Be glad you collect coins and not cameras.

SiriusBlack · August 1, 2018 2:54PM

I sold a WWII reconnaissance lens through eBay to a fellow in Italy a week and a half ago. It came back to me today. I suppose I’m on some government list somewhere now.

ctf_error_coins · August 1, 2018 2:56PM

Wow!

Namvet69 · August 1, 2018 3:12PM

No wonder no one can live in Chernobyl for a gazillion years! Peace Roy

Coinstartled · August 1, 2018 3:14PM

Was it off the Enola Gay?

SiriusBlack · August 1, 2018 3:29PM

@Coinstartled said:
Was it off the Enola Gay?

I’m beginning to wonder!

Cameonut · August 1, 2018 3:31PM

We coined a term for stuff like this: Mobile Chernobyl.
Kind of rolls of the tongue, don't you think?

ctf_error_coins · August 1, 2018 3:45PM

@Coinstartled said:
Was it off the Enola Gay?

My guess is lots of cameras were filming the tests in Nevada.

Smudge · August 1, 2018 3:46PM

Possibly used after the war for recording nuclear detonations. They did a lot of testing. You may have seen some of images it made in history class or on historical documentaries. Makes it more interesting to me. Can we see a photo of it?

PCGSPhoto · August 1, 2018 3:51PM

Must be Thoriated glass. That or some other part of instrument might have some radium on it (used in the paint on the dials and numbers).

Timbuk3 · August 1, 2018 3:59PM

Wow, interesting !!!

Sonorandesertrat · August 1, 2018 4:11PM

@SiriusBlack said:
I sold a WWII reconnaissance lens through eBay to a fellow in Italy a week and a half ago. It came back to me today. I suppose I’m on some government list somewhere now.

Yes, you probably are. You will be getting a call from Moscow soon.

OldEastside · August 1, 2018 4:13PM

Lot of Vintage lens have small amount of radiation and are commonly flagged, actually I believe there is a list somewhere online, of which ones,
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/Radioactive_lenses
Here is a list, its quite extensive

Steve

BryceM · August 1, 2018 4:14PM

I agree with the radium idea..... less likely tritium. It's used in all sorts of stuff and could register on a postal monitor somewhere. I gotta say it's a sticker I've never seen before.

JBK · August 1, 2018 4:21PM

Wow! !!!

I assume they also opened it?

Gives me an idea - that would make one heck of a collectable piece of Postal History if it were not a box or package. I wonder if I could recreate that scenario in a letter to have it come back with those stickers.

I always wondered what happened to things that were a little too close to the action during all those nuclear tests.

I have heard that in that city in Japan (Fukushima) near the reactor leak there are still jewelry stores still with gold on display, money still in cash registers and ATMs, etc. - all "worthless" due to the radioactivity. But who would know if someone snuck in and looted some of it? I guess the crime would unravel if they tried to ship it overseas.

OldEastside · August 1, 2018 4:32PM

Thorium Oxide

Steve

LanLord · August 1, 2018 4:33PM

Interesting, I would think that a camera that is radiating would fog the film that was loaded into it.

Sonorandesertrat · August 1, 2018 5:09PM

@LanLord said:
Interesting, I would think that a camera that is radiating would fog the film that was loaded into it.

That depends on the energy of the radiation and the exposure time.

Elmhurst · August 1, 2018 6:51PM

I have my dad's Argus from the 50's. I hope it's safe to use, assuming film is still available .

SiriusBlack · August 1, 2018 7:36PM

@Elmhurst An Argus should be fine! Yes 35mm is still made.

The glass has thorium in it. It’s quite yellowed now from age and radioactive decay I believe. The lens have low f-stops so they could use fast shutter speeds. It’s called a Kodak Aero Ektar. Mines a 7” f2.5
They make really interesting images but I’m not using it much anymore and decided to sell it for a few coin purchases.

SaorAlba · August 2, 2018 4:03AM

I do have a Kodak Brownie that my great great grandmother purchased new in 1915, it is still working! So yeah, kind of collect cameras.

ricko · August 2, 2018 4:33AM

Well that is something I did not know.... Good day, learned a new fact early. Radioactive lenses...Now I will have to do some research to learn why they were used. Cheers, RickO

BackroadJunkie · August 2, 2018 5:25AM

@SaorAlba said:
I do have a Kodak Brownie that my great great grandmother purchased new in 1915, it is still working! So yeah, kind of collect cameras.

