your photos as a comment if you'd like. It would be great to see your work.
Long before the Internet, this camera was much maligned. Didn't know the reason but was told it was one to avoid. Their sudden disappearance from mail order houses seem to verify lack of trust in this instrument ,this fine instrument I should say.Good that you set the record straight, David.
Thanks so much for this video! I just brought home a bunch of old cameras from my Grandmother's house. One of them was a sensorex. This video was fantastic, and now I can't wait to try this thing!
Hey David, Thanks so much for your video...I've got part II queued up. I ended up buying a Sensorex only because Miranda's my daughter's name and thought how cool would that be. One can't help but be taken by the robust build of the camera and how it's looks make it stand out from the other cameras of that era. Anyway, just wanted to thank you for your informative video that's helped get me acquainted with my new camera and saved me from having to go through an insomnia defying manual.
So glad I found these videos! I've been a photographer for a few years, but only recently have I started getting into shooting film. This will probably help me use up my next roll :). I have one of these from my grandfather, who got it as a Christmas bonus one year from his job, back when these were new. He was already a pretty entrenched Minolta guy, so I don't think he ever used the camera. It's completely mint, there's not a mark on the thing anywhere. Even the QC stickers are still on it.
I'm sold,....... picked up my first Miranda, a Sensorex II for $28. with a telephoto lens on it...... good for shooting high up architectural features. I'll get a Sensorex soon. Thank you!
My hubby just bought our children one of these with ALL the bells and whistles!!! We are excited about the first use. Our 11 yo son will be taking it out tonight because ya
Thank you David for another great video I was sent a Miranda Sensorex EE w50mm f1.8 for repair. I was so impressed with it I went and bid on one and now I am doing a CLA on it. It is an impressive build. Like most cameras of the era, you have to remove a lot of oxidation. But when you do, they both have come back to life. It is the old mercury 1.35 v battery so if you are a tree hugger, best to stay away, I have not yet figured a way to accurately convert to A76 battery. But I might. They are built like a tank otherwise and the lens is superb as you said! Thanks for doing all these videos.
Thank you, Jack! So the conversion on these is not hard if you have them apart. The Fix Old Cameras channel shows how to modify an OM-1 battery circuit to the modern battery voltage with a resistor. It's a quick soldering job and a ten-cent part.
I just found a Sensorex that was practically new, (found zero scratches on it!), and personally it's one of the most beautiful slr designs I've seen. This camera just screams 'classic'. You can tell this was well designed and engineered. The shutter is satisfying and is actually the quietest slr camera I own. Miranda is an interesting brand and hope to collect all the models, as I already have the Miranda Sensoret in my collection...
Hey man! Great video! I just picked up one of these and am working through my first roll! I am missing a lens cap though.. I’ve tried two different kinds with no success. Any idea what size lens cap this takes? Thank you!
Thank you! The cap size depends on your specific lens. It should have something on the front that looks like a zero with a line through it and then 46mm, 49mm, or 52mm. The mm size is the diameter you need. It's possible you have the 46mm, which is a smaller size than typical now.
You mention the 50 1.8 56mm filter is best. The 50 1.8 52mm filter not good. What about the 50 mm 1.4 with 46mm filter? Also, what is difference between Maranda Sensorex 6 and Sensorex 4? Miranda was my first camera in high school 50 years ago and am thinking of buying a Sensorex . Should I get a hot shoe flash or use the side flash sync terminal on the body? Thanks Dave. Excellent videos.
I just got a Miranda Auto Sensorex EE RiC and a Miranda Sensorex at a thrift store. I watched all of you video and I can wait to try them out. Do you know what type of batteries will fit in them? Thanks
You'll want a 675-type hearing aid battery (available at any pharmacy or grocery store) and a simple brass PX625 adapter (around USD $10 on eBay). That will give you a proper meter reading.
The EE is slightly better because it has aperture priority mode shooting, but the lenses that work completely with it are fewer and more expensive. I like the standard Sensorex more.
The part about Miranda's reputation and how we shouldn't believe the internet was quite poetic. I almost shed a tear. You should have ended it on that.
I have two of these in the original box with three lenses and the original cleaning tools and manuals from Miranda. They are in mint condition. How much do you think it would be worth?
Great video.My Sensorex is a bit later than yours,but it is in about the same shape.When I got it the meter didn't want to work.After much cleaning of the contacts it works great now.The only odd thing it does now is sometimes I have to nudge the wind lever to get it to return after winding.I may or may not mess with that later.For now I just need to cut some foam for new light seals and put some film in it.It's on my short list of cameras ready to try out.
M Poole The return lever issue is probably dirt or thick grease. For light seals, in lieu if foam, you can use black knitting yarn. I use the four-strand type and pull it in half (two stands) and that works really well. I also use stick-back felt on the hinges and, sometimes, inside the film back channel where it meets the camera back.
I will try the yarn.It should last longer than foam and be less expensive and easier to work with.What's the best glue to stick it down with?I've had good results with E6000,but I'm always interested in what has worked for others.I think you're right about the wind lever.I just have to decide if it's important enough to take it apart to clean it.Cleaning seems to fix a lot of problems in old cameras.
Oh, I read 1/8 not 1.4 in my reply. You should have access to 1.4 on the dial, correct? If not, set it to 1.9. 1.4 to 1.9 is essentially a half stop. Your images may be slightly overexposed but they'll be within the tolerance of color negative and black and white film.
that is the first place I checked and I also checked the back of the lens... it did not come with a manual so I did some googling and finally found it, think it was 49 mm... but I do enjoy your video presentations, thanks...
Thanks very good. Just revisited after a first viewing 2 years ago!! (My Nikon 800e is in for repair, & Im getting frustrated at no camera LOL). Looking at my leaner and aperture configuration: My lens (F1.9 - F16) does not correspond to the aperture guide (f1.4 - F22). What is the best approach when setting the camera?? PS I found your camera work, speed of dialogue & knowledge excellent.
Thank you! For f/1.9 lenses, just set it to f/1.8. The difference in metering will be well within the tolerance of the film. Actually, at the camera's age, the shutter is probably less accurate than the metering difference between 1.8 and 1.9. For f/16, that's okay. I almost never use anything smaller than f/16 on 35mm standard lenses and I don't see much see a use to go beyond 16. All you're losing without access to f/22 is lots of diffraction softness.
Given that there are a lot of factors, mostly subjective, for image quality, II think they're on par with each in different ways. Their sharpness is definitely as good or better than Minolta. I think they have a nice image characteristic, too, that many lenses don't exude.
