The problem I mentioned in my previous blog about this camera, has happened. I knew it would, it was just a matter of time. I thought I would be able to resist it for longer, but no. The lure of my newly serviced Olympus OM-1n was too great. I loaded a roll of Rollei Retro 400S into it, screwed a yellow filter onto my Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 lens and went for a walk to see what I could find.
You know when something is right, you can feel it in your soul. I have often said an OM-1 was my dream camera and I was fortunate enough to make it happen. Now it's even better because I have two, an OM-1 MD and my OM-1n MD. Olympus got the OM-1 right when they unleashed it upon the world in 1971. It's a compact, lightweight, single lens reflex camera that it's designer, Yoshihisa Maitani, had positioned to rival Leica in quality. Olympus was already known for it's high quality optics, Maitani san designed the body of the camera to be light, compact and a joy to use.
Maitani wanted Leica quality for everyone and he knew what he was talking about. His family owned a Leica IIIf, with which he started his love of photography. He also knew his design would have to be mass produced to bring the cost down. He wanted everyone to have a camera that produced
photos every bit as good as those produced by Leica photographers, but
for a fraction of the price. The fact I am waxing lyrical about it 50 years later is proof that not only did he succeed, he spawned an entire range that is beloved of photographers to this day.
Anyway, I'm waffling. I headed towards Wigan Pier again to see what I could find on the Leeds-Liverpool canal heading towards Liverpool. I have wandered down there in the past, but it's been a year since I last walked this stretch of the canal, so I made the most of it. There were reflections, narrowboats, a couple of modern boats and on the side of the Stadium it now proudly proclaims that the east stand is The Sir Billy Boston Stand. Sir Billy turned 91 a few days before I wrote this and the town is cherishing every moment we have with him.
As is often the case when I am having a lot of fun, the light turned very grim as I got into my stride and I honestly thought I was going to get drenched as ominous black clouds threatened to the west. Thankfully they stayed there, but stole my light and I finished my film shortly after passing Woodhouse Lock at the bottom of Beech Hill. That was my cue to grit my teeth, walk up the hill and head for home. I definitely needed a drink after that.
I developed my roll of Rollei Retro 400S the next day with Bellini Euro HC 1+31 dilution B for 10 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had it hanging to dry. Once dry, 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 size led light pad. I processed the RAW files
with Affinity Photo 2.
I am happy with the roll, despite making a pigs ear of a few when the dark clouds rolled in. It was challenging to say the least, but my Olympus OM-1n handled it rather well, even when I didn't. Here's a few favourites from my roll of Rollei Retro 400S show with my Olympus OM-1n and Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 and 28mm f/3.5 lenses. I messed up when I used the 2x teleconverter and know what I did wrong now. I forgot to allow for the reduction in light. and hopefully I remember it when I use it again. I have placed these and more in an album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.
Olympus OM-1n - Rollei Retro 400S
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