Lucky Shinjuku

The Lucky Camera Shop, in Shinjuku, Japan. If you've got a keen eye, you can spot the price tags on some of those TLRs - 32,000 YEN for the Autocord there is equivalent to about $400 Australian. So prices weren't too bad. Of course, what I spent most of my time salivating over was the Leica M3, in just about perfect condition. A cool 500,000 YEN ($6000 Australia) for your rubber-necking, gaijin.

This was only the front window display - inside, pretty much every western, eastern, and soviet manufacturer was represented. There were even a few bakelite beasties that had me scratching my head. Alas, my mind was firmly set on trying to find that rare and most desirable toy, the Fujipet. No luck, I'm afraid.

** note: didn't even buying anything from here, not a sausage. i do think i nearly got kicked out by the owner though - punctuality is important in Japan, and i wasn't quite paying attention to the fact i walked into his shop 5 minutes before he opened. hey, he had the door open and everything...

More reverse-lens macro...

I had to fill up a film on the weekend to get some shots developed of my newborn (pseudo-, non-blood-relative-) nephew on his second night of being out. So to fill up the roll of film, I took a few reverse-lens macro shots.

I have to admit that the worst thing about film is when you desperately want to get some shots developed but have half a roll left to fill. However, this allows me to take photos of things like this and my wife won't be too disappointed, because there are some people shots too!

I did receive my extension tube set, so look out for more little-things-made-big shots soon.

Macro on the cheap

As I am a bit of a tight-arse (or, more correctly, I have a mortgage to pay off), I am reluctant to spend upwards of $300 for a good quality macro lens for the Minolta. A few weeks ago I came across a zero-cost way to get around this: you simply take off the fixed-focal length lens, and hold it backwards against the film body. Voila! Macro lens for nix.

The main issue I encountered is that focussing suddenly becomes a case of moving the whole camera back and forth until things are sharp. As I was also holding the lens in place at the same time, this was trickier than it sounds -  especially as I was trying to prevent light leaks as well. Not helping the situation was the need for the aperture to be wide open at 1.7 to cater for the poor lighting in my kitchen.

For the people interested, I used a Minolta XG-M slr, the lens was a Rokkor 1.7 50mm prime lens, and the film was Fuji Pro 800z. The subject above is a nozzle for piping icing onto cakes. The subjects below are a fork, the tip of the nozzle, and some spilt flour.

It didn't turn out too badly. Here's some other results...

Ilford Pan (or, How I Tried To Copy Max Dupain)

On New Year's Day, my wife & I went with some friends to Coles Bay. I gave a roll of Ilford Pan F 50 a go. Some of the results were good.

I like the film. I think I'll be using it more often...particularly during the day when it's sunny. Allows me to make the most of wide apertures...

Fujicolour 200

Non-expired Fujicolour 200. Much better. Where's the poo?

Also, these last two images came with my first use of a UV filter. I'm not sure whether it's had any effect (common opinion seems to be that UV filters are good for protecting lenses, nothing else). Might have an effect when we're out & about in NZ/Tasmania, what with all the extra UV we get down here at the mouth of the ozone layer hole.

Crane

Fujicolor 1600

I recently purchased some Fujicolor 1600 film. I used it quite liberally on Christmas Eve in my future-parents-in-laws' eternally slightly dim house. It is quite noisy, which I should have been expecting anyway. Useful for be able to shoot in available light, but the colours are fairly muted and the noise is just, well, distracting. Chalk that one up as a learning experience.

Expired film bonanza

A friend visited on Christmas Day & gave me a small cache of expired film from the local constabulary's fridge. As they no longer use film in their operations, I am assured it won't be missed.

1 x Kodak 400 (colour/b&w? expiry?)
2 x Kodak Plus-X Pan 125 (exp. 1992)
2 x Kodachrome 64 slide (exp. 1989)
2 x Kodak T-Max 100 (exp. 1990?)
2 x Kodak T-Max P3200 (exp. 1989)
1 x Kodak Pro Image 100 (exp. ?)
1 x Kodak Tri-x 400 (exp. ?)
2 x Fujicolor Super HR 1600 (exp. 1988, 1995)
2 x Fijucolor Super HG 1600 (exp. 1988)
4 x Ilford Delta 100 (exp 1996)

Not a bad haul. Of course, as they expired a minimum of 12 years ago, the results may "vary". I've put them all in the freezer until I can figure out what to do with them. My benefactor assures me they have been sitting in a police fridge as far back as he can remember, so I can only hope they have survived the ravages of age well.

The 3200 I'm not even sure I can use. The Minolta only meters up to 1600, so I'd be guessing the right exposure. I was thinking of trying it in the Vilia, which has a maximum f4 and shutter speeds from 1/250 to 1/30. It could work. We'll see.

He's also going to see if his department are willing to part with one of their superfluous Bronica kits for a small fee. Of course I'll have to consider whether the cost is worth it, but I have had my eye on a Bronica system for some time now, and if I can avoid having to buy from the USA, or even buy it after having actually seen the product, I'd be much happier.

Christmas is a good time of year.

Green

I went for a bit of a wander out to Tamar Island & back today. Never taken my "nice" camera out there, which is odd because I worked there for 8 months - hence ample opportunity.

I'm a bit disappointed with the results, plus I had to scan them myself. Anyways, here's the only one out of 27 worth sharing.