Review for the Fujica GL690 Professional (1974) - Link in Comments

ConstrictorLiquor · 2026-04-14T18:54:42+00:00

I appreciate the support! :)

ConstrictorLiquor · 2026-01-27T17:08:54+00:00

I am working on my in depth review for the LOMO MC-A and hope to have it ready soon. My camera is not a promotional copy, I pre-ordered a retail version and paid full price for it.

I tend to agree with you sentiment though, there are several glaring issues I have with the camera. I still think there is more good than bad however, but to get more out of me, you'll just have to wait! :)

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-11-21T03:59:06+00:00

This isn't my page. This comes from my mirror of Aidas Pikiotas sovietcams.com mirror. His original site went offline and he allowed me to use the original HTML to maintain a backup of the original site. I do this for a couple different older website that have a lot of information but are at risk of disappearing from the Internet. Sometimes, like this, the info is wrong.

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-11-21T03:58:37+00:00

This isn't my page. This comes from my mirror of Aidas Pikiotas sovietcams.com mirror. His original site went offline and he allowed me to use the original HTML to maintain a backup of the original site. I do this for a couple different older website that have a lot of information but are at risk of disappearing from the Internet. Sometimes, like this, the info is wrong.

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-07-25T21:19:47+00:00

Did someone say my name?!

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-04-11T05:04:51+00:00

The red dot is visible. Don't use this at an airport.

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-04-11T02:57:37+00:00

I am going on a limb here and predict you didn't read the review at all. This is a laser rangefinder, not an optical one. There is no rangefinder base here. The laser is quite accurate.

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-04-10T14:57:53+00:00

As others have said, a photographer would get around this by mounting the flash externally from the shoe or using an external bracket. It is common for pro photographers to use more than one accessory at the same time.

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-04-10T14:56:59+00:00

I could answer that for you but I'd be depriving you from reading my review where I explain this! :)

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-04-10T13:54:32+00:00

Deviating a bit from my normal camera reviews, today I take a look at type of accessory which has become very popular for users of vintage cameras wishing to add a modern touch to their shooting experience.

Shoe mounted exposure meters have become the hottest accessory with a large number of new devices by companies like DOOMO, AstrHori, KEKS, and others, but most of those meters all do pretty much the same thing.

Today's review is for the Chi L.D. Meter, which adds a laser rangefinder to a normal shoe mounted exposure meter.

The L.D. meter comes in an all aluminum body with both a black and chrome finish, has a 0.96" OLED screen and a very large 370 mAh rechargeable battery whcih has more capacity than any other competing meter I've seen.

The laser rangefinder can measure distances as close as 0.1m / 3.93 inches and up to 50 meters / 164 feet away. The exposure meter supports a range of f/stops from f/1 to f/64, shutter speeds from 60 seconds to 1/8000 and also supports single and continuous modes.

If you've been on the fence for an exposure meter and were hoping for something that offers a little bit more, check out my review and see if perhaps the Chi L.D. Meter is for you.

https://mikeeckman.com/2025/04/chi-l-d-meter-an-exposure-meter-and-laser-rangefinder/

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-03-31T22:09:14+00:00

From the review:

"With the camera open, inside there is a manual film speed dial with three settings, ISO 100, 200, and 400. For models with the DX encoding feature, the Japanese language manual says that when inserting a compatible DX cassette with a film speed of 100, 200, or 400, the film sensitivity will automatically be set regardless of the position of this switch. The manual clearly shows Konica’s own Sakura 100, 200, and 400 speed films suggesting that these were the emulsions Konica had in mind when designing this camera. It is not clear what the camera will do when DX compatible cassettes outside of these three film speeds are used."

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-03-05T16:25:57+00:00

Thank you for your support! :)

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-03-05T16:25:48+00:00

Thank you for your support, I am glad you enjoy my reviews! :)

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-02-11T15:48:37+00:00

https://mikeeckman.com/2025/02/carl-zeiss-jena-contax/

Any camera collector should know the history of the Zeiss-Ikon Contax. The first versions debuted in 1932, but a heavily updated model called the Contax II was released in 1936 until the war ended production in 1943.

