Going back (part 2)
Mirrorless and Electronic View Finders (EVF) brought back the nostalgia of old photography and manual controls. I heard good stories about the new cameras, such as Fujifilm X-100V and X-E4. You see a lot of videos and articles from influencers sharing experiences of using them. At some point, it drew my interest, and I started learning about these cameras and others everyone is talking about.
Many mention a smaller size, fast lens, leaf shutter, flash sync speeds, etc. These specs are indeed very seductive. However, the most noticeable feature is the retro look and jpegs tuned by custom colour profiles that imitate the 35 mm we nostalgically miss. At some point, I went sleepless trying to justify beyond the $2K US price tag till a simple realization came to me. Why imitate and not use the real thing? So I opened my drawer and picked up a camera I inherited from a dear relative who worked as a reporter for the local newspaper earning a simple living with this baby.
Combined with a good colour Fujifilm Velvia 100, Superia 400, Provia 100F or Kodak Porta, Tri-X or Ilford HP5, I’ll get the actual real thing we all talk about and why not?
I picked up some vinegar and ordered a new battery for the exposure meter for this camera. Surprisingly it works! I still need to do a bit of cleaning, and part 2 is here. The viewfinder is still dirty, with pieces of old dry foam falling apart. But it looks already very sexy and ready for the play. So let’s get one of a few Kodak films I still got and move in.
Given generations of Nikon cameras, one would ask why?
Many photographers who shoot not commercially are here to enjoy the process. The new top cameras with superb quality digital chips, the fastest focus and many other features have a single disadvantage. They steal the fun out of it. We compensated by extracting raw and then playing with it in Lightroom to see what we missed. We do not want to lose it. Fujifilm 100v does an excellent job of bringing us to that particular moment, helping us to be in the moment and enjoy the process of photography that we lost. The equipment does not need to be perfect. It just needs to stop limiting us and let us embark on a journey.
A few others, like Sony and Leica, add a lineup of monochrome cameras. The level of detail, of course superb. A few photographers on Instagram that share their photos make my day. They are an inspiration to go out and shoot amazing photographs, discover yourself and discover what defines you.
Digital technologies made considerable progress in the last two decades, leaving no doubt in us of their endless capabilities. Nevertheless, there is a charm of film that I can’t see these cameras can replace. Being human, we fall for chemistry, impulses and feelings that leave unforgettable moments or connect with us. Isn’t what photography is all about?
Back then, in film photography days, I probably lacked much knowledge and would probably shoot much better images nowadays. However, in my memories, I still see these unforgettable hues and tones that make images unique to me. They feel so natural and perfectly imperfect.
I want to go back and relieve these emotions enjoying the moments when I frame the image slowly, choosing that exposure the get all tones in the correct zone system. You do not need the latest camera, and a 50-year camera can still be a fantastic companion. Discover yourself.
