Kodak UltraMax 400 – Page 3

Columbine

I bought an Olympus OM-1n with the standard kit lens, a 50mm f1.8 OM mount, a few weeks ago. As with every camera, it has to be tested – especially if listed in “excellent” condition. As always, KEH comes through with quality used photography equipment!

The 50mm lens is really nice – it does a good job with bokeh and sharpness of detail Here it is demonstrated on a red columbine at the local botanical garden, using UltraMax 400 and scanned with my Pakon.

I can see why a lot of people like this camera. It was a total pleasure to use – easy, lightweight, compact, and a perfect fit for my hands.

About to Fall

Last week I took five rolls of film for processing. This was taken with Kodak UltraMax 400 with an Olympus Trip 35. It was a dark and stormy day when I wandered out, but even with 400 iso film, the images came back extremely noisy. I had to do a bit of work to get the roll even somewhat acceptable, in my eyes, but some of the pictures were really nice.

My cheap “go to” films for 135 are Kodak UltraMax 400 and Agfa Vista 200, but I think I am going to use up the UltraMax to see how it works in different cameras. It could be that the Olympus was at fault as it died a bit later. I don’t want to just be done with it, but want to see if there are other issues involved.

This sycamore curves and twists over a steep fall into a barranca. How it hangs on is rather amazing! And when the leaves change, it is a stunningly beautiful tree.

In case you don’t know, I absolutely love trees.

Pink & Green

I used the cord on the XA4 to get the correct distance for a “macro” shot – about .3 m or 12 inches. I’ve loaded up the camera to slip into my bag I take to work – it’s a small camera, easy to carry, protected by the clam shell case. I have a feeling it’s going to be carry-around-in-the-pocket type camera as it has no lens covers needing replacing should they fall off, etc. Ya know, I do have a little case lying around for my other little cameras which would prevent that problem. Now, if I could only find my missing Werra . . .

Raindrops & Thorns

Another shot taken with Kodak UltraMax 400 and the Olympus XA4. I don’t know if it is me, or the camera, or the film, or a combination, but I don’t think the sharpness is quite where I would like it to be. Despite that, I think this is a helluva a great little camera – so quick and easy to use. Maybe I’ll pick up the XA later on as it is a true rangefinder, not a zone-focusing one as is the XA4. What I do like about the XA4 is the wider angle, and the ability to do some macro work with a point-and-shoot sized film camera.

That Strange Light Before It Rains

If you have ever experienced the scudding light – bright, shadow, dark, bright – as clouds race before the wind, you know what I mean. Suddenly one patch is brilliant against the ominous dark, then vanishes before your eyes.

This was taken with an Olympus XA4, a very small rangefinder from the 80s. The XA4, from 1985, sports a five element Zuiko 28mm f3.5 lens focusing to 0.3m (12 inches), with the help of corded measuring devices for macro work. The cords attach to the camera and extend for measurement. I acquired on which was new old stock, and it’s quite a fun little 35mm camera. It is also – I swear – the last film camera I plan to buy (for awhile)!

I had the film developed at a local lab, and scanned it myself with my Pakon 135.