Film Camera 2018/2 – Minolta STsi – Results

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The pictures were taken at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Above two of the three hangers, which, in addition to the main display area, contain the collection of vintage aircraft. The bulk of the collection shares a building with the gift shop. These are two of three other hangers. The first contains aircraft from the the Pioneer Era (1900-1913). The second features aircraft from World War I (1914-1918); and the third (not shown) displays aircraft from the Golden Age (1919-1940).

For the purpose of trying out this camera I chose the Minolta AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6. Before when I’ve done such ‘try outs’ I’ve mostly (but not always) used whatever film I happen to have lying around – generally some kind of inexpensive print film. If after use I’ve felt that the pictures would look better in black and white I’ve converted them. However, this time I decided to use a black and white print film – specifically Kodak Tri-X.

The first thing I noticed was that when I looked through the viewfinder the image was not as bright as I expected. In fact it looked tinted. Was there a filter on the lens – no. I’m at a loss as to why it looked like this, but it didn’t seem to have any impact on the results. Would I have noticed something if I’d used color film? (Update: I just tried the lens on my Sony A77II and the colors looked fine).

Otherwise the camera was easy to use. Because it’s small and light it was easy to carry around. In poorer light the AF could ‘hunt’ a bit, but nothing too bad. Generally the camera found and confirmed autofocus pretty quickly.

When I got the negatives/scans back I noticed that they were all very contrasty, but nothing I couldn’t tame in lightroom. Was this because it was a bright, sunny day and there were quite strong contrasts? Was it because Tri-X is by its nature quite contrasty? Could it have had something to do with the tint I was seeing through the viewfinder?

I found the camera pleasant to use and not once did I think “Oh how I wish that I had this feature or that feature that my more fully featured cameras have but this one doesn’t”. It may be an entry level camera, but it seemed to have everything I needed.

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Aircraft mobile.

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Since the airshows are on weekends I didn’t expect to see anything flying…until I heard the sound of this New Standard D-25 warming up. Here it is starting to taxi.

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Bits and bombs.

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Windmill.

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Man descending from a tractor with the Red Baron’s Fokker Tri-plane in the background.

See also the following posts taken with the same camera/lens/film combination:

Return of the Red Baron

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Model Fokker Dr.I Triplane (Dreidecker) seen in a neighbor’s house.

According to Acepilots.com:

While it remains the most famous airplane of World War One, only 320 of the Fokker Dr.1 Triplane were built (compared to thousands of Spads, Nieuports, Albatroses, and Sopwith Camels). Inspired by the devastating performance of the Sopwith Triplane, Anthony Fokker designed and built the Dr.I Dreidecker, and delivered the first triplanes to Manfred von Richthofen‘s Jagdgeschwader I in late August 1917. After a brief familiarization flight, the “Red Baron” took aircraft number 102/17 up on September 1, and promptly shot down a British R.E.8 of No. 6 Sqn, whose crew probably thought the three-winged craft was a friendly Sopwith.

Taken with a Sony RX-100 M3.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (Fishbed)

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MIG 21

According to Military Today:

The most widely produced supersonic jet fighter of all time, the MiG-21 (Western designation: Fishbed) is an incredibly prolific aircraft. Dated but nimble, it has allowed skilled pilots in past decades to defeat more advanced aircraft. However, its days appear to be numbered as the majority of air forces switch to newer fighters.

The Mikoyan design bureau began development of the MiG-21 in the 1950s, in order to replace the crash-prone MiG-19s. Its first flight was in 1956. Production began in 1959, and it entered service soon after. Although no longer in production, after over 50 years (counting Chinese production), more than 10 000 units were produced, serving in 50 countries. It holds the record for the most-produced jet aircraft. The MiG-21 continues to serve in around 20 countries to this very day.

The MiG-21 was nothing radical—it was a continuation of the existing MiGs (the 17 and the 19). Compared to its predecessor, MiG-19, the Fishbed’s main design difference is its triangular delta wings (as opposed to the swept wings on the MiG-19). Its primary improvements were its speed, better design, and greater capacity for armament. The MiG-21 was relatively simple in design and technology. This allowed to produce these aircraft in large numbers.

