Film Cameras
============
Readers of my phlog probably know that I like to take pictures with
strange old devices (like the Kodak PalmPix camera connected to my Palm
III).
But I have decided that it isn't weird enough and have bought a cheap
LOMO Smena 8M camera [1]. This device can use classic 35 mm camera film
which is still available (albeit a bit expensive as use of film cameras
have became fashionable in some circles).
I was pretty much surprised that with a modern film it is possible to
take nice pictures (I use the FujiColor C200 [2]). While this camera is
fully manual and extremely simple the pictures (which were taken by an
inexperienced hand) are rather clear and nice. I was told that the lens
are excellent (and not only for the camera's price point!) but I didn't
believed that they are until I saw the results.
I was unsure about processing of the films but it sees that there (in
the Czech Republic) are several companies which accept the films and
are able to make the final photographs and/or high resolution scans for
acceptable prices. None of them is in my city but I can drop the film
at a collection point (~400 m from my home) and just wait for about 5
days for the results.
So I have mi first who film rolls finished (however I destroyed more
than a half of the first as I didn't know how to correctly load to
Smena and how to fully rewind it back)... This is a "Made in the USSR"
product so manual is - as usually - incorrect (moreover, al scans
available at the Internet are incomplete). There is no simple way to
fix the beginning of the film to correct place so I used what I saw on
one video: "use a piece of tape to glue the film to its correct place".
This was so Soviet! But it worked.
I also have got an old Minolta [1]. It's the XD5 model from 1976 (so
it's not much younger than me). A "Made in Japan" product. Build
quality is excellent and finishing of many details nice. But a bit
over-complicated in some details. I have had some issues with exposure
detector (the sensor is inside lens so one has to have the "MD" line
ones and not the "MC" which were shipped with my camera). After I have
got the correct lens then thing have started to work. The results are
often better than I can obtain from the Smena. But not always to my
surprise. But I am still learning...
At the moment I thing I have enough analog cameras. One if for (almost)
a point-and-shoot use and the second is for "more serious" stuff.
References:
[1]
gopher://gopherpedia.com/0/Smena%20%28camera%29
[2]
gopher://gopherpedia.com/0/Fujifilm
[3]
gopher://gopherpedia.com/0/Minolta