Taking Off with a Minolta in Documentary

[octoceasar]

Beware: This is a really long post from an anxious lad.

ＹＯ！

I just want to share what I'm up to and know what you think about it. I'm a 20-year old registered nurse whose enthusiasm for vintage and ancient things is unassailable. I always achieve unexplained and extreme happiness every time I see or acquire something which looks classic and fancy, especially photographs of events or prominent people making a history.

A couple of years ago, due to the reason I mentioned, I wanted to be involved in the culture of photography. I desired to create things which I like. But I was unsuccessful due to some really flimsy reasons I had. First, I belong to the lower-middle class family so I had no way to purchase even the cheapest camera I can use. We had family camera which I dislike for looking like a toy (Konica-Minolta-Dimage-Z20 ). I know, I'm super lame. Second, my schedule was so fit I could get myself to learn photography. When I wasn't reading or writing something for school, my time was forcibly spent on violin lessons. My parents weren't as supportive as most of you. They think that the important thing is for me to finish school and excel in music. So the door to photography closed for me temporarily, I hoped.

It has been a year and a half since I became a registered nurse. I got a job and is paid with just-adequate-for-my-monthly-toiletries salary. I saved some money though. So I decided to pursue what I liked and hoped I was on the right track.

After a long discernment, I decided to purchase and second-hand, probably twenty-second hand film rangefinder cameras. It's going to be cheap and I wanted old looking photos. So I thought of having an old device to make one. What I started to look at were Leicas, which were hilariously expensive. I think I have to go through 2-years of no-deodorant-shampoo-toothpaste life if I want to buy one with my own money. Even with the cheap one. So I started random search for rangefinders. I didn't really know much about rangefinders but they say it takes vivid photos and they're really small and portable. Just the thing I need for documenting, I thought.

Yesterday morning, dawn to be precise, I bade for a Black Minolta Hi-Matic E for 140+ USD. I had cold hands and feet while bidding for it. My 140+USD is going for a camera which I really have no idea if it's good. I just bade randomly, after 5 days of exploring my choices. I just clicked "PAY".    Don't hate me please but these are the reasons why:

1. It said that it was a "black" version, a rare find they-say.
2. IT BLACK! 80% percent of stuff I own are colored-black.
3. The appearance seems great. I fell inlove with how it looked like. I mean, love at first sight.
4. When I checked the price, it's at the maximum, yet still in, of my budget. Love at second sight.
5. It's from Japan. I mean literally, the item is located in Japan. I know, lame reason. But I felt like gosh I got my first camera from Japan. And for the record, I'm a fan of Japanese culture. Am I becoming lamer by the second?
6. It really looks vintage.
7. The reputation of the seller is 100% with lots of good reviews and a really good return policy.

So yeah, I'm waiting for my item and is expecting to receive it at the end of this week.

So here are my questions.

1. Did I do alright? So far...what did I do wrong? How can I make it right now?
2. I'm going into photography just because I like looking at old and vintage photos of people and events I know nothing about. What am I doing???
3. FILM CAMERA? I am a beginner. Am I going to have a hard time with it?
3.5 Is a Minolta Hi-Matic E okay for Documentary photography?
4. What do you think should I do right now? I'm reading blogs and forums but I just can't wait to take my own shots to read these articles.
5. I'm really scared to prove my self worthless. I'm scared that my parents will laugh at me for pursuing something out of the blue. Help?
6. What do I do when I can finally get my hands on my first camera?
7. Do you know any page where I can get really good information about shooting with these kinds of cameras? Tips? Instructions? I really need a teacher right now. :|
8. I'm totally lost. Is this a good sign?


To the purists who're going to hate me and who're excited to fend me off from photography due to some reasons [i.e. that I'm just doing this coz I like vintages and all, coz I stopped photography in the past coz I didn't like the family camera] well go on, I don't mind your anguish-provoking posts. 

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[superhero2050]

Congrats on the purchase! It's a little expensive but if the camera is as good as you say it is, I'm sure it's worth it.


There's a lot of people here who can help you out, but if you want to know more about rangefinders and documentary photography, look for Rangefinder Filipinas in FB or join this group:


www.rangefinderfilipinas.com


You'll find some of the best docu photogs there, and they all use film.

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[octoceasar]

@superhero2050


Thank you so much sir for taking the time to read my really long post. This site seems a good way in orienting my self in documentary and rangefinders.

ＤＯＭＯ　ＡＲＩＧＡＴＯＵ！

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[igi]

@superhero2050... see answers in red

1. Did I do alright? So far...what did I do wrong? How can I make it right now?
- Is this about the ebay purchase? Well there's nothing you can do about it now. Ebay is notorious for broken vintage cameras but there's still a chance that it's a working one. Another problem would be the taxes you have to pay at the customs. Make sure you don't get ripped off by our stinking customs department.

If ever you're in the market for old film cameras, just buy one from KEH.com. They have a very good reputation for second hand and vintage cameras.

2. I'm going into photography just because I like looking at old and vintage photos of people and events I know nothing about. What am I doing???
- Old photos look old because they are old. Age induces a lot of chemical thingies on prints that make them look old.

3. FILM CAMERA? I am a beginner. Am I going to have a hard time with it?
- It depends, but if you're gonna train on a digital camera first, it will be easy.

3.5 Is a Minolta Hi-Matic E okay for Documentary photography?
- Yes, and since it's black, that's a double yes.

4. What do you think should I do right now? I'm reading blogs and forums but I just can't wait to take my own shots to read these articles.
- you need to buy a battery. If I'm not mistaken, this camera uses a certain type of battery (1.35V) that was discontinued a long time ago due to environmental reasons. You can buy a safe version of this battery at Ebay. Note that you need this type of battery otherwise your meter will not function correctly.

http://www.ebay.ph/itm/Wein-PX625-Battery-1-35V-Yashica-Mat-124-Mat-124G-/250681858327?pt=US_Camera_Battery_Grips&hash=item3a5dcd9917

5. I'm really scared to prove my self worthless. I'm scared that my parents will laugh at me for pursuing something out of the blue. Help?
- You can always say that bad shots are art hahaha!
One photo out of focus is a mistake, ten is an experiment, and one hundred is a style - Unknown

6. What do I do when I can finally get my hands on my first camera?
- Basically check if it works. Check the lens, the rangefinder, see if it winds ok, check the innards for dust, check the foam that keeps the insides light proof. The most important would be to go the mall, buy C41 film and shoot. Get it developed and in an hour, you'll know.

7. Do you know any page where I can get really good information about shooting with these kinds of cameras? Tips? Instructions? I really need a teacher right now. :|
- Here - http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Minolta_Hi-Matic_E
http://www.jwhubbers.nl/mug/HiMatic2.html#anchor101347

You can also check out rangefinderforum.com.

Basically, it's the same as with film rangefinders so just find info regarding film rangfinders and you'll be okay.

8. I'm totally lost. Is this a good sign?
- Uhmm... no

I'm pretty sure there are some film shooters lurking around here. See Other Systems on the For Sale section. That's their watering hole.

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[superhero2050]

@ igi,

wrong tree, sir.

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[igi]

@superhero2050

(facepalm) @ the wonders of copy-pasting

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[wheelee]

Interesting, even to those who replied

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