@@DavidHancock ok, thanks. I'll look into this camera a bit more. What would you say is a good price to pay for a used one with both a 50mm and a 105mm lens? They have that kit at my local antique shop.
Hey guys. I have the next model. The Sensorex 2. Now when I shoot, all pictures come out blurry! I know, I know its not focusses. But it is! Ive had other people shoot too! Any suggestions?
David Hancock Okay thanks! I just purchased a cheap little flash that connects to the hot shoe, however it did not come with a PC cord. I've tried using it with the camera, having set the dial to "X" on the camera and the shutter speed to 1/60, but I still can't get it to fire with the camera. The flash itself test fires just fine, so I'm not sure if I need a different flash or if it's an error on my part. Please help! I'm dying to use it.
In a perfect world, I'd say get the electronics modified for modern 625 batteries. Barring that, grab a 625 and then compensate the ISO dial for the battery. You do that by using a 625 battery, which will give you a false meter reading, and then adjusting settings to trick the camera into giving you a proper reading. On a sunny day with the sun to your back set the camera's aperture to 16 and the shutter speed to the setting closest your film speed (so 1/125 for 100 ISO or 1/500 for 400 ISO) and then adjust the ISO dial on the camera until you have a proper meter reading.
@@Musiclysweet18 The best thing to do is take it outside and see if the meter works when it's turned on. The needle should change as the settings are adjusted. I think this video series goes into some detail on that in Video 2. A quick check of the meter is to set the ASA to your film speed (or just pick a number if you don't have film yet) and then set the aperture to f/16 and the shutter speed to the number nearest your film speed. With the sun to your back, your meter reading should be roughly correct.
It's fair. If you can dicker, I might try to get it for $45. The camera is $30 and so is the lens. I picked up that lens, badged Vivitar, five years ago for $25 and it's spectacular. $30 for a Sensorex is a fair price. You'll still need a normal lens, I assume, so if so expect that to be another $15-20.
I will ignore dirt on my mirror because I cannot clean it. Thank you Sir for your effort and enthusiasm, you start my passion for film photography after 12 years of shooting exclusively digital. I have bought Olympus OM 2n and zuiko 50 1.4 from ebay for about 100EUR and I love it, I love experience of film photography and I absolutely love slow analog shooting mode. You are great man :)
Hey David, thank you so much for this video. I got in a car crash which resulted in both my Pentax and Olympus breaking. I couldn’t afford to repair them but didn’t want to part with them so I’ve gone two years without a SLR. Yesterday, I finally sold my beloved Pentax and purchased a Sensorex for $30. I had never heard of Miranda but was enamored with the artistry of this camera. This video has me SO EXCITED to start shooting again!!! I feel like I just joined a secret club!
I grew up using Miranda SLR's and did all slide photography. I was always curious about the criticisms. They are absolutely fantastic cameras. I wish I had kept them. I'm going to re-purchase.
Loved this video. Around 1973 I upgraded from a Yashicamat 135 Range Finder to the Sensorex and could not have been happier. I still have it but haven't used it in years. Mine has the 50mm 1.4 and a Vivitar 135. I found that the metering system was always accurate and always got great shots with it. The only advice I would offer in relation to your comment about using it as a waist level camera with the prism remove is that you do compromise the metering accuracy since you are allowing additional light to enter from the top. My granddaughter is majoring in music, film, and video production and is a very talented photographer. I will pass the camera on to her and hope that she enjoys it as much as I have. She is already excited about the prospect of receiving it.
+Ivan Pelčić Thank you. They are really great. They don't have as much value today because they don't have name recognition and there's a misconception that they aren't good. If they were as well known and wanted as the F, they'd be worth a lot more since there's far fewer of them.
"Internet Truth"? An oxymoron of the first order. "Internet Authority"? It just opinion, sometimes uninformed, often part of the "herd mentality.";) Back in the day, Miranda had a "fragile under pressure" reputation and the Miranda Soligor lenses suffered from association with mediocre Soligors made for other-than-Miranda models. I've handled/owned/used Minolta, Pentax, Nikon and Canon, but not Miranda...so far.;)
The Soligor brand really hurt them, but the cameras are good. I liked the Sensorex a lot. In today's market, it's a lot of camera for very little money.
Internet gets a bad wrap. It's just a medium for a message to travel. They're still being produced by humans posting. "The medium in which a message travels has no affect on its truth or validity." The message is true or false on its own and not a function of the medium of delivery.
I used Soligor and Vivitar lenses on Ye Olde Nikkormat FTN back in the day, since they were what I could afford. Then I met a French photographer who described the end of his "alternate lens maker" period when the lens broke apart on a location shoot. Nikkors are/were expensive, but they had/have a reputation for reliability and toughness in the field. I eventually upgraded to Nikkor lenses as I could over the years, though I did/do think the SP Tamrons are very good. (Non-SP Tamron lenses during the "Allied Impex" years were pedestrian at best, low quality, and less sharp.)
I just purchased one that has a working meter and 50mm 1.4 for $20 at my favorite camera store, also the focusing screen on the Nikon F is locked in. The release on the back of the camera that is used to unlock the viewfinder also unlocks the focusing screen in place.
Hi David thx a lot for this video which just give me curiosity to discover this unknown brand (for me). I will try to get one to try it. I saw different videos and I find the sensorex 2 even more beautiful. I will try to catch one.
I'm curious to know in the olden world, where would Miranda lenses stand. I hear they are a bit under Olympus, probably similar to Pentax/ Nikon or any opinion on this subject?
Inconsistent. The best are exceptional, definitely better than equivalent Nikon and Canon lenses of the time and on par with Pentax and Olympus. But the bad ones, which is what gives them a poor reputation, they are not great. So with the Miranda lessons it's worth testing them to see how they perform.
I picked up an early Sensorex at a garage sale and it came with some NOS mercury batteries. I put one in and the meter popped to life. My first walk around camera with a grill, love it.
I just got this camera and found that the battery cap is sealed shut. Any recommendations on how I could get it to budge? I'm assuming its been very corroded. Not too much info about this camera's battery cap online.
@@DavidHancock Thanks for the reply! Fortunately, I was able to get it to budge using some pliers and some 'elbow grease' shortly after posting this comment. I just have to work on getting the corrosion gunk cleaned out. Thanks again!
Your voice sounds excited! I just got lucky and looks like I won a complete kit in case. I came here first, to get clues if I can hook it up to a trinocular. I watched video 2 first and it sounds like it can do anything. Man what luck.
