Outbreak: #COVID-19
Facility: Heritage House - St Jacobs (formerly Derbecker's Heritage House)
Facility Type: LTC Home
Unit/Floor/Area: Facility Wide
Location: #StJacobs #Ontario
Date: 2025-10-03
Public Health Unit: Region of Waterloo, Public Health
Facility Tracking Hash: #RWPH0041
PHU Tracking Hash: #OnObRWPH
Click or follow tracking hashtags to see data for individual facilities or a specific public health unit.
I made a new friend today. His name is Fischer.
50 YEARS OF THE ST. JACOB’S MARKET
For over 50 years, the St. Jacobs Market has been a community staple in the Waterloo region.
What started as a livestock exchange in 1975 eventually amalgamated into the St. Jacobs Market.
Joanna Loebach, general manager of St. Jacobs Market District, said the market grew from family members of those participating in the livestock exchange swapping or selling their produce.
“It sort of evolved to become known to people in the area that on sale days, that was a good time to come and actually buy produce from some of the wives or the children of the farmers,” Loebach said.
“From that origin, they set up concrete bunkers…that was the first evolution to actually formalize this into something that the public could attend,” she said.
Seven years later, the first building was built on the market property to accommodate for year-round sales. As more farmers and vendors joined, the attraction to the market grew amongst the community. In the early 90s, the market became a tourist attraction for those looking for authentic maple syrup to be sold there.
From there, the Village of St. Jacobs began to grow along with the additions of the outlet and antique mall in the surrounding areas of the market.
Loebach said now, more than ever, the farm-to-table movement has become increasingly more popular.
“There was a big movement to being more aware about what you were putting into your body and the practices that were behind growing your produce,” Loebach said.
“I think that’s something that has made the farmers market experience just so much more desirable. You get to know who you’re buying from, you’re way more guaranteed about freshness than you are at a grocery store and you’re also getting insider information about how to best serve it or how to store it,” Loebach said.
While the spirit of the market has remained the same, the market has also evolved to mirror the change in demographics and evolution of needs and buying habits.
“There’s always something new here,” Loebach said.
“It keeps it fresh, but it also keeps us being able to adapt to the changing demographics within KW and what the local population is looking for…the market is able to keep pace with that so that it never feels antiquated,” she said.
To celebrate 50 years, the market is reflecting on their legacy vendors—some of which have been a staple at the market since the beginning—as well as some of the newer, more entrepreneurial vendors.
Robert Foreman, owner of 100 Mile Produce, has been a vendor at the St. Jacobs Market for 25 years. Prior to that, he used to come to the market as a child to help at his father’s stall.
For Foreman, a big piece of what makes the market so special for vendors and patrons is that connections made between the food, the farmer and the buyer.
“Depending on which vendors you choose to shop with, you can look the person in the eye and find out exactly where that came from, when it was picked, what the variety name is—the entire history of whatever you’re purchasing,” Foreman said.
As a life-long vendor of the market, Foreman has seen the waves of change that have shaped the evolution of the market, specifically, with regards to changing demographics.
“I can remember years ago, a lot of Eastern European people has moved here in the early 2000’s…and they were asking us to grow certain things,” Foreman said.
“Just because we don’t eat them or we didn’t grow them doesn’t mean we can’t do that, right? And we’ve seen that with each wave of immigration that’s come through,” he said.
As the market continues to evolve and grow, Loebach said this next era continues to acknowledge and celebrate its roots, while finding ways to develop and meet ever-changing needs.
“I am loving how we’re continuing to build on the successes of the farmers market but continuing to make this a spot that will continue to resonate with people over time,” she said.
#100MileProduce #easternEuropean #farmToTable #groceryStore #JoannaLoebach #KatWex #localFood #localHistory #robertForeman #SafinaJennah #StJacobS #waterlooRegion
WEND YOUR WAY TO THE WISE OLD OAK
All trees are special; however, there is one local tree that captures the imagination more than most. The majestic Wise Old Oak is a Waterloo Region treasure. Thanks to the skill and creativity of carpente, Dustin Quill, it reveals itself to those who are open to adventure.
Waterloo Region has excellent year-round hiking, walking, and biking trails. The Health Valley Trail, formerly known as the Conestogo River Trail, is free to access and connects the Village of St. Jacobs with University Ave. E. in Waterloo. Complete with calming river views, cows and horses grazing in farmers’ fields, and the Wise Old Oak, not to mention delicious food and drink to begin or end your walk in St. Jacobs, it is an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors.
In total, the trail is a 10-kilometre round trip, but a shorter trip can begin at the University Ave. entrance. From there, it’s only 1.5 kilometers to reach the Wise Old Oak. The main trail, starting from St. Jacobs, is stroller friendly. The smaller trail is also accessible, but it is bumpier, and it may be easier to use a baby carrier.
Traditionally, St. Jacobs was a destination for quilt makers, retirees, historians and those in search of delicious Mennonite baking. Founded by Pennsylvania Dutch settlers in the 1830s, many signs of the original village remain: the Jacob C. Snider Mill (1852), the blacksmith shop (1880), the former Dominion Hotel (1852), and the antique market, to name a few.
The first Home Hardware store was opened in 1948 and remains a staple of the main street realtors to this day. Other useful and historic shops to visit include Hamel Brooms, one of Canada’s last corn broom makers.
Over the past several years, the village vibe has shifted to attracting boutique shoppers, street art fans and craft beer enthusiasts. Local icons include Stone Crock Bakery & Market, EcoCafe & Village Roasters, Block Three Brewing, Those Pizza Guys and The Shed by LenJo Bakes.
Plenty of free parking is available in the parking lot off Albert St. at the St. Jacobs trail head, or on the side of the road on University Ave.
Cyclists will find bike parking in St. Jacobs, a designated Ontario by Bike business area, as well as a full bike repair kit at the trailhead.
The Marble Art Quilt, an interactive art exhibit, greets visitors at the St. Jacobs entrance.
Make sure that your bladder is empty prior to departing as there are no washrooms along the trail. There are also no garbage cans. Practice good trail etiquette and leave no trace—that is, please take your garbage with you and keep the route clean and clear. Dogs must always remain on leash.
The trail is part of the world’s longest multi-use year-round trail: the Trans Canada Trail. This coast-to-coast-to-coast recreational route welcomes people to bike, walk, snowshoe, ski, snowmobile, paddle, and even horseback their way across Canada. Each section of the urban and rural trail is managed locally.
