I’ve loved photography as far back as I can remember. I think it’s amazing, put it this way… Time doesn’t exist (quantum theory apparently proves this) however with a casual press of a button we can still freeze a moment and then re-visit this moment over and over. Seriously think about how cool that is. Too deep for a Sunday night?

Growing up with film photography as the only available option added even more magic for me, not knowing how a photo looked after  each click added mystery and then each click being far more precious because of the finite exposures available made it all the more special. Then sending off your films in a pre-paid envelope, sealing it with a lick of a tongue and a week or so later checking out your handy (or not so handy) work. In most cases many would be out of focus, fingers in front of lenses, over or under exposed but we didn’t care it felt great like you were opening gifts Christmas morning.

Now it’s the digital age, more than often images on digital cameras are perfectly exposed and focused so easily with little to no effort, we press shutter buttons with out a care for how many images we take most of the time. I love my digital camera (a Fuji XE2 right now) but for me at least film does have a feel and look that’s some how closer to reality, film has a look like someone has removed a piece of electronic cling film compared to digital.

Back in the 80’s I used many cheap film compacts but my first ever serious film camera was a Canon AE-1 SLR with a standard 50mm f1.8 lens (pictured above). I used the AE-1 for a photography course at college and it was (and still is) a great SLR camera for everyone who wants a no nonsense affordable SLR. This was the last film camera I owned before replacing it with my first digital camera years later. Recently though film has been making a  massive come back, partially I’d imagine because of the retro factor and definitely because film cameras look waaaayyyyy cooler than our now modern counterparts. But all that aside I hope the come back is also because people may agree with me about the magic of film.

Because of this rise in popularity most well known and popular camera model prices have risen steeply on the various selling sites. Despite this I encourage everyone to give film photography a whirl whether it’s your first time or re-visiting it like me. If you want advice on an affordable model then leave a comment, I’d be more than happy to help however if you just want a fun, affordable and readily available point and shoot 35mm film camera then honestly you can’t go wrong with the Olympus Trip 35. I’ll put up some shots I’ve taken with my Trip 35 another time.

This brings me on to my most recent purchase purchase! My Konica C35.. and what a beauty he is, I think it looks like a he don’t you? I’m going to go all camera geek on you now sorry about that (I warned you earlier I love photography).

The standard Konica C35 was produced from 1968 and is a range finder camera, my model above is the ‘Automatic’ model known as the Flashmatic in Japan. The Automatic badge means this model it has an advanced hot shoe and flash system. You tell it your flashes guide number and it will only focus on the workable ranges and adjust the aperture for you. There is a non range finder model known as the Konica C35 V, this uses zone focusing which rather than focusing on a subject through an eye piece you just choose a distance from a choice of a few pictures on the lens, really close, not so close, far away etc I think you get the idea.

It’s a really nice solidly built camera and using a camera like this is so refreshingly simple, it frees you to just take photos. Look through the view finder, focus and click not much else to it! The focusing is fast and smooth and out of the rolls of film I’ve taken so far lots are keepers. I used Fuji Xtra 400 and Agfa Vista 200 pound land film! See if you can tell which is which, I was impressed with the Agfa considering it’s only a quid!!

All of these photos were taken on a recent trip to Broadstairs with my son Joseph and my wife Leigh.I’d never been to Broadstairs, there are so many lovely beaches near us in Kent that we are spoilt for choice. We’ll definitely be back though it’s a fab seaside resort.

None of the photos have had any filters applied, just a slight tweak to exposure and contrast if needed. Love love the colours on the photo above with a slight natural vignette, the sharpness is really quite brilliant  despite the low quality film scanner I use.

Check out the light leak on the photo above, this was when I had just changed films and light must have just got in to this first shot slightly. And yup thats fluff on the negatives! I could have removed this but hey it gives extra character.

You’d be wrong if you thought the photos with the deeper blues are from the more expensive Fuji Xtra film. All the bright blues are the Agfa and just two of the shots are the Fuji, the first shot of the huts and the fifth of the seascape with the greenery in the foreground.

I’m really pleased with the Konica C35, it’s the most expensive film camera I have purchased to date mainly because it was almost in mint condition. But it was worth every penny and I love using it, it takes fantastic photos and brings back the magic I remember from years ago. Cheers for reading.