Intermittent lurker from Japan

[Bushcat]

Hi, I'm a long-time but intermittent lurker who recently recently rediscovered film after I was given a couple of Nikon F100 bodies. That made me go back through the boxes, and I found a Kiev 4a I must have bought decades ago and abandoned for some reason, which turns out to be takeup spool tensioning, plus my first SLR, a Zenit 3M with a Helios 44 and a Tair 11a. Along with a cassette-less Minolta 16. So deciding to put at least a bit of film through each of them, here I am...

So far I've discovered I probably like fixing cameras and lenses more than actually putting film through them. I have a Contax F on the shopping list because I have a solitary M42 lens I'd like to try out. On the local market, cameras tend to be pretty cheap, and there's a reseller-wide grading system which the usual online markets (Rakuten, Yahoo Auctions, etc.) will hold them to. So there is less risk of unpleasant surprises. The only anomoly is that a CLA can be an immense price, which is why I tend to do it myself.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Welcome! I used to live in Japan. Way down on Kyushu. Are you shooting black and white or colour?

 

[Bushcat]

Both. I process my own B&W, but the chemicals aren't very cheap right now and color is more convenient. So I'm going through a couple of the more interesting color films, and for B&W I may simply go to XP2. I'm shooting maybe 1 film a month right now, whereas at my peak I was up around 3000 photos/year on digital.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

3000 digital photos a year is nothing. You should see my students LOL!

 

[mooseontheloose]

Welcome! There are a few members here who live in Japan, or, like Andrew, were once here but left. I'm currently based in Kyoto but have lived in a variety of different places across the country, mostly in Chugoku, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Had hoped to make it to Tokyo at one time, but I could never afford it. I have to admit I like the more laid-back life we have here in Kyoto. Unfortunately we do not have the same type of photography communities/groups/exhibitions (whether film or digital) that Tokyo seems to have.

In any event, it's good to have you here! Whether shooting film or fixing cameras, there are a lot of people here who are interested in both.

 

[Bushcat]

Welcome! There are a few members here who live in Japan, or, like Andrew, were once here but left. I'm currently based in Kyoto...

I thought about going to Gion Matsuri yesterday, but common sense took over and I boiled my brains somewhere less crowded. I'm not really a club person, but years ago the big camera shop in one of the Osaka Ekimae buildings used to carry leaflets from clubs and exhibitions. I know of the be-Kyoto Photo Club.

 

[Sirius Glass]

F100 is a great choice of camera.

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!​

 

[Chan Tran]

I took about 6500 digital images in 8 and a half year. That's about the same amout of shots when I shot film.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I thought about going to Gion Matsuri yesterday, but common sense took over and I boiled my brains somewhere less crowded. I'm not really a club person, but years ago the big camera shop in one of the Osaka Ekimae buildings used to carry leaflets from clubs and exhibitions. I know of the be-Kyoto Photo Club.

I did the same as you this past weekend in NOT going to Gion Matsuri, it's just not worth it with the crowds right now. I'm sure one of these years I'll make it (8 years and counting in Kyoto, still have not been to Yamahoko parades on the 17th or 24th yet).

I'm not a club person either, but I sort of feel there are more options for learning (workshops, etc) and to go to exhibitions and other photo events (esp. film or alternative based) in the Tokyo area that in Kansai. I'm sure there's stuff here, but if it's only in Japanese then it's pretty much inaccessible to me.