Two more trails crisscross and run in tandem with the Health Valley Trail. The 121-kilometre walking and biking Avon Trail stretches from St. Mary’s to Conestogo, and the 2.5-kilometre Millrace Trail dates to the 1850s and was once known as ‘Lovers’ Lane.’ Named for the millrace that provided power to the St. Jacobs gristmill, it guides users to the St. Jacobs Railway Viaduct that was originally built in 1890 for the Grand Trunk Railway.
Let the fresh air, the calming effect of water, and the magic of the forest treat you to a local adventure. All you must do is dress for the weather and take it one step at a time.
#avonTrail #BlockThreeBrewing #conestogo #crockBakeryAndMarket #ecocafe #localTravel #loversLane #millraceTrail #riverTrail #stJacobs #theMarbleArtQuilt #theShed #thosePizzaGuys #villageRoasters #wiseOldOak
Sculpture created by St. Jacobs artist installed at St. Peter's Basilica
A life size interactive bronze sculpture that shows the transformation of a homeless person into an angel has been installed at St. Peter's Basilica. St. Jacobs artist Timothy Schmalz says the sculpture called ‘Be Welcomi...
#art #religion #homelessness #StPetersBasilica #StJacobs #News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/sculpture-created-by-st-jacobs-artist-installed-at-st-peter-s-basilica-1.7522639?cmp=rss
Voters share their top concerns for this federal election
CBC K-W's Craig Norris was at the St Jacobs Farmers' Market to ask people what their top concerns are in this federal election. Some people mentioned housing affordability, while others mentioned climate change and public health care as their top election priorities.
#election #politics #housing #environment #StJacobs
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/9.6724360?cmp=rss
These residents want a bigger focus on climate change this federal election
CBC K-W's Craig Norris was at the St Jacobs Farmers' Market to ask people what their top issues are in this federal election. Some of the people he spoke to said they want candidates to have a stronger focus on climate change.
#climate #election #politics #environment #StJacobs
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/9.6722816?cmp=rss
Brantford man, 56, dies after three-vehicle crash in St. Jacobs
Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a fatal three-vehicle crash in St. Jacobs.
#accident #death #police #Brantford #StJacobs
https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/brantford-man-56-dies-after-three-vehicle-crash-in-st-jacobs-1.7174035
Outbreak: COVID-19
Facility: St. Jacobs Place
Facility Type: Retirement Home
Unit/Floor/Area: Facility Wide
Location: #StJacobs #Ontario
Date: 2024-11-12
Public Health Unit: Region of #Waterloo, Public Health
Facility Tracking Hash: #RWPH0026
PHU Tracking Hash: #OnObRWPH
Click or follow tracking hashtags to see data for individual facilities or a specific public health unit.
The things you miss when you're SpinCycling at the mall...
#Biking #StJacobs #WaterlooRegion
(wasn't some #Fedizen looking to document #Bench #Plaques? This is at
43.53035° N, 80.54607° W
Please pass it on...)
Edit: typos in AltText
My wife and I are rewarding ourselves with a flight of #Block3 beers. We rode our #bikes to #StJacobs along the #TransCanadaTrail.
Another day, another #hike. This time a 12KM hike along the #GrandRiver heading towards #StJacobs.
Few birds, but looky-looky what we have sleeping over there!
#Birds & critters today:
Blue Jays
Mallards
Canada Geese
Chickadees
Red Bellied Woodpeckers
Northern Shrike (cooool!!)
Cardinals
Squirrels
Beavers (awesome!!)
Wise old oak (#NatureArt)
We weren’t expecting to see a family of #beavers sleeping on the river bank. That was pretty special! (Only had my phone for the picture 😕)
Camera Review Blog No. 138 – Nikon D750
And now for something completely different. I know I'm better known for my reviews of film-based cameras, but I have reviewed a digital camera here before, back when I got the camera that this one replaced. In fact, the Nikon D750 marks two, not three things. First, it marks a return to an SLR as my digital camera; second, it marks the return to the Nikon Digital system. And finally, a digital camera that I like using a lot. It's not to say the a6000 was an unenjoyable camera to operate; the only complaint was that the system continued to be limited. Yes, I could use almost all my manual focus lenses through adapters, but I only had a single native lens for the camera. So back in 2020, when I started fleshing out the idea of superseding the a6000 as a primary digital, I needed to make a list of requirements. Because that's what you do as a trained systems analyst and information technology professional, you use those skills to make a major decision. I looked at my two major autofocus lens systems, Minolta Maxxum and Nikon F. That meant that I could go with a Sony or Nikon because I did not want yet another camera system, I don't have the room, and I also wanted to have the ability to share lenses. I also needed the camera to be a full-frame that being the 36x24mm form factor because having used crop sensors for my entire life in digital cameras and having used 35mm for so long; I wanted to have my lenses acting the same way on either my 35mm SLR or my digital SLR. While Nikon has many options, Sony has two, the a99 and the recently released a99II. I also would not be averse to a used camera. But when I compared my two lens systems, I have more lenses for Nikon, double when you count the manual focus lenses, which do count because they're all (save one, but it's a PC lens) compatible with Nikon digitals. Nikon became the clear winner, with the initial choice being a D f , but then I realized I needed the camera also to handle video, which the D f does not. Then while chatting with the fine folks at Burlington Camera about this conundrum, the D750 was forwarded. After some looking and chatting with fellow Alliance members, the D750 became the clear winner.
