Tag: 35mm Film Camera

Palmer Square West

The fog and dim light seemed like a good day to use Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow.

A thick fog enveloped the area the morning after my bicycle ride in Van Horne Park. The outdoor temperature looked warmer, but I knew it was cold outside. After a quick breakfast, I grabbed the Minolta XD-11, still loaded with Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow and headed to downtown Princeton. It was a chilly and quiet morning in Princeton. I had always been an early riser and loved the peace that came with the first light of dawn. As usual, I started my "fog walk" on Palmer Square.

As I walked south on Palmer Square West, I felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take in the morning's eerie beauty before it fully woke up. The sun was starting to rise, but the light was still dim, hidden behind the thick fog covering the streets.

The early morning fog had blanketed the mostly-empty streets of Palmer Square West, creating a spooky atmosphere. The usual hustle and bustle of this outdoor mall were replaced by a quiet stillness that was almost tangible. The air was heavy with moisture, and the only sounds that could be heard were the soft, muted footsteps of the few early risers brave enough to venture out in the dense fog.

tunnel to parking at palmer square
Palmer Square West · Monday 26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2

The street lamps in Palmer Square cast a dim glow, their light barely visible through the mist. The fog had turned the familiar buildings into spooky apparitions. The branches of the trees lining the street were shrouded in mist. The quiet and stillness of the morning were both eerie and serene. It was as if the world had stopped, and everything was waiting for the sun to burn away the fog and bring the town back to life.

Monday 26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2

As a lone figure walked down Palmer Square West, the mist seemed to part for a moment.

I stopped and closed my eyes, taking deep breaths and letting the morning's peace wash over me. I didn't want to leave, but I knew I had to. The air was chilly. I continued my walk, heading toward Nassau Street.

Van Horne Park, Rocky Hill

It was a cold day, but after the weekend of winter hell we experienced during our trip to Champaign, Illinois, I wanted to get outside for a bike ride. The air was cold this morning; I expected to warm up once I got going. I put on some layers, stuck the Minolta XD-11 camera in the basket of the e-bike, donned my helmet and started for Van Horne Park.

Van Horne Park, Black and White, Winter
Monday26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 at 1/1000 sec, ISO 400 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 at f/16

Van Horne Park is a recreational park located in Rocky Hill Borough and an independent municipality within the borders of Montgomery Township. The Montgomery Township Parks and Recreation Department maintain the park. It offers a variety of recreational activities. Spread across sprawling green lawns, Van Horner Park features well-maintained playing fields, tennis and basketball courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, and walking paths.

Van Horne Park, Black and White, Winter
Monday26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 at 1⁄250 sec, ISO 400 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 at f/8.0

In 2020, the Montgomery Township Parks and Recreation Department planned to host a “Movies in the Park” event. I assumed they had not completed the event. The wall serving as the outdoor movie screen is now full of graffiti. Perhaps this is another opportunity for community building lost to the pandemic.

Van Horne Park, Black and White, Winter
Monday26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 at 1/1000 sec, ISO 400 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 at f/11

During the warmer months of the year, area residents can enjoy a game of catch with friends or family, go for a leisurely walk or jog, or play a game of tennis. Children play on the swings, slides and other play structures in the playground area while adults relax on the benches and enjoy the scenery. When our children were younger, we often took them to Van Horne Park to fly kites.

Van Horne Park, Black and White, Winter
Monday26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 at 1/1000 sec, ISO 400 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 at f/8.0

The park is a popular destination for picnics in the summer, with several covered picnic shelters available for rent.

All of these were absent during my bicycle ride. It was cold. I quickly made my way through the park, stopping briefly to expose a few frames of Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow.

Van Horne Park, Black and White, Winter
Monday26 December 2022 · Minolta XD-11 at 1⁄60 sec, ISO 400 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 at f/8.0

Lack of proper focus

After four surgeries and other health problems, my eyesight is not excellent. I can see the computer screen and drive safely even at night, but using a manual focus lens is challenging. When I adapt manual focus 35mm lenses to my Fuji X digital camera, I often use the digital focus peaking feature to help me get sharp in-focus images. I don't have this helpful focusing aid with a manual focus lens on a 35mm film camera. I can't quite see where the parallax lines meet when focusing. Many of my frames are slightly out of focus. I realised that many of the 35mm frames I exposed over the last few years are slightly out of focus. I’m struggling with nailing focus when using my manual focus 35mm lenses on my Minolta cameras. It’s not the equipment; it’s me.

I asked a film community member for help finding a solution. I wrote:

I’ve searched Google, but I’m struggling to find a solution. I want to continue with film, but I need a camera with autofocus. I want something compact with a fixed focal length between 38mm and 45mm. Do those exist?

I got a helpful response, but it wasn't what I had hoped.

Am I reading you right that you want a small fixed-lens camera, like a point-and-shoot? You will find such cameras with single-focal-length lenses. 35mm is the most common focal length by far. You might get lucky and find one at 38mm, but I haven't encountered one yet in my travels.

You might also consider a compact AF SLR. My Minolta Maxxum 5 is small and handles beautifully, but the primes available are the typical 28, 35, and 50. I've owned a couple of consumer Nikon AF SLRs, the N60 and N65; they handle great. Same trouble with the primes, but I own a 28-80 zoom for those bodies, which is a terrific lens. I use it on my Nikon Df all the time.

Saturday 19 November 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2 · Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow

I did a Google search using the search term "autofocus 35mm rangefinder". Google returned links to reviews recommending Contax G2 and Konica Hexar AF, both popular range finder cameras. Dependingly on the camera's condition, the used prices on eBay and elsewhere were well over $1500.

Why am I so hung up on finding a compact camera with a 40mm lens? The 40mm focal length feels purpose-built to be perfect for general-purpose photography, family snapshots and street photography, the only type I think makes sense for a 35mm film camera. The MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 pancake lens feels purpose-built for my XD-11 and X-700 cameras. I wish my eyesight were better. I do enjoy using my Minolta cameras.

I found a cheaper, but not cheap compact, autofocus camera when I checked the box for 35mm lenses—cameras such as the Nikon LF35AF or LF35AD. The Nikon has a 35mm f/2.8 and is made of much too much plastic, but I like the look of the camera. I also looked at the Nikon 2020 (F-501), one of the first autofocus SLRs from Nikon. It is readily available on eBay but finding an inexpensive 35mm lens is challenging.

I also found that the Canon Sure Shot (AF35M) might be an option. I found a review on lomogrpahy, implying that the AF34M is heavy and clunky. I'm looking for other reviews before I decide. Another option is the Konica C35 AF, another rangefinder with a 35mm lens. Or I could spend a little more (my budget cap is $150) and get a Nikon L35AF2, Nikon's first autofocus range finger.

I discovered the compact Canon EF 40mm prime lens, and the compatible Canon SLR bodies are plentiful and cheap but bulky.

I have the XF27mmF2.8 R WR lens on my Fuji X-T3. It's the APS-C equivalent to a 41mm lens. I have other lenses, but that one is almost always attached to my camera. I'll keep looking. I'm looking for this package https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pofcxdh4eU but in analogue form.

Typical for my "on the spectrum" brain, I suffer from paralysis of analysis.