One More Camera: Minolta XG-M

I remember getting my Minolta XG-A. I still like it, but it does give me some light leak every now and then and the worst part is, it's caused by the shutter and not the light seals. It showed up here and there just randomly. Some rolls had more light leaks than others, while a few had none. I wasn't aware my XG-A came with a "mood swing" feature. Unable to adapt to liking the light leaks like some Holga users, I decided to get a replacement camera.

This time I grabbed myself a Minolta XG-M, which was launched the same year as the XG-A. Looks similar but with few major differences. The major difference is that XG-M gives me the control of the shutter speed as opposed to XG-A that is always in Av mode. A huge lift in terms of limitations I was facing with the XG-A. Though, I feel as I wont be setting my shutter speed on my own all the time, it's a nice feeling to know that I can.

Another difference worthy of noting is the viewfinder. The viewfinder size is the same but on the XG-M, it also tells you the value of the apature through a little mirror at the bottom of the viewfinder. Ah, the technology.

I've only had the XG-M for a few days. Ran a test roll through and it doesn't look like there are any issues with this one. If you'd like to know more about pretty much anything related to Minolta, The Rokkor Files is an excellent site to visit. Very informative as it helped me decide which camera would be a good replacement for the XG-A.

I Miss You, Colour Film

I'm gonna flat out say it: This Winter sucked. I don't normally hate Winter, but this one was just so depressing. Now, that's assuming Winter is done. *Knocks on wood*

I talked about the C-41 B/W film XP-2 by Ilford in February. It's been roughly two months since then and I didn't post anything about this in March (though, I should have), but I did develop my first true B/W film. Just one though, but it's enough to say that I did it. I have picked Kodak TRI-X as my choice this time.
The experience of developing my own film and photos were rather exciting and repetitive. Agitating (shaking) the film with precision and timed, it almost felt like baking where precision of the amount of the ingredients going into the mixing bowl, or how long it's going to stay in the oven matters. It's still part of art, but knowing the science of it is a must. I wont go too far into details about that, though. I will however, talk about how careful CAREFUL you have to be. Any dust or even a trace of just about anything will turn out in the photo once you develop that into the paper. I made a newbie mistake of leaving my finger print in one of the photos (which is posted in entry) and I didn't notice it until after. This mistake is now engraved into my memories and I will try my best not to let it happen again.

I've shot B/W (mostly XP-2's) through out the Winter, I most likely wont be shooting any B/W for a while as I am quite sick of it and want to see some colours in my photos. Although, I did learn about film and the whole developing process quite a bit over season that just passed. *knocks on wood* I will still shoot B/W every now and then, and as much as I do enjoy the convenience of just dropping off a roll of XP-2 to a lab and not spend time on it, let alone worry about it, I'm more inclined to get back to a lab and develop it myself. Like I said, it's like baking. It tastes better when you make it, and if it turns out bad, you got only yourself to blame. Good thing is, it can only get better.

The first two photos are from my XP-2 and the last one is one from my Kodak TRI-X as you will notice it is more grainy. Apologies in advance for my rather crappy scanner and dust I couldn't get rid of for some reason.

As mentioned, you can see my, and this is what I will be calling it from now on, "FINGER PRINT OF DOOM" on the top right corner. And a small thanks to my friend Karmen who let me use a photo of her in this entry. She is rather shy, but she agreed anyway.

You Never Forget Your First

Well, I guess you never do, after all. It's been how long now? Wow, it must've been when I started taking photos. It feels like it has been an eternity since our first meeting. Yeah, those days we were young. Those were the days.

I remember our first meeting. How exciting you made me feel. We took so many photos together, too. I remember that much because I come across the photos we took in my folders whenever I transfer my back-up files. We were young, possibly stupid, didn't know a damn thing, but we didn't give a damn about the world and what they thought. Rebels without a cause.

Then we changed. No, I changed. For the better. You didn't. I found a cause, a goal in my life. You just stayed immature and refused to change. I wanted things to dynamic, but you wanted to stay static. An obvious problem. We even stop taking photos together and as days went on, we just stop looking at one another. Then I made a mistake. A mistake where I broke the bond you and I shared. I don't know what you've been up to since then. We bumped into each other a few times, but it was rather awkward, wasn't it? Eventually, I moved on, but I don't know if you did. I hope you did. Although, there are many things that does remind me of you.

Even so, I know it's way late, but I think I do owe you an apology. I have no idea if you're even going to read this, let alone find it. You deserved so much better. I do admit I did treat you like crap from time to time. There were also many things you advised me not to do, and I simply didn't listen. Oh, how you made me eat my words. And I have no idea how you're going to ever forgive me for cheating on you. But that's all in the past. From the mistakes I've made, I've learned my lesson and I would do anything to be forgiven.

It's true what they say about your first: You can never forget it. Yea, I guess you never do.




































Canon Rebel XTi. My first digital SLR, I will never forget you.

April Fools, by the way =]