Oh yeah? Well I have an unused, pristine pocket instamatic 20 complete with film in it's original box! No magicube, though.

What really hurts is all my 35mm Nikon equipment. I shot film well into the digital age, and by the time I crossed over to the dark side, all of it (including my darkroom equipment) was worthless... sniff...

Back on topic, when I worked at a photographic shop (like 40 (cough) years ago), we sold these anti-static devices for negs/transparencies, which had radioactive stickers all over it. I wonder if it would get the same treatment from the USPS...

messydesk · August 2, 2018 5:32AM

@BackroadJunkie said:

What really hurts is all my 35mm Nikon equipment. I shot film well into the digital age, and by the time I crossed over to the dark side, all of it (including my darkroom equipment) was worthless... sniff...

The lenses are still good to use on modern DSLRs if they are late 1970s or newer.

BackroadJunkie · August 2, 2018 5:50AM

@messydesk said:

@BackroadJunkie said:

What really hurts is all my 35mm Nikon equipment. I shot film well into the digital age, and by the time I crossed over to the dark side, all of it (including my darkroom equipment) was worthless... sniff...

The lenses are still good to use on modern DSLRs if they are late 1970s or newer.

The newest lens I have is a Vivitar 70-210 (second gen, I think.) Early 80's. All manual lenses, used on (two) F3 black bodies. My Nikkor 35-70 might be newer, but it's still a completely manual lens.

Man, they served me well for those 25-30 years. Now I seem to get a new camera every three years, which just seems nuts to me considering how long I used the Nikon's...

SiriusBlack · August 2, 2018 7:46AM

@BackroadJunkie The anti static brushes are harder to find now. They used polonium in them, same stuff Russia uses to kill defectors/spies! As @messydesk said, depending on your Nikon digital, they can use a lot of the older lenses in a manual mode.

Someone in a Facebook group pointed out that while lead bags won’t stop the gamma rays the lens puts off, using a larger box might help because distance does affect them so larger box means lens is further from detectors and possibly weaker gamma rays.

I can’t be the only one here with radioactive material in his bedroom, someone else must have an experience to share!

OldEastside · August 2, 2018 8:52AM

I guess you can say I collect Camera's, here are a few there are more in the boxes, Hey, at least I gave up my Darkroom, however I may start up a film only darkroom and get a digi scanner

Steve

OldEastside · August 2, 2018 8:55AM

@BackroadJunkie said:

@SaorAlba said:
I do have a Kodak Brownie that my great great grandmother purchased new in 1915, it is still working! So yeah, kind of collect cameras.

Oh yeah? Well I have an unused, pristine pocket instamatic 20 complete with film in it's original box! No magicube, though.

What really hurts is all my 35mm Nikon equipment. I shot film well into the digital age, and by the time I crossed over to the dark side, all of it (including my darkroom equipment) was worthless... sniff...

Back on topic, when I worked at a photographic shop (like 40 (cough) years ago), we sold these anti-static devices for negs/transparencies, which had radioactive stickers all over it. I wonder if it would get the same treatment from the USPS...

It slowly making a comeback, so don't write your equipment off yet @BackroadJunkie

Steve

JBK · August 2, 2018 9:05AM

@SiriusBlack said:

I can’t be the only one here with radioactive material in his bedroom, someone else must have an experience to share!

I gave a WWII Chelsea ship's clock - the U.S. Navy version with the black plastic casing. It has glow in the dark hands and numbers (or at least dots where the #s are). I suspect that may be somewhat radioactive.

bkzoopapa · August 2, 2018 7:25PM

During WWII my dad worked for Victor Adding Machine in Chicago, they were secretly making the Noreen Bombsights. He had several of the glass plates from them. And my uncle was a photographer at the Bikini Atoll and Nevada test sites. He had some fantastic photos of the tests from too close up. Died of cancer at an early age.

bkzoopapa · August 2, 2018 7:27PM

That was Norden Bombsight

RogerB · August 2, 2018 7:27PM

I still like the feel of my Hasselblad 500CM and assorted lenses. Never really liked the 4x5 view camera although the Schneider lenses are super.

Was planning to donate all the color darkroom equipment including the paper processor, but one of my kids said she wants to explore real photography one day. It is packaged, awaiting her future attention.

SiriusBlack · August 2, 2018 8:00PM

@bkzoopapa That must have been a fascinating job, though not the final outcome for him. The things they didn’t know or didn’t bother to mention to every one.

