APS CONTROVERSY
By
Roy Salmons (Area 3).
The APS
controversy will no doubt be uppermost in most photographer`s minds.
To compare this forthcoming event with a parallel situation in
movies, when Kodak introduced Super 8, and possibly learn from it ... From
the very first day that a super 8 camera appeared on the camera shop
shelves, manufacture of every standard 8 camera stopped.
Every supplier of the standard 8 guage abruptly jumped on the Super 8
bandwagon. Standard 8
equipment, much of it very expensive, became virtually worthless overnight.
My own Bolex H8 Reflex camera, bought but a few months before for
just on £200 was valued at £65! People
panicked and sold off their `old` gear for pennies which had been worth a
sizable investment prior to the introduction of the `new` gauge.
Having
been caught up in that little episode some 30 years ago, I look back and
think what fools we were to let ourselves be stampeded into going for new
equipment, when there was absolutely nothing wrong with what we had already.
I can see
the same thing being repeated with our still cameras. This time I for one will refuse to accept the change.
It is my advice that every member of the CRC does likewise.
Millions upon millions of 35mm cameras have been sold, so our
investment will be quite safe as regards film supplies.
In fact should the worst come to the worst, I`m sure that some
entrepreneurial character will do very nicely out of buying bulk supplies of
35mm film - even unperforated stock which he will perforate and sell to us
old diehards! It has happened with cine film and that is a much smaller
market.
Who knows,
when those that allow themselves to be railroaded into giving away their
perfectly operating cameras and accessories, we may stand to gain instead of
lose! bargain prices will
abound. So stand firm, to let
the company know that we are here, and still firmly wedded to our
conventional 35mm transparencies. It
will turn out to our advantage.
DON`T
LOOK NOW,
BUT YOUR BATTERY MAY BE EXTINCT!
This is a
headline I read in a Photographic Magazine whilst in the U.S.A. recently.
Having had difficulty in purchasing a PX27 mercury battery in this country
prior to my trip to U.S.A. I was immediately interested and as I have a
Minox 35 GL, I read the article. It seems tha mercury batteries are no
longer being produced, but there is a solution.
Minox are
making a conversion kit for the GT, GL, EL, AL, PL, and PE which consists of
an adaptor and two CR 1/3 N Lithium 3v batteries. I don`t know if this is
available in the U.K., as I purchased mine in Reading Pennsylvania, cost 29
Dollars (£20 approx.). If anyone is interested and cannot obtain one in
this country, contact me and I will try to help.
John Batty
(Area 4), Tel. 01226-281222.