Pentax P30 - WonderPan

A couple of Christmases ago I divested myself from the Pentax K mount when I gifted my gear to my Granddaughter to help her with her photography courses at College and University. I thought I was done with the system as I much prefer my M42 mount SP500, the bargain bucket Spotmatic. Fast forward several months and I got a visit from a neighbour. He was having a clear out and offered me his Pentax P30 with 2 lenses, a flash and other accessories. He bought them new many years ago and hadn't used them for a long time. I couldn't say no.

The Pentax P30 is a manual focus camera with an electronically controlled shutter that requires batteries to use the full range of speeds. Don't worry if the batteries die when out about, it has a mechanical 1/100th of a second shutter speed to fall back on. It also uses the Pentax Takumar - A lenses that give the camera auto exposure capability or full manual use. It also accepts earlier K mount lenses in manual mode only. I fitted a fresh pair of SR44 batteries into the camera and switched it on.

My neighbour had definitely done the right thing by removing the batteries before he put it away all those years ago. It came to life instantly and I went through the manual and auto functions to make sure. I needn't have bothered as it worked perfectly. The P30 was at a price point way below the famed K1000 and, although it sold well, it didn't get much love from the reviewers of the day. Having used it's later sibling the P30N, I still wonder why the journalists didn't like it.

Is it the plastic body covers or could it be the basic 28-80mm f/3.5 kit lens that feels sloppy? Maybe it is the lack of ability to set the iso manually, meaning you have to use DX coded film or the camera will default to 100 iso? It was "gear snobbery" in my humble opinion. Yes, the Pentax P30 does have all those features and that kept it's price point at the bottom of the Pentax range. But you know me and cheap cameras, we have an affinity and I like the P30.

It's a camera for learning the basics with at a price far below the K1000. It's also a camera you can get a better lens for and explore the excellent SMC Takumar-A K mount manual focus prime lenses, or any of the multitude of third party Pentax K mount manual focus lenses made from the mid 70's onwards. All that was left for me to do was load my last roll of WonderPan into the P30, fit my Tamron Adaptall 2 SP 28-80mm f/3.5-4.2 CF Macro lens and go for a walk to see what I could find to photograph.

I started with a visit to my favourite classroom, Mesnes Park in Wigan. I have said it many times, but I will never tire of photographing the jewel that belongs to the people of Wigan. Mesnes Park is over 100 years old and was built on the site of a former coal mine. When the mine was worked out, the Council landscaped the site to provide a green space for the people to enjoy some clean air on a Sunday afternoon. Over a century and more of public ownership, our local Council has been mowing the lawns, planting the flowerbeds and generally keeping the place clean and it's greatly appreciated.

I made my way through the Park and into Wigan, happy snapping along the way. My Pentax P30 behaved itself, despite my legendary absent mindedness trying its best to get in on the action. I always enjoy capturing the daily life in Wigan town centre. It wasn't long before I took my last photo at the new Development and headed home for my customary well earned cuppa. 

Thanks to a mid summer heatwave, I developed my roll of WonderPan a couple of weeks later in Bellini Euro HC 1+31 dilution B for 17 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 process the RAW files with Affinity Studio.

WonderPan 400 was a short run of a nominal 100 iso film that was labelled and DX coded as a 400 iso film as a way to promote pushing film. Most of us have done it by accident at some point and this film broke the ice on the subject for many a budding film photographer. By using it in my Pentax P30, that exclusively uses DX coding, it fooled the camera into thinking it had a 400 iso film loaded. 

This was not a problem for my Pentax P30. The bright led indicator lights in the viewfinder helped me nail the exposures and I didn't have to do much to them in Affinity Studio. By underexposing 2 stops and over developing by 2 stops, it brought a lot of contrast into the shots that was getting lost in the hazy, overcast conditions on the day. It was a great test of the camera and also my developing skills. 

Here's a few favourites from my final roll of WonderPan 400 shot with my Pentax P30 and Tamron Adaptall 2 28-80mm zoom lens. There's plenty of contrast, the blacks are deep and the tonal range is nicely balanced. As always I have placed them and more in an album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.

