For my total 27 years on Earth, I’ve been plagued with the behavior of spacing out and leaving issues locations. Typically it’ll be a jacket, however more often than not it’s one thing extra necessary. (I nonetheless kick myself for leaving a bag of cassettes of my buddies’ improvised music within the Philadelphia practice station in 2017). However I appear to lose cameras probably the most.
On the finish of 1 notably lengthy evening out in Hollywood within the fall of 2020, I spotted I had received off on the proper bus cease however my prized Chinon Auto 3001 hadn’t. The 3001 was my favourite digital camera on the time. Its 35mm/2.8 lens renders superbly sharp, contrasty photographs seemingly with out fail, and the multi-beam infared focus system (the primary of its kind on a compact digital camera) nails the autofocus with an identical consistency. I received fortunate and paid $25 for mine at a used digital camera present. I almost had a coronary heart assault once I noticed it, since “elements solely” 3001s can go for $250+ on eBay. I ran a pair rolls by way of it, then – similar to the lady in an Eagles tune – it was gone.
Changing it wasn’t an possibility, so I started to look into alternate options. I had a Konica MG on the time that I might use as a backup digital camera. I favored its 35mm/3.5 lens too — and it had the additional benefit of a handbook management for the ISO/ASA that went as much as 1000. Nevertheless it simply wasn’t almost as sharp, the pittance of an autofocus system was simply led astray, and once I received again an important roll with 1/3 of the pictures fully out of focus I made a decision to move the digital camera alongside to a much less essential good friend. After that, based mostly on my love of this picture I picked up a Ricoh AF-5, which was a implausible Nikon L35AF-ish factor, additionally with the 1000 ISO possibility. That lasted one other few rolls, after which in the future it wouldn’t cease rewinding. I purchased a second one and shortly it simply fully stopped turning on. I don’t know what’s improper with the construct high quality on these, however on reflection it’s telling the one Amazon assessment for the mannequin is a 1-star, terse “doesn’t work.”
At that time I received pissed off, as a result of the few valuable rolls of Superia I’d run by way of my 3001 had confirmed me there was a greater method to be capturing movie. Then one stunning December morning, I noticed this piece by Thang Nguyen. You’re kidding! An alternate 3001 with a flip-up flash? Aside from handbook ISO management, that was the one characteristic I had longed for on my Chinon! And also you’re telling me that the Kodak model goes for nearer to $30 than $250? I’m fairly positive my fingers began kicking up smoke whereas typing – E…B…A…Y……
These pictures are from the primary roll I ran by way of my new good friend. Taken in Los Angeles in early 2021, and scanned in 2023 on a Primefilm XE, as soon as my negatives, scanner and I have been all lastly in the identical place.
I spent most of 2022 specializing in the MY WORLD mission. In that context, I solely use my 3.2 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 3200. That was as a lot an financial consideration as the rest, though I realized to coax a surprisingly dreamy picture out of its CCD sensor.
However a latest transfer to greener pastures has impressed me to start out capturing movie once more, and my S1100XL is the proper tag-along digital camera. I belief it. The autofocus hasn’t failed me but, the lens is tack-sharp, and the flip-flash ensures a scarcity of pink eye within the uncommon case that I {photograph} an individual reasonably than a constructing or a plant. In different phrases, it accomplishes what I take into account to be the last word objective of any allegedly point-and-shoot digital camera: it will get out of the best way, captures the issues round me faithfully, however nonetheless provides a pinch of its personal unmistakable character. Actually, I ask you — what extra may I need?
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