Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Retro Digital in Micro 4/3

Olympus E-PL1 with 75mm Kern-Switar lens, 2012


About a dozen years ago, I owned an Olympus E-PL1, which was a wonderful travel camera, and with the m4/3 mount, allowed me to attach a variety of lenses with the proper adapter.  I took a lot of excellent images with that camera, and I sold it and all of its lenses when I bought a Nikon 1 V1 and a Nikon 1 J1 body with lenses, thinking that hey, Nikon’s onto something here - smaller, lighter, and I can adapt lenses.  Indeed, I did especially like the Nikon 1J1 as a perfect street camera with the wide-angle equivalent of 28mm in 35mm land.  But, the Nikon 1 series, with its even smaller sensor than micro 4/3 cameras, was a dead end. They were not a bad idea, but Nikon marketed them to a different audience. 

CCTV lens on the Olympus E-PL1, 2013

 When I decided to go and get a serious mirrorless system, I bought into the Canon EOS M series with the EOS M5.  I haven’t regretted that, as my M5 is a great camera, and I have used it quite a lot, especially with manual lenses from TTArtisans, 7 Artisans, and Meike.  It has plenty of megapixels, and I love the way that it does focus confirmation in manual mode.  

Panasonic Lumix GF1 and Canon EOS M5



I was looking into having a somewhat simpler camera that reminded me of using something like the E-PL1 and of course the Ricoh GR series came to my attention. I wanted a camera that was small, but not too small, enough resolution to make decent prints, and the ability to have interchangeable lenses.  Plus, it had to be a good carry-around camera that had good battery longevity. After doing some research, I figured that it was time to go back when video wasn’t the BIG deal it is now, and that meant something over 10 years old.  The perfect candidate to me, was the Panasonic Lumix GF1, a 12 MP micro 4/3 camera with just a rear LCD.  I purchased a like-new model from KEH for $158 without a lens.  I bought a TTArtisans 25mm f/2 fully manual lens on Amazon for about $60, and both arrived on the same day.  




So, back to m4/3, after all these years.  I already have a Pentax 110 lens to m4/3 adapter, as well a C-mount to m4/3.  I used several c-mount lenses with my old Olympus E-PL1, and really liked the results, so here we are again.  My plan is to mostly use the 25 mm TTArtisans lens, which on the m4/3 sensor, is a 50mm equivalent.  The TTArtisans 25mm f/2 is a particularly nice lens that has fairly close focus (.25m) and excellent sharpness.  It has a filter ring size of 43mm, and I was pleased to find that I already had a lens hood and filter adapters that fit it.

The only knock on m4/3 is the "crop factor" - it’s 2x, which means that wide-angle primes have to be 15mm or less.  But this is supposed to be a street camera and an easily-carried adjunct to my film gear.  Having interchangeable lenses make it all the more attractive, but my intent is to try and stick with one lens.

Some quick results with the TTArtisans 25mm f/2





The Panasonic Lumix GF1 appeared on the market in the latter part of 2009, which makes it a 15-year old camera, at most.  In digital years, that’s almost an antique.  However, 12 megapixels is certainly more than adequate, and feature-wise, it’s perfect for my needs.  Price-wise, I have a pretty good setup for a little over $200.  One of the bothersome little things about my EOS M5 is the location of the video selector button, which is easy to accidentally engage.  On the GF-1, it’s on the top plate to the right of the shutter release, and I have yet to accidentally turn on the video.

All kinds of videos are on YouTube for anyone interested in setting up a compact mirrorless ILC camera to do the job of a Ricoh GR series camera.  The minus of the GR system - lack of interchangeable lenses and cost are probably the biggest strike against them.  Of course you could do the same with an older Sony NEX-series camera, a Fuji X-series, or an Olympus or Panasonic m4/3.  You could also do this with an older Canon EOS M or M2. Depending on your style of shooting, these older cameras are certainly worth investigating, and if you add an inexpensive manual lens, you won’t be out of a lot of money.  My only other purchase for this camera might be one of those old Olympus m4/3 18mm pancake lenses. I had one in my EPL-1, and liked the results.

There are a lot of excellent manual focus lenses coming from China.  My beef with the Nikon Z system and the other major mirrorless bodies, is that the AF lenses are typically large and also can be very expensive.  The lenses from 7 Artisans and TT Artisans are mostly excellent and much more compact than most of the AF lenses for their respective systems.  I reviewed the TTArtisans 40mm macro lens a while back. The GF1 is often paired with the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 AF lens, which even now, sells for more than I paid for the camera body.  I think that if you desire an AF lens for m4/3, it’s definitely a good choice, along with the Olympus Zuiko 17mm f/1.8.  