Camera Specifications
Make: Nikon
Model: D750
Type: Single Lens Reflex
Sensor: 24x36mm CMOS Sensor, 24.93 megapixels
Storage: SD Card Slot (2x)
Lens: Interchangeable, Nikon F-Mount
Shutter: Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter, 1/4000″ - 30″ + Bulb, Time
Meter: TTL Exposure Metering, RGB Sensor, EV 0 ~ EV20 @ ISO-100, ISO-100 - ISO-12800
Autofocus: Nikon Advanced MultiCam-3500, Phase Detection TTL Meter
Year of Manufacture: 2014 - 2020
Nikon D750 with the Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4D lens without the MB-D16 Grip
Nikon D750 with the Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4D lens and the MB-D16 Grip
Background
The history of digital image capture is a modern one. Simultaneously, many cameras I've reviewed in the past can trace their linage back to the mid to late 19th century; digital imaging is certainly one from the mid 20th century. The earliest examples of what would become the key to digital imaging began in 1953, and the principle of complementary symmetry was introduced by George Sziklai. Bell Labs produced the first Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor field-effect transistor in 1959 based on Sziklai's work. RCA's Paul Weimer's TFT Complementary Circuits in 1962 laid the basis for a CMOS or Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. Willard Boyle and George E. Smith from Bell Labs worked on a product to produce semiconductor bubble memory and use MOS technology to find a digital storage medium rather than magnetic. Boyle and Smith hit on the idea of creating a series of MOS capacitors in a row and use an electrical signal to charge them, and in 1969, the idea of a Charge Bubble Device. A paper in 1970 listed the idea of these Charged Coupled Devices or CCD to use them for memory, delay line, shift register, or an imaging device. Two companies latched onto the idea of using these CCDs and CMOS devices as imaging sensors: the first, a California computer firm, Cromemco. While the company produced Z80 based microcomputers, a happy accident saw them determine that a CMOS memory chip (1024 byte chip) with the opaque chip cover replaced by glass could record an image. By 1974 with the Altair 8800 microcomputer's arrival, they could use that as a digitizer to render and display their digital images. In 1975 they introduced the Cyclops with a resolution of 32×32 pixels. When paired with a modified Altair 8800 that used a device to save programs also designed by Cromemco and a graphics card to connect the computer to a TV, they could produce a commercially viable digital imaging system. Little did the California company know that a Kodak engineer Steve Sasson had been tasked with a similar project by the photographic giant on the other side of the United States. Sasson giving a 100×100 pixel CCD sensor, was determined to find some photographic use for CCD technology. Sasson built a beast. The Sasson Camera produced a 100×100 pixel black & white image using a lens taken from a Super8 camera, a standard audio cassette recorder, sixteen batteries, and an analogue-to-digital converter. But unlike the Cyclops, Kodak kept the Sasson camera under wraps, not wanting to undercut their film production. But the genie was out of the bottle, and the idea of digital images took off, and the application of digital imaging was many and numerous and not just for the average person.
Nikon D750 + AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5DNikon D750 + AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2DNikon D750 + AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm 1:2.8GNikon D750 + AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2D
The two big giants in the film were soon developing their digital image sensors, Kodak and Fuji. And by the 1980s, the race to release a digital camera was about to come to a close. Kodak, under a government contract, released their first sensor, the M1, in 1987, a CCD sensor with a resolution of 1 megapixel. They managed to modify a Canon F-1 to accept the chip and a 60 megabyte SCSI hard drive that had space to store 60 images. A SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) was key as it was the fastest method to read/write files to a hard drive. But the Kodak Tactical Camera never went beyond the prototype phase. Nikon began developing their own digital camera as early as 1986, the first being the prototype SVC or Still Video Camera with digital capture and analogue storage. Nikon would take these lessons and begin the parallel development of digital camera technology. The first would drop in 1988 proved to be the year digital hit the stage. Both Fuji and Nikon released their first digital cameras. Nikon's QV-1000C, based around a 380,000-pixel sensor, was a full SLR with interchangeable lenses (QV-Mount, two lens options) and touted as a Still Video Camera. However, the real winner was Fuji's offering, the DS-1P that included a memory card that could store ten images. Prototype DS-1P would be further refined and turn into the world's first digital camera to be sold commercially, the DS-X. The slim DS-X looked like the day's point-and-shoot cameras, albeit smaller, and took a credit card-sized 2MB memory card. That same year, Kodak released their prototype digital SLR or DSLR, the ECam D-5000, the ultimate grandfather of all future DSLRs, based around their 1.3-megapixel sensor. Rather than pursue their camera design, Kodak instead decided to get digital cameras into professional photographers' hands to take existing film SLRs and convert them into digital cameras. Nikon would do something similar taking the Nikon F4 and working on behalf of NASA convert it into a digital camera.
Nikon D750 + AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1:2DNikon D750 - AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5DNikon D750 - AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5DNikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm 1:2.8G
The Kodak Digital Camera System (DCS) was an adapted Nikon F3. The F3 was an ideal choice given that the camera was already popular among photojournalists, had electronics, notably the contacts for the MD-4 drive. These could allow the camera to properly interface with the CCD image sensor and the massive Digital Storage Unit (DSU) that had to be carried on the shoulder that held the processor and storage for the images. Storage was a traditional 200MB SCSI drive with space to store 156 RAW images or 600 JPG compression. Other options for the DSU included a keyboard to caption images, a modem to transmit the images to the home office, and even a JPG compression board. Released in 1991, the DCS 100, as its name was retconned to later, sold for 20,000$ for the base model. Overall, 987 units were sold. But the DCS 100 was not exactly user friendly and not exactly easily used in the field with the DSU over your shoulder or in a backpack. Kodak, taking advantage of improvements in miniaturization, released the DCS 200 in 1992. Using a Nikon F-801s, the DCS 200 was an all in one unit that added a massive sensor and processor unit that stuck out like a big battery pack and motor drive (think about the massive system used on the Nikon F and F2 to get an idea). The trouble was that storage was reduced to an 80Mb SCSI drive. During these early systems, the sensors continued to be CCD based, but in 1993 CMOS sensors began to appear, but usually in smaller lower-quality roles such as webcams, imaging devices like fax machines and copiers, and later cellphones (the first being in 1999). Kodak's next offering, the DCS 400, came out in 1994 and was based around the Nikon F90x and featured for the first time solid-state memory in the form of a PCMCIA card and a 1.5 megapixel sensor, though later models, namely the DCS 460 in 1995 came with a 6.1 megapixel sensor. While Kodak continued to adapt both Nikon and Canon film SLRs for their purposes, Nikon wanted in on the game and teamed up with Fuji to make it happen. The Nikon NASA F4 or NASA Electronic Still Camera (ESC) was an advanced set of accessories that first flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-48). The centre of the system was a heavily modified F4 equipped with a 1 megapixel monochrome CCD sensor that captured a square image at 1024×1024 resolution; most camera functions were controlled by a Wildcard 88 computer based around an Intel 80C88 8MHz processor. Storage was removable hard drives that stored 40 images. The remaining items were called HERCULES or Hand-held Earth-oriented Real-time Cooperative, User-friendly, Location, targeting, and Environmental System.
