5 frames from a sunny summer’s day without lens hood

Jonas Ranstam replied:

Comment posted: 17/09/2026

Thank you, and yes, Löderups Strandbad is nice. I used to spend the summers there as a child.

Jonas Ranstam replied:

Comment posted: 17/09/2026

Thank you very much.

Jonas Ranstam replied:

Comment posted: 17/09/2026

I wish I had a darkroom, but I try to make do with a darkroom bag. I develop my film in the kitchen and scan the negatives on my desk. It’s not ideal, but otherwise, I’d miss the feeling of the film in my hands, the smell of the chemicals and the process of getting the water temperature just right for the development. For me, it’s a kind of contemplation that is particularly rewarding when the pictures turn out well. On the other hand, I also have an Olympus with a Micro Four Thirds system that I bought to use with my old lenses, but I haven’t actually used it for a long time.

Jonas Ranstam replied:

Comment posted: 18/09/2026

Yes, buying second-hand equipment is risky, especially on online auction sites. Personally, I prefer to buy second-hand equipment, such as cameras and lenses, from proper camera shops, which – at least in Sweden – often sell second-hand items at reasonable prices, sometimes even with a warranty.

Fortepun replied:

Comment posted: 18/09/2026

That is absolutely sound advice, and glad to hear Sweden keeps up the good work. However, the Kamerastore folks in Finland are pros, and also the largest such second-hand camera retailers in Europe. The fact that all of their RTS cameras are seriously broken, and they wouldn't even try to fix them for the money says to me that it is difficult to find a good one today, especially for the right price. Nice shots, and thanks for sharing the story!

Jonas Ranstam replied:

Comment posted: 18/09/2026

You are right, but as I see it, part of the challenge of taking photographs with 40-50 year old (or older) cameras lies in the fact that they are not new, in perfect condition; instead, they have a history, are used, worn and often have some sort of fault or defect that forces the photographer to make compromises.

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 18/09/2026

I’m following this discussion with great interest, as I’ve bought a great many old, second-hand cameras over the last 15 years. They’re all still working today, even though almost none of them had undergone professional servicing before I bought them. This is also the first time I’ve come across the term ‘certification’ as used by Kamerastore – presumably in Germany. The films used are so forgiving that they easily cope with shutter speeds that are no longer precise due to the camera’s age. The only important thing is that we, as photographers, use them regularly. In my view, the reason Kamerastore isn’t repairing this Contax RTS is that they don’t have any staff who can do so without difficulty. Here in Germany, you can’t even get any of your old SLRs serviced through the official Nikon or Canon support services anymore. Due to a lack of skilled staff and spare parts. I don’t think these people are working at Kamerastore now. Jonas, I also have a Contax RTS, but with an Albinar 28mm f/2.8 lens with a C/Y bayonet mount. The results are good, and it has helped me realise a little more that it doesn’t always have to be the (much more expensive) original lens. With negative film, it’s important to expose for the shadows or to use an external device with an Invercone. About 25 years ago, I spent my summer holiday in Sweden. We’d rented a holiday flat in Nybrostrand and, of course, visited Ystad as well. For the reasons you mentioned, however, we weren’t actually on the beach there. I’m not sure, though, whether we went to Löderup’s lido back then. We also went inland – a very beautiful area. I have prints and still have the negatives, taken with a Nikon F801s and a Tamron f/2.8 35–105mm zoom lens. Thanks for sharing.

Jonas Ranstam replied:

Comment posted: 18/09/2026

Thank you for your comments. You have sparked my interest in the Albinar lens, which I had never heard of previously.

Walter Reumkens replied:

Comment posted: 18/09/2026

When the Albinar was listed on eBay with the Contax RTS, I was sceptical too. It’s one of many brands that nobody’s heard of, but which were manufactured by renowned companies. After exchanging a few messages with the private seller, I bought the Combi and haven’t regretted it. It’s certainly not a top-of-the-range lens, but it’s okay. However, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Yashica ML lenses for a Contax RTS. They have the same mount, as they’re made by the same manufacturer. It’s not as though Carl Zeiss lenses with a C/Y mount were actually built by Zeiss. A few months ago, I published an article here on 35mmc – a review of the Yashica FR1. Thanks for your feedback, Jonas.