So I did my first roll test on the Pentax 90WR with a roll of Kodak Gold 200 and some mixed light situations. My first impressions:
- the pentax 90WR ergonomy is awkward: flatted rubber buttons don't add to the feeling and searching when you're on the eyepiece composing; the eyepiece sits lost somewhere in the 1/3 middle of the back, I have to search for it each time I start shooting; Verdict: not good
- the camera is quiet and does a great job focussing, but: focussing 0,8m minimum is just a distance too big for me: verdict: not good
EDIT: the camera has a option to put the lens on 90mm macro mode for a approx. 30 cm focussing distance, a bit long way to get quick shot, but usable for portraitures and macro shots of flora
- weather resistance: perfect, but no lens cap/UV filter possibility so cleaning and protecting things constantly is a bit of a pain: verdict: almost no good
- last but not least: the film showed a big lateral scratch all over exposed and non exposed surface: here's something I really was disappointed. Was it the Kodak minilab's fault or has the camera a issue here? It sets me on thoughts of leaving C41 forever. I encountered a lot of bad developing lately on C41. Spots,scratched film, strikes,etc... Could it be the end of life for many Kodak and Fuji minilabs which just keep on rolling because it still brings in a little bit of money?
To have it all cleared out I shot another roll of Superia 400 with the Pentax and it's in the lab right now. I will inspect and clean the winding system for defects. If this one is scratched too, it's the end of C41 for me and d......l machines wil be my way to capture color beside E6 slides which like my last rolls prove are better treated as an end product by the labs.
I still keep developing my own B&W and I will using the Ilford B&W developing service which yields some better results but not always strike and defect free developed film.
You can feel I'm on the edge of leaving a lot behind me.
- the pentax 90WR ergonomy is awkward: flatted rubber buttons don't add to the feeling and searching when you're on the eyepiece composing; the eyepiece sits lost somewhere in the 1/3 middle of the back, I have to search for it each time I start shooting; Verdict: not good
- the camera is quiet and does a great job focussing, but: focussing 0,8m minimum is just a distance too big for me: verdict: not good
EDIT: the camera has a option to put the lens on 90mm macro mode for a approx. 30 cm focussing distance, a bit long way to get quick shot, but usable for portraitures and macro shots of flora
- weather resistance: perfect, but no lens cap/UV filter possibility so cleaning and protecting things constantly is a bit of a pain: verdict: almost no good
- last but not least: the film showed a big lateral scratch all over exposed and non exposed surface: here's something I really was disappointed. Was it the Kodak minilab's fault or has the camera a issue here? It sets me on thoughts of leaving C41 forever. I encountered a lot of bad developing lately on C41. Spots,scratched film, strikes,etc... Could it be the end of life for many Kodak and Fuji minilabs which just keep on rolling because it still brings in a little bit of money?
To have it all cleared out I shot another roll of Superia 400 with the Pentax and it's in the lab right now. I will inspect and clean the winding system for defects. If this one is scratched too, it's the end of C41 for me and d......l machines wil be my way to capture color beside E6 slides which like my last rolls prove are better treated as an end product by the labs.
I still keep developing my own B&W and I will using the Ilford B&W developing service which yields some better results but not always strike and defect free developed film.
You can feel I'm on the edge of leaving a lot behind me.
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