@RogerB Hasselblad is an amazing system. I had one once, but these days I’m in love with my Rolleiflex. 2.8 Planar version so some similarities! That’s awesome that your daughter wants to learn! I love seeing the newer generations get interested.

SiriusBlack · August 2, 2018 8:01PM

@OldEastside But why the vcr?!

OldEastside · August 3, 2018 6:54AM

@SiriusBlack said:
@OldEastside But why the vcr?!

Because it has "Mr Roberts" stuck in it, and I love that movie with James Cagney, Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Ward Bond and It has William Powell in his final Movie

Steve

ctf_error_coins · August 3, 2018 7:09AM

Film is dead. I have been in the industry my whole life. Film is dead.

SiriusBlack · August 3, 2018 7:47AM

@OldEastside Great movie! You could buy a dvd though....

@ErrorsOnCoins Film and film camera sales are up, multiple new emulsions are being brought back to market including ektachrome. Instant films and cameras are hugely popular. For being in the industry your whole life, your kinda out of touch. Will they ever each even 10% of pre-digital numbers? Of course not, but they’re very much alive and profitable.

OldEastside · August 3, 2018 7:58AM

@ErrorsOnCoins said:
Film is dead. I have been in the industry my whole life. Film is dead.

I don't like clicking Disagree...............so I'll Disagree here

Steve

ctf_error_coins · August 3, 2018 8:00AM

As a kid, I used to use Kodachrome which is also my favorite song except they got the Nikon part wrong.

I have probably shot 100,000 sheets of 4x5 film. Mostly Velvia, and some Ektachrome. Of those, about 3000 transparencies have high-end digital scans that are available to my clients. My clients can also get access to my original images for huge gigabyte scans if needed which is extremely rare nowadays.

The canon high-end digital processor is the Bomb. It blows away my 4x5 transparencies in Almost every way. No way I ever go back to sheet film.

Film cameras and film sales toady are JUST a novelty practiced mostly by amateurs.

All the Pros use digital as it is way better than film in soooooo many ways.

https://youtu.be/RGK19Pg6sB0

ctf_error_coins · August 3, 2018 8:09AM

Also as someone who has spent way too many hours in a darkroom, working in Photoshop absolutely blows away the results that can be achieved in the darkroom.

If you want the darkroom "experience" that is one thing. If want production efficiency and higher quality you must go digitally except for a small percentage of "Photographic Art Prints"

SiriusBlack · August 3, 2018 8:52AM

I removed the disagree, sorry. I didn’t realize it counts against you.

See I get much more enjoyment out of shooting film. I loathe sitting at a computer screen editing digital camera images. I still have to edit my film scans but in a much more minor way. To each his own of course, but having tried pretty much everything in the past 25 years, I’ll take my classic film cameras for pure enjoyment.

Now I’m learning to shoot wet plate collodion!

OldEastside · August 3, 2018 8:53AM

@ErrorsOnCoins , @SiriusBlack , There is a cool page on Facebook called "Vintage Camera Collectors" I joined it about a year ago and it has stepped up my enthusiasm that had been dwindling for the past 15 years of everything Old School Photography, its made up of people all over the world and it's a real friendly group, Check it out if ya can, so don't write off your old equipment or enthusiasm quite yet.

Steve

ctf_error_coins · August 3, 2018 8:59AM

It all good as you enjoy what you are doing. I actually hate working in the darkroom as I put sooooo many hours for years on end doing that. Photoshop is a perfect tool that gets rid of that tedious experience. So much TIME saved. Much better results. I love the SAVE button.

I only use my camera for professional work. I never shoot for fun altho I have Always shot for fun, but fun must equate to a saleable high-end product.

Occasionally I will use my apple cellphone for fun shots.

Paradisefound · August 3, 2018 9:00AM

Have you consider FedEx or UPS? This is an interesting thread

ctf_error_coins · August 3, 2018 9:07AM

@OldEastside said:
@ErrorsOnCoins , @SiriusBlack , There is a cool page on Facebook called "Vintage Camera Collectors" I joined it about a year ago and it has stepped up my enthusiasm that had been dwindling for the past 15 years of everything Old School Photography, its made up of people all over the world and it's a real friendly group, Check it out if ya can, so don't write off your old equipment or enthusiasm quite yet.

Steve

I have sooo much dust covered professional equipment lying around that I know is only worth pennies on the dollars paid.