@@DavidHancock Oh, and this auction happened later last night, after I read the sellers description, I just paid him full price. They are both EE. M'lady said she is going to wrap them for my Birthday, so I showed her the advice part at the end of your video,.... thanks. If they work, and you want to borrow, (seeing as I can't afford subscriptions), I would be honored. This auction is for a PAIR of Miranda Auto Sensorex 35 mm SLR Cameras ... and 5 Lenses! Lenses: one f=50mm Miranda 1:1.4 lens one f=50mm Miranda 1:1.8 lens one f=28mm 1:2.8 Soligor Wide Angle lens one f=135 1:2.8 Soligor Telephoto lens one f=80-200mm 1:3.5 Soligor Telephoto Zoom lens w/ telescoping lens shade. Fast bayonet style attachment for quick lens changes. Two bodies are included: one black, one silver. Also included: Several miscellaneous filters and lens caps. These were truly great cameras and way ahead of their time! I shot lots of award-winning art photography that you'd expect to have been shot on a larger format camera! They are both auto exposure cameras with the choice of spot metering or average metering. They are shutter priority: meaning, you adjust the shutter speed and the f stop adjusts automatically. The metering scale is in the viewfinder, so you can quickly make your choices! Of course, they shoot manually also! Speed adjusts from 1 second to one 1000th second depending on film speed. Flash syncs at one 60th second. One of the more unique features of these great cameras is the removable viewfinder. In addition to two standard peep hole eye level type viewfinders, there is one waist level viewfinder, enabling you to shoot from the hip or even from over your head. They are each missing a screw-on round battery cover on the back of the camera. They would continually work their way loose and get lost. I have inserted a small ring of metal which holds the battery securely in place. These cameras were in great shape when I stopped using them a few years ago. As with all cameras, I'd recommend having a camera shop do a cleaning and lubrication.
@@Notso_Wild_Bill Oh nice. The EE is a fine camera for sure. The only lens in that list I'd be in any way skeptical of it the zoom. Old primes are generally good to great, especially 50mms. The two 50mms there's are exceptional in general. Old zooms, not so much so. That zoom lens is a fairly common one so it might be worth testing it across the zoom and aperture range (multiple apertures at each focal length) to see if it has a sweet spot. The 35mm I'm not familiar with.
My shutter speed dial seems to be fairly loose, as in not all of the shutter speed options click into place when trying to align with the orange shutter fire icon. Do you know if It's something you can tighten?
David Hancock I just got mine back from him he did a great job. I bought one with a working meter and shutter speeds. He cleaned it and replaced the mirror foam and the light seals for $48 plus shipping.
Hi. Only now, looking for miranda sensorex mount specs I came across your video. I have my old (first ever camera) sensorex n.958473 which I agree with you was (is) a fantastic camera. The original TTL light metering "integration" system is just genial... But my post is about this: YES THERE IS A GUY IN LISBON - PORTUGAL THAT STILL REPAIRS THIS CAMERA!!! I have mine fully revised last year (boring pandemic) as my ISO/ASA seletor was busted. Still going after all these years.
Nice vid. I love Mirandas, and it's true, the original Sensorex was intended as a cheap alternative to the Nikon F, it has the advantage of the in-mirror metering, independent from the finder, but the Nikon is much more robust and resist heavy use much better than any Miranda. I'm very happy with my black RE-II, the last of the "small" Mirandas, launched in 1975. I got two EC lenses: the 1.4/50 and the 3.5/80-200, both made by Sun Optical and very nice. Also a few days ago I finally got the critical finder VF-3, it's awesome.
I just purchased a Miranda Sensomat & it is a beautiful camera. The bottom cover is open right now to clean the battery compartment (old leaking battery) & lubricate the mechanical components. From my time with this camera, I can say that it is very well designed. The battery compartment is designed & built to be easily maintained. The mechanical components are laid out nicely & not cluttered together. I can't wait to try out out.
Thanks for this great overview of a great camera which was my introduction to 35mm photography at the age of 16. One of the brilliant design features of this and other Miranda cameras was that the shutter release is on the front of the camera instead of on top. This reduces the possibility of blur through camera shake because the lateral movement of the camera along the camera/subject axis is much more tolerant of camera shake as opposed to the vertical movement of the camera perpendicular to the camera/subject axis. It has always been a mystery to me why other camera manufacturers did not similarly place their shutter buttons on the front of the camera body.
Just got one from a garage sale and was wanting to learn more about it. Based on your guide using the numbers, mine is an earlier model. Thanks for the great information! This has helped a lot. I am definitely going to check out the 2nd part to this video.
I own this camera as well as several other slrs. I totally agree with you that it is one of the greatest slrs ever built. Very good quality, very well designed. I love this camera. Highly underrated. Period.
Thanks for your advice on testing "internet truth" yourself, in my short time of camera collecting I've already experienced my own observations being vastly different from the general consensus for whatever reason. I was introduced to miranda because my brother found a new in box 135mm lens and knowing my interest in old cameras he gave it to me for Christmas. I had not even heard of the brand previously, today my first miranda camera arrived in the mail, a sensorex with the 1.9 and spot meter, but the aperture rage does go 1.4 to 22, so it must fall in the middle of their production range. Everything is functional, and I look forward shooting it at some point, also its such a classy display piece, probably the most eye catching slr on my display shelf
Nice! Yeah, I think that Internet consensus is a lot of people parroting back what others say just because it sounds good and if they concur then they sound like they know what they're talking about. And soon, that's out of control. So yes, testing what is known to be true is vital, and not just with cameras. Enjoy the Miranda. They're really fantastic cameras!
Thanks for the video! I just bought a Miranda that came with a few lenses. I think my 50 mm lens originally belonged to an older Miranda because it's 1.9 but the camera itself only has an option for 1.8. Would it be ok to set @ 1.8 or what would you advise?
+Dylan Query Depends on your lens. If you have the f/1.4, it is 52mm. If you have the f/1.9, it's either 46mm or 49mm. If you have the f/1.8, it's either 46mm, 49mm, or 52mm.
Great video! I just got this camera and everything seems to be working correctly except the ASA notches don't match up exactly with the orange marker. It clicks into place between each notch. Any idea how to adjust that?
Thank you so much for making this amazing video! My grandpa had a great assortment of cameras, and in attempt of trying to be closer to him I'm learning how to use them and your videos have helped so much!!! I was wondering if you could tell me what film to buy for this camera and how much it would cost to develop the film?
