XA - Kodak BW400CN

piumach

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This time my XA has played a roll of Kodak BW400CN, you can check the result at:

http://picasaweb.google.it/piumach/OlympusXABW#

Developed and scanned by lab, just some crop here and there and a little bit of exposure (+0,5 max) and level&contrast adjustment with lightroom.
The negative just scanned produce images that appears slightly flat, so this is way I added some contrast.
I will also try to expose next roll setting the iso value around 320, this one seems to be all underexposed (with the previous roll of color film the exposure was right with default settings).

Thanks for looking,
Nicola
 
Nicola - a fabulous series. I love my little XA and XA4 . I really like the hammer and sickle, bicycle and ice cave images. I also like the light fall off / vignetting of the XAs - to me it is part of their charm.
 
Thanks guys :)

I don't know exactly why, but the picture I like most are always those I've taken with film camera, especially with my XA... :p
I have a Nikon D90, casio ex-z850, a rollei XF35, one yashica mat 124G and one XA.
The XA is simply incredible....
 
Secondo me te sei di Bologna..

Yes, the XA is fantastic and the photo I took with your same combo (XA + bw400cn)
is the photo I like the most.

(advice: never ever sell your MAT 124, you could only regret selling it, like I did..)


ciao!

Matteo
 
I'm a big fan of this combo as well. The lens in the XA is pretty low contrast, so that would probably explain the flat results. I've experienced the same thing. The negatives from this combination are great for post processing IMO.
 
Secondo me te sei di Bologna..

Yes, the XA is fantastic and the photo I took with your same combo (XA + bw400cn)
is the photo I like the most.

(advice: never ever sell your MAT 124, you could only regret selling it, like I did..)


ciao!

Matteo

Ma certo che sì! :)
No intention at all to sell the yashica! It's one of my favourite camera since I was 6 yrs old! :)
 
I'm really enjoying your XA shots, piumach. Good work.

I'm inspired and sort of excited because I just got my grubby mitts on an XA yesterday at the thrift store and it seems to be doing everything it's supposed to. Now I have to do what I'm supposed to do. Take decent photo's.

I went out today and tried to snap a shot of a bicycle shop front. Looking for random patterns and such. I stood there for several minutes trying to frame and focus and get it right, squinting into the tiny viewfinder.
Anyway, I gave up that idea because the light was harsh and moved on.
About 15 minutes later and several blocks away, I was confronted on the street by the shop owner of the bike shop questioning why I was taking photographs of their store.

WTF? Now granted, once I explained my self, which I only did out of a sort of surprised automatic public congeniality, the guy became conciliatory and lied about always being curious about "artists," wherein he quickly split, obviously not so interested in having a pleasant conversation.

No, I'm sorry, the dude was paranoid! Paranoid and possessive of what he was erroneously thinking was his, the image of that store front.

Sorry, I didn't intend for this to become a rant... I guess I was wondering about shooting in a museum or gallery when I'm finding it so uncomfortable just taking pictures of store window fronts in a slightly funky but gentrified small downtown dip**** middle Amerikan street.

Honestly, it was an XA-2, just a couple months ago, that I had found which got me involved in 35mm film camera's again. I had found it... took a roll... mulled over the results and realized that the shots were actually better than good. Unfortunately I sold the little camera anyway, thinking it must have just been a fluke or some odd psychological neediness or something.

Anyway, carry on. Your photography is really very good. It gives inspiration. I think that's a large component to what makes Art.
 
Very nicely done! It makes me want to pull out my XA, which has been in the drawer for quite some time.

Thanks for posting!

Kent
 
...

About 15 minutes later and several blocks away, I was confronted on the street by the shop owner of the bike shop questioning why I was taking photographs of their store.
...

No, I'm sorry, the dude was paranoid! Paranoid and possessive of what he was erroneously thinking was his, the image of that store front.
...

Don't worry about it. It happens. Of all the people in the world, there are a percentage that probably don't think before they act. You probably won't run into another for quite a while. If you do, just handle it like you did this one.

Anyway, I also enjoyed the photos. The XA is an often under-rated camera.
 
Don't worry about it. It happens. Of all the people in the world, there are a percentage that probably don't think before they act. You probably won't run into another for quite a while. If you do, just handle it like you did this one.

Yes, of course... but sometimes, thinking about it, I'd kinda like to toss a line of bs back at these paranoid self relegated "cop" type people, whip out a note pad, start scribbling, and tell em, "I occasionally contract with the State Division of Investigative Services for light surveillance work. I have no idea why you or your store are being investigated, but I am authorized to inform you of pending future indictments against you depending entirely upon my personal recommendations.":D
 
Very nice, Nicola.

Part of the allure of XA is that ever-present vignetting that draws the eyes of the viewer right at the subject.
 
Those are nice shots! I like the film/camera combination here (I've used it myself) -- some very nice tones and textures (I also liked the hammer and sickle photo). I've recently enjoyed shooting the XA w/ Neopan 1600 at iso 800, but BW400cn is my favorite C-41 bw film. Thanks for posting!
 
Very nice, Nicola.

Part of the allure of XA is that ever-present vignetting that draws the eyes of the viewer right at the subject.

I too am a huge fan of the XA vignette. Especially with a bright blue sky in high altitude. The lens really has a unique signature.
 
Really wonderful ... I especially like #19 as I love mokka. Here's a few of my XA/BW400CN shots:

1805943207_22456159d9.jpg


1806791546_6c442c29e7.jpg
 
Excellent series, I really enjoyed viewing them. Unfortunately, now I won't be able to part with my XA or XA4. I'm trying to scale DOWN here, people.

Great shots. As always, the camera is just a tool, the photographer is most.
 
Yes, of course... but sometimes, thinking about it, I'd kinda like to toss a line of bs back at these paranoid self relegated "cop" type people, whip out a note pad, start scribbling, and tell em, "I occasionally contract with the State Division of Investigative Services for light surveillance work. I have no idea why you or your store are being investigated, but I am authorized to inform you of pending future indictments against you depending entirely upon my personal recommendations.":D

I like it. My luck, if I tried it, the guy would call my bluff and call the police to have me identified. :eek:
 
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