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