Taking a step back in time
Discussion
After years of enjoying the ability to take thousands of photos, deleting the ones I don't like and just occasionally, printing them, I decided to resurrect a couple of old cameras that I had knocking around in a drawer.
For those who don't know, those are Minox cameras.
After getting hold of some film my journey began. For starters, there seems to be only one place in Europe which still supports old Minox cameras and although they process film I'll have to deal with printing them out.
So far it's been an object lesson in patience. With only 36 exposures, I have to think about what I'm taking a photo of, frame it and attempt to get the lighting at vaguely the right sort of level. The first cassette of film is going away to be processed in the next few days and I'm eager to see what comes back.
Is anyone else here using Minox cameras or still using film?
For those who don't know, those are Minox cameras.
After getting hold of some film my journey began. For starters, there seems to be only one place in Europe which still supports old Minox cameras and although they process film I'll have to deal with printing them out.
So far it's been an object lesson in patience. With only 36 exposures, I have to think about what I'm taking a photo of, frame it and attempt to get the lighting at vaguely the right sort of level. The first cassette of film is going away to be processed in the next few days and I'm eager to see what comes back.
Is anyone else here using Minox cameras or still using film?
I recall having a debate with someone a few years ago over the merits of digital vs film and used a similar argument with him. Having to actually stop and think about what to use your limited film for rather than just clicking a thousand times was more likely to lead to better picture taking and a more immersive experience.
He was having none of it.
He was having none of it.
RustyMX5 said:
After years of enjoying the ability to take thousands of photos, deleting the ones I don't like and just occasionally, printing them, I decided to resurrect a couple of old cameras that I had knocking around in a drawer.
For those who don't know, those are Minox cameras.
After getting hold of some film my journey began. For starters, there seems to be only one place in Europe which still supports old Minox cameras and although they process film I'll have to deal with printing them out.
So far it's been an object lesson in patience. With only 36 exposures, I have to think about what I'm taking a photo of, frame it and attempt to get the lighting at vaguely the right sort of level. The first cassette of film is going away to be processed in the next few days and I'm eager to see what comes back.
Is anyone else here using Minox cameras or still using film?
I had a Yashica TLR, bought when my first was born. I would take ages with every shot; there were only 12 to a roll of 120, and 20 to 220, when I could get it. I have a remarkable number of photos of my kids given the restriction, and it's enjoyable going back through them, now digitised professionally. My eldest is into old cameras and film, repairing and building his own cameras, but not lenses, which he cannabilises from lenses others throw away. He has made a couple of pinhole cameras in wood - cool. But he has been collecting old 35mm but he came to us once with a Yashicamat 24G, the model I had. For those who don't know, those are Minox cameras.
After getting hold of some film my journey began. For starters, there seems to be only one place in Europe which still supports old Minox cameras and although they process film I'll have to deal with printing them out.
So far it's been an object lesson in patience. With only 36 exposures, I have to think about what I'm taking a photo of, frame it and attempt to get the lighting at vaguely the right sort of level. The first cassette of film is going away to be processed in the next few days and I'm eager to see what comes back.
Is anyone else here using Minox cameras or still using film?
I became all nostalgic; memories of 50 years ago. But at no time was there an urge to return to those days. It was heavy.
I accept that I've probably become a big slovenly. I still take a lot of time setting up a shot, the old lessons and skills being useful, but now I take a dozen shots of each, sometimes even bracketing at a third or half apertures if the lighting is a bit iffy or I'm trying something, so coming back with 30-odd images of one shot isn't unusual. I wouldn't go back to the days of the one. I used to be over the moon if I got three shots worth enlarging off a roll. Nowadays, I hardly ever have a failure (touch wood).
However, the familiar feel of mechanical 35mm bodies is great. I like the idea of using a Voightlander Vito again. Maybe if they put a sensor in the body I'd be interested. I don't often use auto anything much, apart from focus, certainly not over 50% of the time.
