Next up in this series is my Minolta Dynax 4 with ts 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 autofocus zoom lens I purchased from ebay after a dear chum listed it there. My friend and whomever else had owned the camera obviously looked after it. I had got a camera that looked brand new for ten quid! I will leave a link to my previous blog about this camera below.
Loading is easy on this type of camera, place the film cassette in it's slot on the left, pull the film over to the reed marker on the right and close the back. Switch the camera on and it automatically loads the film to the first frame. I loaded a roll of Ilford HP5+ 400 and headed into town to take my control shots before wandering off to a different location to shoot the rest of my film.
Handling this camera is very easy, you can use the command dial on the top left to select Program, Aperture priority, Shutter priority or Manual. If you don't fancy having anything to do, you can use the scene selection button on the top right to choose between Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports/Action or Night photography.
I used Aperture Priority for my control shots in Mesnes Park, which I shot on the same afternoon as my Canon for true side by side comparison, then didn't use the camera for a few days. Remember what I said about three cameras being too much intensity? I concentrated on the Canon and my Frugal Film Project obligation for the rest of the day.
When I was able to get out again, I set my Minolta Dynax 4 to aperture priority and I made my way around town taking photos. For a beginner this is an easy way to use this type of camera. KISS Theory definitely played a hand in my decision to use aperture priority on both cameras. A beginner would easily be able to use the Minolta Dynax 4 this way, produce decent photos and then feel inspired to try manual mode.
The Minolta Dynax 4 is a delight to use. Its light weight and comfortable handgrip, added to easy access controls, make it a very intuitive camera to use and it's simple to get used to it quickly. Auto focus is quick and precise and the light metering is very accurate, all thanks to the internal electronics that flourished in the late 20th century. An led display in the viewfinder indicates your shutter speed and aperture, and displays a plus or minus sign to help you get the right settings if using manual mode.
I enjoyed having a toddle around town with my Minolta Dynax 4. I had to wait a little while from time to time, for clouds to clear and the sun to peep out and bathe Wigan in sunlight before taking my shots. Thankfully the Minolta Dynax 4 is built for taking a quick snapshot when the need arises and also using very leisurely when the good light lingered a little longer. It didn't take long to rattle off a roll and I was tempted to load up again, but with my Ilford HP5 done and dusted, I decided to head home for a much needed brew.
I developed my film in Bellini
Euro HC, 1+31 dilution B for 5 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, K&F Tripod, Valoi 35mm film
holder, Pixl-Latr and A5 size led light pad. I processed the RAW files
with Affinity Photo 2.
When I hung my film to dry I could see each and every shot was decently exposed, maybe not brilliant compositions, but they looked pretty darn good. It made digitising the film with my DSLR and processing the RAW files so much easier. It performed just as well as my Canon EOS 300 That's the whole point of these marvels of technology, they make film photography easy.
The Minolta Dynax 4 is not just an easy camera to use, it is also a joy. It's light weight, great range of Minolta/Sony A Mount lenses available and the fact you can pick them up for next to nothing make this camera a great choice for anyone new to film photography. Even us old codgers with a few years of experience can enjoy this camera.
Here's a few of my favourite photos from this roll of Ilford HP5+ 400 shot with my Minolta Dynax 4 and 28-80mm zoom lens. I have placed them and more in an album on Flickr you can visit using the link below and don't forget to visit my previous blog for my thoughts and photos from my first use of this camera. I hope you enjoy them.
Minolta Dynax 4 - Ilford HP5+ 400
Minolta Dynax 4 - An affordable autofocus SLR
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