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The film camera I took on my most recent NOLA outing was the Blackbird Fly, a plastic 35mm TLR rangefinder made by Superheadz (they also made my Golden Half). I haven't used it in a while and I was considering selling it, but thought I should use it one more time before I made up my mind. I remembered it as difficult to use, but I think that's because when I last used it I didn't yet have much experience with rangefinders. Since then I've used several (and I collect Arguses, which are all rangefinders); my Yashica MG1 is my go-to camera for B&W, and even my Smena 8M is a rangefinder.
The only drawbacks to the Blackbird Fly is that a) it's difficult to take horizontal photos, instead of using the viewfinder you have to compose your photo through a cut-out in the viewfinder hood, and that's never a 100% accurate way to frame; and b) you have to really concentrate on getting your subjects level. I remember the first roll I shot looked like I had done it in a rowboat. And unless it's really overcast or you're shooting indoors, you need to stick to low-speed film (this is Kodak Ektar 100), because there are only 2 aperture settings to the camera--sunny and cloudy/flash--and both of them are fairly wide, I think F11 and F8. With higher speed film, 400 or even 200, in a camera with a normal range of aperture settings, I usually stop it all the way down to F16 when it's a sunny day.
Anyway, I think I'll keep it for now. It's a little unusual to find a TLR that's also a rangefinder, and the camera itself is fun to use and even rather cute. And like most rangefinders (except my Yashica, which has an in-viewfinder focus aid that allows you to be really accurate), the fact that you're never 100% right about the distance from your subjects results in an appealingly soft focus.
The only drawbacks to the Blackbird Fly is that a) it's difficult to take horizontal photos, instead of using the viewfinder you have to compose your photo through a cut-out in the viewfinder hood, and that's never a 100% accurate way to frame; and b) you have to really concentrate on getting your subjects level. I remember the first roll I shot looked like I had done it in a rowboat. And unless it's really overcast or you're shooting indoors, you need to stick to low-speed film (this is Kodak Ektar 100), because there are only 2 aperture settings to the camera--sunny and cloudy/flash--and both of them are fairly wide, I think F11 and F8. With higher speed film, 400 or even 200, in a camera with a normal range of aperture settings, I usually stop it all the way down to F16 when it's a sunny day.
Anyway, I think I'll keep it for now. It's a little unusual to find a TLR that's also a rangefinder, and the camera itself is fun to use and even rather cute. And like most rangefinders (except my Yashica, which has an in-viewfinder focus aid that allows you to be really accurate), the fact that you're never 100% right about the distance from your subjects results in an appealingly soft focus.