Pentax P30 - WonderPan 400 

#127Day - A celebration of 127 Film and Cameras

 The 12th July dawned brightly here in the north west of England and I rose from my bed with a mission to perform that day. It was #127Day and my aim was to shoot a roll of Shanghai GP3 100 127 film with my Kodak Brownie 127 camera before the day's end. I had bought a couple of rolls from Nik & Trick in readiness, now all I had to do was get it done. With a roll loaded into my Brownie 127, I headed out for a morning walk in the countryside near my home.

#127Day is the brainchild of JM Golding, a film photographer in the USA who likes the smaller medium format and wanted to encourage fellow photographers to bring 127 cameras back into use. The film size was introduced by Kodak in 1912 and was discontinued in 1995. You would think that was the end for a format designed for Kodak's much lauded "Vest Pocket" cameras. However, Kodak were not the only photographic company with 127 cameras and film in their line up. 

The Baby Rolleiflex was a scaled down version of the Rolleiflex TLR cameras and used 127 film. Yashica had the Yashica 44 TLR whose named directly linked to the size of the image, 4cm x 4cm. Zeiss Ikon produced the Kolibri 127 camera and of course, Kodak produced the Brownie 127 that I have. The major film manufacturers produced 127 film and contract coated for others too. Although the major manufacturers ceased production many years ago, it wasn't the end of the film.

One thing we have in the 21st century is 3D printing. A talented person with a 3D printer designed a film cutter that took a standard 120 film and you could cut it down to 127 in the comfort of your own home. What was left over was just the right size for the 16mm cameras from Minox and Minolta et al. 

There are companies such as Rera Pan spooling fresh film in small quantities over the years, but nothing from Kodak, AGFA etc. The good folks at Nik & Trick spoke with Shanghai Film and convinced them to do a small experimental run to see if folk would buy it. It quickly sold out and fresh 127 film was officially back in production in numbers that make it readily available again.

In a world where digital photography is the norm, film photography is rising higher thanks to the efforts of dedicated film photographers who refused to let film die. Community collaboration is a great way of getting out and having fun with cameras and film formats that where niche products back when film was king. 

I enjoyed myself immensely on my walk with a roll of Shagnhai GP3 100 127 film in my Kodak Brownie 127. The camera is a Bakelite box with a plastic meniscus lens in front of a basic spring loaded shutter. 127 film has a backing paper with frame numbers printed on it that you see through a red plastic window on the back. I was about to shoot my final frame when disaster happened. My Brownie 127 popped open. 

I thought I lost the 8th and last frame and almost certainly lost the 7th, but had I lost anymore? I wouldn't know until I developed the film. I could risk it, or I could just go out the following day, retrace my steps and shoot my second roll, admittedly a day late. Thankfully JM is a laid back person and didn't mind at all, so that's what I did. 

I loaded my second roll into my Brownie 127, taped the lid on securely and taped over the locking screw to stop it coming undone. By the end of my walk on the 13th July, (now known as #137Day-the walk of shame) I was thoroughly exhausted and happy that I got the full 8 frames, but would I extend that number after developing both rolls? 

I developed my rolls of Shanghai GP3 127 film using FX-55 for 10 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, Pixl-Latr with 127 medium format film holder and A5 sized led light pad. I processed my RAW files with Affinity Studio.

I didn't lose any shots on my first roll, somehow the film hadn't fogged and it wasn't a complete disaster. I thank the Photography Gods for them. My second roll was also a full 8 shots and to be fair, I'm happy with that. I didn't have to do too much to them to make them presentable and shows me that Shanghai GP3 100 iso film is the perfect choice for the camera for the summer edition of #127Day. 

The Kodak Brownie 127 was never a camera to get super sharp, well exposed photos when it was new in the 1950's, never mind 70 years later. It's a camera to have fun with and see what happens. I certainly didn't expect wall hangers, but I did get some that I am pretty happy with. It's basic spring set shutter is around 1/50th of a second at roughly f/14. It's as basic as one step up from a pinhole camera gets and yes, it's a lot of fun. Roll on December 7th and then January 2027 for a special month long appreciation of 127 film. 

100 iso film? With a Kodak Brownie 127? In midwinter? Are you mad? 
Why yes! Yes I am.

