Frugal Film Project 2026 - Donkey - January

 As I mentioned in my previous blog, I wasn't going to do the Frugal Film Project 2026. Then things conspired against my decision and now I'm pulling double duty with a 35mm compact and a 35mm SLR. Allow me to introduce "Donkey!" ahem....

When the auto-wind problem on my Hanimex 35RAS surfaced I genuinely thought it was broken. before I even thought about doing anything else, I began plan B. "Donkey" is my Minolta Dynax 4 auto everything 35mm Film Single Lens Reflex camera sporting a Minolta AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens that I paid £10 on ebay. Why do I call it Donkey? It was sat on my shelf going "pick me! pick me!", so I sighed and said "OK Donkey, you can come with me". 

My film choice for Donkey is also Kentmere 400. My mind was already in a flap and it was easier to use the film I had already bought. I didn't know at the time that my Hanimex 35RAS would still function after retrieving my film. In any case, it's easier to develop both films together in the same tank than have to send a colour film away for developing. After all, the aim of the project is to be "Frugal". 

This also means I have to hit two different parts of town each month, which gets me out and about more. This is called "exercise" and will allegedly make me healthier than I am now. I am sceptical of this sorcery, especially as every housing estate in town has a Pie Shop, so we shall see how I get on. 

For my first roll of Kentmere 400 shot with Donkey for the Frugal Film Project 2026, I headed to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Crooke for a pleasant wander along the tow path and see how the place looks in darkest winter. It gets a bit grim here in winter, it's usually wet and windy with occasional snow and frost through to March. The sight of a sunny morning in late January was something I had to take advantage of whilst it lasted.

I wasn't the only one making the most of a bright, sunny morning in January. There was a few folk fishing along the canal and a mix of dog walkers, ramblers, joggers and cyclists, all enjoying the winter sunshine. I was really enjoying the conditions as the canal was almost mirror calm. It was only the ducks that were making any big ripples on the surface as they enjoyed their day with the rest of us.

I made full use of the reflections as I walked along the towpath. even when the ducks made ripples it made for interesting reflections and I was quite spoiled for choice. It also meant I made short work of my roll of Kentmere 400 and took my final photo from the footbridge. that took me back over the canal and onwards to the bus stop to catch my bus into town.

I developed my roll of Kentmere 400 a couple of days later with Bellini Euro HC 1+31 dilution B for 6 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had it hanging to dry in my bathroom. I digitised my film with my Nikon D700, Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f/2.5 macro lens, Valoi 35mm film holder, Pixl-Latr and A5 sized led light pad. I processed the RAW files with Affinity Studio.

First impressions of my film when I hung it to dry was that Donkey didn't let me down. I added a Yellow filter that cost £5.99 to Donkey to try to even out the sky on a bright winter day. We don't get many days without clouds at this time of year in darkest Wigan, so I made the most of it. I was able to process my shots with very few adjustments in Affinity Studio to get them presentable. 

I really enjoy using my Minolta Dynax 4 with its 28-80mm kit lens. It's an entry level 35mm SLR with the bells and whistles of a modern DSLR/Mirrorless camera and it only cost me ten whole pounds. Add £5.99 for the filter and I still have plenty of room in the budget for more accessories. Not that this camera needs any, it does what it needs to and does it very well indeed. Cheers, Donkey! 

Here's a few favourites from my January roll of Kentmere 400 shot with Donkey, my beltin' little Minolta Dynax 4 for the Frugal Film Project 2026. I have placed them and more in an album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.

Frugal Film Project 2026 - SLR 

Frugal Film Project 2026 - Compact - January

 I was going to have a year off from the Frugal Film Project in 2026, but the lure of a cheap compact 35mm film camera from the golden age of film was irresistible. My friend and owner of Kosmo Foto, Stephen Dowling, sells compact 35mm cameras for not a lot of cash on his website. It was there where I found a Hannimex 35RAS 35mm compact camera and it was well within the budget for the Frugal Film Project. A few clicks later and the deed was done.

