Sears TLR // Is it any good?
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
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I’ve had this Sears Tower Reflex for years but it’s just been sitting on the shelf. Today, we’re dusting it off and seeing what we can make with it using some expired Kodak Portra 400VC. It has some limitations but it’s still a very capable camera.
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“ I know, I shoot film so I guess that’s mandatory”
😂 truer words hath never been said Matt
ahah damn
We don't deserve two videos in three days. Thank you bearded one.
Hey Matt! Just wanted to say thanks for making these videos. I look up to you so much in photography. I take everything you say very seriously.
You’re the man!
I shot with my first TLR at age 8 y/o, using a Bedfordflex, still have the photos I took with it and yes, I still have the camera at age 58, I can email the photos to you if interested. Like so many, I drifted into digital, but over the last few years watching your channel, it reignited my passion for film and my love of the TLR format. Thank you for all the great entertaining AND educational videos over the years, keep up the great work, hope the finger recovers fully but delighted to see you have recovered so well and doing well. Please do make a point of going back to that Gas Station !! Love to see more, I've shot a couple similar disused gas pumps here in Ireland! Cheers from the Emerald Isle.
I’ve never shot film before. Always seems way too intimidating but you’ve made it seem entirely possible and easy to learn.
When I was a pre-teen in the 50's I remember going to Sears in Asbury Park NJ and lusting over the Tower and Topcon cameras in the case and catalogue. Thanks for the memories!
Thanks Matt for the lovely video... 6x6 is my passion nowdays, and the little suggestions that I get from your channel are indeed precious.
Thanks for the give away opportunity Matt Day. In comparison it’s hard to imagine any of today’s entry level digital cameras will ever become a desirable piece decades from now no matter how more capable. I’m guessing that your strength is returning based on the preference for the Pentax 6x7. I’m glad. Also thank you for the video on digital camera film digitising. Thanks again.
Love those shots of the old gas station! There's just something so nice about photos of abandoned buildings.
Matt, I am glad you are recovering, albeit somewhat slowly. Ticks can be very nasty. I started shooting in the 60’s and preferred b/w. Your pictures are great especially those of your family. Thank you for posting them. Digital can be easy and cameras are getting better, but there is something about film that still takes my breath away. Thank you, again, for all your efforts. Jim
Very cool! Love how you handicap yourself by shooting on such a limited camera but then double down by loading in expired film. A mad man.
You're quite an inspiration not just in terms of your photography but in terms of your recovery from the Tick incident. My dad is severly disabled so I appreciate how frustrating it must have been and still is in terms of still suffering with some nerve damage but you never gave up. I have followed you for a while and you had a lot to deal with but toughened it out and still give so much to others. Your photography, your strength and the fact you adopted your dogs makes you a hero of mine! Cheers from the UK.
I always love funky cameras with technical drawbacks, always encourages more creative shooting methods.
Reviews of old obscure film cameras are some of my favorites! I enjoy seeing your take on these cool relics.
I love the photos of the gas station. Those old abandoned buildings are such great subjects.
A friend from China is watching…TLR is really cool, and its lower shot view makes it more special. I’ve never shot with it before. Hope to own one and shot with my friend. Thanks your video, nice to meet you Matt.😁
Idk if Ive left a comment here, but now definitely seems as good a time as any. Thanks for getting me into shooting film, it's such a blast.
One of these Sears TLRs, rebranded from a Japanese manufacturer, is the "Tower 25". This was made by Aires, which made a couple o of versions of a TLR. The version sold as the Tower 25 mounts an exceptional Nikkor lens, 75mm 3.5. Either as A Sears Tower or as an Aires, this TLR is one those once in a lifetime collectible "finds". It's also a decent photo machine with a great lens.
Absolutely loved the photo of the rusty fuel pump, gorgeous
There is something magical in shooting old decayed buildings with vintage film cameras. Thanks for sharing the story. Peace!
The best RUclips Film channel. I have learned a lot from you Matt
I've been following your stuff for a year now, great work!
Been studying Analog photography lately and your channel has helped me allot. Ive shot 4 rolls so far and they are all terrible, but man do I enjoy the process of making the photos.
I love that you got such great images out of that expired film Matt. I also really like the shots of the abandoned gas station and hope you do get back there at sunset with fresh Portra 400 in your Pentax 6x7! Great video.
The quality of your videos are getting better and better. Super surprised by this camera's results! great stuff!
Old buildings and rust of any kind are a staple of film photographers.
