5 Frames with my Favorite (Terribly Named) Camera – Pentax *ist, 28mm f/2.8, and Ilford HP5 Plus – Eric L. Woods

The post subject just about covers it, but I will ramble a bit before I post the pictures.

I really like the Pentax *ist. Way more than I expected to if I am honest. And I expected to like it a lot. There is a sentimental Pentax component since my Father first taught me to use an SLR with his Pentax ME Super many years ago as a child. Pentax also makes many of my favorite lenses. Listed some in this post for KEH years ago. I have a couple of other Pentax 35mm cameras (ME Super and SF10), but this is by far my favorite. Though smaller it has the most solid feature set and has very fast and accurate autofocus. Among the best performance of any 35mm film camera I have had or currently own.  On top of that, it is also a camera I purchased for about what I recently spent for a three-pack of Lomography 800 film.

One of my favorite Pentax lenses is also one of the least expensive lenses I have purchased, the SMC Pentax-FA 28mm F2.8 AL.

Although it went out of production in 2004 there are plenty available on the used market. It was used for film here, but also does a fine job with digital bodies.

Film: another favorite, Ilford HP5 Plus.

Developed at home with Cinestill df96 (Blog post for KEH.).

On to the photos. Here are my favorite 5 images from my last roll of film.

While I posted 5 images from the roll every image came out in focus and properly exposed. All photos from that roll minus one are posted here. The one image I did not post was a mistimed shot due to user error. An easy and fun to use combination of camera, lens, and film.

I appreciate having this opportunity to share my experiences.

Eric L. Woods

I shoot a variety of new and old digital and film cameras. Industrial Engineer by education, IT is my vocation, and I really enjoy using, testing, and writing about cameras. All three of the latter are very therapeutic exercises for me. If you are so inclined my blog address is ewoodsphoto.com and I can be found on twitter and Instagram. All the best to you.

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