I like to try to buy a camera for the Frugal Film Project, but I have used cameras I already owned in the past. My Agfa Isolette was a gift and my Pentax SP500 was bought some years before being used for the Project. The other cameras I have used have all been bought for the Project and I wanted to continue this. It gives a camera some much need love and a chance to shine. 

I did not go into 2026 with an unknown camera. I tested it myself with a roll of Kentmere 400, which helped me enormously and gave me confidence to go with it for the Project. What could be more simple? Hanimex cameras were the cheap option in the 1980's for happy snappers like me and nostalgia is a powerful draw. 

For January I just wanted to wander around, as usual, happily snapping shots of Wigan that caught my eye. There's an old building in town that has been condemned and is being slowly demolished. I wanted to capture a few shots for posterity and headed out on a typical grey day here in Wigan. I got my shots, chatted with the lads working on the building and went on my way to take a photo of the Mining Memorial. 

Then Disaster Happened.

I took the shot I wanted at the Memorial and my camera kept trying to wind the film to the next frame. WTF? I quickly removed the batteries and wondered if that was it for my Hanimex 35RAS. I went home, dejected, but determined to figure it out. I left it to sulk for a day or two in my warm house in case it was the cold that had caused the failure. I replaced the batteries and sure enough, it kept trying to advance the film.

I put the camera, a pair of scissors and a developing tank in my dark bag and set about removing the film. Once I had the film safely in the tank, I took everything from the bag and replaced the batteries in the camera. It worked perfectly! I developed the short length of film and took a look as I hung it to dry. There was one sprocket hole that had broken. ONE! *insert suitable curse words here* I also want to make it perfectly clear it's nobody's fault it happened, not Ste's fault, not even the Roman's fault. Poop doth happen from time to time for reasons unknown. Blummen fing....

I carefully reloaded the remainder of the film back into the camera and closed the back. It advanced to the first frame as normal. That one lousy sprocket hole almost had me abandon my camera for the Frugal Film Project at the first hurdle. I was so sure the camera was fubarred that I had already declared that I would be using my back up camera, my Minolta Dynax 4, for the remainder of the year. 

I waited a few days until the weather improved and shot the rest of the roll with no further issues. Now I am pulling double duty again with 2 35mm film cameras, my 35RAS and my Minolta Dynax 4 that I lovingly christened "Donkey" because it was dancing on my shelf shouting "Pick Me! Pick Me!", so I expect chaos to reign supreme from here on in. 

I developed my film with Bellini Euro HC 1+31 dilution B for 6 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had it hanging to dry in my bathroom. I digitised it with my Nikon D700, Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f/2.5 macro lens, Valoi 35mm film holder, Pixl-Latr and A5 sized led light pad. I processed the RAW files with Affinity Studio.

If this camera hadn't decided to have a tantrum, I would have called my January photos a success. As it stands they are a bit of a miracle considering the mishap with the auto-wind. I'm happy with how they turned out and will keep using my Hanimex 35RAS until it either breaks or makes it to December. Maybe it has some kind of "pact" with Donkey that they haven't seen fit to tell me about.... Hmmmmmm.... *strokes beard*

Here's a few of my favourites from my January roll of Kentmere 400 shot with my Hanimex 35RAS for the Frugal Film Project 2026. I have placed them and a few more in my Frugal Film Project 2026 album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.

Frugal Film Project 2026 - Compact 

Torn sprocket hole near the 5 that caused the problem

A Merry Mersey Meet Up

 A year has flown by since I first attended a Mersey Meet Up, organised by the man, nay, the legend, Steve "Stig" Starr. I promised in November 2024 that I would be back and I put my name down for the 2025 Merry Mersey Meet Up as soon as I found out when it was happening. I even booked my train early, just to make sure I was going to be there. The day of the meet up was Saturday November 29th and the meeting point was at the Cenotaph outside St George's Hall. Stig picked the right spot as it's right outside Lime Street Railway Station where my morning train journey ended. 