Thank you! Any 35mm film will work. If you're just starting out, give Kentmere or Foma a try for black and white. Both are affordable and of good quality. For color, try Fuji Superia for the same reason as Kentmere and Foma. For developing, I use Old School Photo Lab in Dover, NH. I strongly recommend avoiding Costco, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, etc., as they do not return film and their scan quality is poor (they all use the same mass shop.) OSPL returns film, has great scan quality, and is very good about interacting with customers and answering questions. Those qualities are key in a good lab. There are some other good labs in the U.S., too, but they're all local shops and not chains.
Hi David! Seems that this is yet another good candidate to integrate my collection! I found one over here in Brazil being sold "as is"... the vendor claims not knowing anything about cameras. It looks clean. Not mint, but no blemishes either ... am squirming a little since the word on the street here is that this is a very, very, VERY fragile camera. On the plus side, there are a ton of lenses available for it for peanuts... Does this camera worth a plunge?! Awesome work on the video (as usual)! Thx
I think that they have an exaggerated reputation for fragility. If you drop it from six feet, will it break? Sure. But so would an F3, MX, or any of the other cameras well known for being robust. I like mine a lot and I think it has a lot to offer. As long as everything functions, and if it's a good price that won't break the bank, why not? Worst case scenario is that you don't like it and end up selling it for the same price or a few real less.
so I have a question , I bought one of these in a yard sale in excellent condition from a ex photographer , well today I open the lense and noticed that there was a slight scratch by the foam bumper metal I'm pretty so it's bc they mounted the lense wrong a while back, everything else seems to work the only thing I noticed is that, the lense have a slight wiggle , is that normal? the owner told me it worked fine but I'm new to film cameras
+Boii Jay Miranda lenses were one of two makes (that I know of) that could be mounted incorrectly, the other being Minolta MD. If a Miranda lens was mounted incorrectly, it's not the end of the world and everything will still work fine afterward. (I mounted a 50mm lens on one of my Mirandas the wrong way once.) As for the wiggle, that could either be a bad mounting flange, loose lens rear plate, or a loose lens focusing helical. My 50mm f/1.8 has a slight wiggle in the focusing mechanism. It focuses fine and is just well broken in, Unless your lens falls apart, your images all seem washed-out or have a significant light leak, or your images are all focused at different points than you were focused on while taking the photo, I wouldn't worry about the wiggle too much.
Awesome! I starting collect old cameras, which happend one of them was on your channel /Pentax MV/. Other one is Fed-3L. Keep it coming, love your work! :)
I had a Miranda Sensorex from 1980 to 1986, with Miranda Lenses: 28mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, 200mm f3.5, 2X converter. I bought the whole Miranda kit in a case for only $150 because everyone was moving over to electronic cameras with copal electric shutters (the Sensorex has a mechanical curtain shutter and no electronic control).
I used the 50mm lens with the 2X converter as a 100mm portrait lens and the beard stubble on a mans face was so pin-sharp that a professional photographer doubted that I had really used a 2X converter. Adding the 2X converter to the 200mm lens made a f5.6 400mm telephoto lens, the extended bayonet connectors of the 2X converter and the 200mm lens made the long lens feel loose and floppy but this didn't affect the pictures which were sharp. I also had a Braun 370 BVC flash which was powerful and the thyristor circuit produced accurate flash exposures.
By 1986 the Miranda Company was closed and electronic cameras had totally taken over the market. I was moving to a new country and sold all my photographic equipement (including my Opemus III enlarger, timer and darkroom equipment) for almost a give-away price - I think it was about $100. I'm very pleased to see from your video that the Miranda is remembered as a high quality camera.
At 19:00 you suggest that Miranda was too much competiton for Nikon. I know that in business, the financial backers (banks) often pull the plug on manufacturers who are in competion with other producers which they also control, so it's possible that Miranda was sacrificed so that the over-priced Nikon could dominate the professional level 35mm market.
Hallelujah!!! Mine arrived today.
I bought it blind (online). The seller claimed not knowing much about anything. Could not manage to open the back, could not tell me about shutter velocities, apertures, battery ... not a thing (not sure if he knew his own name).
I bought it regardless (What can I say? Just went comando on the whole thing).
For my surprise all is excellent, dare I say; in almost mint condition! Shutter, lens, light meter, timer, all spot on! Praise Ansel in the skies!! My take is that this one sat on a drawer somewhere for a loooong looong time. It did not see much action at all.
It is either that or you were absolutely right about the toughness of this beauty!
Other thing that took me for a loop was the weight of this thing! whoa, that's a heavy beast!!!
Just threw a film in it and I am dying to check the results!
Thank you for the encouragement!
Nice! And that's a great find in that condition, too. Feel free to share a link to your photos as a comment if you'd like. It would be great to see your work.
Long before the Internet, this camera was much maligned. Didn't know the reason but was told it was one to avoid. Their sudden disappearance from mail order houses seem to verify lack of trust in this instrument ,this fine instrument I should say.Good that you set the record straight, David.
Thank you, Steve!
Thanks so much for this video! I just brought home a bunch of old cameras from my Grandmother's house. One of them was a sensorex. This video was fantastic, and now I can't wait to try this thing!
Thank you!
And these area TON of fun to use. I really enjoyed my Sensorex a lot.
Hey David,
Thanks so much for your video...I've got part II queued up.
I ended up buying a Sensorex only because Miranda's my daughter's name and thought how cool would that be. One can't help but be taken by the robust build of the camera and how it's looks make it stand out from the other cameras of that era.
Anyway, just wanted to thank you for your informative video that's helped get me acquainted with my new camera and saved me from having to go through an insomnia defying manual.
Thank you! And that's a great reason to pick up a camera. I hope that Miranda likes using the Miranda, too!
Thanks man!! I was going through my grandparents garage and found this camera. I really want to learn to take pictures with it so thanks so much!
Thank you!
So glad I found these videos! I've been a photographer for a few years, but only recently have I started getting into shooting film. This will probably help me use up my next roll :).
I have one of these from my grandfather, who got it as a Christmas bonus one year from his job, back when these were new. He was already a pretty entrenched Minolta guy, so I don't think he ever used the camera. It's completely mint, there's not a mark on the thing anywhere. Even the QC stickers are still on it.
Thank you, and that's a great heirloom!
I would like to say that it’s a good thing I found this video because my uncle gave me his sensor x and I wanted to know how to use it
Thank you and that's a great gift!
I'm sold,....... picked up my first Miranda, a Sensorex II for $28. with a telephoto lens on it...... good for shooting high up architectural features. I'll get a Sensorex soon. Thank you!
