Jul 14, 2019 | 7 Image Stories, Colorado, Garden of the Gods, IMHO, Kodak Signet 30 - 44mm f2.8, Kodak Signet 30 to Garden of the Gods, Nature, Nikon Coolscan V, Places
Kodak Signet 30 to Garden of the Gods | a 7 Image Story My first trip to the Garden of the Gods with my first camera, the Kodak Signet 30, was an intense learning experience. Luckily, a few photos turned out reasonable well. In the Garden of the Gods, on a clear day you can see forever unless there’s a mountain in the way. An easy rock climb adds incredible vistas to photograph.
Garden of the Gods is a Colorado Springs Park with 300 foot high sandstone rock formations. It’s a registered National Natural Landmark. In 1859, two surveyors began a townsite survey; later to be called Colorado City. While exploring they found a beautiful area of sandstone formations. One suggested that it would be a “capital place for a beer garden”. His companion exclaimed, “Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods.” In 1879, Charles Elliott Perkins purchased two-hundred and forty acres in the Garden of the Gods for a summer home. Although he added eight acres, he did not build on the property. He wanted it left in its natural state for the enjoyment of generations to come. He passed away in 1907. Two years later, his children conveyed his four-hundred eighty acres to the City of Colorado Springs with the stipulation that it be known forever as the “Garden of the Gods ” and remain open to the public, free of charge.
Manual cameras like the Kodak Signet 30 with no light meter or rangefinder really make the photographer think. The photographer must guess the distance while making the depth of field large enough and the shutter speed fast enough to keep the subject sharp. In other words, the photographer must determine aperture and shutter speed for the best exposure as well as the estimated distance. Of course, the film used determines the ASA/ISO value. Instead of my usual Kodachrome 64 slide film, these images are from Ektachrome slides. In this case, High Speed Ektachrome is ASA 160.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Kodak Signet 30 to Garden of the Gods.
Click any image below for a slide show!
Mar 16, 2017 | Black & White, Daily Image 2017, FujiColor Pro 400H, Kodak Signet 30 - 44mm f2.8, Landscape, Michigan
A Winter Morning, just after sunrise, seemed like a good time to try more film photos. The Kodak Signet 30, a 35mm film camera with a 44mm f2.8 lens and FujiColor Pro 400H film makes a very nice image even after converting the color to black & white in post. This digital image was produced at the time the film was developed. Since this image was delivered as a JPG, it did not need much post processing.
These older cameras like the Kodak Signet 30 really make the photographer think about what he is about to do as he prepares to make a photograph. It does not have a light meter or rangefinder. So, the photographer must use his best guess of the distance while making the depth of field large enough and the shutter speed fast enough to keep the subject sharp. And, the photog must determine aperture and shutter speed for the best exposure.
Mar 4, 2017 | ~ Film Body, Camera Body Category Descriptions, Daily Image 2017, Kodak Signet 30 - 44mm f2.8
The Kodak Signet 30 Camera with 44mm f2.8 lens is a completely manual 35mm film camera. Although it will mechanically fire an optional flash bulb attachment, it has no battery; no electronics at all! Exposure estimation can be either manual using the provided exposure cards or by using an external light meter, like the Skan light meter. Distance is also estimated manually. The distance, aperture, and shutter speed are all set manually on the lens barrel. Of course, the film used determines the ASA/ISO value.
The Kodak Signet 30 was the third model in the Kodak Signet line, introduced, along with the Signet 50, in August of 1957. The Signet 30 is a viewfinder camera; it does not have a built in rangefinder. No control over the right distance selection is given through the viewfinder; otherwise, it would be a rangefinder camera. The viewfinder has a brightline for the 44mm lens and the word “WIND” is displayed when the film needs to be advanced. The advance lever is fitted to the base of the camera; the automatic frame counter and rewind switch are located on the camera’s bottom right front. The shutter release is on the right front and a threaded cable release socket is located on the lens barrel. The shutter will not fire unless film is loaded into the camera. The body is made from bakelite with metal inserts, fittings, and attached plates. Like many of Kodak’s better lenses of this period, the Signet 30’s Ektanar lens is somewhat radioactive. In production from August 1957 to April 1959, the camera originally sold new for a list price of $55.00 (app. $467 USD in 2016 dollars). Today, a good used Kodak Signet 30 can be purchased for $20 – $30 USD.
For a story about using the Kodak Signet 30 along with images, see Kodak Signet 30 to Garden of the Gods | a 7 Image Story.
Kodak Signet 30 Specifications
- Lens: Kodak Ektanar, 44mm f/2.8, Lumenized (a 4 element lens with front element focusing)
- Lens Openings: f/2.8 to f/22
- Shutter: Kodak Synchro 250 – Cocked when film is advanced. Double-Exposure prevention
- Speeds: 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, and B
- Film: 35mm Body Release: Right front of camera
- Flash: Built-in synchronization using No. 5 or 25 and M-2 bulbs to 1/30 second
- Electronic flash (X-synchronized) at all shutter speeds
- Exposure Value Numbers: 5 to 17 with exposure cards on rear frame
- Focusing Range: 2 1/2 feet to infinity
- Viewfinder: Optical, projected view frame type
- Dimensions: 5.0in x 3.5in x 2.75in Weight: 14.5oz
- Construction: Single stroke lever film advance, drum-type loading, and exposure counter