The MiG-21 could carry a fair amount of armament. Located to the left of the cockpit, the twin-barreled GSh-23 23 millimeter cannon was standard with 420 rounds carried. Optional were a variety of guided air-to-air missiles (the K-13, K-13M, and R-60, for later models) and unguided bombs or rockets. A total of 2 000 kilograms of ordinance could be carried.

The MiG-21 was highly maneuverable for its time, although even this feature is now outdated compared to fly-by-wire aircraft. In its day (the 60s and 70s), it posed a considerable threat in the hands of a good pilot to more modern western aircraft such as the F-4. One U.S. Air Force pilot said, “Perhaps the most important lesson on fighting the MiG-21 was that it was very maneuverable and that it was better to take care of it before you got into a tussle with it”.

In its many years of service, the MiG-21 has generated an excellent combat record, for the most part. Against Pakistani F-86s, F-104s, and MiG-19s it performed respectably, taking down several while suffering a few losses itself. Against well-trained Israeli pilots and their Mirage IIIs and F-4s, the MiG-21 and its mediocre pilots performed poorly with many shot down. In Vietnam, the MiG-21 showed its true capabilities, shooting down dozens of American F-4s or F-105s, mostly in close-range dogfights, where its maneuverability and lower speed gave it the edge. Overall, the MiG-21 has proved a highly successful fighter with a low price but much agility.

After over fifty years of service, the MiG-21 appears to still be going strong, although it is gradually leaving the scene of active service. Despite the advance of newer Russian fighters like the MiG-23 or the still more advanced MiG-29, the Fishbed has yet to be entirely ousted. Many low-budget countries continue to use it, for lack of something better. China and some other countries retain upgraded versions of this fighter aircraft.

Taken with a Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D on the USS Intrepid.

New England Air Museum – de Havilland C-7A (DHC-4) ‘Caribou’

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According to the Museum’s website (which also provides technical specifications):

Courtesy of the United States Army

This C-7A was built by de Havilland Canada in 1962 and is one of 159 purchased by the U. S. Army. It saw service in Vietnam and used for cargo and troop transport, and medical evacuation. It is a STOL (short takeoff and landing) airplane designed to be extremely rugged and reliable, and could operate on unimproved landing surfaces of less than 1,000 feet for close support in forward battle areas. The Caribou was a workhorse for the Army and could be configured to carry up over four tons of cargo or vehicles, 32 fully equipped combat troops, or up to 20 patient litters. Rear doors facilitated quick loading and unloading, and could be opened in the air for dropping paratroopers.

This aircraft had been assigned to the Connecticut AVCRAD (Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot) in Groton. It was flown to Bradley International Airport in September, 1991 and was the last official flight of any C-7 in U. S. military service.

Taken with a Sony RX-100 M3.

New England Air Museum – Grumman E-1B (WF-2) ‘Tracer’

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According to the Museum’s website (which also provides technical specifications):

THIS AIRCRAFT IS ON LOAN FROM THE NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

Yes, this plane actually could fly! The “Tracer” was the first purpose built airborne early warning aircraft used by the U.S. Navy and could operate from an aircraft carrier. It was originally designated a “WF-2” which led to the affectionate nickname “Willie Fudd.” In 1962, military aircraft designations were changed and the Tracer became the E-1B. The piggyback 20′ X 30′ umbrella houses long-range search radar to detect targets beyond the line-of-sight of surface vessels.

The plane’s first flight was in late 1956 and was introduced into service in 1958. It was retired in 1977 and was replaced by the more modern Grumman E-2 “Hawkeye.”

A rare aircraft now, the Tracer represents one of the Grumman special purpose aircaft family that also included the C-1 “Trader,” C-2 “Greyhound,” E-2 “Hawkeye,” OV-1 “Mohawk,” and S-1 “Tracker.” The Museum’s aircraft was the last one to leave Navy service, and was one of 88 manufactured.

Taken with a Sony RX-100 M3.