End of Year Wrap-Up Part II: Kickstarters, Indiegogo, Etc..

OK,  this one is going to get a little ugly.  I've had enough experience now with both of these Start-up Groups (and others) to have real opinions about product results.  It's about a 50:50 satisfaction rate.

We'll start with he Positive Things that WORKED:

Film Ferrania & Film Silberra:

I'm still testing these films, but they were either delivered on time, or communication was good and I understood the problems.

Reality So Subtle Pinhole:

Great little camera.  Still figuring out the Range Finding.  Has the smoothest mechanism of any pinhole that I have used.  Film never binds or curls. Will continue to work with the range and will be ready for World-Wide Pinhole Day 2019.

Ay Mariposa Film:

Currently backing this Film and Book Project about how the Border Wall will affect the Environment. My Book Arrived last week:

Now to move on to the FAILURES:

Well, one small disappointment and one WHOPPING BIG FAILURE:

SolarCan:

A small disappointment.  I was an Early Backer.  They have great results posted.  But I got a bad batch of 5 cans.  All of mine failed.  When I contacted them I was told I'd get replacementts.  OK all 5 failed and I get ONE can.

To quote a song,  "There must be some misunderstanding?"  Not sure what I will do with my single can.  It's a novel but one-off solargram camera.  I really prefer to be sustainable and use something that at least theoretically can be re-used a second or third time.


Now for the BIG FAILURE:  The Mercury Universal Camera

This link goes to my "Review".  I ordered the M645 version.  Seems like almost nobody else did.  Worked most effectively for the 4X5 and RB67 models.  Very frustrating and costly:

I felt that I had no support; posted on their FaceBook Page for assistance and was ignored.   The essence of my Problem was that the Spacer provided DID NOT work with the 645 lens.  So I ended up with the round images posted. The Spacer also did not work well with the Ilex #4.

It certainly cannot compete with my extensive Mamiya medium format camera family.  And I wasn't expecting it to.  It sounded fun and I was willing to go with the experiment.  But it just never worked for the model I ordered........

After the New Year I will try to sell of the accessories and recover what I can. Or maybe it is not even worth that effort.......

So those are my New Product Backing Experiences for 2018.

It started out Well........But

So I seem to be adding up some less successful photo outings here in the 'Dog Days' of Summer.  It's time to put another project to bed.

So let's deal with my 'Frankenstein Camera', The Mercury Universal Camera:

(Intended configuration with spacer and leaf shutter lens)

Well, it just never worked as advertised.  This was my first Kickstarter.  I've participated in some others that have turned out fine like Film Ferrania and SolarCan; and Film Silberra in Indiegogo.  Presently I'm waiting on my "Box Camera"from Kickstarter.

But this one is packed away.  Most of the successes for this camera seem to be 4X5, as posted on their Facebook page. And that's what I might recommend as the best use case.  But for me, the owner of many fine Medium Format Cameras, it became a waste of time and effort. I want to have fun with my photography and have good results with equipment whose function is second nature to me.  Also, I'm going to inherit an Intrepid 4X5 when my husband upgrades, so no point in trying to make this work as a 4X5 either.

The main problem was trying to get the spacer to work with my leaf shutter lens.  It didn't mate properly and even though I asked the developers for assistance, there was only silence.  Also, the Ilex #4 shutter seemed altogether too heavy to use with a 3-D printed body.  And, the Ilex also could not be mated properly to the spacer either:

Resulting in images like this:

I can say that the focusing Screen Worked well:

So it's dead to me, and some of the accessory items that I bought for it will go back on Ebay shortly.......

Here's what it actually cost:

The basic parts together (Spacer is attached to the camera):

For the Ilex cost I did actually buy 2 shutters for that price, so subtract $150 from the total.  And I am going to keep one of the shutters as a novelty item. Having two backs so you can change film types is completely reasonable.

Catch-up Part 4 #filmjune

16.  Have you experimented with any new formats?  Yes, I'm in the middle of testing 6X9 in my Mercury universal Camera:


17. Share a picture of your favorite camera (and yourself if you dare)?  Not a Problem:

18. What is the largest Format you have used?  I've experimented with 4X5 pinhole paper negatives.  I have an Ilford 4X5 Obscura Pinhole that I plan on experimenting with soon.....

19. What is the most creative process that you have done with film?  My Uelsmann Assignment at MPC:

20. My top three social media photography accounts followed all via Twitter:
Here are my top three photography accounts: @EMULSIVEfilm @HamishGill (35 mmc) and @Phoblographer   I'm also going to add a shout out to three photographers I communicate most often with: @donkittle @Givemeabiscuit and @cpindell1

Mercury Universal Camera: Grand Un-Boxing

Arrived Yesterday..........

First Look

Stil Wrapped.

Front and Back

With Accessories that I will have to remind myself about.

I'll try putting it all together with my backs and lenses on Saturday.

It's Still Monday in My Time Zone....

....So here goes my return to Photo Postings.  Just got the Notice that my Mercury Universal Camera (Kickstarter) was finally on it's way.  So I've pulled out my accessories and hopefully I'll have an update by the weekend....

More on this later in the week.....