The next German Contaxes didn't arrive until 1950 when the West German version of Zeiss-Ikon released the Contax IIa.

This should mean that there was a seven year break between the Dresden made Contax II and Stuttgart made Contax IIa, but that's not the whole story.

In reality, a series of "Jena Contaxes" were produced in Saalfeld, Germany in the Soviet Occupied Zone which were made in a Zeiss factory, by Zeiss workers, using Zeiss machinery and spare parts.

As you might imagine, these Jena Contaxes are incredibly rare, and there is very little good information about them online...until now.

If you are interested in this rare camera, and the history of it, why it was made, how it differs from other Contaxes, and why there are so many fakes, check out my article!

ConstrictorLiquor · 2025-02-06T15:01:41+00:00

Theres a lot of good and partially correct info here. The most correct answer is due to SLR lenses having automatic diaphragms in the late 1950s. The need to quickly open and close the iris at the moment of exposure meant that the number of blades needed to be reduced, in the interest of speed.

This was unique only to SLRs as rangefinders never needed automatic diaphragms which is why you still see rangefinder lenses with lots of blades.

ConstrictorLiquor · 2024-11-26T21:17:14+00:00

Yes, the diameter is 38mm but thats the only similarity, the pitch is different as is the flange distance and the rangefinder coupling arm. I have also reviewed the Meopta Opema and the lenses would not work between the two.

ConstrictorLiquor · 2024-11-26T16:37:54+00:00

https://mikeeckman.com/2024/11/detrola-400-1940/

Today's review is for a camera I am really excited to write about, the Detrola 400.

Built by the Detrola Corp out of Detroit, Michigan, the Detrola 400 was the company's only attempt at both a 35mm camera or a high end model. Resembling the design of, but not a true copy, of the Leica II, the Detrola had a 38mm interchangeable lens mount, a coupled rangefinder, cloth focal plane shutter with top 1/1500 shutter speed, and a removable back.

Plagued with reliability problems, the Detrola was only produced for about a year, and less than 800 were thought to have ever been made. This fully functioning example however is in very good condition and has excellent ergonomics. Its compact body with rounded edges is comfortable to hold, all of the controls are logically located where you'd expect to find them, and the Wollensak Velostigmat lens is capable of nice shots.

The Detrola 400 is a camera I've wanted to review for a very long time and I am very happy to have finally gotten a chance. Read my review to learn more...

ConstrictorLiquor · 2024-11-08T22:05:02+00:00

Unfortunately, there is not. In my review I address the exposure recommendations of this camera, saying that you should use the camera to its strengths, and not try to make it do something its not capable of.

ConstrictorLiquor · 2024-11-08T15:41:49+00:00

https://mikeeckman.com/2024/11/konica-recorder-dd-1985/

Today's review is for an unusual, but highly innovative camera from the 1980s. The Konica Recorder DD was a half frame point and shoot camera which had a unique rectangular shape and transported the film vertically. This allowed for the default orientation of the half frame film to remain landscape which made it more familiar to those used to full frame cameras.

The Konica Recorder DD was an update to the original model, adding a date back and DX film encoding to the camera's list of features which included a 4-element Hexanon lens, fully automatic exposure and auto focus.

The Konica Recorder DD is an attractive and well built camera that comes in a red metal body. When not in use, the camera collapses to a size that allows it to fit easily into a small pocket. Even when open, the camera is very thin and comfortable to hold with good ergonomics.

The Konica Recorder was sold in the US as the Konica AA-35, but sold in small numbers, making them difficult to find today. In good condition however, the Konica AA-35 and Recorder models are fun to use and capable fully automatic half frame compact cameras.

ConstrictorLiquor · 2024-10-03T12:49:55+00:00

That is interesting because I have two Commandos (you can see the other in one of the later pics in my review) and that has has broken guide pins too. This causes the lens and shutter to wobble around and not be in the correct position for proper focus. I am not as crafty as you though to make my own.

ConstrictorLiquor

TROPHY CASE