The remarkable quality of image I get now with a 25mp sensor so far outstrips film that I don't want to go back. Even if I did want the appearance of film, I've got a filter for that on my software.
The Minox I understand. It was much sought after when I was younger, but it feels like a different hobby than the one I've got now.
Best of luck with it. Could you post some images for us, please.
Derek Smith said:
I accept that I've probably become a big slovenly. I still take a lot of time setting up a shot, the old lessons and skills being useful, but now I take a dozen shots of each, sometimes even bracketing at a third or half apertures if the lighting is a bit iffy or I'm trying something, so coming back with 30-odd images of one shot isn't unusual. I wouldn't go back to the days of the one. I used to be over the moon if I got three shots worth enlarging off a roll. Nowadays, I hardly ever have a failure (touch wood).
The remarkable quality of image I get now with a 25mp sensor so far outstrips film that I don't want to go back. Even if I did want the appearance of film, I've got a filter for that on my software.
.
Feel much the same. That said, there is so much you can now do in post processing, particularly if you shoot in raw, that it doesn't make much sense to get too fixated on getting the last half stop of exposure correct. You almost invariably can make benefiicial local adjustments unless you are in a controlled environment where, such as in a photo studio, you have complete control of the lighting, The remarkable quality of image I get now with a 25mp sensor so far outstrips film that I don't want to go back. Even if I did want the appearance of film, I've got a filter for that on my software.
.
There's no doubt that the resolution of todays' cameras is in a different league to film cameras of the past - but I derive a lot of pleasure ( and spend a lot of time) in upscaling my old photos and adjusting exposure and much else. I'm am often delighted what AI assisted tinkering can achieve - often making an image kept in a dusty drawer worthy of seeing in the light of day.
This thread reminds me of how we used to get our photos.
Take roll of film out of camera, get on bus into town, hand over the film in "Boots".
Lady gives you a ticket and says "That will be about three weeks."
Three weeks later: get on bus into town, go to "Boots", hand over the ticket.
Lady rummages through a drawer, and eventually pulls out our packet of 20 or 36 photos and negatives.
Look at them on the bus home. Two or three of the 36 were really good....
Now the three weeks have become three seconds, and that's still too long for some!
Take roll of film out of camera, get on bus into town, hand over the film in "Boots".
Lady gives you a ticket and says "That will be about three weeks."
Three weeks later: get on bus into town, go to "Boots", hand over the ticket.
Lady rummages through a drawer, and eventually pulls out our packet of 20 or 36 photos and negatives.
Look at them on the bus home. Two or three of the 36 were really good....
Now the three weeks have become three seconds, and that's still too long for some!
M4cruiser said:
This thread reminds me of how we used to get our photos.
Take roll of film out of camera, get on bus into town, hand over the film in "Boots".
Lady gives you a ticket and says "That will be about three weeks."
Three weeks later: get on bus into town, go to "Boots", hand over the ticket.
Lady rummages through a drawer, and eventually pulls out our packet of 20 or 36 photos and negatives.
Look at them on the bus home. Two or three of the 36 were really good....
Now the three weeks have become three seconds, and that's still too long for some!
Or post them to Fotopost Express and get them back in three/four days, rapid service. (Around 1978)Take roll of film out of camera, get on bus into town, hand over the film in "Boots".
Lady gives you a ticket and says "That will be about three weeks."
Three weeks later: get on bus into town, go to "Boots", hand over the ticket.
Lady rummages through a drawer, and eventually pulls out our packet of 20 or 36 photos and negatives.
Look at them on the bus home. Two or three of the 36 were really good....
Now the three weeks have become three seconds, and that's still too long for some!
M4cruiser said:
This thread reminds me of how we used to get our photos.
Take roll of film out of camera, get on bus into town, hand over the film in "Boots".
Mail order for me - Bonusprint, Truprint, Tripleprint... but my favourite was Starfoto.Take roll of film out of camera, get on bus into town, hand over the film in "Boots".
I still have my Olympus XA2 from 1984, but it's been in retirement since I tried its digital descendant a Mju300 in 2003.
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