Holiday Happenings and Mishaps with the Minolta Hi-Matic AF-2

The days leading up to Thanksgiving Day all the way through Old Christmas (January 6) are among my favorite times of the year. I love them so much that I usually have a major withdrawal in the cold and wet season of January and February in southeast Tennessee. Perhaps this is why I do all I can to preserve the feelings of love, joy and peace that, to me, are at the heart of the holiday season. And for me, the best way to do this is to take a lot of photographs.

This season was no different. I shot some Polaroid film in my SX-70 SONAR One Step, and when I ran out of that, I loaded up my go to 35mm autofocus point and shoot camera, the Minolta Hi-matic AF-2 with some color negative film (more on that later). The Hi-Matic AF-2 is, in my opinion, the best 35mm point and shoot camera Minolta ever made. Its 38mm f2.8 lens is very sharp, and the moderate wide angle focal length gives it a lot of versatility. It's great for photographing groups of people, like one would do at holiday gatherings, but it also would be perfect for travel and street photography. and although I have never done this, one could put a yellow, orange, or red filter on the 46mm filter mount for black and white photography.

For indoor shooting, I have found the built-in flash to be powerful yet effective in getting a good exposure, even in a medium large room. Just be prepared for extreme reactions from subjects who have grown up in the camera phone era and have never experience a "real" photo flash. The flash recharges quickly if you have two fresh AA batteries installed. And who doesn't love a camera that uses AA batteries!

The autofocus is easy to use; just press the shutter halfway.  The autofocus system is accurate, as long as you focus on your subject. For example, if you are photography a group of people, then choose someone and focus on that person. Do not merely aim and shoot, because the camera will focus on whatever is in the little rectangle in the center of the viewfinder. If it is the background, it will be in focus, but your subject(s) may not be. This is a good practice to follow with any autofocus camera.

I really like this camera for a reason that may seem strange to you:  it's lack of automation. For a start, there is no motorized film advance. You advance the film with a lever. Why do I like this? It makes the camera quiet. You could use this camera at an outdoor wedding and not be noticed. Furthermore, the film is rewound in the traditional way of pressing a button on the bottom of the camera and and turning a rewind crank. No one will ever shh at you when you are changing film. Another valuable lack of automation is the ISO setting, which is set by turning a ring around the lens. Why do I like this? I can change the ISO for individual shots for exposure compensation as dictated by certain lighting situations. For example, if I am shooting 400 ISO film, and I want to photograph a backlit scene, I could increase the exposure by turning the ISO ring from 400 to 200 (plus one stop) or even 100 (plus two stops). Just remember to reset the ISO to the correct setting after making the shot.

This manually set ISO "feature" also will be appreciated by that group of film photographers who like to intentionally over expose the entire roll of their color negative film because they like the way the colors "pop." Although I never do this, I will under expose a roll of film and then give it extra development, a process known as "pushing." When you push film, you make the film behave as if it were a faster (more sensitive to light, and therefore a higher ISO) film, albeit with some tradeoffs in contrast and grain. Deliberately over exposing a roll of film and giving it less development time is know as "pulling," and it useful for reducing contrast and grain as well as allowing for the use of slower shutter speeds, as in the case of photographing waterfalls, for example.

There is a disadvantage to having to manually set the ISO on a camera, of course, and that's it becomes possible to set it to the wrong ISO. This shouldn't happen, of course, but it did with the roll of film I shot during our Christmas gatherings. I made the mistake simply because I thought I was loading one color negative film (Kodak ColorPlus 200) when in fact I was loading another (Kodak Pro Image 100). I only discovered the mistake when I rewound the roll and removed the cassette from the camera, and at first I was really mad at myself. However, after I calmed down I realized that the mistake could be corrected by performing a push development, that is, extending the development time. The directions that accompany Cinestill's C-41 development kit give push and pull times, so it was easy to make the development adjustment. When I hung the negatives up to dry, I was happy to see images on the film, and when I scanned them, I was impressed. Pro Image 100 pushes to 200 very nicely, as you can see below.

Debbie and me in front of my cousin's Christmas tree!

Shutter Brother Kelley and his wife, Marcie

Debbie and me with our daughters and their guys

Debbie with the Shutter Brothers mom

The Lane Fam gathered at our condo for Christmas brunch

The building once home to Gilman Paint and Varnish Company is 
now home to the Gilman Grill

Golden Days in December

Today is December 26th, the day after Christmas (or as I like to think of it, the 2nd Day of Christmas!), and the weather is nothing short of amazing, even for southeaster Tennessee. The skies are mostly sunny and the temperature is in the lower 70ºs, judging from the number of people who were out walking along the Tennessee riverfront in downtown Chattanooga, my wife, Debbie, and I were not the only ones who felt that taking a walk and enjoying this beautiful day was a non-negotiable decision. In the dark days of winter, one must take every opportunity to soak up the sun and attempt to prevent vitamin D deficiency and seasonal affective disorder. It is a golden day, and day that makes one glad to be alive, and if one could preserve and bottle a day like strawberry preserves, this would be that day.

