Bratislava and Danube

Bratislava view from the hill and behind, the Danube. The weather was dark and rainy but still the view was beautiful. This photo and the view would be much better in a sunny day.

Nikon Speedlight SB-18

The Nikon Speedlight SB-18 is a compact, direct-mounting electronic flash unit which provides automatic through-the-lens (TTL) control of the flash exposure when used with the Nikon FG, FE2, or FA, or the Nikonos-V via the V-Type Sync Cord. Because light is measured through the actual picture-taking lens, you are assured of just the right exposure with a variety of lenses and accessory attachments at any aperture from f/2 to f/16.
Through the use of a silicon-controlled rectifier and series circuitry, the S8·18 is able to conserve energy when shooting subjects at close range; thus recycling times are shorter and the number of flashes per battery set is greater.
The S8-18 is also compatible with most Nikon cameras for manual operation. In addition, the SB-18 couples with the flash ready-light inside the viewfinders of current Nikon cameras. As soon as the flash is ready to fire, the LED comes on.
In my opinion it is a practical flash unit to old Nikon SLR cameras.

I do not know if it can be used with the new digital cameras.

Nikkor 35-70 zoom from Nikon to my FA

Zoom Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5
The lens came with the kit of Nikon FA was a very practical easy to use, light lens. Easy to carry and fits the camera bag.One of the lightest and most compact zoom lenses in the most used focal lengths for maximum versatility in everyday picture taking. Zoom-Nikkor 35-70mm 1/35-4.5 is versatile, easy-to-operate, compact and high performance. It gives you a choice of focal lengths from a wideangle 35mm to a moderate telephoto 70mm. And you can move right up to smaller subjects with the built-in macro focusing at any focal length. Use it lor regular snapshots, souvenir photos, portraits and close-up photography.
Zooming and focusing are accomplished through two independent rings so once you have focused on your subject you can frame it with the zoom without losing sharpness, The minimum focusing distance is normally 0.5m (2 ft), buf you can get continuous focusing all the way down to 0,35 m (1 ft) through the equipped macro function. The maximum reproduction ratio is 1 :4,4. For even greater magnification, just add an optional Nikon close up lens. For special effects, the front attachment size of 52mm makes the maximum number of optional filters available to you .Constructed of the highest quality Nikon glass, this zoom lens produces sharp images with high contrast from the shortest to the longest local length with all abberations well corrected. In addition, Nikon Integrated Coating (NIC) is applied to all air-to-glass surfaces of the lens elements to minimize ghost images and flare and produce photographs with natural color rendition.With suitably equipped Nikon cameras, (like my Nikon FA) this lens offers "Automatic Maximum Aperture Indexing" (AI). The meter coupling ridge and automatic diaphragm function together to permit full aperture exposure measuremen. For non-AI type Nikon cameras, this lens is also fitted with a meter coupling shoe to permit the same operation.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Nikon lens for my FA

One of the two lenses I had bought use with my Nikon Fa is Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 (1:1.2)
The advantages of the f/1.2 maximum aperture of this lens are twofold. The first, of course, is that the lens can be used in low-light level shooting either indoors or outside under very dull conditions. particularly when working with slow color film. The second is ease of focusing. An f/1.2 50mm lens has, at maximum aperture, very little depth of field and this can be used to advantage to secure pinpoint focusing under virtually all shaming conditions. The shallow depth of field can also be used by the creative photographer for interesting selective focusing effects. The Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 lens couples fully to both the full-aperture metering systems and automatic diaphragm mechanisms of all Nikon and Nikkormat cameras. In the case of non-AI type cameras, manual indexing of the lens' maximum aperture is required. The Micro Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 is recommended for close-up photography when high resolving power is required.

Nikon FA - SLR analog Camera

I bought my Nikon FA in 1986. There was a promotion of a kit with a nice bag, lens (zoom-nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5) with Nikkor 50mm f/1.4, and flash unit (speedlight SB-18) . Nikon FA offers three automatic exposure modes, in addition to full manual override.To put you in total control, the Nikon FA offers three automatic exposure modes, in addition to full manual override. For fastbreaking events, the programmed mode automatically sets both shutter speed and aperture for correct exposure in any light. Or when action must be stopped or blurred, such as in sports photography, shutter·priority lets you choose the shutter speed manually, then the FA automatically sets the aperture to match. If depth of field is important, aperture priority allows you to select the precise aperture with the matching shutter speed set automatically.But possibly even more important are the FA's two separate metering methods. In Nikon's revolutionary automatic multipattern metering system, the brightness from 5 areas of the focusing screen is analyzed by the camera's microcomputer; this automatically ensures the correct exposure-even in tricky lighting situations-without any exposure compensation whatsoever. Traditional centerweighted metering is reserved for the manual mode, but is usable in any of the three automatic modes with the metering control button. Other features of the FA include 1/4000sec. top shutter speed, 1/250sec. flash sync, interchangeable focusing screens, and a comprehensive line of Nikon accessories.I still keep the original user manual (instruction manual). Some of above information is taken from the foreword of the manual.To my opinion it was one of the better film slr cameras.Actually I still use it. Bu not so often.

My first camera - Agfa Silette Rapid I

When I was about 10 years old in 1969 I got a birthday present. It was my first camera, an AGFA Silette Rapid I.
The thing that I do not like is it uses 12 shots film as it is rapid :)
Agfa cameras were very popular in those days.
I learned how to take pictures and how a camera works.
The camera has a 1:2.8/ 45 color Agnar lens.
It has three shutter speeds 30, 60 125 and ofcourse B.
Aperture is almost as usual from 2.8 to 22.
It has an hot shoe flash. The lever winder is on the base plate.
There are also pictures on it to adjust the distances easily :)
It is still in good condition but not possible to find the film. Also it is not very reasonable to take pictures with it.
And yes, we had a dinosaur as a pet in those years