Note to followers:

Sorry about being so late posting this video. My 6 year old Windows based laptop finally died, it was my only computer at the time. But that event forced me to finally make the switch to a Mac. I've spent the past 2 weeks configuring my new system, moving files over, buying new hardware, and settling in to the Mac way of doing things.....and it's great. Thanks for your patients.

 

In the month of May my Analog Project 2012 continued with the the Olympus XA. This camera released by Olympus in 1979 is a 35mm rangefinder featuring a 35mm Zuiko lens that shoots at f/2.8, an aperture priority exposure system with aperture that range from f/2.8 to f/22, and shutter speeds ranging from 10sec. to 1/500sec., and an ISO range from 25-800. This camera also features an exposure compensation switch on the bottom that changes the exposure by +0.5 - it's kind of a backlighting option to be used when shooting in the shade. The same switch serves as a battery check, and a self timer. The XA line of olympus cameras were very popular and featured several somewhat similar looking models over the years. The Olympus XA1, XA2, XA3, and XA4 all featured scale focusing and various forms of automatic exposure but the original XA was the only one in the line-up that existed as a true rangefinder. This camera has an all plastic body featuring a sliding clamshell design that also served as a power switch and lens cover - when closed the camera was seriously compact and portable. Folks with fat fingers such as myself might find the XA's focusing lever (located just below the lens) a bit hard to find and operate. It's somewhat recessed but does allow for your fingernail to rest inside a little slot or groove built-in to the little lever - once you find it....everything works great. I also found the shutter release button a bit too flat and went hunting for it too often when holding the camera up to my eye. Like a few other point-n-shoot cameras that I own, it needs to be raised just a little to make locating it without looking much easier. My XA came with an Olympus A11 flash that attaches to the side of the camera with a built-in thumb screw. The flash runs on a single AA battery and puts off a pretty good burst of light when shooting outdoors at night or indoors with low light. It's not great for long range illumination but will get the job done for most lighting needs. I will admit that I only bought this camera because it was a rangefinder but later found that Olympus put plenty of engineering behind this little compact camera as well as outfitting it with an excellent Zuiko lens. The XA is a keeper!

Check out a short video about my XA over on my YouTube Ch.

Also check out my Lomography Home where I have just a bit more to say!

Right on the heels of my awesome flea market finds (the Konica Big Mini HG and the Olympus T-20 flash) comes the Konica U-Mini. Found for under $5, this 35mm pocket point-n-shoot sports a 28mm fixed focus wide angle plastic lens that shoots at either f/6.7 or f/6.8 - I'm not sure which one. It also has two shutter speeds, 1/60sec and 1sec, a DX type auto ISO system with auto selections between 100iso, 200iso, and 400iso, auto film advance and rewind, auto flash with red eye, a tiny little LCD film counter, and a built-in lens cover that doubles as the power switch. This camera is also powered by a CR123 3volt battery which will be shared between my other Konica cameras.

The Konica U-Mini reminds me of the Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim with its all plastic design. Although not as wide as the Vivitar UWS's 22mm lens, I expect this 28mm lens to give me close to the same results. The camera arrived in mint condition with only a bit of dust on the lens surface which I wiped clean immediately. I'll be loading this camera up with a roll of film soon to test its worthiness as a Lomo camera.

A single roll of Seattle Film Works 35mm 200iso color film - expired June 1999. No doubt the layers of emulsion on this film has gone bad - how was this film stored? But I know no fear, I'll shoot it just the same! Price paid...10¢

A fully functional Olympus T-20 electronic flash. No corrosion in the battery compartment and the front diffuser is still pretty clear. I installs two AA batteries and the flash charged and fired. It's my first ever Olympus flash - I'll introduce it to my Olympus OM-1n later today. Price paid...$3.00