I arrived in time and said hello to people I haven't seen for a year as well as some I haven't met before. For the walk I had given some thought to the time of year and dug out my last roll of Kodak T-Max P3200, loaded it into my OM-2 with Zuiko 28mm f/3.5 lens and set it to shoot it at 800 iso. I also loaded a roll of Lomo 800 into my OM-1n with Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 lens to try to capture the festive colour around town.

Stig puts a lot of effort into the route and this year we headed down William Brown Street, past the Central Library, Walker Art Gallery and Museum. It was getting busy as people were heading the the Christmas Market and Fun Fair on the plaza around St George's Hall. Stig lined us all up on the steps outside the Museum and we dutifully got our group photo done.

We headed down Dale Street, taking photos of murals along the way and also had a stop at the Real Camera Co. shop. I could easily have spent my christmas savings in there, but I exercised restraint and bought a couple of rolls of expired Agfa Vista colour film. A few of the group also spent a few quid there and once that was done, we headed towards St Pauls Square.

This is where the famed Liverpool Stadium once stood and hosted World Championship Boxing matches. Sadly age took it's toll on the building and it was demolished in the late 1980's. A Memorial Plinth now stands on the site, surrounded by tall office buildings. It was unveiled by John Conteh who competed and made his name there. We also had a spot of lunch at Little leaf, a lovely cafe that served a wonderful sausage roll and made excellent tea.

From there we meandered to the Pier Head and another Christmas Fun Fair. I'm glad I had a roll of Lomo 800 in my OM-1n for a future blog as the colours were indeed amazing, despite the light being flat. From there we headed around the Royal Albert Dock and It was there I finished my roll of Lomo 800. I also took a few photos with my phone camera on this section of our walk, just to capture the bright colours whilst I still could.

By now we were behind time and losing the light. Stig hurried everyone along towards St Lukes, the bombed out church in the Chinatown area and I said my farewell to everyone as I knew keeping up would be a problem for me. I shook hands with everyone and made my way back to Lime Street Station and my train home, knackered, but happy I made it to another Mersey Meet Up.

I developed my TMax P3200 with Bellini Euro HC, 1+31 dilution B for 8 1/2 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had it hanging to dry in my bathroom. Once dry I scanned it with my Nikon D700, Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f/2.5 macro lens, Valoi 35mm film holder, Pixl-Latr and A5 size led light pad. I processed the RAW files with Affinity Studio. 

In my defence it was a bit of a grotty day in Scouse land, the light was flat and the sky rarely cleared to give us any brightness, but I got my choice of film right and got my exposures there or thereabouts. Taking two cameras, Lomo 800 colour film in my OM-1n and TMax P3200 B&W film in my OM-2, divided my attention and made my brain hurt. I did get some decent shots despite having my attention span seriously challenged. I'm too easily dist.... look, a squirrell! 

What really mattered on the day was the chance to get out and meet people I have been gassing with on social media. There was a few new faces at this years Merry Mersey Meet Up and the chance to say hello in person was very welcome. I will be keeping an eye on the Photowalk website as I really fancy attending the Spring Mersey Meet. If you fancy a photowalk, you can visit the Photowalk website via the link below.

I will be sharing my colour film in a future blog, but for now here's a few favourites from my roll of TMax P3200 shot with my OM-2 on a splendid walk around Liverpool with great people. I have placed them and more in a album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.

www.photowalk.me 
Kodak P3200 - OM-2 - Merry Mersey Meet 

New toys for my FED 2

 When I bought my FED 2 rangefinder camera, a wide angle lens went on my bucket list straight away, the Jupiter 12 35mm f/2.8. The camera originally came to me with an Industar 26m 52mm f/2.8 lens fitted and I wasn't very happy with it. It was, and frankly still is, lumpy in use and needs a full strip and rebuild to put right. This is what happens when you pay £40 for a camera that works well, the lens is often overlooked.