I almost always carry a camera with me when I take a walk, and today's choice was my Minolta X-700, a 35mm manual focus SLR first introduced in 1981. It was still available in 1990 when I purchased one new in the box from a camera store ad in the back of Popular Photography. It was only the second (and last) camera I purchased new, and I thought it was the best camera I would ever own for the rest of my life. However, some years later I parted ways with it, and it wasn't too long before I regretted that decision. But Shutter Brother Kelley came through for me in 2017 when he found an excellent copy of one in a second hand shop somewhere and bought it for me, and I've enjoyed using it ever since.

The Minolta X-700 was a wonder upon release, as it possessed three metering modes (Program, Aperture Priority, and Manual) along with many other fine features. I would have absolutely no reservations about proclaiming the X-700 as "The Best Camera Minolta Ever Made" and "One of the Best Film Cameras Ever Made" if it were not for one missing feature - a function so logical that it can hardly be called a "feature." If the camera is used in Manual mode, the LED display in the viewfinder shows the suggested shutter speed but not the speed you selected. You have to look away from the viewfinder to the shutter speed dial to see the selected shutter speed. Minolta included this missing functionality in the X-570, a fine SLR in it's own right. However, the X-570 did not include the Program mode. Why on earth couldn't Minolta put all of theses functions into one "super" camera and then devote themselves to building display cases for the many awards the camera would have won? 

Nevertheless, the X-700 was a superb camera. It has a solid build, and the grip makes it fit perfectly in my hand. Today it's plentifulness and relative low cost makes it an excellent choice for those looking for a film camera. And Minolta's lenses are excellent. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I get fine results from my Minolta lenses, including the budget release Minolta Celtic 35mm that I used today. This lens was a surprise gift from a listener (thank you Jeremy Zorns!), and it delivers. Period.

Today felt a little odd as I walked about with my camera. I hadn't shot in full sun in a long time, instead choosing to do my photography with at least some amount of cloud cover. Because I always shoot black and white film with an eye toward making a darkroom print, I think a lot about controlling contrast. Sunny days are high contrast days, and getting the film to hold details in both the shadows and the highlights can be difficult. This is why I develop my Kodak Tri-X 400 (the film I was shooting today) in Kodak D-76 diluted 1:1. Someday I might even try stand development with caffenol C-L to further control contrast. Nevertheless, sunny days are greatly appreciated in late December, and I decided to simply go with it and attempt to capture what I saw. The Tennessee riverfront provides ample opportunities for photography, and the warm sun on my back made the experience even more wonderful. Who knows whether I will get "keepers" from this roll of film when I do finish it and develop it, but one thing I do know:  You have to shoot something to get something. And plenty of good photographs have been made in full sun. I simply looked for things I liked, composed the frame, focused, made some exposure decisions, and gently pressed the shutter button. I felt creative, and it was fun. A good day.

Uncle Jonesy's Cameras Podcast #40: Darkroom Tips I Learned (That You Already Knew!)

Wow! Back in early November when I promised to make a show a week for the remainder of 2021, I honestly thought I was kidding myself. Bur here we are six weeks and six shows later, and with only two weeks left in 2021, my goal is in sight!

I sold two prints this week!

When I returned to making darkroom prints in early 2021, I knew that I was once again starting at the bottom of the learning curve. This time, however, I had a lot of help available to me in the form of mentors, both in person and online. So even though I have made many mistakes along the way (and wasted lots of paper, chemistry, and time), I have made steady progress toward my goal of consistent success. Even though I still have a long ways to go, I want to share five darkroom tips I've learned. They all are things I've learned the hard way, and you probably already knew them. Nevertheless, I would have greatly benefited from these tips, and perhaps you can, too. Listen as I discuss Five Darkroom Tips I Learned (That You Already Knew).

You can visit my Etsy store, Chattalog Photography, here.

Along the way, I mention videos by Gregory Davis, otherwise known as The Naked Photographer, that demonstrates how to test your safelights. You can find them here and here.

Our photowalk was rained and stormed out, but we will try again in 2022. Subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Facebook and Instagram so that you will be the first to know about plans for 2022.

"Let's chat!"

