#z135

[davetada]

Alcatraz in the distance

San Francisco, CA

[knivesareout]

seattle kraken vs. toronto maple leafs january 21, 2024 climate pledge arena canon z135 on kodak ultramax 400

[weknowyousuck]

Norwich, Norfolk, 2021

Canon Sure Shot Z135  - 35mm Film Compact

[trying-to-servive-blog]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Super Mario Boo Ghost Keychain (Z135).

[chill-wavetable]

Canon z135 + Cinestill 800T - dump 2

[paincorpsrarefinds]

Vintage Canon Sure Shot Z135 35mm Point & Shoot Film Camera (silver) | TESTED

CAMERA DEALS: Seller: lostalgia96 (100.0% positive feedback) Location: US Condition: Used Price: 40.00 USD Shipping cost: Free Buy It Now https://www.ebay.com/itm/394696247529?hash=item5be5bac8e9%3Ag%3AGroAAOSw0axkai52&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338779481&customid=&toolid=10049&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[baddyzarc]

ngg take it

[alexteltevskiy]

On a roll no. 6

If spending a Sunday afternoon stumbling half-aimlessly through an urban industrial neighborhood devoid of all lifeforms sounds like fun, you’ve come to the right place. Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you the latest installment of my On a Roll series, aptly named Pedestrians Not Included.

All puns aside, I did have a legit reason to be out and about: the other day I scored a Canon Z135 point and shoot camera at the local thrift store. Originally non-functioning, the mechanics inside were stuck due to disuse and copious amounts of sugary pop spilled all over the lens assembly a decade and a half ago. A quick CLA brought it back to life.

Grabbing a chilled roll of Fuji Superia 200 out of my fridge, I hopped into my car on a Sunday afternoon and drove downtown. I decided on a location for my photowalk the way I always do - by taking a random exit on the highway, when the feeling strikes.

Having just recently used a Contax TVS II, a premium compact zoom camera, my hopes weren’t very high for the IQ performance. The sharpness of that lens was a big, big letdown. I’ve almost just about given up on expecting sharp imagery from zoom P&S cameras. After examining the negs from this camera, I’m glad I haven't given up all hope.

On paper, the specs appeared decent - 10 elements in 9 groups. But what really set this lens apart at a glance was the deep amber of the coating, liberally applied to all visible lens elements. This was “some premium stuff”, it whispered.

The construction felt abnormally solid as well, all around. This was no Contax TVS II, mind you. But it has a metal faceplate, controls approximately where you’d expect them and a comfy little rubber grip formation. Viewfinder is average. It’s quick to turn on and retract. Sigh, but it doesn’t remember flash settings.

As far as durability goes - the particular camera that I’d scavenged has seen some action in its previous life. But, apart from that pop drink lens freeze, it’s been durable enough to withstand and persevere.

Packed with features, it’s got all sorts of modes and settings. Exposure compensation, servo focusing, etc. Some even come with date backs (mine didn’t, unfortunately) and a unique caption system that imprints a phrase to the image. My favorite feature - the spot metering mode. My most vilified feature - the crazy hard to close battery door.

PS: Sorry for the scratch running through most of the roll - it wasn’t my fault. It was the squeegee’s, which has since been retired.

Long story short, it’s an awesome performer. The lens blew my mind when I examined the negatives. Brilliantly sharp across most of the zoom range. Doesn’t flare much. Medium contrast. Somewhat soft corners but nothing like the Contax TVS II. Feels very confident at 38, 50, 70 - the focal lengths I use the most. Very little distortion. The biggest shortcoming of this lens (if you call it that) is the truckload of vignetting that manifests itself in every shot. I, actually, rather like this imperfection, otherwise I wouldn't bother with film. Want perfection? Shoot an a7r III with Art glass.

This actually leads me to another idea that I’ve been entertaining for a while... Just how much overrated some of the premium compacts are. 5%-10% more image quality for 1000% more money. That’s bad economics, blown out of proportion by social media. Sure, they have other features too, and are usually more compact (hence the name), but that still doesn't stop the fact that 1) their shots look virtually the same as ones from these cheap $5 cameras under normal conditions and 2) all of them will brick out and die eventually as compact cameras are generally unrepairable. But that’s a can of worms I’ll open up some other time.

By this point you’re probably looking at me (figuratively) and thinking, how did this turn into a camera review? Well, I was just thinking the same thing. Maybe it’s because I just really like this camera AND I WASN’T EXPECTING IT. But enough about the tool, let’s look at the subject matter...

... that was shot on a 24 exp. roll of Fujicolor Superia 200. For the record, I won’t be using Superia 200 or 400 anymore. Maybe a little Pro 400H here and there, and obviously the E-6 stuff. But no more cheap-o consumer film. The emulsion just doesn't sit well with me, my computer, my scanner and my software. The tones are miles off, the base is slippery and causes issues with my scanner. Not to mention that the film base is ever so slightly thinner and flimsier than comparable Kodak stock. Fuji really cheaps out on this one. No more. Gold 200 and Ultramax 400 all the way.

The city was a joy to walk around that day. Most of the areas I passed through were completely silent, with nary a human or automobile in sight. It’s Sunday, after all.

All the smokestacks were plugged up, bridges dormant and general machinery dreaming away in a gentle hum, getting some well deserved rest before the next work week starts.

The late afternoon sun casting longish, inky shadows over cars, buildings and lampposts. Like a spotlight at a theater during intermission, bathing the stage, props standing, actors on a smoke break outside.

It may sound counterintuitive, but for me, the city is especially fun at this time. A surreal feeling at times, it shows a completely different side when you’re all alone on the streets of its more industrial areas.

You take it all in at your own leisurely pace, where neither pesky pedestrians nor tenacious truck compete with your camera for the scenery. It’s like a real-life video game where you’ve entered a couple of cheats to stop the missions and just walk around the level and admire the designers’ handiwork.

Speaking of handiwork... I’ll quiet down for a bit and let the photos do the talking. 

And with that stop sign, we’ve reached the end of the roll. Hope you had as much fun reading it as I had writing it. It really is a great camera, especially considering the steal it goes for these days, completely slipping by the radar of most film fanatics. Fanatics that are so busy obsessing over which kidney to sell to afford a Contax T3 that they (in my mind) forget the nature of 35mm film photography instead of just going out and taking photos.

Until next time!

[alanyahnke]

I Think It's A Plymouth by Alan Yahnke Via Flickr: Canon SureShot Z135, Expired Kodak 200 35mm film, 71612014 copy

[davetada]

Lombard Street

San Francisco, CA

[janninesphotos]

Monday 12th February - Straight Sunset

[weknowyousuck]

Norwich, Norfolk, 2021

Canon Sure Shot Z135  - 35mm Film Compact

[chill-wavetable]

Canon z135 + Cinestill 800T

[paincorpsrarefinds]

Canon Z135 35mm film camera tested Works J

CAMERA DEALS: Seller: harriganstudios (100.0% positive feedback) Location: US Condition: Used Price: 28.92 USD Shipping cost: 12.00 USD Buy It Now https://www.ebay.com/itm/275898776885?hash=item403cd93d35%3Ag%3A534AAOSwg9Zkd3jZ&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338779481&customid=&toolid=10049&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[baddyzarc]

You ever feel like laying face up on the surface of the moon? Yeah.

[nothingofinteresttonobody]