Petri 2.8 Color Corrected Super Rangefinder 35mm

Petri, rangefinder, camera, 35mm, leaf shutter, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford

The photos in the previous three posts are scans of 35mm Kodacolor prints, taken with a Petri 35mm camera. Made by Kuribayashi Camera Industry Inc, in (where else?) Japan, the Petri 2.8 Color Corrected Super has a style reminiscent of a Leica, the preeminent compact camera of its day, which also had rangefinder assisted focusing.

The Petri 2.8 was my father's first 35mm camera, bought new in Japan when he was stationed with the US army in South Korea during the mid 1950s. It was also my first 35mm camera; after his untimely death, I found the Petri among my dad's effects and sort of "self inherited" it, the only memento of his that I kept.

Petri, rangefinder, camera, 35mm, leaf shutter, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford

By the early 1970s, the Petri was already obsolete; in the 15 years since its manufacture, the state of the art for semi-pro and professional level cameras had become the single lens reflex interchangeable lens 35mm, popularized by the Asahi Pentax and Nikon F. The now out of date Petri had only a fixed-mount 45mm f2.8 lens, but as many photo enthusiasts have discovered, it was in a way liberating to be restricted to the use of only one, normal field of view, prime lens. That limitation meant no telephoto shots of wildlife or wide angle panoramic views, but whatever one's own eyes saw, the Petri recorded that very well.

Petri, rangefinder, camera, 35mm, leaf shutter, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford

Compact enough to fit easily in the outside pocket of a sport coat or field jacket, the Petri was always readily at hand to grab a quick shot, and its whisper quiet leaf shutter was a lot less likely than a loud clanking SLR to suddenly freeze a rocking party cold dead. This camera didn't have a built in light meter, and I eventually bought a small Sekonic handheld, but I'd already gotten good at guesstimating exposure with the Sunny 16 Rule, and the meter was rarely used.

Petri, rangefinder, camera, 35mm, leaf shutter, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford

As you can see, even though it's ancient, this camera is still in very good condition. There used to be a beautiful two-piece brown leather form fit case, which did its job well - in fact that case died in the line of duty, literally falling apart while protecting its precious cargo. I gave the case, along with the original strap, a proper burial with full honors, at dawn in Monument Valley. Coincidentally, after returning from that trip, I bought my first single lens reflex 35mm camera, a Honeywell (Asahi) Pentax, followed soon thereafter by a new Canon AE-1 with multiple lenses, and my photos were never the same again. More precise and accurate, certainly, but most if not all of the indefinable magic and mystery of the Petri's photographs had gone.

I ran a lot of rolls through it back in the film days, and what's interesting is- the Petri took very sharp and clear black and white photos (usually Kodak Plus X or Tri X, and sometimes Agfa), but with Kodacolor the prints were not quite exactly focused looking. Rather than being perfectly detailed, the Petri's color images were pleasing in a diffused, dream-like kind of way. Sort of how memories seem to be.

Petri, rangefinder, camera, 35mm, leaf shutter, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford
Petri, rangefinder, camera, 35mm, leaf shutter, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford
Petri, rangefinder, camera, 35mm, leaf shutter, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford
Petri, rangefinder, camera, 35mm, leaf shutter, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford
Petri, rangefinder, camera, 35mm, leaf shutter, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford

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To see images taken with the Petri 2.8 rangefinder camera, go to:

Un jour à La Pointe de Fermin, 1972

One Evening At The East Rim Of Lake Abert, August 1973

Petri Kodacolor Portraits


Petri Kodacolor Portraits

Country and Western Express, Harry Johnston, Harley Anson, Paul Wilkinson, Paul Wilkensen, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, Holiday Inn, Petri 2.8 Color Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter
The C&W Express: Harry, Harley, and Paul. Kearny, Nebraska
Here are a few more Kodacolor photographs taken with the Petri 2.8 Color Corrected Super rangefinder camera. Each photo has a story behind it, some of which are a short paragraph long, others somewhat longer, and a couple are 200+ page novel length. Maybe someday they'll be retold, but for now we'll just let the images stand alone, and be as expressive as a Kodacolor print from the last century can be.

