Breaking the rules...

Steve Mack · May 5, 2011

I had a problem with my Nikon F100, which turned out to be operator error. When I got it back from the shop I put in a roll of Ilford XP2 Super and headed down to the local mall. It was hot, sunny, and the wrong time of day to take pictures: about 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Not only that, I left the camera on Program mode and just walked around looking for pictures. I even shot a couple of snaps into the sun just to see what would happen. Got the pictures back today and I was very, very pleased with the results.

Program mode in B/W seems to work really well for me, and since I seem to be able to get out mostly at the 'wrong' time of day, I just go with that and shoot. Kind of like Tuco Ramirez: "When you going to shoot, shoot, don't talk". Anyway, I'll get some snaps scanned and have one of the computer gurus in the family walk me through how to post.

Love Program mode (uncreative) and wrong time of day!

With best regards,

Stephen

dehk · May 5, 2011

Matrix metering in the F100 is indeed very good.

2F/2F · May 5, 2011

Try it with a traditional b/w film and I don't think you'll be as thrilled.

agphotography · May 5, 2011

This is why I enjoy XP2 for it's flexibility. It's fun to push around too. Very usable EI range.

Jeff Kubach · May 6, 2011

Here where I live I get chased by the security police for using a camera in the shopping mall.

Jeff

agphotography · May 6, 2011

Jeff Kubach said:
Here where I live I get chased by the security police for using a camera in the shopping mall.

Jeff

There too?? Happens to me too any time I bring an SLR into the mall with me. Strangely they don't take notice of my Panasonic GF1??

removed account4 · May 6, 2011

hi stephen

the only rule is there are no rules ..
xp2 is good stuff, isn't it ?

john

parkpy · May 6, 2011

I think this is why I dislike my Canon A-1. It's Program mode is so good, that it's basically a two pound point and shoot. The Canon A-1 is capable of taking a higher frequency of keepers in a shorter amount of time than I can with my Nikon FM2n.

The A-1's also got a dishearteningly unsmooth film advance...ugh...just not my favorite camera. I keep it for sentimental reasons...and for when I'm lazy. I do love FD glass, however.

CD55 · May 6, 2011

2F/2F said:
Try it with a traditional b/w film and I don't think you'll be as thrilled.

If this causes bad exposures then why should he do it? :confused: If XP2 works with good results why not just keep using it.

Steve Mack · May 6, 2011

I've got a roll of Ilford FP4+ in it now. I'll let you all know how 'bad' it is later.

With best regards,

Stephen

PS: For me, it's the composition. All other considerations are secondary.

hoffy · May 6, 2011

Ahhh, the wrong time of the day. Whenever I have been asked what my favourite time of the day is to take photo's, I always say "the time I have my camera out". Bollocks to "Golden Hour"!!

2F/2F · May 6, 2011

CD55 said:
If this causes bad exposures then why should he do it? :confused: If XP2 works with good results why not just keep using it.

My point was simply that the use of a C-41 film can help to cover the issues introduced by in-camera meters. Other types of film are less tolerant of exposure variations caused by using in-camera meters on automatic mode. In other words, what I said was, "If you want to keep getting OK results on auto mode, stay with XP2."

drumminor2nd · May 6, 2011

Hey, I just spent half an hour walking around in my downtown with my F3, a >gasp< 43-86mm lens (the worst lens ever made, allegedly), Walgreens ISO 400 color film and left the Nikon on "A" the whole time. I felt like such a rebel against "real" photography.

Selidor · May 11, 2011

drumminor2nd said:
Hey, I just spent half an hour walking around in my downtown with my F3, a >gasp< 43-86mm lens (the worst lens ever made, allegedly), Walgreens ISO 400 color film and left the Nikon on "A" the whole time. I felt like such a rebel against "real" photography.

Only if you swapped the F3 for an EM

nanntonaku · May 11, 2011

natura 1600, rated at 800, shot wide open at 1.4 in broad daylight without ND filters.

yeah, who's the bad ass now, huh huh ?

( mind you, if i get one good pic i'm lucky!)

Breaking the rules...

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Privacy & Transparency