UltraMax – The Glass Aerie

Raindrops & Thorns

By -N- on October 23, 2016

Another shot taken with Kodak UltraMax 400 and the Olympus XA4. I don’t know if it is me, or the camera, or the film, or a combination, but I don’t think the sharpness is quite where I would like it to be. Despite that, I think this is a helluva a great little camera – so quick and easy to use. Maybe I’ll pick up the XA later on as it is a true rangefinder, not a zone-focusing one as is the XA4. What I do like about the XA4 is the wider angle, and the ability to do some macro work with a point-and-shoot sized film camera.

Posted in: analog, cactus, film, Kodak, Kodak UltraMax 400, Olympus, Olympus XA4, photography, raindrops, rangefinder, thorns, UltraMax, water, XA4

Glimpses

That Strange Light Before It Rains

By -N- on October 22, 2016

If you have ever experienced the scudding light – bright, shadow, dark, bright – as clouds race before the wind, you know what I mean. Suddenly one patch is brilliant against the ominous dark, then vanishes before your eyes.

This was taken with an Olympus XA4, a very small rangefinder from the 80s. The XA4, from 1985, sports a five element Zuiko 28mm f3.5 lens focusing to 0.3m (12 inches), with the help of corded measuring devices for macro work. The cords attach to the camera and extend for measurement. I acquired on which was new old stock, and it’s quite a fun little 35mm camera. It is also – I swear – the last film camera I plan to buy (for awhile)!

I had the film developed at a local lab, and scanned it myself with my Pakon 135.

Posted in: 35mm, 400, cactus, California, film, Kodak, Kodak UltraMax 400, Olympus XA4, Pakon 135, photography, rangefinder, tree, UltraMax

Glimpses

Waiting for Rain

By -N- on April 2, 2016April 2, 2016

Today I finally sat down to scan some film I had processed awhile ago. This is Kodak UltraMax 400, a color film converted to b&w. I took this image last year sometime, long before the rains came. The moon was half full.