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2DNikon D750 - AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5DNikon D750 - AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2DNikon D750 - AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2D
In 1995 Nikon and Fuji released the E2/Fujix DS-505. The camera-based around a 2/3rd inch CCD sensor with a 1.3-megapixel resolution. With such a small size, the sensor carried a rating between ISO-800 and ISO-3200, or equivalent to ISO-50 to ISO-200 for a full-frame sensor. The E2 also took standard Nikon F-Mount lenses; the E2s/Fujix DS-515 had triple the frame rate and buffer size from the E2/505 models. Storage was on a solid-state PCMCIA card and could be downloaded to a computer via SCSI or directly connected to a TV for viewing. Moderate improvements in 1996 resulted in the E2N/DS-505a and E2Ns/DS-515a. Nikon and Fuji further improved the E-Series in 1999, now using a Nikon F100 as the base for the camera, results in the E3 and E3s or Fujix DS-560 and DS-565. They again used that small CCD sensor with a 1.4-megapixel resolution but improved metering and autofocus. But the problem remained that the E-Series remained a bulky camera, small by the standards set by the Kodak DCS series, but still not a clean design. When Kodak released the DCS 600 in 1999 based around the Nikon F5 that looked like a proper SLR and only slightly larger than a stock F5, Nikon knew they had to up their game. Nikon would use their F5 as a starting point but designed the internals from the ground up. Starting as far back as 1996, Nikon envisioned a larger sensor, smaller than a standard 35mm negative, but rather an APS negative, the "Classic" format (APS-C) of 23.7×15.6mm. The trouble was that no sensor manufacturer would sign on to help Nikon. While I'm unclear which company signed on, I would guess either Fuji or Sony decided to manufacture the new sensor for Nikon. The same year Kodak released the DCS 600, Nikon struck back with the D1, and Kodak's hold over the digital SLR market wavered for the first time. The Nikon D1 featured a 2.7 megapixel APS-C sized CCD sensor or a DX-format, as Nikon would call them.
Nikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8DNikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8DNikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8DNikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8D
The D1 used the Compact Flash format (2GB max size) first introduced in 1994 and an IEEE 1394 (Firewire) connector to download to your computer. Nikon would release two other variants of the D1, the D1H and D1X. Full-Frame, 36x24mm sensors, began to see a limited release in 2000 with Canon and Pentax dabbling in the format, and CMOS sensors were beginning to catch on for wider use in digital cameras. In 2002 Nikon released a semi-pro DSLR, the D100. Despite being named the D100, the camera took more after the Nikon F80 than the F100. Based around a 6.1-megapixel DX CCD sensor, the D100 offered up a USB interface to connect to your computer. It proved popular enough that Nikon further improved the design and released in 2005 the D200 with a 10.1-megapixel DX sensor. The D200 offered up a tonne of improvements for autofocus and metering that Nikon used in their F6. In 2007, CMOS sensor technology had surpassed that of CCDs and Nikon installed a Full-Frame of FX sensor in their new D3 rated at 12.1 megapixels. Similarly, the D300 was released that same year using a DX CMOS sensor at 12.3 megapixels. By 2008, HD video (720p initially) began to show up in DSLRs with the D90 from Nikon and Canon's EOS 5D Mark II is the first to feature the option. In 2008 Nikon downsized their D3 and released the D700, the first semi-pro DSLR with a range of professional features and 12.1 megapixel CMOS FX sensor. While the D700 was replaced by the improved D800 and a more advanced consumer D600 came out, the cancellation of the D700 in 2012 left a small gap in Nikon's lineup. The 2012 Nikon Df introduced a retrostyled DSLR based around a Nikon FM3a and introduced lightweight materials and a 16 megapixel FX sensor. The follow up to the D700 came out in 2014, the Nikon D750. And the D750 offered up many features not yet seen in a professional or semi-pro level DSLR. The 24 megapixel FX sensor was of an all-new design with improved sensitivity. It also added a tilting screen and WiFi. And even improved video functions and audio control. But also put all of this into a lightweight package. The camera proved popular enough that despite being cancelled in 2020, the D780 continued that linage.
Nikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8DNikon D750 - AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5DNikon D750 - AI Nikkor 28mm 1:3.5Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4D
Impressions
I did not expect the D750 to be small; I honestly believe that the camera is actually smaller than my D300 and just a touch bigger than my D70s. Either way, despite being small, I used the camera for much of the year without getting the additional battery grip. I eventually got the grip to provide that second battery when out photographing at events and video work that requires a bit more power consumption. And the grip does add that needed balance for the larger lenses in my collection, my f/2.8 trio being the primary reason. While I find the grip a necessary accessory if you're only shooting short primes and smaller zooms, you won't need that grip unless you're doing a lot of shooting and need that second battery. And one thing that the grip does add is the capacity to run the camera on AA batteries, and the tray comes with the grip as a standard accessory when you buy the grip. But honestly, the D750 is an amazing lightweight camera for what it can produce. If you're used to working with Nikon cameras, adapting to the D750s is easy, and the funny part is that the digital camera has more dials on it than my F5, such as the mode dial! But there are a lot of buttons on the camera. Thankfully the manual is handy in keeping track of what does what; the best thing you can actually do is figure out which buttons you need to do what you want with the camera. As long as you can quickly get to those buttons, the rest don't matter too much. I quickly found that all the buttons you need for general still photography operation are easily reached and close to where your hands sit. That said, a couple of buttons are a little too close to other buttons, and I often push the wrong one. The biggest one I have is the metering mode and the record button for video. In the winter, I would often press the meter mode button rather than the record button. Thankfully I always confirm on the camera that it's actually recording before I go and step in front of the camera. Another button that proved a bit troublesome early on is the focus mode. That traditional two-position switch allows you to select either Auto-Focus or Manual Focus, but in the centre is an actual button. You press that button and then use both command dials to set the focus mode (single or continuous) along with the focus group mode (there are a lot!). Other than that, the camera's controls are well laid out, and the shutter button is rather clean, and the shutter sound is quiet but still satisfying. The external connections to the camera are easily accessed, the dual card slots are behind a sliding cover, and simple hinged covers for your shutter cable, along with headphones and microphone (make sure you plug your microphone into the right plug. Sadly the D750 uses a different connector for the remote shutter cable than the cable I have for my F5 (which I originally purchased for my D300). The connector is the same as my D70s! Ah well, I made a point to order a new one with a few more advanced features than the stock Nikon version.
Nikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8DNikon D750 - AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1:2D
Nikon D750 - AI-S Nikkor 105mm 1:2.5Nikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8D
Experiences
Having plenty of experience working with Nikon SLRs, both digital and 35mm, makes using the D750 a breeze. And I can honestly say it is like coming home after a long time away. While I'm used to a big heavy camera, the smaller form of the D750 is still comfortable in hand and easily used with or without a grip. I can honestly say that when I start to retake trips where size is an issue on the camera kit, I will be okay using the camera without a grip and a single lens, and it is rather compact and easy to use. All the buttons are easily accessed, and it is a nice blend of physical and menu-based controls. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, the layout is intuitive and easily figured out with minimal manual checking. The one downside is that a battery grip helps with the balance if you are using larger lenses. My prime lenses (35/2D, 50/1.4D, and 105/2D) along with my cheap zoom (28-105/3.5-4.5D) are great on the camera without the grip when I get into my larger fixed aperture zoom lenses (14-24/2.8G, 28-70/2.8D, and 70-200/2.8G) that grip is a lifesaver. When it comes to battery life, if you're only working with still photography, then the battery has a long life. Honestly, I can be out shooting for a couple of weeks before it needs a charge. And having that grip double the life span of a charge and adds the option of using AA batteries (stock, the tray comes with the MB-D16)! The autofocus can be a bit touchy at times, especially when working in fully automatic mode. Sometimes, it does have a hard time locking onto a focus point, but having that focus mode button right there allows easy adjustment of the focus mode on the fly. But the autofocus speed on both the older Type-D lenses and newer AF-S lenses is snappy and accurate. Exposure wise, the camera has an excellent meter, which is no surprise; I have never met a Nikon meter that was not bulletproof. The camera's viewfinder is big and bright, no matter the lens you have on the camera. And there is plenty of feedback in the lens, including an electronic rangefinder to help with manual focus with both your AF and MF lenses. The D750 also features a live view mode which is good and helpful combined with the articulated screen. I know that it would have been a lifesaver back in my exploring days. Especially at Photech, where I most certainly needed a respirator but using an SLR (D70s), I could not use the viewfinder while wearing the mask. The one interesting bit with the camera is the inclusion of dual SD slots; while this is nothing new, it is the first camera I've used that includes this feature. Originally I thought it was only a gimmick, but I'm starting to see the value in having these two slots. When I was shooting my first day out on my railroad project, I put in two cards, one card to store the still images, while the second card captured all the video files. Keeping the two separate so I did not accidentally import the video into my Lightroom library. But you can do so much more, it can act as cascade storage, so when one card fills up, it goes onto the second card without swapping them out, or on professional jobs, set them to duplicate so that the files are recorded on both cards in case, one card dies on you. Plus, the D750 has the capacity to support cards up to 256GB, which, even when shooting RAW format, is over 4,000 images per card which is insane!
Nikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1:2.8GNikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1:2.8GNikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1:2.8GNikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm 1:2.8G
Starting last year, I started working a bit more with video and producing content for my YouTube channel (you can see an example below), which is one of the main reasons for going with the D750 rather than a D f. And Nikon certainly put a lot of thought into the video system of the D750. I'm happy with the quality of the video I get from the camera. Working with the camera both in front of and behind the camera is an interesting experience. I haven't been able to figure out how to get the autofocus system to work well and in a consistent manner. I've gone to work with the lens in manual focus mode, pre-focusing and having the aperture stopped down to help with ensuring the subject (me) is in focus when in front of the camera. It is far easier to have someone working the camera. But there is also the audio quality; Nikon included a standard phone jack for an external microphone and one for your headphones as well. And it works with standard third-party equipment, I've worked with Rhode wireless microphones and an on-camera shotgun microphone, and both have delivered excellent audio quality. The internal microphone isn't anything to sneeze at either and is great for capturing ambient sound and even has wind cancellation, which again isn't perfect, but not bad for internal microphones, oh and it records in stereo.
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5DNikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8DNikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1:2.8GNikon D750 - AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5D
Optics
One of the best parts of the D750 is the sheer amount of lenses available for use with the camera. At the same time, you cannot use your original Non-AI lenses unless they have been converted or AI'd, every other lens, AI, AI-S, Series E, AF (not F3AF), D-Type, G-Type, and E-Type. And also, AF requires an in-camera autofocus motor and AF-S lenses. That is a lot of glass and a lot of classic lenses. And perfect for a photographer in the same position as I'm in that has a massive collection of Nikkor optics. One of the biggest concerns is that the smaller manual focus lenses often look diminutive on these modern bodies. And sure, some do, but the short primes like the 50/1.4, 35/2.8, and 28/3.5 look rather good on the D750. Similarly, despite being small, the camera handles most of my prime lenses well, mainly my D-Type lenses. Sure the balance is thrown with my heavy zooms (14-24/2.8G and 70-200/2.8G), but it isn't too bad. But that isn't all the tricks the D750 has up its sleeve. The camera has a crop sensor mode that will only activate the appropriate elements of the imaging sensor when you attach a DX lens to the camera. That means that if you upgrade from a DX to an FX camera, you don't have to rush out and update all your lenses. The drawback is that you will have a smaller image being produced. But it makes a great stop-gap in the interim. And yes, you can also manually activate this mode and use it with your full-frame lenses. And the one thing that the D750 does support is the latest lens type from Nikon, the E-Type ( not Series E ), which uses an electromagnetic aperture rather than a mechanical link. I don't plan to update my AF-S lenses to the new type, but I'm happy with my kit.
Nikon D750 - AI Nikkor 28mm 1:3.5Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2DNikon D750 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8DNikon D750 - AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5D
Image Quality
While your lens choice has a lot to do with your image quality, I remember those first few shots trying the camera out in almost any condition I could get, and each time, the D750 delivered superb results. One thing that surprised me is how good the images look right out of the camera; in the past, I've always found digital images shot in RAW (NEF) format a little flat on the contrast. And I will boost those settings in Lightroom. But I have actually had to pull those settings back, or it over-saturates the images. One of the big complaints that I've read about the D750 is how it renders skin tones. But it may be me or my eye, but I've done several portraits with the camera and cannot find an issue with the skin tones. When it comes to low-light photography, the D750 shines. I have not shot the camera higher than ISO-3200, but even there, the noise is negligible, so much so that I don't even make any noise reduction in post-processing. And I regularly shoot the camera between ISO-400 and ISO-1600 without giving it a second thought. The one thing that I noticed with the camera is that there's not as much latitude in the way of recovery of details lost in highlights; on the a6000, I could clean up those highlights without a second thought or bracketing stacking images (HDRi). While not a bad thing, it is the one thing that I noticed between the two. The D750 is excellent and provides an enjoyable experience; while I've mainly been in front of the camera and setting everything up manually, I cannot complain about the footage quality. While you cannot do 4K on the camera (which is okay, I don't need that level of quality for YouTube videos on film photography), the 1080p 30fps is perfectly acceptable. And the audio controls built-in allow for wind cancellation, audio gain, and stereo recording with the built-in microphones.
