“X-E4” Cedar Park, 2023
Happy World Photography Day!
World Photography Day
“X-E4” Cedar Park, 2023
Tag: camera
“X-E4” Cedar Park, 2023
Old Camera
“Fujifilm Film Camera” Cedar Park, 2023
While on Maui, my mom asked if I wanted this camera that she found at the house. It’s my grandpa’s old Fujifilm TW-300 point & shoot camera, dating back to ~1986. I said sure! The camera is in pristine condition, and is the Japanese version, with hiragana printed on the back. I actually don’t know if I will ever run a roll of film thru it, but the possibility is there. The challenge might be finding some lithium batteries that fit into it.
World Photography Day
“My Minolta” Cedar Park, 2021
Today is World Photography Day, and I thought I’d take a photo of the camera that started my photography hobby in earnest. It’s my beloved Minolta X-700, which was my dad’s camera before I “borrowed it permanently” for my photography class in college.
My grandfather bought it in Hong Kong in the 80s as a gift for my dad. When I moved to Japan, I brought it with me and got it CLA’d (Clean, Lube, Adjust) at the Yodobashi store in Yokohama for ¥ 5,000 JP and enjoyed practicing photography and using slide film while there.
Ever since digital cameras got up to speed, I haven’t used my film cameras much, although I did stick with Minolta (Konica-Minolta) and even Sony after they bought the Konica-Minolta camera division.
Film cameras are certainly beautiful, but I find film to be too much of a hassle. I know film photography has been enjoying a resurgence (mainly for those who grew up with digital), but I am pretty sure I’ll never seriously go back.
Thank you for all the memories, my little Minolta X-700!
Digital and Film
“Digital and Film” Cedar Park, 2018
こんばんは。
Today’s photo is of my favorite digital camera and my favorite film camera. I’ve seen quite a few videos about shooting film, and there’s a general revival of film photography happening. It’s pretty cool! I guess all the younger photographers who grew up with digital are discovering film. I think it’s great.
I love my old film cameras and had so much fun shooting with them. Because I learned photography by shooting film, they hold a special place for me, and each of my film cameras has certain sentimental value. Actually, that’s not true. I have a few that I acquired later on that I don’t have any real attachment too, and I should probably donate those. But my Minolta X-700, α507si, Nikon F, Holga 120, and Olympus XA are keepers!
That said, I don’t see myself shooting film in the future. I just think the advantages of digital are so great that the charm of film cannot overcome them. The combination of digital and Lightroom allows me to create the photographic style I like, plus the speed of processing that I require to post to my blog every day requires a digital camera. As much as I enjoyed shooting film, it’s simply a hassle to develop the film.
I guess for me it’s also a case of “been there, done that”. But for the younger photo-enthusiasts, it’s a whole new world to explore, and that is wonderful. I get excited thinking that they might be experiencing that same magic of discovery that I experienced when I learned how to develop film and make prints in the dark room. It was a great time. I honestly feel that film is something you have to try out at some point as a photographer because it is an important part of photography that still exists and it’ll be an itch that you’ll have to scratch, or it will stay at the back of your mind and drive you crazy.
Anyways, I will hold on to my precious film cameras and maybe someday my sons or even grandkids might want to use them to shoot some film. 😀
I hope you had a nice Friday!
またね～
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Old Camera
“X-700” Cedar Park, 2017
こんばんは。
Friday, and the weather was nice. It actually hit 82° F this afternoon! ☀
Ramen Lunch
A bunch of us went out to lunch today to say goodbye to a co-worker who is leaving the company. We ate at a nearby ramen shop called “Kanji Ramen”. 🍜 The food was ok. I’d say, though, that it was below par for a ramen restaurant, although better than a dressed up instant. I got the tonkotsu and the broth was nothing special, the portion was a bit small, and the pork was skimpy and over cooked. However, the restaurant is only a few minutes away from the office, there’s no wait, service is fast and friendly, and parking is easy. 🙂 If you want ramen in Austin, there are better places, but for convenience, Kanji Ramen is a viable option.
X-700
Tonight’s photo is of my Minolta X-700 film camera. 📷 This was (is?) my dad’s camera, but I borrowed it in ’88 for a photography class and kept it ever since! I’ve run a lot of film through it, got it CLA’d when I lived in Japan, and it has never let me down (apart from dead batteries). These days, I shoot 100% digital due to convenience, but I do love the old film cameras. Mostly just to look at. I can’t be bothered to get film developed anymore. 😏 Consequently I have been selling most of my old lenses, but I’ll always keep the Minolta!
I hope you had a nice day!
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