Photo Hike: Helios + Fuji Superia + Vivitar 220SL
As I’ve started to dabble in actually using the film cameras that I originally bought just for the lenses, I’ve come up against a new issue…actually posting them online somewhere for people to see ;)
A little back-story:
I started buying film cameras in the early 2010s because I wanted a lens with a wide aperture to get that beautiful, shallow depth of field that is so cinematographic. I had jumped on the mirrorless camera bandwagon with the first-of-its-kind micro four thirds Panasonic Lumix G1 (which I still have, and which still works flawlessly). Being mirrorless, the G1 could use virtually any lens with a dedicated aperture ring if you could find an adapter for that mount. Not one to drop hundreds of dollars on a modern, digital lens with a wide 1.4 aperture, I researched and scoured Ebay for vintage “legacy” fast prime lenses. Lucky for me, this was the height of the digital revolution and people were offloading old film gear for pennies. I scored some absolutely beautiful fast manual lenses for a mere fraction of cost of their digital counterparts. The results I got with these old lenses left me astounded. They were so much more full of character and artistry than I had photographed thus far…and I was hooked.
To the here and now:
Along with the purchase of these legacy lenses also often came the camera. And while they mostly sat in storage, unused for the past 10 odd years, a recent shift in the photography world has led me to dusting off these relics and seeing what they have to offer. As Instagram & VSCO users strive to achieve the film aesthetic in their social posts, film photography as a whole experienced a revitalization. There is something nostalgic, inviting, and yet artistic in a modern way about film. It has character. It’s not cookie-cutter or sterile like digital imaging can often be. And while I do love my digital camera (shout out to my Olympus E-M5!) for traveling, experimenting, and everyday walkabouts, film gives a little something extra.
And now for the main attraction:
Vivitar 220SL + Helios 44M-4 + Fuji Superia X-TRA 400 color film
In June 2021, I loaded some Fuji Superia X-TRA 400 35mm film into my Vivitar 220SL (m42 screw mount) camera. I won this camera on Ebay for about $10 I think. It was just the body, but I had a number of M42 screw mount lenses by this time and needed a camera to use them with. Enter in the legendary Helios 44-2 and it’s well-regarded sibling, the Helios 44M-4. I often pair these with extension tubes for close-up/macro photography.
Unlike most of my photo hikes, I actually had the foresight to take a snapshot of the scene with my phone beforehand. My goal being to showcase the beauty that awaits in your own backyard if you take the time to look and appreciate what surrounds you. With a bit more close examination, you might just find the beauty in the mundane.
The Final Result
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the results. Theses were developed and scanned by The FIND Lab and I couldn’t be happier with the scans. I did little to no post-processing on the scans. They were lovely from the beginning. Fuji Superia did not disappoint either. It’s known for its peachy hues and this flora photography definitely suited that.
Vivitar 220SL + Helios 44-2 lens
Vivitar 220SL + Helios 44-2 lens + Extension Tubes