I soon found a replacement on a Zorki 4K that winged it's way to me for another £40, a Jupiter 8 50mm f/2 that was in excellent condition. This time it was the camera that wasn't exactly at it's best. Given the fact a serviced FED 2 with Jupiter 8 lens can cost over £100, I reckon I got reasonable value for my money. 

As I grew to love the camera, a Jupiter 12, 35mm wide angle lens was on my radar and it is a sought after item amongst the soviet camera community, often costing well over £100 for just the lens. I played the waiting game and kept an eye out for a bargain.

A couple of years go by and I'm scrolling through a Vintage Camera group on the book of face. A member had posted their FED 2 with the Jupiter 12 lens and I mentioned that I was on the look out for the lens to put on my FED 2. The chap very kindly gave me a link to one for sale on the bay and it was within my financial reach. I checked it out, liked what I saw and bought it. A week later it arrived and I am now the proud owner of a Jupiter 12 35mm f/2.8 wide angle lens for a very reasonable price.

The only problem I now had was getting the viewfinder that shows the full size of frame my photos shot using the lens were going to be. These things can cost a pretty penny too, but I managed to find one at the Vintage & Classic Camera Co. The good folks I bought Baldy the Baldax from. It didn't take long to arrive and all I had to do was give it a test run. I loaded a roll of Kentmere 400 into my FED 2 and waited for a sunny day to come my way.

I went for a wander around Wigan and captured some old favourites again. I also tried to capture different angles of others now that I could get closer to my subjects. I even wandered down to the Pier Quarter to see what I could find. By the time I got there, the sun was dipping below the buildings on the fine autumn afternoon. I captured a couple of shots and I headed back into town to capture another couple of shots before I lost the light and headed home.

I developed my roll of Kentmere 400 in Bellini Euro HC, 1+31 dilution B, for 6 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had it hanging to dry in my bathroom. I digitised my film with my Nikon D700, Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f/2.5 macro lens, Valoi 35mm film holder, Pixl-Latr and A5 sized led light pad. I processed my RAW files with Affinity Studio.

First impressions of this lens are good. Compositions where I had to step back with the Jupiter 8 50mm f/2 had me taking those few steps towards the composition with the Jupiter 12 35mm f/2.8. That extra width really shows in my photos. I can get much closer before I start getting to the point where I need to stop and let the composition have space to fill the frame. 

The photos are nice and sharp too, which is something I had seen in other folks photos using the same set up. That viewfinder is pretty much on the money too. It sits a little higher than I would like courtesy of the adapter I bought so I could get it to fit. My Fed 2 has the sunken hot shoe and the adapter has raised the viewfinder up a few millimetres, but it doesn't affect the shots at all. Most of my shots were focused at infinity so parallax wasn't an issue. 

There's only one downside to this lens and that's the aperture ring. It's click-less and my lens hood screws into it. It's easily moved by my fat fingers when focusing so I had to be mindful to check I was still on my chosen aperture before framing up my composition and releasing the shutter. It's a daft thing to moan about and I shall get used to it. 

The only other lens I have experienced this with is my Industar 50-2. That lens also has a click-less aperture ring set in the body, not around the outside like every other lens I own. maybe it's just a quirky soviet design or are there other lenses out there similarly configured that I haven't found yet? 

Final thoughts? Considering it is a lens I have wanted for quite some time, it has not disappointed me. I could easily have been disappointed, but the Jupiter 12 35mm f/2.8 lens made by the good folks at KMZ in Moscow all those years ago, is every bit as good as I imagined it would be. 

Here's a few favourites from my wander around Wigan, trying my Jupiter 12 35mm f/2.8 lens for the first time. I have placed them and more in an album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.