Thanks Matt, your videos keeps the film flame burning.
doesn't matter the topic of the video each and every single one reaffirms my love for photography
Great video Matt! Sears did a lot of things that many people don't realize, at one time you could buy a house out of the Sears and Roebuck catalog!
I’ve been enjoying your videos recently, Matt. The photos of the gas station looked great considering the limitations you mentioned! Keep up the great content!
Great . As all your videos. I believe Sears doesn't exist anymore. Good to hear you're recovered completely.
Love the way the photos came out. Really like the colors. Thanks Matt
It looks like a fun little camera to shoot with. Your videos inspire me to shoot more photos of my family, and i greatly appreciate that.
I remember when I was young running around in the fields behind our house rolling in the tall grass to see who could get the most ticks... ugh ignorance is bliss... I have had two friends battle Lyme disease from deer ticks, scary stuff, glad to see you are persevering and jumping full steam into your life’s passion!
I really enjoy your film stock reviews, looking forward to more shots of that gas station Matt 👍
The expired film doesn't look too worse for wear. Your compensation is spot on!
This looks a lot like my Rolleicord K3B. Mine goes up to 1/500 but it doesn't have flash sync and a self-timer. The ground glass is dark as well. Saving up for the US-made custom ground glass.
very inspirational, not matter if the machine has best specs the importance is how to use it! great Matt
It's amazing that Sears, Woolworths, and other big chains sold their own branded cameras, lenses, and gear. In fact they used to have camera departments, film developing, film drop offs, and many convenient facilities.
This camera is way better than what I expected. Great videos mate !
Makes me miss my C330 from back in the days. Scanning some of the old negatives and reminded how cool they are.
Love your Videos Matt. You brought back my love to film. You teached me how to develop film. You showed me the love for Leica. You are always a inspiration to grab my camera and go and shoot. Got an old Seagull 6x6 TLR where the shutter is like lottery, so the Sears would be awesome to use. Greeting from Germany
I really like the photo that you took at the old gas station. The photo shows that this Tower Reflex camera works very well.
Took the plunge into film photography because of your channel ❤️
Enjoyed the photo of the pump as well as the striping on the station itself. Nice work.
Nice to see a video on a "real" camera. Reminds me of my much loved Seagull 4A TLR from many years ago, this was a Chinese made camera but has not been available here in the UK for many years. Look forward to your next creation.
Came back to your channel after watching you years ago.. now rewatching all the good stuff, hehe
Matt,
I love all your videos! It's always a great day when I see Matt Day uploaded a new video. Haha
Glad you've recover really well from your health, again it was really nice meeting you the other time. I had on my list of film camera's to own one of these camera's, for my street photos I mostly do a lot of portraits so it will be really fun to try this out, I don't have to own it, even if I have to try it and give it back would be a great try and also a fan video for my channel. Great video, thanks for sharing!
I wasn't expecting pictures that good for this camera, very very nice
Great review of the TLR and great shots from the expired film! I am always amazed by your videos. Thanks.
Cool review! Not many photographers do reviews on such a camera, and I think it just highlights how you take good photos on just about any camera.
thanks for the video! this camera reminds me of flipping thru my grandfathers old SEARS catalogs
Matt, I just want you to know I really enjoy your videos. The fact that you seem very down to earth and are so willing to share your life with us is a huge draw to your channel for me. I am glad to see you recovering so well. Take care and keep the videos coming. I shoot a lot of 35m film, and I am still looking for that "just right" medium format camera.
Really enjoyed this video matt, Love watching your videos, each day I learn a bit more on how to better my photos.
Great stuff! And hey... abandoned gas stations are beautiful and nostalgic.
What a nice gesture to give someone a square space for film👍 great video!
Humm! Nostalgia is such a sweet-bitter feeling! From time to time I suffer from nostalgia for the era of analog photography and the remedy is to take the Ashai Pentax K1000, carry it with one or two rolls of film and lose myself in any landscape taking pictures. Film development and post processing are also part of the treatment.
By the way, the photos taken by this Sears Tower Reflex were very acceptable.
I hope you recover 100% the functionality of your index finger.
Greetings from Portugal
Thx for the nice vid Matt. Cool to see what you made of that expired film. I have some space in my drawer for a nice TLR, so this one's more than welcome to cross the Atlantic !
Glad you're doing so much better.
I came here for the rolleiflex video and I found a very good content channel. Thanks for sharing !❤
I love these “off brand” cameras. They all have their unique little quirks. Cool for those times you just want to have a fun photography day.
