And then I bought a Praktica BX20 camera, because... well, you know. And I have been running around, shooting all manner of photos.
Now, when it comes to me and lighting, I believe that I am cursed, or at least very unlucky at a minimum. If I take a camera out without a tripod, then it will, without warning, cloud over and I will be shooting blurry images, or using trees, fences and other paraphernalia to support the camera.
With film photography, it now seems that the opposite is true. When I have an ISO400 film loaded, it will magically turn into the brightest, sunshine day that Ireland has ever experienced.
But I will not be defeated.
I have managed to get at least a handful of decent shots. I also managed to overdevelop the film, which does make for a much grainier effect than was intended.
(Note to self, do not touch your timer when it is running. That stops it).
I have also noted that the light meter of the Praktica seems to be about 2 stops out when compared to the light meter app that I installed on my iPhone. A light meter app that came highly recommended. Funny that I get the same result when I measure it against my digital camera's light meter.
Ups (with the correct German pronunciation).
But I will prevail. I have also noted that my DSLR scanning seems to be the culprit causing the soft focus on the borders. I am currently using a close-up filter to zoom in close enough on the negative and I suspect the filter, which is quite convex, may be the issue here. No, I do not have a macro lens (not one that works at that close a range anyway). So I ordered some extension tubes. They will be here tomorrow. Will keep you posted.
Which now begs the next question, is my scanning the issue, or am I not getting the focusing 100% correct. I will admit that this is my first venture into a rangefinder focusing system, and it takes some getting used to. I wear varifocal glasses and it is just impossible for me to focus a DSLR with them on. I always have to pop them on my head and put them back on when I am done shooting. With the rangefinder I do not have that problem, but I do find that I am not framing up 100% squarely. Something to work on. Getting there.
But am I loving it? Hell, yeah! I cannot remember a time when I have enjoyed photography as much as I am right now. And the more analogue I do, the more I want to do.
So I have now also bought a Medium Format Illford point and shoot. Cheap as chalk, but with no guarantee that it will work. I have checked and it seems that the "Sunny" setting might be a bit of a problem. Looks like the shutter opens only half way. But I will give it a go. The "Cloudy" setting has everything working as it should (seemingly) so I will have a try.
My pinhole camera is all printed and ready to go. Just waiting for the pinhole lens to arrive. I have also made a drinks tin pinhole camera because, why not. Just waiting for some decent weather to try it out.
F Stop on the tin can - F250 ish. Should be interesting.