Fed 2 - Jupiter 12 35mm f/2.8 lens - Kentmere 400

Frugal Film Project 2025 - December

 My experience of the Frugal Film Project over the years has been very rewarding and occasionally frustrating. The 2025 edition was no exception and I come to the end of my year with a greater appreciation of the post WW2 German Camera Industry. I have also come to love Type 517 Cine Film for its versatility. For Decembers roll of Type 517 Cine Film shot with my Kodak Retina 1a, I kept it simple and stuck to what I know.

I have mentioned a few times about Type 517 being the ultimate barn find in film photography for many years. A refrigerated shipping container loaded with a cine film version of Ilford FP4 doesn't come around often, I doubt it will happen again in my lifetime. Kudos to the folks at Analogue Cameras for making the deal happen and bringing this to the market at a very affordable price. You can buy this film with confidence it is going to produce decent photos for you. 

As for my Kodak Retina 1a, what a bargain I got! I bought it in a bundle when I wanted something else and it turned out to be the best bonus ever! When Kodak wanted to expand into Europe between the wars, their decision to buy the Dr August Nagel Kamera Werk in Stuttgart was a very astute one indeed. By the time my Retina Ia was made in the 1950's, Kodak AG, at that point in West Germany, was producing quality cameras at an affordable price.
 
At 70 years old my Retina Ia is in fine fettle. The frame counter has never worked whilst in my ownership, but it hasn't bothered me all year, I just try to keep a mental note of where I'm up to, a task that sometimes is a tough one when I'm concentrating on getting a shot nailed down. The strength of my Kodak Retina Ia is its Schneider-Kreuznach 50mm f/2.8 lens. Matched to the Compur shutter with a decent range of shutter speeds and apertures, shooting an expired 100 iso film wasn't as daunting as it could have been. 

For this last roll of the year I just wandered around town and captured the day as I walked. I also winged it on the metering, trusting my Mk.1 eyeballs on a bright sunny Boxing Day afternoon. I tried to get different compositions, but there's always one or two that draw me to them time and again. That's fine by me. It didn't take me long to shoot my December roll of Type 517 Cine Film with my Kodak Retina Ia and I made my way home, happy that I had completed another year of the Frugal Film Project.

I developed my roll of Type 517 Cine Film in Bellini Euro HC 1+31 dilution B for 12 minutes at 20 celcius. Once dry I digitised it with my Nikon D700, Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f/2.5 macro lens, Valoi 35mm film holder, Pixl-Latr and A5 size led light pad. I processed the RAW files with Affinity Studio.

My final roll of the year for the Frugal Film project 2025 turned out rather nicely. Being blessed with a sunny afternoon and a wander without having to worry about getting wet or being cold, or both was just what I needed to round out the year. With a dozen rolls of film used, I have found my personal sweet spot using Type 517 Cine Film in my Kodak Retina Ia. 

For me that's the take home from the Frugal Film Project each year. I have learned about a film I wasn't accustomed to in a camera that came in a bundle and turned out to be a great surprise that has earned a place in my regular rotation. Now we are into the new year I am getting stuck into Kentmere 400 with my Hanimex 35RAS point and shoot as we go around again for the Frugal Film Project 2026. 

If you want to try Type 517 Cine Film for yourself, you can buy it from Analogue Cameras right here in the UK using the link below. I am not sponsored by, nor do I get any kickback from Analogue Cameras this recommendation, I have learned that Type 517 Cine Film is a decent film and I still have a few rolls in my fridge to get through. 

Here's a few favourites from my December roll of Type 517 Cine Film shot with my Kodak Retina Ia for the Frugal Film Project 2025. I have placed them and more in my Frugal Film project 2025 album on Flickr that you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them. 

Frugal Film Project 2025 - December 
Analogue Cameras - Type 517 Cine Film 

Hanimex 35RAS – My Frugal Film Project 2026 Camera

 In the 1980’s compact 35mm point & shoot film cameras were getting fancy with auto shutter, auto aperture, auto focus, auto flash and auto wind/rewind. These features really defined the point & Shoot cameras of the era. They were at first the domain of the big companies and expensive, but as the tech matured brands like Hanimex made them affordable. 