I love how the photos turned out!
Your channel has inspired me to get back to shooting with my AE-1. Actually picked up some portra 400 for it.
Some of my favorite shots of yours...well done man..
Always love your vlogs and your instagram page. Great info throughout! You have inspired me to shoot film again and it is more fun than I ever had with it in the past. Keep up the great work!
Hey Matt,
Hope you continue to recover and the shutter issues can be a thing of the past! You've got some really nice results out of the camera and the (very) expired film, there. I really enjoy the film content on your channel, especially because I'm hoping to pick up a Leica M4 in the near future which will see my film output increase somewhat.
All the best for your continued recovery,
Owain.
I’m new to the film world and this channel has helped tremendously. 😊
Just picked up a Rolleiflex 2.8E and it’s awesome. Love TLRs!
Don't know if you've drawn the winner already, but having that camera would be awesome!
1. A TLR is one camera type I don't yet own
2. Being from Chicago, "Sears Tower" Reflex is a cool camera name 😁
Sears didn't slouch on quality in the old days. I had a Sears branded Ricoh camera as my primary shooter in the 80's. I loved it.
great video matt, i'm a huge fan of yours. This TLR camera is very cool and seems very fun to shoot
I really wish that film was still available, love the way it renders colors.
Hey Matt, thanks for the incredible enthusiasm for film! The Tower Reflex looks almost identical to the Toyocaflex, which fits the narrative of bringing Japanese cameras over and re-branding them. I've been impressed time and time again by the results I have gotten from my Toyocaflex, so can't imagine anything less from the Tower. Thanks again for helping to inspire a community!
Just recently started shooting medium format, and inherited a box of Portra 160 NC. If I win the Sears Tower I'll go find an abandoned gas station and take some pictures and we can compare. Its mandatory...Lol. Thanks for everything Matt!
Wow! Totally great photos of the gas station! Well done!
I'm so surprised how vivid those colours still came out! I might need to hunt some of that film down for myself...
Love your use of expired film in this one... I've had some of my favourite shots on film that had been expired for years and stored badly - that's part of the attraction of shooting film I think, the fact that everything doesn't have to come out super clean and polished. Please keep the videos coming
Thanks for this vid. Also, I just happen to have some 2004 expired Portra VC and was wondering how to shot it, so this was a big help! Keep the great content coming.
Awesome work Matt, looks like a nice play-once-in-a-while camera
For an entry level camera (at the time) it has given some great results. Nice to see that it has a front mounted shutter release button. My one gripe with the more expensive Rolleicord is the shutter release that has to be pulled sideways, it's just not as stable.
Cheers for another rad video Matt. Keep killin it with the no bullshit genuine content!
Love that you're showing different types of film lately
Really interesting video, I find tlr cameras kinda challenging and that's why I like them. Also, I hope you'll get a full recovery someday, hang in there! 💕
Those photos are amazing! Nice work!
Hello from Toronto! Always been curious to try out a TLR. Great content as always, cheers!
Just found your channel and really like your content. I'm fairly new to shooting film so it's nice seeing someone do it so great. Really inspirational!
That's really nice of you! I really love your reviews!
Definitely my favourite film-related RUclips channel! I love your videos ❤️
Always enjoy your perspective on film photography.
Maybe it's your editing, but that portra vc looks amazing. More pop than our current 400 but still pastel. Beautiful.
Yours is the most inspiring photography channel on RUclips that I have watched. Keep up the great work Matt.
I found tlr cameras useful when trying to shoot very low angle, it opens up a new perspective
Never used a TLR but I'd love the chance to try one. Sometimes the limitations force you to think more creatively, which is no bad thing! Think the shots look great as well, the hazy washed out look suits the subject matter perfectly.
Nice video, I have wanted to get into TLR cameras for awhile, can't wait for the next one!
Good to see you are getting better!!
What generous giveaway. Pleased to see it is not just limited to the US, as us foreign viewers usually miss out.
It's great to revisit a camera or a format to appreciate the pros and cons of it. Great video thanks for sharing
Love the way TLRs look... It sounds a bit shallow to talk just about looks, but I feel that they all share this particular spirit that takes us back to the old days of film, as old gas station suggests... Can´t think of a better match for a TLR.
Such a beautiful camera. I actually really liked the colours of the film. Not bad for film that expired back in 2005. Great video. 👍
Love the shots of the gas station! The camera took great looking photos.