Kodak Brownie 127 and Shanghai GP3-100 for #127Day 

Frugal Film Project 2026 - Donkey - July

I left Donkey until the final day of July and went for a walk in my local countryside. After a walk around the park and town centre the day before, I didn't fancy heading further afield. I was still getting to know my new toys and had a couple with me, but on this day I prioritised my Frugal Film Project roll of Kentmere 400 shot with Donkey, my Minolta Dynax 4. 

After the heatwave of the previous weeks, it was good to have a good breeze to cool me down as I made my way along the farm roads and footpaths. The sun was high and shining brightly, but it wasn't a clear sky. There was enough clouds to provide some definition to the sky when out in the open.

I was looking for shapes and shadows in the trees and seeing if I could find some backlit foliage as I made my way along the footpath. I did revisit some familiar compositions, but also tried a few new ones that caught my eye. Shadows of leaves on the trunks and branches, all got investigated and photographed. 

I was enjoying my walk when I got to the end of the new path and took my last shot of my July roll of Kentmere 400. Donkey behaved impeccably and it was good to slow down and explore a little more of the trees and shrubs along the path. My Frugal Film Project commitment was quite literally "in the bag!" I couldn't wait to get home for that well earned cuppa.

I developed my July Roll of Kentmere 400 shot with Donkey the following day using Bellini Euro HC, 1+31 dilution B, for 6 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had it hanging to dry with my Compact roll. Tigger didn't get his claws on them, thankfully. 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.

I keep saying it, but late model plastic auto focus 35mm SLR's are hard to beat for great results. I'm not the only one using a Minolta for this year's Frugal Film Project, there's a couple of us and they really are decent cameras. I didn't have to do much in editing to make my photos presentable and they speak for themselves. 

I had a very enjoyable walk with Donkey to shoot my July roll of Kentmere 400 for the Frugal Film project 2026. Here's a few favourites and I have placed them and more in my Frugal Film Project 2026 - SLR album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.

Frugal Film Project 2026 - SLR - July 

Frugal Film Project 2026 - Compact - July

 I managed to get my July roll of Kentmere 400 shot with my Hanimex 35RAS on July 30th for a number of reasons all to do with new toys. I have bought some shiny things and reviews will be forthcoming in the not too distant future. This meant my Frugal Film Project commitments had to take a back seat, but thankfully I got them done.  

I have been getting to know a couple of shiny things this month and I am often prepared with 2 cameras, but not on this day. I had 3. I was happy snapping around the Park with my new toys as I get comfortable using them and began my Frugal Film project commitment with a shot of the clock tower at the Linacre Center after I left the Park and headed towards the new development. It's been a couple of weeks since I took progress photos there and the difference is very noticeable. 

The Contractors have been very busy, taking advantage of the weather to crack on and the 6 storey Hotel is at full height. The next big thing to watch for is windows being fitted so the building can be weather tight and utilities going in. Watching the transformation of The Galleries site has been full of mixed emotions, but there's hope for it being a success.

The current Market Hall will close in early 2027 and the new one will open, but we still don't know how many traders will be in there. Apparently there are 34 traders and 21 spots available, which means there isn't enough room for all of them. The Market Traders are a tad miffed about this and want answers from the Council. We await their response. 

Sadly one of my vantage points was blocked so I couldn't get any views of the new Market Hall. I made my way up Market Street, happy snapping buildings and trying to get different perspectives on much loved landmarks. My walk took me to the Parish Church and ended at The Anvil Pub when my camera gave me the news that I had shot my final frame and it was time to head home. 

I developed my July roll of Kentmere 400 shot with my Hanimex 35RAS on 1st August using Bellini Euro HC, 1+31 dilution B, for 6 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had it hanging to dry in my bathroom. This was fraught with danger as we have recently welcomed a new member of our family to our home, a black kitten named Tigger. He lives up to his name and thinks everything is a toy. 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.

The bright sunshine makes this camera easy to use without posing too many problems for the auto exposure it uses. It also makes my life easier as I don't have to do too much editing to make them presentable. The old saying, "make hay whilst the sun shines" comes to mind. I have definitely taken advantage of the long, hot, sunny days in July and have a few rolls of film to develop for future blogs. I reckon I can take it a little easier in August, but it's always good to be ahead.

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

Frugal Film project 2026 - Compact