A Konica Big Mini HG (BM-300). It's dusty, dirty, and grimy - plus plenty of scuffs and scratches. I swiped the battery from my other Big Mini, dumped it in, and the camera came to life. I'll give it a good cleaning in the next day or so. The camera still had a partially exposed roll of Kodak 200 Gold 36exp in it - I rewound the film back into the canister and plan to have it developed. It was most likely ruined my someone opening the camera back....but you never know, there may be recoverable images on the roll. Price paid...$6.00

Just added to my collection of backyard shooters is the Konica Pop. A fully automatic 35mm camera featuring a Hexanon 36mm fixed lens that shoots at f/4 and a pop-up flash......nothing more. This camera is in near mint condition and cost me less than a fancy Venti drink from Starbucks. My new Konica Pop is a compromise because I still can't find the Konica C35 EF3 in good condition at a price I'm willing to pay. Both the Konica C35 EF3 and the Konica Pop are identical in shape, form-factor, looks, and features with the exception of the C35 EF3 sporting a Hexanon 35mm f/2.8 fixed lens. I'm sure I'll find one soon enough.

In the month of April my Analog Project 2012 features the Konica Big Mini-302. This camera released by Konica in 1990 is an automatic exposure 35mm point-n-shoot featuring a 35mm lens that shoots at f3.5, auto focus, automatic film advance and rewind, built-in flash, self timer, and options to adjust exposure values by a stop or two. The big Mini's design is of a plastic build, it's light weight, has an attractive sleek and thin profile with smooth rounded corners  - fits nicely into any pocket. This camera would make a great companion for no nonsense shooting in most any outdoor conditions. This camera also adjusts the ISO automatically - when using DX type film the camera will select an ISO between 25 and 3200 and when using non DX film the camera defaults to an ISO of 25. If I remember correctly, DX film has a barcode below the sprocket holes which is recognized by some cameras as well as machines used during film processing. I've noticed that several brands and types of film that I've used recently seem to have barcodes, but I'm going to have to take a closer look because whats the point of shooting if the selected ISO is incorrect for the conditions in which I'm shooting. My biggest two complaints about the Big Mini-302 is the slow auto focus and the power and shutter button being too close together.

The first 2 parts of my Hasselblad build arrived today. The once-over revealed that both are in perfect shape. They are currently wrapped up and re-boxed for safety until the A12 backs arrive in 2 days. A lens (the final part) is about 2 weeks out mainly due to my indecision on which one to get.....I simply can't decide.

I'm kicking off 2012 with another analog project. I'm adding a few toy cameras into the mix as well as simple point-n-shoot plastic cameras because they are loads of fun when using fancy lomo films. Last year I split the project in to two parts each month - a video walk around of the camera used then a video sideshow posted over on flickr featuring images shot with the camera. This year I'm grouping several images in with the video walk around and discontinuing the sideshow.

 

 

For the month of January 2012 I'm featuring the Lomography Sprocket Rocket. A 35mm toy camera designed to shoot sprocket hole photography. The camera has an all plastic build with a classic retro design that resembles the Falcon Miniature from the late 1930's. Equipped with a 30mm super wide angle lens the Sprocket rocket can capture a 106º field of view making it a pretty decent panoramic camera. This camera also has the ability of rolling back the film to previous frames to create double exposures. The Sprocket Rocket sells for around $90 but you can find in cheaper if you shop around.

Adventures In Analog.

"Analog photography reconnects our inherent need to possess that which is real. Film and paper represents that which can be touched, held, and truly experienced - it's physical media in the purest sense. Adventures In Analog is my continuing examination of film photography through projects, discussion, and discovery."

I've carved out this spot on the web to host analog photos, video posts, and conversations about analog (film) photography. I'm not turning my back on digital - just simply giving analog photography it's rightful place amongst the things that I love. In addition to this new website, I'm kicking off 2012 with another Analog Project featuring film cameras from my collection. The videos will once again be hosted on my YouTube Channel (which got a bit of an update) and any additional photos will be posted here along with other content.