Petri 2.8 Color Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, 1947 Martin D-18, USFS, Forest Sevice, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford
Dave. Bishop, California
Petri 2.8 Color Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Mark Bonander, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford,  Minneapolis
Martha. St Paul, Minnesota
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, Larry Bonander, Mark Bonander
Larry. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford,C&W Express, Jackie Plann, Jacqui Plann, Jacquiline
Jacqui. Glendive, Montana
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford
Zoe. Fort Collins, Colorado
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, Mark Bomander, Dick Bonander
Dick. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, Stryker, Big Thompson Canyon, Narrows, Canyon Inn, Steve Denlinger
Chester. Loveland, Colorado
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford
Cathy and Serge. Bishop, California
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, Michael Brierly, Doris Moritz, the Corral, Diana Maize, Doreen
Michael. Loveland, Colorado
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, Stryker, C&W Express, Judy Phillips, Rita Clark, Glendive, Rita Hoadus
Chester, Judy and Rita. Yellowstone, Montana
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jim Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, Harry Johnston, C&W Express, Patsy Johnston
Harry. Glendive, Montana
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, Karen Gracey, Karen Gracy, Jim Clifford
Karen. Fort Collins, Colorado
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, Jim Clifford
Little Baby Jesus. Wheatland, Wyoming
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, Jim Clifford, Narrows, Canyon Inn, Big Thompson Canyon
Wayne and Friend. Loveland, Colorado
Petri, 2.8 ,Color, Special, rangefinder, 35mm, camera, Kodacolor, leaf shutter, Jazz Clifford, Jimmy Clifford, 1957 International Travelall, Gibson Southern Jumbo, Mark Bonander, Billy
The Author as a Young Man. Orofino, Idaho

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The last photo above wasn't taken with the Petri 2.8, although it is a Kodacolor print. It was snapped by Billy with his brand new Kodak Instamatic 110, which at the time was state of the art for affordable pocket cameras, and actually took quite decent images, considering its smaller size film format and low price.



One Evening At The East Rim Of Lake Abert, August 1973

1957, International Travelall, Kodacolor, asa 80, Oregon, Lake Abert, Abert Rim, Mark Bonander, a dog named blue, Petri 35 super, vintage road trip, vintage photograph, Jimmy Clifford, Jazz Clifford
Mark and Blue

One evening at the east rim of Lake Abert. Lake county, Oregon; August, 1973. Petri 2.8 Color Corrected Super rangefinder; Kodacolor, ASA 80, 1/50s at f8.

1957, International Travelall, Kodacolor, asa 80, Oregon, Lake Abert, Abert Rim, Mark Bonander, Petri 35 super, vintage, road trip, vintage photograph, Jimmy Clifford, Jazz Clifford
1957 International Travelall
1957, International Travelall, Kodacolor, asa 80, Oregon, Lake Abert, Abert Rim, Mark Bonander, Jimmy Clifford, Jazz Clifford, Petri 35 super, vintage, road trip, vintage photograph
Billy on the High Ground
1957, International Travelall, Kodacolor, asa 80, Oregon, Lake Abert, Abert Rim, Mark Bonander, Petri 35 super, vintage, road trip, vintage photograph, Jimmy Clifford, Jazz Clifford, uhaul
You Haul

There's a story here, of course, and an adventure: Almost 2,500 miles of mountains and forests and desert and prairies. An indestructible 1957 International Travelall, with a dog named Blue in the back seat, pulling a trailer full of guitars, drums and amps, three down sleeping bags and hardly any luggage. Friendly folks along the way, and diners serving breakfast all day. 3mph on a rutted dirt road in granny low gear over the Continental Divide. And beer, lots of beer.


Un Jour à La Pointe de Fermin, 1973

Point Fermin, lighthouse, San Pedro, James Victor Humble III, Jimmy Humble, Jimmy Clifford, Petri 2.8 Color Corrected Super, Kodacolor, ASA 80, Janice Humble, Jazz Clifford, Jimmy Clifford

Un jour à La Pointe de Fermin, Saint Pierre, avec Jacques Victor Humble III, 23 mai 1973. Petri 2.8 Color Corrected Super télémètre (rangefinder), Kodacolor, ASA 80, 1/50s à f5.6.