Nice! These are really fun to use cameras.
This is a beautiful review. Narrated with with a lovely, artistic and informative way. Your knowledge of photography and history is 2nd to none.
Thank you!
My hubby just bought our children one of these with ALL the bells and whistles!!! We are excited about the first use. Our 11 yo son will be taking it out tonight because ya
Oh nice! That's just a couple years younger than I was when I got my first camera and this will be an awesome learning tool for him.
Thanks for the really great video. I just picked up a Sensorx II at a garage sale for $5. I am eager to try it out.
+Steve Hedemann Great find! That's a fantastic price for a really nice camera.
Thank you David for another great video I was sent a Miranda Sensorex EE w50mm f1.8 for repair. I was so impressed with it I went and bid on one and now I am doing a CLA on it. It is an impressive build. Like most cameras of the era, you have to remove a lot of oxidation. But when you do, they both have come back to life. It is the old mercury 1.35 v battery so if you are a tree hugger, best to stay away, I have not yet figured a way to accurately convert to A76 battery. But I might. They are built like a tank otherwise and the lens is superb as you said! Thanks for doing all these videos.
Thank you, Jack!
So the conversion on these is not hard if you have them apart. The Fix Old Cameras channel shows how to modify an OM-1 battery circuit to the modern battery voltage with a resistor. It's a quick soldering job and a ten-cent part.
David Hancock ok thanks! I’ll try it
I just found a Sensorex that was practically new, (found zero scratches on it!), and personally it's one of the most beautiful slr designs I've seen. This camera just screams 'classic'. You can tell this was well designed and engineered. The shutter is satisfying and is actually the quietest slr camera I own. Miranda is an interesting brand and hope to collect all the models, as I already have the Miranda Sensoret in my collection...
Nice! I agree -- Mirandas were awesome.
Hey man! Great video! I just picked up one of these and am working through my first roll!
I am missing a lens cap though.. I’ve tried two different kinds with no success. Any idea what size lens cap this takes?
Thank you!
Thank you! The cap size depends on your specific lens. It should have something on the front that looks like a zero with a line through it and then 46mm, 49mm, or 52mm. The mm size is the diameter you need. It's possible you have the 46mm, which is a smaller size than typical now.
David, many thanks for your great video, it resolve a problem that I have with the battery, great solution with the adapter.
Fantastic! Thank you!
You mention the 50 1.8 56mm filter is best. The 50 1.8 52mm filter not good. What about the 50 mm 1.4 with 46mm filter?
Also, what is difference between Maranda Sensorex 6 and Sensorex 4? Miranda was my first camera in high school 50 years ago and am thinking of
buying a Sensorex . Should I get a hot shoe flash or use the side flash sync terminal on the body? Thanks Dave. Excellent videos.
Thank you!
For the 4 and 6, I'm not sure any more. It's been a long time since I made these.
For the 46mm threaded 1.4, it's great.
I just got a Miranda Auto Sensorex EE RiC and a Miranda Sensorex at a thrift store. I watched all of you video and I can wait to try them out. Do you know what type of batteries will fit in them? Thanks
You'll want a 675-type hearing aid battery (available at any pharmacy or grocery store) and a simple brass PX625 adapter (around USD $10 on eBay). That will give you a proper meter reading.
I have this camera and a Sensorex EE. They belonged to my father. Which is the better camera?
The EE is slightly better because it has aperture priority mode shooting, but the lenses that work completely with it are fewer and more expensive. I like the standard Sensorex more.
The part about Miranda's reputation and how we shouldn't believe the internet was quite poetic. I almost shed a tear. You should have ended it on that.
Thank you!
My first camera! I bought it from my photographer uncle in the early seventies.
Nice!
I have the Sensomat SE.. Beautiful camera and the 50mm 1.8 with loose aperture ring takes beautiful photos.. but 1 roll and it broke😮
OH bummer. Sometimes the old cameras do that. They can still be repaired if you're in a place with a good camera repair shop.
I have two of these in the original box with three lenses and the original cleaning tools and manuals from Miranda. They are in mint condition. How much do you think it would be worth?
Great video.My Sensorex is a bit later than yours,but it is in about the same shape.When I got it the meter didn't want to work.After much cleaning of the contacts it works great now.The only odd thing it does now is sometimes I have to nudge the wind lever to get it to return after winding.I may or may not mess with that later.For now I just need to cut some foam for new light seals and put some film in it.It's on my short list of cameras ready to try out.
M Poole The return lever issue is probably dirt or thick grease. For light seals, in lieu if foam, you can use black knitting yarn. I use the four-strand type and pull it in half (two stands) and that works really well. I also use stick-back felt on the hinges and, sometimes, inside the film back channel where it meets the camera back.
I will try the yarn.It should last longer than foam and be less expensive and easier to work with.What's the best glue to stick it down with?I've had good results with E6000,but I'm always interested in what has worked for others.I think you're right about the wind lever.I just have to decide if it's important enough to take it apart to clean it.Cleaning seems to fix a lot of problems in old cameras.
I don't use glue. I clean out the old foam but leave the residual glue behind, and that works a-okay.
Great,I'll get some yarn and give it a try.
PPS I note from the serial number that my model is pretty old. the speed adj. is the 1.9 setting you mentioned.
Oh, I read 1/8 not 1.4 in my reply. You should have access to 1.4 on the dial, correct? If not, set it to 1.9. 1.4 to 1.9 is essentially a half stop. Your images may be slightly overexposed but they'll be within the tolerance of color negative and black and white film.
Thanks to Vid 2 I discovered that the batt. is incorrect. its a 625 in situ. Ive ordered an adaptor & A67 Batt.
I have a Miranda 50 mm, 1.9, bought it used without manual, what is the filter size?
It should have that engraved on the front. Those came in different sizes so I couldn't tell you about yours.
that is the first place I checked and I also checked the back of the lens... it did not come with a manual so I did some googling and finally found it, think it was 49 mm... but I do enjoy your video presentations, thanks...
Thanks very good. Just revisited after a first viewing 2 years ago!! (My Nikon 800e is in for repair, & Im getting frustrated at no camera LOL).
Looking at my leaner and aperture configuration: My lens (F1.9 - F16) does not correspond to the aperture guide (f1.4 - F22). What is the best approach when setting the camera?? PS I found your camera work, speed of dialogue & knowledge excellent.
Thank you!