If you think that the rear LCD isn’t the best thing for you, the Panasonic DMW-LVF1 Electronic Viewfinder sells used for a little over $100.  While it’s not up to the current ELV’s in current mirrorless bodies, it’s going to be good enough to use for focusing in bright sunlight rather than the rear LCD screen.The connector has an electronic connection to provide a live view that's close to that of the LCD display, albeit with a lower resolution.  

I’m not a videographer, and in fact, if I need a short movie, I use my iPhone.  I’d like to see the manufacturers produce at least one model in their offerings that’s designed only for still photography.  Do away with the video buttons and options, and it would probably also lower the price.  My Nikon Df doesn’t do videos, and it’s a great camera.  Vloggers, influencers, etc., won’t be the market niche, but people passionate about still photography would be thrilled. 

Canon EOS M5, 2023.

The fact is, any of these cameras are capable of great images.  The user interface and ergonomics are slightly different for each brand, and you really can't tell whether a camera used has an APS-C or m4/3 sensor when you view an image.  I like the different b&w modes in the GF1, and for me, that is a plus. You might wonder why I didn't just buy an earlier EOS M model, but I have a fondness for the m4/3 cameras, and the price was right.  Basically, my advice is to pick your price point and features, and go from there,  For less than $300, you certainly have a lot of choices.
















Wednesday, March 06, 2024

Simple Joys

 I have been in a bit of a creative slump lately, whether it's writing or making photos. Today, I have felt the best in about a week, after getting over some lower-back issues that had me in a lot of pain and limiting my mobility.  Thanks to some stretches, ibuprofen, and heat pad, I now feel pretty good.  It's a rainy day, and the daffodils are looking quite good.  Spring is here, a bit later in the mountains than along the coast.

But what I want to write is about how some simple pleasures can bring joy to a day.  I was eating breakfast, and my second slice of toast was in need of some jam.  I went to the fridge and pulled out the small jar of raspberry jam that my mother-in-law had made the previous year.  She's 97 years old, and is still able to make jam.  There was just enough left in the jar for one slice of bread, and as I emptied it and smoothed it over the toast, I anticipated how good it would taste.  When the raspberry jam reached my taste buds, I had this singular moment of joy.  Accompanying this were thoughts of how wonderful a gift this was, and the knowledge of how the berries were picked and eventually ended up hundreds of miles from the source.  THIS was the spark I needed to get my mojo back!  


In our ever-challenging world, we need moments like this to remind ourselves that a simple pleasure such as home-made raspberry jam should not be taken for granted.  Whatever small pleasures you enjoy, take time to experience them.  Appreciate the sublime.  Photography does not have to be about the fantastic, outrageous, or unique. A sublime image can connect us to shared experiences, and if photography is a visual language, no text is needed to tell the audience what's happened.  


While that was it for that jar, I am comforted in knowing that we have a few more in the pantry. 

For me, photography is also a simple joy.  I photograph for myself, and if others like my images, that's great. If I did not enjoy doing it, I'd be doing something else. My artistic skills in other mediums are not great.  While I also enjoy using film, I won't deny the advantage of immediacy with a digital image.  It does not matter what you use, only that you are doing something that brings you joy.  



Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Revisiting Tucson with the Ricoh 35ZF

 



In 2021, I purchased this camera from an antique mall in Tucson, but in that incarnation, it was part of a mechanism to record store robberies - as discussed in this post.  This time, the Ricoh 35 ZF (ZF= zone focus) returned to Tucson as part of my gear for a week of photography and travel in the Tucson area.  Since the meter no longer works, I attached a small hot-shoe meter, which I received from Reflx Labs.  I ran two rolls of film through the Ricoh, and am really pleased with the results.


Since the ZF is so compact, it was easy to carry along as an extra camera in my bag, and using it on this trip with color emulsions made it a nice option.  I know some people have problems with zone focusing, but in reality, if you are shooting at f/11-f/16, anything more than 15 feet away will be in focus if you set the focus scale at “mountain.”   It really only comes into proper guestimation when shooting wide-open and less than 15 feet.  So, for most things, I just left the focus on infinity and worried about the aperture/shutter speed, which in the ZF, is completely manual, and that’s another reason I like this camera.  

For a mid-1970s compact camera, it’s not exactly something special.  However, the 40mm f/2.8 lens is good enough, and the range of shutter speeds -B, 1/8-1/500  are pretty standard.  There’s certainly other 35mm compacts from that era that get more attention, but this delightful little camera is a fine companion. 


