If all goes according to planned, today I will be able to test out the 1987 35mm film camera that has been buried in the depths of our closet. It's been nearly a week since I found it fully loaded with images from another decade. Sadly, without a battery, it's been resigned to collect dust in the office for six LONG days.
With any luck, that will change today. A fresh battery is slated for arrival.
A film camera with a battery? I like to call it an upgrade to the 35mm cameras where cranking was required to load the film. The battery gives this little gem the ability to essentially self-load. It also has a small LCD screen on the top that, if I remember correctly, provides all the vital stats (F-stops, exposure number, etc.). It isn't digital by a long shot, but the top screen makes it feel a little more like today's digital models (of course, without the perks of being able to review your images).
The last time this camera was used was probably in the early 2000s, and then I was still getting a feel for photography by simply using the "auto" mode. This time around will be completely different. Auto is not allowed. Like the battery, this little experiment is also going to require patience. I'm going to have to send the film to a lab and then wait to see the fruit of my labor. This will definitely be a challenge. As an added bonus, I've decided to dedicate this camera to black-and-white film only.
While I feel pretty confident about this project, I know there will be a distinct learning curve. I hadn't even considered shooting film again until I recently had an opportunity to by a film camera by a different manufacturer. As I was considering the purchase, the expense list quickly started tallying through my head - new film, new lenses, learning how to operate something from scratch. It was easy to fall back on our old 35mm, with the lenses and gear already purchased and ready to go.
As an added plus (and we did this on purpose), when we moved to digital, we stayed with this manufacturer and chose our lenses appropriately so they could transition with us from film to digital cameras. Even the lenses I've purchased in the last couple years are a perfect fit to the 35mm.
So now I anxiously wait for the battery. If, upon installation, everything is still operational, I can begin relearning the art of shooting film images and start ordering film. If it doesn't work, I'm going to be sorely disappointed. Stay tuned.
When was the last time you shot film? What type of camera were you using? Have you stuck with that manufacturer?
** As a side note, my husband corrected me after last week's post to remind me this 35mm is actually his camera. Guess it's pretty obvious who got the most use out of it.
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