For some time I’ve been contemplating a return to film photography. In an age of mirrorless cameras packed with computational aids — where every shot is effectively free — it might seem like an odd choice. But that’s precisely the point. Modern photography has become almost too easy. Film slows you down. You have to judge exposure, compose carefully through a challenging viewfinder, and focus manually. All of this comes after deciding whether a photograph is worth the £1 or more it will cost to take. The result is a more engaging process where the act of taking the photograph becomes as enjoyable as the image itself.
There’s also the wait. No instant review or screen-checking, just a week or two of anticipation while film is developed and scanned, unless you choose to do it at home. It’s a feeling I remember well from my youth, sending rolls of Kodachrome away for processing in the 1960s, and one that feels increasingly rare in a world of instant gratification. Compared to modern digital images, film photographs may have obvious imperfections, but that’s something I want to embrace.
To begin this journey I bought a Yashica Mat 124G from Ffordes Photographic in Inverness, it’s a post WW2 Japanese twin lens reflex camera inspired by the classic Rolleiflex. Over the next year or so I plan to try several film cameras and formats. While prices for vintage cameras have risen due to renewed interest, many remain relatively affordable, and may even hold or increase their value. Man maths…