For f/1.9 lenses, just set it to f/1.8. The difference in metering will be well within the tolerance of the film. Actually, at the camera's age, the shutter is probably less accurate than the metering difference between 1.8 and 1.9. For f/16, that's okay. I almost never use anything smaller than f/16 on 35mm standard lenses and I don't see much see a use to go beyond 16. All you're losing without access to f/22 is lots of diffraction softness.
In terms of image quality, how do these lenses compare to the Minolta SRT lenses or the Contax G2’s Zeiss lenses?
Given that there are a lot of factors, mostly subjective, for image quality, II think they're on par with each in different ways. Their sharpness is definitely as good or better than Minolta. I think they have a nice image characteristic, too, that many lenses don't exude.
@@DavidHancock ok, thanks. I'll look into this camera a bit more. What would you say is a good price to pay for a used one with both a 50mm and a 105mm lens? They have that kit at my local antique shop.
By the way, which ones do you think is better: the 50 mm F1.9 or the 50 mm F1.8?
Six one way, half-dozen the other.
Hey guys. I have the next model. The Sensorex 2. Now when I shoot, all pictures come out blurry! I know, I know its not focusses. But it is! Ive had other people shoot too! Any suggestions?
+MyKittyPool Is it blurry when you look through your viewfinder?
I’ve got a 1.9 sensorex!
Nice!
20:51 Take-home lesson.
Thank you!
I have this, i think its bombproof, cvality yes, but weights a lot.
They are great cameras.
Yes they are, and the weight i write about is not a complaint, its quality 🙂This camera is the Ak5 in camera world.
What type of flash would I need to buy for my Sensorex?
Any kind of simple flash would work. An old Vivitar flash would be fine. Any modern flash should also work.
David Hancock Okay thanks! I just purchased a cheap little flash that connects to the hot shoe, however it did not come with a PC cord.
I've tried using it with the camera, having set the dial to "X" on the camera and the shutter speed to 1/60, but I still can't get it to fire with the camera.
The flash itself test fires just fine, so I'm not sure if I need a different flash or if it's an error on my part.
Please help! I'm dying to use it.
What kind of battery would you recommend?
In a perfect world, I'd say get the electronics modified for modern 625 batteries. Barring that, grab a 625 and then compensate the ISO dial for the battery. You do that by using a 625 battery, which will give you a false meter reading, and then adjusting settings to trick the camera into giving you a proper reading. On a sunny day with the sun to your back set the camera's aperture to 16 and the shutter speed to the setting closest your film speed (so 1/125 for 100 ISO or 1/500 for 400 ISO) and then adjust the ISO dial on the camera until you have a proper meter reading.
@@DavidHancock Thank you! I got my batteries today, now I'm curious how do I know if it's working?
@@Musiclysweet18 The best thing to do is take it outside and see if the meter works when it's turned on. The needle should change as the settings are adjusted. I think this video series goes into some detail on that in Video 2. A quick check of the meter is to set the ASA to your film speed (or just pick a number if you don't have film yet) and then set the aperture to f/16 and the shutter speed to the number nearest your film speed. With the sun to your back, your meter reading should be roughly correct.
Is this a good buy?$59.99
Miranda-Sensorex-Camera-w-Soligor-400mm-1-6-3-Manual-Focus-Lens....
It's fair. If you can dicker, I might try to get it for $45. The camera is $30 and so is the lens. I picked up that lens, badged Vivitar, five years ago for $25 and it's spectacular. $30 for a Sensorex is a fair price. You'll still need a normal lens, I assume, so if so expect that to be another $15-20.
how to clean mirror, rocket blower can not clean it.
munja2111 Try a camel hair brush. If you apply any cleaning solutions to it you're likely to remove the silver.
I will ignore dirt on my mirror because I cannot clean it. Thank you Sir for your effort and enthusiasm, you start my passion for film photography after 12 years of shooting exclusively digital. I have bought Olympus OM 2n and zuiko 50 1.4 from ebay for about 100EUR and I love it, I love experience of film photography and I absolutely love slow analog shooting mode. You are great man :)
munja2111 Thank you and that's the best thing I can hear from a viewer. Take great photos!
Hey David, thank you so much for this video. I got in a car crash which resulted in both my Pentax and Olympus breaking. I couldn’t afford to repair them but didn’t want to part with them so I’ve gone two years without a SLR. Yesterday, I finally sold my beloved Pentax and purchased a Sensorex for $30. I had never heard of Miranda but was enamored with the artistry of this camera. This video has me SO EXCITED to start shooting again!!! I feel like I just joined a secret club!
I grew up using Miranda SLR's and did all slide photography. I was always curious about the criticisms. They are absolutely fantastic cameras. I wish I had kept them. I'm going to re-purchase.
Nice! Yeah, I love these and they were just really nice and user-friendly cameras.
You are right about them. After repairing many many cameras, this brand had it right and they will still work today if for a little tlc.
Loved this video. Around 1973 I upgraded from a Yashicamat 135 Range Finder to the Sensorex and could not have been happier. I still have it but haven't used it in years. Mine has the 50mm 1.4 and a Vivitar 135. I found that the metering system was always accurate and always got great shots with it. The only advice I would offer in relation to your comment about using it as a waist level camera with the prism remove is that you do compromise the metering accuracy since you are allowing additional light to enter from the top. My granddaughter is majoring in music, film, and video production and is a very talented photographer. I will pass the camera on to her and hope that she enjoys it as much as I have. She is already excited about the prospect of receiving it.
Thank you! And good point about meter accuracy.
Great video. This camera looks more capable and better than Nikon F, it looks almost as cool as F but I don't get why are they so cheap today!
+Ivan Pelčić Thank you.
They are really great. They don't have as much value today because they don't have name recognition and there's a misconception that they aren't good. If they were as well known and wanted as the F, they'd be worth a lot more since there's far fewer of them.
I've seen somebody post a Miranda TII for $2000,-
Nevertheless, my $2,-Miranda TM is still one of my favorites!
"Internet Truth"? An oxymoron of the first order. "Internet Authority"? It just opinion, sometimes uninformed, often part of the "herd mentality.";) Back in the day, Miranda had a "fragile under pressure" reputation and the Miranda Soligor lenses suffered from association with mediocre Soligors made for other-than-Miranda models. I've handled/owned/used Minolta, Pentax, Nikon and Canon, but not Miranda...so far.;)
The Soligor brand really hurt them, but the cameras are good. I liked the Sensorex a lot. In today's market, it's a lot of camera for very little money.
Internet gets a bad wrap. It's just a medium for a message to travel. They're still being produced by humans posting. "The medium in which a message travels has no affect on its truth or validity." The message is true or false on its own and not a function of the medium of delivery.