It's the season for giving, so we're giving away a camera with a vocabulary! The Minolta AF-Vs is commonly known as "The Talker," and here is how it can be yours. All you have to do is post the comment, "I want The Talker!"  on one of the Facebook or Instagram posts that announce the release of shows #39 or #40. You also can enter by commenting on this post ("I want The Talker!") or by sending an email containing "I want The Talker!" to unclejonesyscameras@gmail.com. One entry per person, please. We will announce the winner on show #42, which will be released before the new year.

Happy Shooting!

Uncle Jonsey's Cameras Podcast #39: The Night Time is the Right Time For Night Photography (with the right camera, of course)

Show #39 is live! Kevin has been doing some research on how to capture holiday lights on film with night photography, and he has found a pair of very useful websites, which are linked below.  It's not rocket science, so using the right camera, film, and meter will go a long way toward getting keeper shots. 

As a frequent visitor to Ken Rockwell's fabulous website, it is no surprise that he would have a very useful article on night photography:  https://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/night.htm

Sekonic, the make of fine light meters, as a great article on night photography as well:  https://www.sekonic.com/metering-night

Our 2021 Photowalk with Wayne Setser is scheduled for tomorrow, weather permitting. Find out all about it here.

The Minolta AF-Sv, otherwise known as "The Talker"

In the spirit of the holiday season, let's give away a camera. Not just any camera, mind you. This camera is a real "conversation piece." Of course, we are referring to the Minolta AF-Sv, otherwise known as "The Talker." It's an autofocus 35mm point and shoot with a 35mm lens and a built in flash. And it has a vocabulary! Listen to the show to find out how to enter for a chance to win this camera.

Happy Holidays and Happy Shooting!

Uncle Jonesy's Cameras Podcast #38: Thankful for Polaroids!

Show #39 is live, and I predict that it will be an instant success! Ok, I know that sounded boastful, but what I am really talking about is instant photography in general and vintage Polaroid cameras specifically. I think that instant photography is perfect for this time of year with family gatherings like the one I had on Thanksgiving Day, and my Polaroid SX-70 SONAR One Step camera and Polatronic flash unit from 1978 did not let me down. I shot a pack of Polaroid SX-70 color film, and every shot was at least a keeper, with several being really good. So, in today's show I share some tips on how to increase your success rate when using vintage Polaroid camera for your holiday gatherings.

Polaroid film can be found at several big box and online stores, but you can order it directly from polaroid here.

Learn more about the Polaroid SLR 680 SE here.

Neutral density filters that will allow you to shoot 600 film in an SX-70 camera can be found here.

Shutter Brother Kelley made this Thanksgiving Day keepsake.

When looking for the Polatronic flash, make sure the base plate 
and bracket are included.

The shot on the left of Debbie and me is perfect, but the photo of Debbie and  Kelley's dog, Rosie,
on the right could have used a little less exposure because of the reflectivity of Rosie's coat.

Like many of you, I try to have a camera with me everywhere I go. Of course, my iPhone is always with me, but I also like to bring a film camera or (in some rare instances) a digital camera with me whenever I go out. You never know when or where something memorable of even amazing will will happen.

For example, a week and a half ago, my wife, Debbie, and I went on a hike on a nearby nature trail along with our youngest daughter, Amber, and her boyfriend, Matthew, for the purpose of making some photographs to be used in Christmas cards. I brought my digital Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 camera, While I did get some nice shots of Amber, Matthew, and their dog, Coconut, I also got to witness something very special. Find out what in the show!

Matthew, Amber, and Coconut, moments before . . . 

Back in July in show #34 I shared with you the story of how I acquired a Leica iiia, which is a classic 35mm thread mount rangefinder camera very similar to one I owned back in the early 1990's before is was stolen. One roll of film was all it took for me to find that the camera needed service, so I did some research and sent the camera to Youxin Ye. Four months later, I have a functionally new Leica camera, and boy, am I excited! Listen to my update in the show.

I can't wait to share with you the results of the first roll from 
this newly-serviced Leica iiia!

We are now less than two weeks away from our 2021 Photowalk with Wayne Setser, which is being presented by Uncle Jonesy's Cameras and Safelight District Community Darkroom. If you live anywhere near southeastern Tennessee, I highly recommend that you consider participating. It's being held on Saturday, December 11, beginning a 9:00 am EST at the Laurel Snow State Natural Area near Dayton, Tennessee. Laurel Snow is one of Wayne's favorite places to shoot, and he will share lots of tips and tricks for all formats. The photowalk itself is free, and afterwards we are gathering at Monkeytown Brewing in Dayton for lunch and conversation. Photography and fun - what more could you ask for! Click here and let us know you are coming.

That's it for this week. We'd love to hear from you, so email us with a written message or a voice memo to unclejonesyscameras@gmail.com. Also, check out our Instagram and Facebook pages. 

Happy Shooting!

Kevin