Pentacon Six, Mamiya Press Super 23,three Ensign Selfix various models,Zeiss Contina, Prakticas (3 or 4 ),Voitlander Avus 9x12cm, Sanderson Quarter plate,Leica II (1934), M2 (1965), M6 (1986),Canon Ftbn, AE1, two Zeniths, Hasselblad 501CM. My wife asks how I can use all these cameras at once, why don't I throw them away - well, how can she wear 40 pairs of SHOES and carry 24 HANDBAGS ?

Daniel: The Band of the Grenadier Guards plays what I call real music !
I should be able to come to the meet on March 10th. Went to St Albans YEARS ago with my first Pentax, an S3 from 1961 era. (still got a 20x16" print of trees from it somewhere in a box of exhibition prints in the loft).

Yes: I am in Essex, BRENTWOOD but I don't know how to mark it on your map. For many years I ran the Essex Group of the Pentax Club: there were about 23 attending; we had Youth Hostel outings and day trips and meetings round my house, then when there were no more chairs I had to have meetings in Old House, Brentwood which meant I had to charge an attendance fee to cover room hire costs. (There was NO charge for attendance at my house but some people had to stand on the stairs and look over into the room ! ). Then when wife No 2 went off with another bloke I went through divorce troubles again and it all beacome too much so I gave up being local group organiser for Pentax Club and the bloke who took over for some years didn't attract the attendance and the Essex Group seems to have fizzled out. People were not willing to travel to attend any more.

PS: I can't contact Ron Spillman easily now either as he died !

Tim: Thanks for that link, I did contact them and have just had a reply saying they are NOT the Liz and Peter Cox from the Pentax Club.

Anyone know what has happened to Peter and Liz Cox (nee Ballard) who ran the Pentax Club and PhotoTravellers for years ? I used to be a regular on their trips, went to Photokina, USA,Canada, Egypt,Kenya and their reunion dinners in Kingston on Thames. After they sold out to Peter Bargh, who took over the Pentax magazine they have seem to have VANISHED. PhotoTravellers also is not advertising either. I tried a 'Google' search - nothing. When wife No. 2 went off with another bloke I was on my own again for a year,until I got wife No.3 a Filipina, then started another family late in life, so didn't go on any PhotoTravellers events.

Yes, PRICES of mounting board are ridiculous. more than what the PRINT costs to produce ! I am recycling my 20x16 mounts where possible, by unsticking the old print then flush mounting a 20x16" B/W print .

Here's a pic taken with the 6x7 Mk II 105mm f 2.4 lens of Great Warley near Brentwood, Essex UK about 2 miles from me ( NOT this year!as we haven't had any snow yet ) I learnt how to put on one of these 'stroke' things in PhotoShop. Fuji Multispeed outdated ( 2002 ). Tripod used.


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Here's a couple of pics with the 28mm f2.8 Pentax-M lens.'Holy Light' was taken in Basildon Town Centre church; I went in to see and found this amazing light effect ( Lucky for once !). ME Super body, Fuji Superia 400 .


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Birling Gap, East Sussex. Seen so many pics of this place in Photo Mags, had to go so went with family; stayed in Eastbourne Youth Hostel. I used a Cokin Grad Grey filter over the lens, stopped down to f16. I notice it's poor at f22. Kodak B/W chromogenic film as a trial ( not so easy to print as the Ilford XP2 Super)

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This Santa supports West Ham United ! Found in Basildon market for £2-50, sorry it's a bit late for Christmas pics but I have only just found the way to upload pics into this Forum. Pentax 6x7 Mk II with 135mm SMC Takumar macro lens, outdated (2002) Fuji Multispeed film, lighting by Bowens Monolite 400.