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5DNikon D750 - AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5DNikon D750 - AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5DNikon D750 - AI-S Nikkor 200mm 1:4
Lowdown
After going to a mirrorless system for several years, it felt far better to go back to my routes with a Nikon SLR. The D750, despite its age, is still an amazing camera with plenty of years of life left in the system. At the same time, you can use it easily with or without the grip making it perfect for travel. Not to mention the sheer level of compatibility with every lens I have in my tool kit. If you're looking for a way back into Nikon DSLRs, then even a used D750 will suit you well, but honestly, going with a D780 is an excellent choice. While Nikon is moving more into their mirrorless Z-System, an F-Mount will remain my Nikon camera of choice for many years to come. I'd like to give a special shoutout to Mike Eckman, Stephen Dowling, and Alan Duncan who both proved invaluable in making sense out of the history of digital imaging and this post would have suffered without their amazing input. Not bad for a group of mainly film shooters eh?
Further Reading
Don't just take my word on the D750, you can check out the reviews by other awesome camera reviewers!
Full Stop - Nikon D750 heads to the Cape
Photography Life - Nikon D750 Review
DPReview - Nikon D750 Review
Ken Rockwell - Nikon D750 Review
Digital Camera World - Nikon D750 Review
Imaging Resource - Nikon D750 Review
ShotKit - Nikon D750 Review
#camerareviewblogs #cambridge #camera #camerareview #canada #canadianwarplaneheritagemuseum #d750 #digital #dslr #elora #fx #gear #georgetown #guelph #hamilton #historicfortyork #kingston #milton #mississauga #niagaraonthelake #nikkor #nikon #nikond750 #nikondigital #oakville #ontario #review #stjacobs #toronto #uxbridge #woodstock
Film Review Blog No. 73 – Adox CHS 100 II
The year was 2012; I had been shooting film in a far more serious way for three years at that point. I learned of a speciality film store called Freestyle Photographic from an episode of the Film Photography Project. They had all sorts of weird films from Europe that I had never heard of nor seen at my local camera store (which at that time was either Henry's or Burlington Camera). With companies like Efke and Adox, strange, exotic for my North American sensibilities. I purchased a pile of Efke and Adox CHS Art films, both in 35mm and 120, 50 and 100-speed offerings. While Efke became a favourite, the CHS films also presenting a whole new look. Sadly, around that same time Fotokemika, the company that was making both Efke and Adox CHS films at the time, folded. No longer able to maintain or repair the machines that had been chugging along since the 1940s and 1950s. Despite that I managed to hold onto my last roll of CHS 100, finally shooting it in 2015 in the Netherlands. Adox took the reigns and took back the CHS line and released in 2013 a new version, CHS 100 II. Using the original film as a base, they painstakingly reproduced the classic dual emulsion in a single layer coating, even doing their best to duplicate the original sensitization. While CHS 100 II is not the original, it is pretty darn close. And I'm happy to be able to finally review this classic film that helped push me deeper down the rabbit hole of Black & White film and Adox products.
Film Specs
Type: Ortho-Panchromatic
Film Base: Polyester (PET) 100μm
Film Speed: ASA-100, Latitude: 100-400
Formats Available: 135, 120 (currently unavailable), Sheet Film (4×5 to 20×24)
Roll 01 - Kodak D-76
And CHS 100 II comes out swinging for the fences. I knew these were winners when I first pulled the negatives from the development tank. They carried a good density and, more importantly, dried perfectly flat. They also scanned easily in my V700. Quality-wise, they perform exactly how I would expect any film to perform with D-76, good tone and contrast, nothing especially fancy or unique. There's enough tonal separation to help with sharpness. And there's also good edge sharpness. The one thing I did notice is that there is more grain in these images than your standard ASA-100 film, and while a bit of a surprise, knowing the linage of CHS 100 II makes it understandable. This is based on a film that first came out in the mid-20th Century, not a modern emulsion with years of tweaking. While D-76 wouldn't be my first choice here, it will do the job.
Minolta Maxxum 9 - Minolta Maxxum AF 35-70mm 1:4 - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Kodak D-76 (1+1) 9:00 @ 20CMinolta Maxxum 9 - Minolta Maxxum AF 35-70mm 1:4 - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Kodak D-76 (1+1) 9:00 @ 20CMinolta Maxxum 9 - Minolta Maxxum AF 35-70mm 1:4 - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Kodak D-76 (1+1) 9:00 @ 20CMinolta Maxxum 9 - Minolta Maxxum AF 35-70mm 1:4 - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Kodak D-76 (1+1) 9:00 @ 20C
Roll 02 - Ilford Ilfotec HC
I went a little off-script for Ilfotec HC; rather than go with a usual dilution of 1+31 or 1+63, I went with 1+39. For those in the Kodak world, that's Dilution D, a little-used dilution in most cases. It also required a different agitation pattern, constant for the first thirty seconds, then five seconds (two inversions) every following thirty seconds. It certainly kept me on my toes. The first thing I noticed was how thin the negatives appeared. Thankfully there was enough there to scan them well. Overall, I think Ilfotech HC/HC-110 is an excellent choice. The images were a little more contrasty than I would like, but going with a 1+63 dilution will probably work better. That said, the images remain sharp, with excellent tonal separation and edge sharpness. A little bit more in the way of grain, but an excellent grain structure.
Nikon FE - AI Nikkor 28mm 1:3.5 - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Ilford Ilfotec HC (1+39) 7:00 @ 20CNikon FE - AI Nikkor 28mm 1:3.5 - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Ilford Ilfotec HC (1+39) 7:00 @ 20CNikon FE - AI Nikkor 28mm 1:3.5 - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Ilford Ilfotec HC (1+39) 7:00 @ 20CNikon FE - AI Nikkor 28mm 1:3.5 - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Ilford Ilfotec HC (1+39) 7:00 @ 20C
Roll 03 - Adox Rodinal
A little rough, a little grainy, but what are you to expect from Rodinal and a film that isn't fine-grain. However, the results are far better than I was expected. You get more grain than what you might get from another 100-Speed film, but this does help edge sharpness. There is also an increase in contrast which does help with tonal separation, and the tones are excellent across the board with good blacks, whites, and mid-tones. I also noted that the film responds well to a yellow filter with plenty of cutting of the blues, with my skies rendering nearly black in several cases. While not my favourite combination, I certainly feel that going with a 1+50 dilution resulted in far better images than if I had gone with 1+25. I also think that CHS 100 II will respond better to stand-development in Rodinal.