Stromberg-Carlson ASR-120 Stereo Tube Amplifier, Pt 2


In Part 1 of this series of posts about a pair of early 1960s Stromberg-Carlson ASR-120 stereo tube power amplifiers being rebuilt / restored / re-imagined, we talked about the basic design of the amp, its circuit, and its origins. While I've been lazy doing other things, like building new literal fences and mending old figurative ones, and merely thinking about getting my tube amp running, friend David from Massachusetts has been busy actually getting his ASR-120 project done.

As you can see in the photo above, the resulting finished and rebuilt amplifier is a real beauty. Here's a couple of pictures showing the circuitry inside of his amp before:


And after:


It's fairly obvious from looking at those two photos, that the amp has been almost completely rebuilt, with new components. I'll let David describe his process:

"I finished working on the ASR-120 late last night and ran some tests this afternoon. All is well, no exploding, no hum and it sounds very nice paired with the Minimus 7's. Some of the voltages are a bit high but that's probably a combination of the 120.5VAC from the wall and/or this specific 6CA4 tube.

The past two weeks have been spent obsessing about this amp and I've probably put 40 hours of thinking/labor into it during that time frame. In the end I decided to rebuild it entirely. All NOS sockets, a complete rewire and I repopulated the tag board with metal film/metal oxide resistors and Sprague 715P and 6PS polypropylene caps. Here's a partial list of some other mods/upgrades:

1) IEC socket and fuse holder on the rear; toggle power switch on the right side. Secondary AC outlet disconnected.
2) Rebuilt the filter section entirely.
3) Wired the heaters like in an old Fender, twisted and floating above the sockets.
4) Two 1N4007 diodes wired in series with the anodes of the 6CA4 rectifier to provide "soft fail" protection.
5) Two sets of RCA inputs - selectable via a mini toggle switch located on the front-right. Inputs were isolated and star grounded.
6) Speaker outputs moved from the top-front corners to the right side (the RCA inputs took their place).
7) 100K Alps stereo pot (excellent tracking and very quiet - it better be for $17!).
8) Bright white LED added off the 6.3V heaters (270 ohm 1W resistor, with a 1N4006 diode across the cathodes. The diode limits the LED's reverse voltage to 1.7v.)
9) Small red glass jewel for the power indicator (front-left). The LED wouldn't fit entirely inside the jewel so I pressed it in as far as I could and then covered the rear with black RTV gasket sealant.
10) I wasn't in love with the chicken head knob that was on the volume control, so I switched back over to my favorite maroon Davies round pointer.
11) Tube shields on the 7199s - why not, I had them in the parts bin.
12) I did take one bit of advice from Tom Bavis and replaced the two .01uF feedback caps with .15uF. Initially I wanted to wire some different value caps to a rotary switch before running it over to the board but in the end I thought it better to keep those wires short.


Here are a couple overhead shots of the chassis, before:


And after:


And finally, a JPEG of the voltage measurements taken at 120.5VAC from the wall, 117VAC from my variac, and also the voltages listed on the schematic (at 117V)":


And how does it sound?

"I've had the ASR-120 in the main system for the past week. I'm actually listening to it as I type. The bass mix using the .15uF feedback caps sounds fine and is actually more "punchy" than I thought it would be (given the 8" full range Stephens Trusonics in the main cabinets). The treble is more present than what usually comes from the Pioneer, but I'm not complaining, drums sound clearer and more well defined. Plus, I've been able to hear some pick strumming where I've never noticed it before. I'm not sure if the difference is due to the amp or the recently rebuilt super tweeters. Probably a mix of both. Anyway, the amp is dead quiet on start up, even with the volume pot maxed out. I'm happy with the results but it's strange to not be able to "hear" whether or not a tube amp is on."

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Thanks to David for the pictures and description, and really nice work!

Next time, in Part 3, we'll take a look at the other Stromberg-Carlson ASR-120 amplifier, my own project, and find out how much I can mess it up, and still manage to get it to operate okay.