Everything old is new again-Leica 3A.

 My 1937 Leica 3A has been renovated. I bought it back in 1967 and used it to take many photos of my early travels and my children growing up until it was replaced by an Olympus  OM2 in 1979.

Even when I purchased it the 3A was out of date and the market had moved to the new wonder cameras-Japanese SLRs but it was a Leica with a wonderful lens.

Until today I had not taken a photo with the Leica for over 40 years. It has stood neglected on a display shelf in my office in the old house for 15 years exposed to UV from the skylight and the salt rich air. It was in a sad and sorry shape but has now been completely stripped down, cleaned and serviced by a technician in Sydney. It looks like new.

I have just put a film into it and taken the first few test photos. First impression is that I am amazed that I managed to take so many good photos with it. It is very slow and difficult to use. I will persist-only 31 photos to go.

Watch this space on the results from an 85 year old camera.

Portrait of Peter

 Friend Peter Enderby photographed todayin his garage. Peter is an accomplished landscape photographer see peterenderbylandscapes on Instagram. His workroom where he prints is through the door on the right of the photo.

For comparison I produced the monochrome version below. I personally prefer the colour version. Peter prefers the monochrome.

The photo was taken with my Lumix S5 using the Lumix S Pro 16-35mm lens at 21mm and the RAW file was processed in Lightroom.

Painters Lane dawn

 Sunrise, Painters Lane , Terrigal at 6.17am today. A very hot day coming up.

Cat hell

Marvel

 The house sounds as if it is being ripped apart -and it nearly is. The builder has completely gutted the main bathroom and the laundry and part of the kitchen. Jackhammering floor tiles makes an awful sound. Now they are pulling out shelving. It's big, expensive renovation. It's going to be like this for weeks but I am sure it will be worth it.

The decor was in very good condition when we moved in back in November but it was so old fashioned. It screamed to be totally refurbished.

Smudge and Marvel are not happy. They are quite frightened. They cannot even escape the noise in the garden. Cats hate disruption. Hang in there girls.

Smudge

 Both photos taken with the Lumix S5 using the Panasonic F2.8 70-200mm lens at 200mm.

Another hot day

 Terrigal Lagoon early today on an absolutely beautiful morning with a very hot day coming up. 

When I first moved to Terrigal 15 years ago I took my little Leica X1 with me most mornings. Now I am more serious with my early morning walking-I walk further and faster, the camera stays at home and I walk with my iPhone. This photo would look better taken with the X1 but it's down to convenience nowadays.

Rainbow time

 Hot, steamy and stormy weather-ideal for rainbows. See also previous post. This one at 6.48 this morning. Photo taken on my iPhone from the top of the Skillion, Terrigal, looking north to Wamberal.

Rainbow

 An unusual almost horizonal rainbow over the sea at Terrigal on Thursday. Appropriate as World Pride Sydney 2023 is currently on. Photo taken with Lumix S5 and at 200mm with 70-200mm F2.8 lens

Tasman Bridge from the air

 Aerial shot of the Tasman Bridge, Hobart, Tasmania. Photo taken from a DH Beaver seaplane with the Q2 shooting through the perspex side window. 1/2000th sec at F1.7.

The Tasman bridge crosses the Derwent River.  On 5 January 1975, the bridge was struck by a bulk ore carrier. It caused two pylons and a 127 metrel ong section of concrete decking to fall from the bridge and sink the ship. Seven of the ship's crew were killed, and five motorists died when four cars drove over the collapsed sections before the traffic was stopped. It took 10 years for the bridge to be replaced.

 

Valiant Sunrise

Valiant sunrise,Terrigal, NSW, today.

 

Clouds ahead

On the Hume Highway east of Gundagai on 4th January whilst coming home from Geelong. Photo taken on iPhone through a dirty windsceen.

Life's a beach

 It's high summer and after a wet and cool period leading upto Xmas the weather here in Terrigal has reset to its default normal summer setting and we've had some very hot and humid days and nights this week.

Two beach photos  -top early morning dog walkers on Terrigal  Beach.

Below Avoca Beach from the Surf Club Bar Tuesday afternoon. For most school age children it was the first day back to school after the summer holiday and it was a very hot and humid day. No surprises that the surf was crowded with children at 4.00pm.  We were enjoying a drink in the bar after walking out -after 30 mins-of the highly acclaimed film Tar showing in the nearby Avoca Beach Theatre.  I know it was lauded by the critics but we thought it was tedious and utterly pretentious. A view I have since discovered is shared by many of those who have now seen it.