The new joy of film

I recently became the owner of an Olympus-35 EC, a compact film camera made in Japan around 1970. It’s close to pristine and its battery-powered components remain fully functional.

The proof of the pudding is in the shooting, however, so I quickly and easily loaded a Fuji ISO 400 colour film and went on my travels around west London with it tucked away in my pocket. Unloading the film was also slick and stress-free with this clever little gadget.

The first results have arrived after a trip to the developers. The bad news first – some close-ups I attempted were out of focus failures, simply beyond the range of the little Zuiko lens.

But that was the only downside. I’m impressed that a 45-year-old camera is still able to produce such clarity, depth and colour with that authentic granularity. Film definitely rivals digital on this evidence – and has its own magic too.

Click first image to view this selection

Tags: analogue, camera review, colour film, compact film camera, film photography, Fujifilm Superia 400, London, nature, Olympus-35 EC, photography, urban, vintage camera

19 thoughts on “The new joy of film”

andy townend on May 13, 2015 at 11:08 said:

Great selection of shots, wonderful to see the new (old) camera in action! Long live film ;-)

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 15, 2015 at 21:44 said:
  
  Thank you very much Andy, and hear hear!
  
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  - andy townend on May 16, 2015 at 09:47 said:
    
    My pleasure Mike!
    
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fretwellcrump on May 11, 2015 at 18:47 said:

I love working with film. If the Internet was paper based I’d use it all the time – the images are just so much (for want of a better word) better.

These pics are great x

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 11, 2015 at 21:08 said:
  
  Thank you Simon. I bet you are familiar with the table dancing joint :) You’re quite right, film has its own lifeblood – especially with a vintage camera.
  
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  - fretwellcrump on May 12, 2015 at 18:28 said:
    
    It’s my favourite selfie stop on the way back from the gym (to get the perfect sweaty leer, obvs). I’ve got quite a few film cameras, I need to get them out
    
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    - mikeosbornphoto on May 12, 2015 at 18:57 said:
      
      Get them out and come play with me.
      
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steviegill on May 11, 2015 at 13:26 said:

Great camera/film combination, love the grain and the colour tones of the shots – there’s a dreamy quality to them which I really like.

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 11, 2015 at 21:09 said:
  
  Thanks so much Stevie, glad you like them. There’s something very satisfying about creating new shots with a very experienced little camera.
  
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Moni on May 10, 2015 at 10:45 said:

These are wonderful actually…

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 10, 2015 at 10:51 said:
  
  Thank you :)
  
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ckponderings on May 10, 2015 at 09:59 said:

Lovely images, Mike. Soft Pink Underbelly works really well and the colours in Dusk at Holland Park are stunning! :D Who needs new when old obviously works so well! :)

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 10, 2015 at 10:01 said:
  
  Thanks Richard. Yes, I’m very pleased with my first roll of colour film since I don’t know when. It shows that the mid-40s rock :)
  
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  - ckponderings on May 10, 2015 at 10:03 said:
    
    Definitely! ;)
    
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Cos on May 10, 2015 at 09:19 said:

1970 is a very good year! ;-)

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 10, 2015 at 09:25 said:
  
  Oh 1971 was the true vintage ;)
  
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  - Cos on May 10, 2015 at 09:26 said:
    
    Yeah, 1971 is vintage. 1970 is the new 2015 :-D
    
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    - mikeosbornphoto on May 10, 2015 at 09:40 said:
      
      Uh huh :)
      
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  - ckponderings on May 10, 2015 at 09:59 said:
    
    I can only but agree, Mike! :)
    
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