My adventures in film photography started in 2022 and died a year later.
I loved the experience of shooting on film, but I ended up getting frustrated with the whole process of sending my rolls to be developed, waiting for the scans, plus the endless price rises on film.
To top it off, I had tons of issues with my cameras.
I started with an Olympus OM-1 that ruined a trip I was really excited about. I trusted that it was in good condition because it was from a reputable seller in Mexico City, but it had so many problems that the seller decided to send me a new one instead.
A couple of weeks later, I bought an Olympus Trip 35 that promised to be simpler and more durable over time.
Big mistake. I never managed to focus properly. I thought it was just my inexperience with zone focus cameras and that calculating distances wasn’t my strong suit.
Turns out, the camera was also defective. Something got misaligned on the focus ring, so my photos were out of focus while online, everyone else seemed happy with their perfectly exposed and sharp images.
Lesson learned: don’t buy cameras in Mexico City that come from Donceles street in the Zócalo. Or at least, be skeptical at first until proven otherwise.
Fed up with the bad experiences, I decided to buy another one from the camera mecca: Japan.
Through eBay.
I already knew which camera I wanted: the Canon New F-1. One day, while watching a YouTube video about film photography, I discovered this camera. It looked rugged, sleek, and bulletproof. I dug deeper into it and made sure not to confuse it with the various models: Canon F-1, Canon F-1n, and Canon F-1 New. I settled on the latest one, which was supposed to be the most recent of its kind.
A week and a half later, I had it in my hands. I could feel the power.
I loaded a roll and waited until the weekend to do some shooting.
What a difference!
For a couple of months, I was happy with my camera. However, the hassle of taking my roll to be developed and scanned still annoyed me. A week-long wait felt way too long; I wanted my photos as soon as possible.
I explored the idea of developing the film myself, but I confess it scared me. I lack the patience needed to do something that’s always seemed delicate to me. Plus, scanning requires getting a decent scanner and dedicating hours to it.
In the end, I ended up selling the Canon F-1 New. I liked it, but I never grew attached to it like I was with my old Olympus OM-1 and all its glamour.
With the loss of the Canon F-1 New, I decided that film photography wasn’t for me, no matter how much I enjoyed making each shot count. I went back to the Olympus OM-1, but the last roll sealed my fate with film photography when some light leaks ruined my images.
I decided it was time to end the adventure and return to my humble Fuji X-T1, which was the closest to film photography but without the slowness and unpredictability that comes with analog shooting.
Two years passed during which I tried everything.
My Fujifilm was fine, but I missed winding the film after each shot. Plus, my version didn’t have the Acros simulation, which is one of my favorites.
I tried getting vintage lenses like the Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 and the Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 AI-S with their respective adapters. I never liked autofocus. Maybe I’m just too old-school in that regard.
The combination of a mirrorless digital camera with vintage lenses worked for a while, but I couldn’t stop missing analog photography.
I got bored with that experiment and decided to use my iPhone for photos. I downloaded various apps, and for a bit, I stuck with FIMO, a wonderful app that tries to recreate what we love so much about analog photography.
At first, it was okay, but I missed framing and focusing through a viewfinder.
At this point, you might think I’m too picky, and maybe I am, but the truth is, even though I physically stepped away from analog photography, my mind never stopped thinking about it.
So, in March 2025, I decided to make my triumphant return.
I opened eBay and looked for two cameras I’ve always wanted but never had the budget for.
The first is the legendary Nikon F3 and the second is a fantastic rangefinder like the Yashica Electro 35 GTN.
My return to film photography is inevitable, and this time, it’s here to stay.
Here, I’ll continue documenting my adventures.
Consider this Season Two of Film Rick.
Meanwhile, here’s a recap of some of my best photos from Season One.