(3) 4x5 view cameras, 4 view camera lenses, 100 4x5 film holders, light meters, Mamiya RB 67 system with 3 lenses, Cannon F1 Cameras and 10 or so Canon fixed length lenses, Color Enlarger, Norman Stobe Lights, Booms, light stands, and about 20 high-end tripods 18 of which are completely WORN OUT.

OldEastside · August 3, 2018 9:12AM

@ErrorsOnCoins said:

@OldEastside said:
@ErrorsOnCoins , @SiriusBlack , There is a cool page on Facebook called "Vintage Camera Collectors" I joined it about a year ago and it has stepped up my enthusiasm that had been dwindling for the past 15 years of everything Old School Photography, its made up of people all over the world and it's a real friendly group, Check it out if ya can, so don't write off your old equipment or enthusiasm quite yet.

Steve

I have sooo much dust covered professional equipment lying around that I know is only worth pennies on the dollars paid.

(3) 4x5 view cameras, 4 view camera lenses, 100 4x5 film holders, light meters, Mamiya RB 67 system with 3 lenses, Cannon F1 Cameras and 10 or so Canon fixed length lenses, Color Enlarger, Norman Stobe Lights, Booms, light stands, and about 20 high-end tripods 18 of which are completely WORN OUT.

By all means, check that page out, those pennys on the dollars have been moving back up to quarters and halves on the dollar steadily in just the past few years...............I think you'll dig the page too

Steve

SiriusBlack · August 3, 2018 9:53AM

@ErrorsOnCoins I’d be glad to give you some nice shiny 2018 pennies for your 4x5 equiptment

Steve is right though, prices are starting to go up now, though nowhere near what you paid new in their hay day!

@OldEastside I know that Facebook group! You’re right it’s a lot of fun!

@Paradisefound I thought about some other shipping options but honestly I don’t really want to make the effort of international. I’ll find a nice local deal!

OldEastside · August 3, 2018 10:06AM

@SiriusBlack said:
@ErrorsOnCoins I’d be glad to give you some nice shiny 2018 pennies for your 4x5 equiptment

Steve is right though, prices are starting to go up now, though nowhere near what you paid new in their hay day!

@OldEastside I know that Facebook group! You’re right it’s a lot of fun!

@Paradisefound I thought about some other shipping options but honestly I don’t really want to make the effort of international. I’ll find a nice local deal!

Heck since I'm a nickel guy I have plenty nickels (shiny) for that Mamiya RB 67 Just Kidding

Steve

ctf_error_coins · August 3, 2018 10:12AM

My field 4x5 and lenses I will keep.

I could get rid of a studio 4x5.

I could certainly get rid of the whole RB67 system for an enticing offer. Some extras in there.

coinpro76 · August 3, 2018 10:29AM

My brother was in the military and he told me they use radioactive gas in their lenses and scopes. The military uses Tritium radioluminescence, a gaseous radioactive isotope of Hydrogen. The gas is used in lenses and helps illuminate light, in my brothers case with the Navy it made the reticle in the scopes more visible. Tritium was also used in many lenses for different types of equipment. I bet the same gas if not a similar radioactive gas was used in this cameras lens. As most of us know Radioactive materials were often used in common household items from Uranium glass to as someone mentioned Radium dials (look up Radium Girls) as the dangers were not yet well known and the material was viewed as having miracle, almost magic like properties, of course this fantasy was not helped by the entertainment industry/ Hollywood (everyone's most trusted academics and political commentators) as we can see from comics to movies of the time where someone exposed to deadly amounts of radiation would often gain superhuman abilities. One of my favorite examples being the incredible Hulk

lkenefic · August 3, 2018 10:33AM

I inherited a few cameras from my FiL. Unfortunately, they were kept in a garage in Phoenix... summers are not kind in Phoenix.

I think film is actually making a small comeback in the art community. Granted, it's a limited space, but I don't think it is completely dead.

SiriusBlack · August 3, 2018 10:34AM

@coinpro76 And so begins the Incredible Hulk! I've never seen this page, but then I'm not a HUGE comic fan. I just follow the movies and occasionally buy a few trades. My 1911 has tritium sights I believe.

@ErrorsOnCoins Yea no worries, just poking a bit of fun. I have field and rail 4x5's with lenses, and an 8x10 Field.

@lkenefic Yea garage and attic are usually bad choices for cameras :P

Be glad you collect coins and not cameras.

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