It was with this in mind that I went hunting for a cheap 35mm point & shoot to use for the Frugal Film Project 2026. My first, and last, port of call was the Kosmo Foto website to see what they had in stock in the Cameraburo. This review is neither sponsored by, nor has any kickback from Kosmo Foto. I just like the guy.

Kosmo Foto had several 35mm point & shoot cameras for sale with prices ranging from £7.50 to £80. Most were around the £30 - £50 mark and perfect for the Frugal Film Project budget of no more than $75/£75. I spotted a couple of Hanimex brand cameras and the first one I looked at had already been sold to some bloke in Canananada. (Alex Luyckx gets everywhere!)

My next choice was a Hanimex 35RAS that looked clean, had been film tested and was ready to go for £30. I took the plunge and bought it. When it arrived a few days later, I could see it had been looked after and all I had to do was fit 2 AA batteries, load a roll of Kentmere 400 35mm B&W film and go for a wander to remind myself of what photography was all about in the 1980’s.

When I fitted the batteries I gave my Hanimex 35RAS a few tests and it seemed to be working just fine. When I loaded my roll of Kentmere 400, I pulled the leader to the white mark, closed the back and heard the reassuring noise of the camera advancing the film to the first frame. I went for familiar compositions on my walk in my local countryside that covered various lighting conditions on a sunny afternoon.

From dark woodland paths to the full brightness of the sunshine along the dirt roads, my Hanimex 35RAS handled it with ease and it didn’t take long to shoot my roll of film and I headed home, eager to develop it and see exactly how it had performed. I developed my roll of Kentmere 400 in Bellini Euro HC at 1+31 dilution B for 6 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had it hanging to dry in my bathroom. I digitised my film with my Nikon D700, Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f/2.5 macro lens, Valoi 35mm film holder, Pixl-Latr and A5 sized led light pad. I processed the RAW files with Affinity Studio.

This first roll told me all I needed to know about my Hanimex 35RAS and also gave me confidence I could use it for the Frugal Film Project 2026. My film looked decently exposed, as I processed each frame with Affinity Studio I didn’t need to make many adjustments to get them looking presentable. 

My Hanimex 35RAS may be a simple to use camera with a fixed 34mm lens and few automated features to make life easier, but it is far from being a disposable item. I was able to get some decent photos with it and all I had to do was point & shoot. The camera took care of the rest which suits me just fine. I have taken part in the Frugal Film Project for several years now, with cameras I really needed to use my skills to get consistent results. For 2026 I want an easy life and this camera gives me that for not a lot of cash. I'm using rechargeable batteries too.

Here’s a few favourites from my first roll of Kentmere 400 shot with my Hanimex 35RAS. I am very happy with my purchase and it's a pleasure to do business with Kosmo Foto. You can visit the website via the link below.  I have decided to stick with Kentmere 400 for the Frugal Film project 2026 and look forward to sharing more photos with you as the year progresses. I have placed these and more in an album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them. 

Hanimex 35RAS - Kentmere 400 

2025 - A Review Of My Year

 2025 has been a decent year for me. I completed a few things this year that were very fulfilling for me both creatively and for my health.The number one highlight of 2025 was going on holiday with my wife and our youngest son. I also got to use cameras that have become firm favourites as well as old favourites that I have come to love using over the years. The only thing I need now is to decide where to start? 

Lets start with the camera I have used for The Frugal Film Project 2025, my Kodak Retina Ia, an absolute gem of a camera and my choice for my favourite camera of the year. I bought it from ebay in a bundle deal during in 2024. I needed a focus screen for my Zeiss Ikon Maximar and the Kodak was a part of the deal. Also in the bundle was another Maximar and a tiny little Ensign pocket camera. 