Shot on Superia 200

Salt Lake City (SLC) terminal

our VRBO on the outskirts of Tucson

Mammoth, AZ Mining memorial

Mammoth, Mining memorial

Mammoth PO

closed on 77

El Capitan pass roadside park

Many towns have a large letter on a mountainside -
I presume for the local high school sports team. 
Globe, AZ

days gone by

Globe, AZ

Taken on Karmir 160 (actually Kodak Aerocolor IV)

Sweetwater Wetland Park

Saguaro National Park W

Saguaro National Park W, Signal Hill

raindrops on Cholla. Saguaro NP East

Saguaro NP East

Barrio Viejo neighborhood, Tucson

Barrio Viejo neighborhood, Tucson

Barrio Viejo neighborhood, Tucson

Barrio Viejo neighborhood, Tucson

Barrio Viejo neighborhood, Tucson

Barrio Viejo neighborhood, Tucson


The Karmir film, purchased from Ball Photo in Asheville


Saturday, February 10, 2024

Don't waste $20 on an onn. camera

Walmart’s Simple 35mm onn. Camera


I confess, I made a trip to WalMart- that store that just sucks the life out of you. I had to, so that I could acquire one of the cheapest simple-use 35mm  cameras available.  After seeing photos of the onn. camera online, I decided that it was time to give one the Random Camera Blog test.  So, I went and bought it for $19.98, and the best thing is that includes a 27 exposure roll of ISO 400 color film.  So really, the camera is something like $13 + plus the $6.98 for a roll of film.  All good, I suppose, considering that cheap Kodak M35 is over $40, and that’s without film.  This is what I thought BEFORE seeing the results, so read further.




What’s in the box - a well-packaged camera, with the roll of film inside but not yet loaded onto the take-up spool, a lanyard for carrying, and a brief printed manual.  There’s also a QR code to see an online version of the manual.  It appears that onn makes other cheap digital devices and accessories, and they are based in China. 



Camera features:

  • 28mm f/8 lens -  focuses from 1 meter to infinity
  • 1/120 sec shutter speed
  • thumbwheel film advance
  • rewind crank recessed into take-up side
  • optical viewfinder
  • on/off switchable flash


The 27 exposure roll of film was in one of the newer 2-piece plastic cassettes that we’ve been seeing from a number of sources, especially Lomography.  Of course, I was curious to know exactly what that 400 iso film was.  

I shot with the camera over a couple of days - mostly in downtown Asheville and Weaverville.  That’s the beauty of a little point and shoot camera - it can be put in a pocket and ready for use at any time.  After I shot the roll, I dropped  it off at Ball Photo for development.  I picked up developed the film and was rather surprised to find that the roll was not typical C-41 color print film, but Eastman 5207 - also known as Vision III 250D. Of course, the remjet had been removed prior to spooling the film.  First, the rounded sprocket holes indicated it was a cine film, and the film rebate told the rest.  Normally, I would not have a problem with using 250D, but in this instance, it was advertised as 400 ISO film, and as I saw on the film scans, a true 400 ISO film would have been preferred.   What I don’t know is how fresh that 250D is, as the film base looked more magenta than I remembered.



Oh, the scans…. I scanned this roll with my Epson V700, like I have for hundreds of rolls, and I have to say, this film is expired.  The images were muddy, and every single exposure, even those in bright sun, needed adjustments and correction.   

Here is a selection of images from the roll:
















this one had fade correction applied in addition to the usual adjustments


Objects that were about 10 feet away or so seemed to be the sharpest.  Now, at this point, the acrylic lenses in simple-use cameras have been around for a long time, and the manufacturer went to extra trouble to make the lens on this camera subpar.  Maybe it’s the f/8 aperture, but to be honest, that should also have resulted in sunny exposures to be brighter.  Compounded with the outdated 250D film, what I ended up with was disappointing.  You need to have slightly lower standards of expectation for a simple-use camera, but this one even failed to meet that.

I would not even recommend this as a gift to someone wanting to start out with a simple to use film camera.  They will be disappointed.  

So, save yourself $20 and DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA!


Addendum, 02/11/24

In my Instagram post about this camera, it was pointed out to me that the film has the date 2023 - which I had overlooked, so the film isn't outdated. The same person from Reflx_Lab also stated that the weird color was probably due to an improper treatment to remove the remjet layer. Because the "remjet layer was removed, and C-41 process used, the ISO is higher - 400."  I still stand behind my statement that the 250D is NOT a 400 ISO film, no matter what process was used.  Whoever is filling those film canisters with 250D and not using a true ISO 400 film is shortchanging the customer.