Since I joined to the world of D-SLR photography I’ve never looked back to film. People say that Film photography is expensive, hard and time consuming [just to name a few photographers quotes]. However, I’ve been looking froward to meet ‘Mr. Film’ and its world of expertise and fine arts… last week I shoot my first roll of film on a Yashica Mat-124G camera and the experience was incredible.

Every single exposure was like an act, a set up, a scene - From taking the lens cap off to pressing the shutter, I felt the whole world stopped and the only movements came from the dials of the camera. During this space in time I’d hold my breath for about 30sec while trying to get the right focus, aperture and shutter speed - then with all the right settings I’d gently press the shutter followed by 5 seconds of complete silence and the hope of getting a “good” picture.

The Film I used was a Kodak TXP 120 Tri-X Pan Professional (ISO 400) and after taking 6 out of 12 exposure I was anxious of getting the film develop, but I had to finish the roll before then. I rush through the following 6 clicks of the camera’s film and ran to the nearest photo developing studio to get my results developed. But it was too late, my film wont be ready until noon of the following day… it was until then that I started to have flash backs and thoughts like “did I set the right exposure?” - “did I use the right film?” - “was I using the correct aperture?” - many thoughts haunted me until the next day that I stepped into the studio.

I’m very happy with the end results - The self-experience that I’ve gained by using my D-SLR camera managed me to get the right settings for these photos.

1. First Ave - L train

2. Elephant @ 8th Ave and 14st Train Station

3. Penn Station - 34st Manhattan

4. Taxi - 7th Ave Manhattan

5. The Camera - Medium Format - Yashica Mat-124G - f=80mm lens [taken with my Digital Canon XTi]

The Yashica Mat-124G was the final incarnation of the Yashica medium format TLR and was manufactured between 1970 and 1986. It is similar to the Yashica-Mat 124 that preceded it, excepting the fact that the 124G has gold-plated meter contacts and the 124G’s finish is a low-chrome, black-out style.
Some of the general features of the Yashica-Mat 124G include:

* 4 element f/3.5 - f/22 Yashinon lens
* Copal shutter, speeds range from 1 sec - 1/1000 sec plus B
* Dual film format: 120/220
* X/M flash sync
* Coupled CdS light meter
* Crank film advance/shutter cock
* Waist level finder w. sports finder window
* Compur style screw in cable release socket
* Auto-timer

I want to thank Luke Stiles for letting me borrow this awesome camera.
I still have a Black and White film to go through, so there will be a part deux of this post.

j.martinez