Alright, let’s talk about this Chinon film camera thing. I ain’t no fancy photographer, mind you, just a plain old woman who likes takin’ pictures. But I’ve used a few cameras in my day, and this Chinon, well, it’s somethin’ else.
First off, loadin’ the film. Now, some cameras, they make you wrestle with that film like a stubborn goat. But this Chinon, it’s got this easy way. You just stick the film in, kinda like threadin’ a needle, and it catches right on. No fuss, no muss. They call it somethin’ fancy, “multislot take up spool,” but I just call it easy peasy.
Then there’s the lenses. This camera, it can take different lenses, you know, like changin’ glasses. You got your regular lens, the 50mm, good for everyday stuff, pictures of the grandkids and such. And then you got others for different things. I don’t know all the names, too many numbers for this old brain, but they make the pictures look different, that’s all I need to know.
Some Chinon cameras, like that CE-4 they talk about, they got these buttons and dials. Automatic and manual, they say. Automatic is easy, you just point and shoot. Manual, well, that’s where you gotta think a bit. You gotta adjust things yourself, like how much light gets in. It’s like cookin’, sometimes you follow the recipe, sometimes you just throw things in the pot and hope for the best. That’s what manual feels like to me.
And there’s that Pentax K mount thing. I ain’t sure what that means exactly, but it sounds important. It’s like a hook, I guess, that holds the lens on tight. So you don’t gotta worry about your lens fallin’ off and rollin’ under the sofa. That happened to me once with an old camera, not a Chinon though, thank the Lord.
- Easy to load film: Like I said, ain’t no wrestling needed.
- Lots of lenses: You can get different pictures with different lenses.
- Automatic or manual: You can choose to be lazy or get fancy with it.
- Sturdy mount: Your lens ain’t gonna fall off, that’s for sure.
Now, there’s this other Chinon camera, the Splash. It’s small and tough, they say it can handle weather and dust. That’s good for folks who like to take pictures outside, at the beach or in the garden. I ain’t much for the beach, too much sand for my liking, but I do like takin’ pictures of my flowers.
And when you’re done takin’ pictures, you gotta develop the film. You can’t just look at the pictures right away, you know. It’s like bakin’ a cake, you gotta wait for it to cook. You gotta send the film off to someone, and they do their magic, and then you get your pictures back. It takes a while, but it’s worth it, seeing those memories come to life.
Chinon, they were a Japanese company, made all sorts of cameras. Kodak bought them out later, I heard. Big companies swallowing up little ones, that’s the way of the world, I guess. But those old Chinon cameras, they’re still around, workin’ just fine. They’re simple and reliable, just like a good old tractor.
So, if you’re lookin’ for a film camera, a Chinon ain’t a bad choice. It ain’t the fanciest thing in the world, but it’ll get the job done. And that’s all that matters, ain’t it? Capturin’ those moments, those faces, those memories, before they’re gone. That’s what a camera’s for, whether it’s a fancy new one or a good old Chinon.
Using the Chinon CM-4s, now that’s a bit different. You pop open the back, and put your 35mm film in, it works with all types. Then, you know, you gotta click it shut and wind it up ready for the next shot.
The controls are simple, and the viewfinder lets you see everything you need. It’s easy enough, it shows you all the numbers and settings, so you don’t mess up your pictures. It’s even got this thing they call a motor drive if you want, takes lots of pictures real fast, for things that move around, like kids or birds, not for me, I like things slow and steady. And they got all kinds of glass you can put on it, lenses they call them, but they are just glass you look through I say.
So, at the end of the day, a camera is just a tool. It’s about seein’ the world, seein’ the beauty in the everyday, and sharin’ that with others. And a Chinon, well, it’s a good tool for that, just like a shovel is good for diggin’ potatoes. It ain’t gonna do the work for you, but it’ll help you get it done, if you know what I mean.
Tags: [Chinon Film Camera, 35mm Film, Film Photography, Chinon CE-4, Chinon Splash, Chinon CM-4s, Pentax K Mount, Film Loading, Camera Lenses, Vintage Camera]