Minolta XE-7 - Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm 1:2 (Yellow-12) - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Adox Rodinal (1+50) 12:30 @ 20CMinolta XE-7 - Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm 1:2 (Yellow-12) - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Adox Rodinal (1+50) 12:30 @ 20CMinolta XE-7 - Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm 1:2 (Yellow-12) - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Adox Rodinal (1+50) 12:30 @ 20CMinolta XE-7 - Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm 1:2 (Yellow-12) - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Adox Rodinal (1+50) 12:30 @ 20C
Roll 04 - Adox FX-39 II
I knew these were winning images almost as soon as I pulled the negatives from the tank. The base turned clear; I can see why Adox has CHS 100 II as a good option for reversal processing. When I scanned the negatives, I could see that these were beautiful, almost as if FX-39 was the perfect choice for the film. While there still is grain, it's far less noticeable than those developed in Kodak D-76. But the grain does add to the edge sharpness, but the real sharpness comes from the tonal separation. While I'm not a practitioner of the zone system, I can say that almost all zones are represented in these images. And it does that without increasing the contrast, which sits at a happy medium.
Nikon F5 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8D - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Adox FX-39 II (1+9) 7:30 @ 20CNikon F5 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8D - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Adox FX-39 II (1+9) 7:30 @ 20CNikon F5 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8D - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Adox FX-39 II (1+9) 7:30 @ 20CNikon F5 - AF-S Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8D - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Adox FX-39 II (1+9) 7:30 @ 20C
Final Thoughts
The one thing that I certainly get from CHS 100 II is that old-school flavour that I remember from my earlier experience with Efke 100/Adox CHS 100, which are based on the original Adox formula. The film is rich and contrasty, and you certainly want to make sure that you develop it right. Personally, my favourite results are in Adox FX-39 II, but I'm banking the film will look great in Kodak D-23 or Adox Atomal 49. While the film is a little harder to get in North America, ordering it right from the source is your best bet, and that's Fotoimpex in Germany. Sure it might take a good month to arrive, but it is well worth the wait. The one thing I'm waiting for is the return of 120 format in the film, but it also looks amazing in 4×5, which was my first experience with the film. You can see an example below developed in Xtol. The one thing that I can see this film being good for is reenactments; if I ever get that WW2 combat photographer impression together, my film choices will certainly be CHS 100 II and Fomapan 400 and plenty of Atomal 49.
Pacemaker Crown Graphic - Schneider-Krueznack Symmar-S 1:5.6/210 - Adox CHS 100 II @ ASA-100 - Kodak Xtol (1+1) 7:15 @ 20C
Further Reading
Don't take my word on Adox CHS 100 II, check out these other reviews by fellow bloggers!
Adam Roe Photography - New Film: Adox CHS 100 ii
Retro Glass Photos - A German Wonder Film: Adox CHS 100 II
#filmreviewblogs #adox #adoxchs100ii #adoxfx39ii #adoxphoto #adoxrodinal #canada #chs100ii #crowngraphic #filmreview #fotoimpex #ilfordilfotechc #kodakd76 #kodakxtol #midway #milton #minoltamaxxum9 #minoltaxe7 #nikonf5 #nikonfe #oakville #ohio #ontario #review #stjacobs #unitedstates #uxbridge
Ah yes, it is that time of year again when the weather turns suddenly stinking hot, and minds turn to vacation. Sadly when Heather and I took our first week off, things were still closed off; that did not stop us because we had the same trouble last year when we went on vacation. And while I did shoot a lot of film during the week, I also got the chance to give my D750 a good run with different lenses other than the 28-70/2.8D, which is becoming a workhorse in my kit for both the F5 and the D750. And since most of the content I share here is related to film, why not show off a bit of colour since it is summer vacation!
It's been a while since I last saw the Paletta Mansion.
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2DA quiet day along the lakeshore.
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2DA different angle on the lakeshore.
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2DA very empty creek.
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 35mm 1:2D
The week opened with a trip out to Burlington, with Heather's parents coming over to help with some electrical work. I had to pick up some treats from Sunshine Doughnuts and Nickel Brook brewery, but that meant killing time, so I went to the beautiful Paletta Mansion to catch some early morning light before heading into the downtown to line up for doughnuts then to the brewery for their handcrafted Root Beer and Ginger Beer, which if you are a fan of, are well worth going to pick up. The Monday saw us take a drive along the Niagara Parkway from Fort Erie to Niagara-On-The-Lake, with a picnic outside past Frenchman's Creek. We stopped at Niagara Falls to walk around the falls. It was surreal as there were very few people present before heading to Niagara-On-The-Lake. With Tuesday and Wednesday being rainy, we stayed inside.
The International Railroad Bridge in Fort Erie, Ontario
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4DWilloughby Historical Museum
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4DHeather at Niagara Falls, strange to not have to jockey for position and photos.
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4DAnd equally empty downtown Niagara-On-The-Lake.
Nikon D750 - AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4D
Sunny weather returned by Thursday, so we headed out to St. Jacobs to visit the farmers market, which is great to visit on Thursdays as fewer people are milling about, and you can actually feel comfortable in the smaller crowds. Then a walk around the historic village before taking the long route home along Highway 7. Sadly with so few people at the market, my plan to get some street style shots in were dashed, but I managed to get a few.
One of the more unique sellers at the Market. Almost everyone from this farm were in some sort of costume.
Nikon D750 - AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1:2DFirst time seeing purple cauliflower.
Nikon D750 - AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1:2DHeather outside a former church turned toy store.
Nikon D750 - AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1:2DFormer flour mill turned cafe and market.
Nikon D750 - AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1:2D
On Friday, after enjoying coffee in the morning with my parents (it was my mom's birthday), we closed off the week with a hike at Hilton Falls. With reservations still in place and going in the middle of the day on a weekday meant there were again not that many people on the trails or around the falls. Intending to keep the kit small and light, I went with my 28mm manual focus lens. And the light was perfect even under the canopy of the deep woods that surrounds the trails. I even managed to get a few good shots in of the falls themselves.
Always a favourite, Hilton Falls.
Nikon D70 - AI Nikkor 28mm 1:3.5Heather waiting for me to do my photography thing.
Nikon D70 - AI Nikkor 28mm 1:3.5The light was perfect!
Nikon D70 - AI Nikkor 28mm 1:3.5Another favourite, a section of rock visible above the forest floor.