I used Soligor and Vivitar lenses on Ye Olde Nikkormat FTN back in the day, since they were what I could afford. Then I met a French photographer who described the end of his "alternate lens maker" period when the lens broke apart on a location shoot. Nikkors are/were expensive, but they had/have a reputation for reliability and toughness in the field. I eventually upgraded to Nikkor lenses as I could over the years, though I did/do think the SP Tamrons are very good. (Non-SP Tamron lenses during the "Allied Impex" years were pedestrian at best, low quality, and less sharp.)
Great video! How were you able to open the battery chamber? I just got a Sensorex 2 and the battery chamber is impossible to open
@@duckbirth Thank you! Video 2 will cover the batteries, too,
I just purchased one that has a working meter and 50mm 1.4 for $20 at my favorite camera store, also the focusing screen on the Nikon F is locked in. The release on the back of the camera that is used to unlock the viewfinder also unlocks the focusing screen in place.
Nice!
Hi David thx a lot for this video which just give me curiosity to discover this unknown brand (for me). I will try to get one to try it. I saw different videos and I find the sensorex 2 even more beautiful. I will try to catch one.
Nice and thank you!
I'm curious to know in the olden world, where would Miranda lenses stand. I hear they are a bit under Olympus, probably similar to Pentax/ Nikon or any opinion on this subject?
Inconsistent. The best are exceptional, definitely better than equivalent Nikon and Canon lenses of the time and on par with Pentax and Olympus. But the bad ones, which is what gives them a poor reputation, they are not great. So with the Miranda lessons it's worth testing them to see how they perform.
I picked up an early Sensorex at a garage sale and it came with some NOS mercury batteries. I put one in and the meter popped to life. My first walk around camera with a grill, love it.
Nice! These are awesome cameras and tons of fun to use.
I just found one of these at the goodwill where I work for $8 😀
That's a fantastic find!
I just got this camera and found that the battery cap is sealed shut. Any recommendations on how I could get it to budge? I'm assuming its been very corroded. Not too much info about this camera's battery cap online.
I have an older video on how to remove a stick battery cap. It takes a few tools but the process is pretty simple.
@@DavidHancock Thanks for the reply!
Fortunately, I was able to get it to budge using some pliers and some 'elbow grease' shortly after posting this comment. I just have to work on getting the corrosion gunk cleaned out. Thanks again!
@@danterodriguez8753 distilled white vinegar followed by rubbing alcohol
Your voice sounds excited! I just got lucky and looks like I won a complete kit in case. I came here first, to get clues if I can hook it up to a trinocular. I watched video 2 first and it sounds like it can do anything.
Man what luck.
Thank you! And nice find.
@@DavidHancock
Oh, and this auction happened later last night, after I read the sellers description, I just paid him full price. They are both EE. M'lady said she is going to wrap them for my Birthday, so I showed her the advice part at the end of your video,.... thanks.
If they work, and you want to borrow, (seeing as I can't afford subscriptions), I would be honored.
This auction is for a PAIR of Miranda Auto Sensorex 35 mm SLR Cameras ...
and 5 Lenses!
Lenses: one f=50mm Miranda 1:1.4 lens
one f=50mm Miranda 1:1.8 lens
one f=28mm 1:2.8 Soligor Wide Angle lens
one f=135 1:2.8 Soligor Telephoto lens
one f=80-200mm 1:3.5 Soligor Telephoto Zoom lens w/ telescoping lens shade.
Fast bayonet style attachment for quick lens changes.
Two bodies are included: one black, one silver.
Also included: Several miscellaneous filters and lens caps.
These were truly great cameras and way ahead of their time! I shot lots of award-winning art photography that you'd expect to have been shot on a larger format camera!
They are both auto exposure cameras with the choice of spot metering or average metering. They are shutter priority: meaning, you adjust the shutter speed and the f stop adjusts automatically. The metering scale is in the viewfinder, so you can quickly make your choices! Of course, they shoot manually also! Speed adjusts from 1 second to one 1000th second depending on film speed. Flash syncs at one 60th second.
One of the more unique features of these great cameras is the removable viewfinder.
In addition to two standard peep hole eye level type viewfinders, there is one waist level viewfinder, enabling you to shoot from the hip or even from over your head.
They are each missing a screw-on round battery cover on the back of the camera. They would continually work their way loose and get lost. I have inserted a small ring of metal which holds the battery securely in place.
These cameras were in great shape when I stopped using them a few years ago. As with all cameras, I'd recommend having a camera shop do a cleaning and lubrication.
@@Notso_Wild_Bill Oh nice. The EE is a fine camera for sure. The only lens in that list I'd be in any way skeptical of it the zoom. Old primes are generally good to great, especially 50mms. The two 50mms there's are exceptional in general. Old zooms, not so much so. That zoom lens is a fairly common one so it might be worth testing it across the zoom and aperture range (multiple apertures at each focal length) to see if it has a sweet spot. The 35mm I'm not familiar with.
My shutter speed dial seems to be fairly loose, as in not all of the shutter speed options click into place when trying to align with the orange shutter fire icon. Do you know if It's something you can tighten?
It probably is but I don't know how to do it. The Fix Old Cameras channel might be a good place to check.
Vermont Camera Repair wii work on them
Thank you! I may send them a few cameras to see how they do. I can always use a new and good repair shop.
David Hancock I just got mine back from him he did a great job. I bought one with a working meter and shutter speeds. He cleaned it and replaced the mirror foam and the light seals for $48 plus shipping.
Hi. Only now, looking for miranda sensorex mount specs I came across your video. I have my old (first ever camera) sensorex n.958473 which I agree with you was (is) a fantastic camera. The original TTL light metering "integration" system is just genial... But my post is about this: YES THERE IS A GUY IN LISBON - PORTUGAL THAT STILL REPAIRS THIS CAMERA!!! I have mine fully revised last year (boring pandemic) as my ISO/ASA seletor was busted. Still going after all these years.
Thank you!
Nice vid. I love Mirandas, and it's true, the original Sensorex was intended as a cheap alternative to the Nikon F, it has the advantage of the in-mirror metering, independent from the finder, but the Nikon is much more robust and resist heavy use much better than any Miranda. I'm very happy with my black RE-II, the last of the "small" Mirandas, launched in 1975. I got two EC lenses: the 1.4/50 and the 3.5/80-200, both made by Sun Optical and very nice. Also a few days ago I finally got the critical finder VF-3, it's awesome.
Nice! Yeah, the Sun 50mm lenses are spectacular.