The Kodak Retina Ia is a simple viewfinder camera that uses 35mm film. The viewfinder isn't coupled to the lens as you would find with a rangefinder or an SLR, you have to zone focus, but it isn't difficult to get the hang of. The lens is a superb Schneider-Kreuznach Retina Xenar 50mm f/2.8 and it folds into the body of the camera when not in use. 

To help me gauge distance I bought a Watameter Rangefinder and added a yellow filter to the lens to help me tame the Black and White Type 517 Cine Film I used for the year. The downside to the camera is the frame counter doesn't work, so I will get that mended in 2026. Pierro likes a challenge, speaking of which...

Pierro gave my Olympus OM-1n a CLA in the summer of 2025 and it's like having a brand new camera, albeit one that's nearly 50 years old. When I bought it, I took a chance and paid less than £50 for it from ebay. I shot two rolls with it and then it jammed. The frame counter window had fallen into the camera and it was beyond my skills to mend it myself. Motorcycles, I can fix, cameras.... nope.

Pierro has serviced a few cameras for me and I value his skills. I booked a slot and sent it before the appointed time. To save a camera for the future is a very rewarding thing to do. I have an OM-1n that will undoubtedly outlast me and give it's next custodian many more years of service long after I am gone. I couldn't be happier with it.

I went on a little voyage of discovery earlier in 2025 with a look at cheap auto focus SLR's from the heyday of film. A Minolta Dynax 4 and a Canon EOS 300. I bought the Minolta from a dear friend for £10 and the Canon was a gift from another dear chum. I had to buy a lens for the Canon which cost me around £50 and put it firmly in the middle of my test. I pitted both cameras against my semi pro grade Nikon F801S and shot a roll of Ilford HP5+ 400 B&W and a roll of Kodak ColorPlus in each. 

I found that  you don't need to spend much on a camera to get well exposed and focused photos. When folk say film photography is expensive, it's only as expensive as the amount you're willing and able to spend. If you are a pauper like me, a tenner gets you a great camera and lens that will give you years of service.  

It was an exercise that taught me that buying the best you can afford is purely subjective. I had as much fun with my cheapest camera as I did with my intermediate and expensive cameras. I learned that Minolta made exceedingly good auto-focus cameras as well as the manual focus ones I enjoy too. That brand has a well earned place in my regular rotation. 

Taking part in producing two books with The Photozine Collective has again been a great experience. Opaque was our winter exploration of B&W film and Vivid was our first foray into colour film. My fellow contributors excelled themselves yet again. Photographers are always looking for inspiration and a collaboration project is a great way to find it. We do it to raise money for Asthma and Lung UK in memory of our friend John Whitmore, who inspired us to start this venture a few years ago. 

By far my favourite experience of 2025 was going on a well deserved holiday with my wife and son, a cruise around the Scenic Scottish Islands aboard the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines M.S. Bolette and it did us all the world of good. I used to think being on board a ship was a bit like prison with a chance of drowning, but now I want to go on another one. 

Sea air, great food and a chance to surprise a dear friend I haven't seen for many years was just what we needed in 2025. I got to photograph Fingal's Cave, an item on my photography bucket list and  got to spend time ashore in Kirkwall on Orkney and Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Both are places we have never visited before. We enjoyed it so much we have booked another cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary in 2027. 

That's me done for 2025 as I take my Christmas break and relax with my family. 2025 has had its share of ups and downs, but has been very rewarding. I'm looking forward to 2026, starting with another round of The Frugal Film Project in January. I have bought my camera for the project, tested it and will introduce it next week. I'm also hoping to be involved with The Photozine Collective again. We have no idea at this point what theme we are doing, but all we be revealed in due course.

With 2025 almost behind us, I look forward to more Photography Shenanigans in the year ahead. I wish you, my dear reader, a very Happy Christmas. Whatever way you choose to celebrate the end of the year, I hope 2026 brings you health and happiness. And more cameras, and a train set, and a flying car..... 

Jim