Nikon D70 - AI Nikkor 28mm 1:3.5
Well, that's it for this week's Summer Vacation, but this isn't the only time off we have this summer, so stay tuned in August for Part II! You can of course see all the photos here over on Flickr.
#photography #hiltonfalls #milton #niagaraparkway #nikkor #nikond750 #stjacobs #stjacobsmarket #summer #travel #vacation
Foma:52 – Week 19 – To Market, To Market
Two weeks in a row outside of Halton Region? Yes, the continuing lockdown has made me go stir-crazy, and you can honestly only find so much to photograph within your own little part of Ontario. Plus, I have to keep a few ideas in the back pocket as backups if something big prevents me from getting out. After doing plenty of these types of projects, you need some ideas as backups. But this week, we're back into rural Ontario and the community of St. Jacobs, home to an amazing farmer's market, a tourist railroad, Mennonites, and a cute little downtown. While I would have liked to include the farmers market, I didn't want to go in for the sole reason of photography and take a spot from a person who is there to buy fresh farm produce.
Looking into the Downtown after swinging out to check out the Waterloo Central Railway.
Nikon FM - AI-S Nikkor 35mm 1:2.8 - Fomapan 100 @ ASA-100 - Rollei Supergrain (1+15) 7:30 @ 20C
The earliest European settlement of the region started in the 1830s, with two culturally distinct settlements founded along the Conestogo River. Conestogo would be settled primarily by Germanic descent, while Winterbourne was primarily Anglo (English and Scottish). The first families in Conestogo were Simon Cress, Abraham Erb and John Bauman. By 1844, Valentine Ratz built the first sawmill, and a single-room log cabin school also sprung up. Settlement ramped up by the mid-century, with most being Mennonites from Pennsylvania, better known as Pennsylvania Dutch. Dutch in the sense of a mispronunciation of Deutsch or German. Jacob Snider would build a dam and sawmill in 1852, which only brought more settlers to the village, allowing it to be incorporated under the name Jakobsettle or Jacob's Village, the St was added to make it better sounding, and pluralisation to indicate the efforts of Jacob Snider and his son Jacob Jr. By 1855 the village population topped at 400 with four hotels, a blacksmith, several mills, an Evangelical Association Church, and a general store. Electricity was introduced in 1871 by E.W.B. Snider, who used a hydroelectric generator to power his flour mill, but he also supplied power to a woollen factory and tannery. The first railroad arrived in 1891, but the village population remained fairly static at 500 people. Henry Gilles had purchased a tinsmith shop in 1880, which he quickly expanded to include a blacksmith and hardware store. Henry Sittler took over the management of the hardware store in 1933, even when the business was sold to Gordon Hollinger. Under Hollinger, a wholesale division was added to the hardware store. By 1938, Walter J. Hachborn began working for Hollinger, being fluent in English and Low German, which helped with many of the Mennonite customers. Sittler and Hachborn proved to be excellent partners and purchased Hollinger Hardware in 1949; the business grew rapidly. And both men realised that independent hardware store owners would benefit from a central wholesale organization. Initially, twenty-five owners joined the concept forming Hollinger Hardware Ltd in 1963. Which today, we know as Home Hardware with 1,100 stores by 2017.
One of the earliest Home Hardware Stores, formed in 1963 as an effective way for independent hardware store operators to purchase goods wholesale.
Nikon FM - AI-S Nikkor 35mm 1:2.8 - Fomapan 100 @ ASA-100 - Rollei Supergrain (1+15) 7:30 @ 20CA handful of older VIA rail passenger cars on display at Waterloo Central.
Nikon FM - AI-S Nikkor 35mm 1:2.8 - Fomapan 100 @ ASA-100 - Rollei Supergrain (1+15) 7:30 @ 20C
I had a bit more of a difficult time picking out the images for the post today. There are several images that I wish I had thought a bit more about and got a better composition, and others that I wanted to include but did not add to the narrative. It's a hard thing to pick only seven from a selection of twenty-four keepers from the roll. Despite this, I'm rather happy with the images I did get this week. For the featured image, I went with a long shot of the downtown, looking north along the main street at Hachborn. Two obvious choices is a shot from the Waterloo Central Railway, a local tourist train and a museum. Sadly I did not get a better shot of the railway's diesel locomotive fleet, and their steam locomotive was in the shop and out of bounds. I also had to include a shot of the Sneider Flour Mill, part of the town silos, and a historical aspect of the community as one of the earliest businesses in the village. And, of course, a good detail shot of a tractor grill found nearby. One of the final images is of a unique downtown building with a full stone first floor then brick on the upper storey and stood out as unique among the downtown. The final image is of the Conestogo River with the Main Street Bridge and storm clouds starting to gather, indicating it was time to head out.
The Town Silos are now a mixed use cafe and market.
Nikon FM - AI-S Nikkor 35mm 1:2.8 - Fomapan 100 @ ASA-100 - Rollei Supergrain (1+15) 7:30 @ 20CAnd Old Tractor Out on Display by the town Silos.
Nikon FM - AI-S Nikkor 35mm 1:2.8 - Fomapan 100 @ ASA-100 - Rollei Supergrain (1+15) 7:30 @ 20C
Despite the overcast weather and the constant threat of rain, I shot this week's roll of Fomapan 100 at the box speed of ASA-100, and while I wasn't getting deep depth of fields, shooting mostly between f/4 and f/8, using a 35mm lens offered up a decent happy medium to capture the downtown and the historic rail museum. Although in some cases, I did wish I had brought the 50mm and 135mm lenses with me to get some more detailed shots in the railway museum and some nature shots by the river. Overall, the 35mm f/2.8 was the better choice, and it allowed me to keep walking and not stop and fumble all the time. For the developer, I went again with Rollei Supergrain using the same time and dilution as last week as I enjoyed those results. There was certainly no need for the yellow filter, and it might have been detrimental to getting good images with the dull light.
An awesome stone building on the main street.
Nikon FM - AI-S Nikkor 35mm 1:2.8 - Fomapan 100 @ ASA-100 - Rollei Supergrain (1+15) 7:30 @ 20CStorm Clouds gathering over the Conastogo River.
Nikon FM - AI-S Nikkor 35mm 1:2.8 - Fomapan 100 @ ASA-100 - Rollei Supergrain (1+15) 7:30 @ 20C
Teaser of next week - one sentence.
#foma52 #52rollproject #canada #downtown #fomapan100 #nikkor #nikonfm #ontario #rolleisupergrain #stjacobs #urban #village