Great Camera !!!!
I really like this model, too.
I just purchased a Miranda Sensomat & it is a beautiful camera. The bottom cover is open right now to clean the battery compartment (old leaking battery) & lubricate the mechanical components. From my time with this camera, I can say that it is very well designed. The battery compartment is designed & built to be easily maintained. The mechanical components are laid out nicely & not cluttered together. I can't wait to try out out.
Nice! I do really like these and think very highly of them.
Thanks for this great overview of a great camera which was my introduction to 35mm photography at the age of 16. One of the brilliant design features of this and other Miranda cameras was that the shutter release is on the front of the camera instead of on top. This reduces the possibility of blur through camera shake because the lateral movement of the camera along the camera/subject axis is much more tolerant of camera shake as opposed to the vertical movement of the camera perpendicular to the camera/subject axis. It has always been a mystery to me why other camera manufacturers did not similarly place their shutter buttons on the front of the camera body.
Thank you!
Just got one from a garage sale and was wanting to learn more about it. Based on your guide using the numbers, mine is an earlier model. Thanks for the great information! This has helped a lot. I am definitely going to check out the 2nd part to this video.
Thank you!
I own this camera as well as several other slrs. I totally agree with you that it is one of the greatest slrs ever built. Very good quality, very well designed. I love this camera. Highly underrated. Period.
Thank you!
Thanks for your advice on testing "internet truth" yourself, in my short time of camera collecting I've already experienced my own observations being vastly different from the general consensus for whatever reason. I was introduced to miranda because my brother found a new in box 135mm lens and knowing my interest in old cameras he gave it to me for Christmas. I had not even heard of the brand previously, today my first miranda camera arrived in the mail, a sensorex with the 1.9 and spot meter, but the aperture rage does go 1.4 to 22, so it must fall in the middle of their production range. Everything is functional, and I look forward shooting it at some point, also its such a classy display piece, probably the most eye catching slr on my display shelf
Nice! Yeah, I think that Internet consensus is a lot of people parroting back what others say just because it sounds good and if they concur then they sound like they know what they're talking about. And soon, that's out of control. So yes, testing what is known to be true is vital, and not just with cameras. Enjoy the Miranda. They're really fantastic cameras!
Thanks for the video! I just bought a Miranda that came with a few lenses. I think my 50 mm lens originally belonged to an older Miranda because it's 1.9 but the camera itself only has an option for 1.8. Would it be ok to set @ 1.8 or what would you advise?
Thank you! And yes, 1.9 and 1.8 are close enough that you can set it there. Your metering will still be within the film's tolerances.
Hello can you tell me what the filter size is for the miranda lens?
+Dylan Query Depends on your lens. If you have the f/1.4, it is 52mm. If you have the f/1.9, it's either 46mm or 49mm. If you have the f/1.8, it's either 46mm, 49mm, or 52mm.
Great video! I just got this camera and everything seems to be working correctly except the ASA notches don't match up exactly with the orange marker. It clicks into place between each notch. Any idea how to adjust that?
+Josh Wiederin Thank you.
I have no idea how to adjust that, but mine does the same thing. It might just be something that happens with age.
Thank you so much for making this amazing video! My grandpa had a great assortment of cameras, and in attempt of trying to be closer to him I'm learning how to use them and your videos have helped so much!!! I was wondering if you could tell me what film to buy for this camera and how much it would cost to develop the film?
Thank you!
Any 35mm film will work. If you're just starting out, give Kentmere or Foma a try for black and white. Both are affordable and of good quality. For color, try Fuji Superia for the same reason as Kentmere and Foma.
For developing, I use Old School Photo Lab in Dover, NH. I strongly recommend avoiding Costco, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, etc., as they do not return film and their scan quality is poor (they all use the same mass shop.) OSPL returns film, has great scan quality, and is very good about interacting with customers and answering questions. Those qualities are key in a good lab. There are some other good labs in the U.S., too, but they're all local shops and not chains.
Hi David! Seems that this is yet another good candidate to integrate my collection!
I found one over here in Brazil being sold "as is"... the vendor claims not knowing anything about cameras. It looks clean. Not mint, but no blemishes either ... am squirming a little since the word on the street here is that this is a very, very, VERY fragile camera.
On the plus side, there are a ton of lenses available for it for peanuts...
Does this camera worth a plunge?! Awesome work on the video (as usual)! Thx
I think that they have an exaggerated reputation for fragility. If you drop it from six feet, will it break? Sure. But so would an F3, MX, or any of the other cameras well known for being robust.
I like mine a lot and I think it has a lot to offer. As long as everything functions, and if it's a good price that won't break the bank, why not? Worst case scenario is that you don't like it and end up selling it for the same price or a few real less.
Guess I'll take the dive! It will fit nicely between my f3 and the fujica V2. Thanks again!
just found one of these cameras in a garage.video was super helpful!
Nice!
so I have a question , I bought one of these in a yard sale in excellent condition from a ex photographer , well today I open the lense and noticed that there was a slight scratch by the foam bumper metal I'm pretty so it's bc they mounted the lense wrong a while back, everything else seems to work the only thing I noticed is that, the lense have a slight wiggle , is that normal? the owner told me it worked fine but I'm new to film cameras
+Boii Jay Miranda lenses were one of two makes (that I know of) that could be mounted incorrectly, the other being Minolta MD. If a Miranda lens was mounted incorrectly, it's not the end of the world and everything will still work fine afterward. (I mounted a 50mm lens on one of my Mirandas the wrong way once.) As for the wiggle, that could either be a bad mounting flange, loose lens rear plate, or a loose lens focusing helical. My 50mm f/1.8 has a slight wiggle in the focusing mechanism. It focuses fine and is just well broken in, Unless your lens falls apart, your images all seem washed-out or have a significant light leak, or your images are all focused at different points than you were focused on while taking the photo, I wouldn't worry about the wiggle too much.
+David Hancock okay yea my lense seem to wiggle slightly , thank you ! hopefully my images don't come out all washed up or out of focus
cost ?
Today? Anywhere from $5-$45. These are great cameras but not expensive.
Cool video! Thank you. Keep it coming.
batka6255 There are some really great cameras coming later this year.
Awesome! I starting collect old cameras, which happend one of them was on your channel /Pentax MV/. Other one is Fed-3L. Keep it coming, love your work! :)
batka6255 Thank you and I will. Take great photos!
I just acquired a Senorex 2. It’s got the 1.8 50mm. Looking forward to trying it out!
Nice! That's a good setup.