Cameras, 1958

The 35mm Leica with its f/2 lens, above, and the Rolleiflex with a slower f/3.5 lens, were the top models in use at this time. The Rollei, shown below slung over my shoulders, produced 2-1/4 inch square negatives on 120 film. The Leica was a range-finder camera, which was all that was available until single-lens reflex models came along. The Rollei allowed a user to focus almost as a single-lens reflex but there was a problem with parallax. It was not always easy to see in the viewfinder, hence the hand-made black cardboard shield I used to help me clearly see and focus. I was also using a cable release to eliminate camera shake.