This year I am ringing in the New Year by adopting the technology of toy cameras from the 1960’s.
Nana, (aka “Greatest MIL in the world”) bought me a new camera for Christmas. It is a Diana Mini. It is very retro and very low tech. It uses 35mm film, no autofocus, no auto exposure, no auto nothing. You have to manually set the focus and guess at the exposure, you even have to advance the film manually. It’s made out of plastic, even the lens. I just love the look of film and have been attracted to Lomography, the art of low tech analog photography.
I’ve had a lot of fun with it, although my first roll of film was a complete disaster, between forgetting to take the lens cap off, not advancing the film, not setting the focus right, and other problems the first roll of film was a complete mess. For professional assistance contact the video production company in San Antonio. However, I salvaged one photo. I call it: “The Spirits of Christmas.”
I think the bottle was empty when I took the photo, I really don’t remember.
I had a little more luck with the second roll.
There is something about film, especially low tech film, that I just love. The colors seem deeper and the photos seem to have more “immediacy” about them, plus they seem like they are from a long time ago. I know that I’m not making much sense. I just like them, when I remember to take the lens cover off.
The processing is pretty cheap. I go to Walgreens, they charge $2.99 if all you want is the CD and no prints. I think they feel sorry for me. “Well we tried Yogi.”
If you are geocacher there is the added bonus that the plastic containers for the film are great cache containers. They are waterproof.
I’m still a learning. For such a low tech device it is taking me a while to get the hang of it.
By the way, I wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!!
That is such an interesting little camera. Do you think the lens would scratch easily being plastic? Your pictures do have an ‘older’ look about them.
It’s been a while since I used my 35mm, I may have forgotten how it works – haha!
A very Happy New Year to you and your family.
☼ Sunny
Very interesting indeed. I still have my old 35mm SLR in the closet. I haven’t used in in years. I do know what you mean about the nostalgic look that the picture have have. Happy New Year to you and yours.
What a great new “toy” for you! And we do love our toys, don’t we? Interesting camera! I used a point and shoot disposable camera for so long. I’m so excited about taking a photography course at a local college next month and the teacher has had his photos published in National Geographic and has led photo tours all over the world. I’m really excited! Have a wonderful, Happy New Year and much love to you and Sweetie and SPB for all the fun this year!!
Sylvia
Today is the last day that Kokachrome can be processed. A lab in Kansas was given enough of the chemicals to last it through the end of this year. Kodak will no longer make the chemicals for the process. A great loss.
I agree–pix from old cameras have a certain something about them. From time to time, I’ll find an old disposable and have the pix put on a disc. That’s always a nice surprise, when they turn out. Of course, I have fun with the ones that are not-so-good, turning them into “zombie” style abstract art.
Happy New Year from Scotland….. we’re celebrating hogmanay and wish you a happy New Year!
love
Team Craven http://www.beech-cottage.blogspot.com
I wish I would have held on to my old Brownie.
Ooh, I love it. I love the color of the camera. Happy New Year.
My digital Canon has so spoiled me that I have no inclination to shoot film again. A simple film camera like this is like a lot of simple cell phone cameras. You don’t have much control so you have to get it right when you take the picture.
Happy New Year my friend.
What a neat gift from your m-in-l. Thank you for stopping by. Wishing you all A Very Happy and Healthy New Year.
I love these photos! You know, people pay a lot of money to have software that makes their pics look like those–looks like you’ve found the ticket!! They’re great!
I get what you’re saying about the immediacy of the low-tech film. It’s real and personal and true in a different way.
These are great.
At first I thought the Spirit was a person-shaped spirit with huge shoulders. Then I saw the bottle! (And I have not communed yet with any of those spirits yet today!)
I love that you got a film camera. I love these shots as well. Well, the first one is a little “different.” LOL! Maybe it wasn’t the camera at all, but the fact that you’d drank that who bottle and THEN attempted to take the pictures!?! Ha!
Oh, thanks. That’s all I need is to be tempted to start fooling around with a film camera again! 😀
Looks like a lot of fun! Enjoy. I kinda-sorta want a polaroid.
How Cool! I look forward to seeing more of your images!!!