Was it to be my last ever click of a shutter?… With a Minolta Dynax Maxxum 7 50mm f2.8 Macro and Rollei Retro 80s.

I took these, all from a roll of Rollei Retro 80s developed in Rodinal, back in 2017.

It was a time when I was left with just one SLR; a Minolta Maxxum 7 and one lens – a Minolta 50mm f2 Macro. I’d more or less lost all interest in most things, including photography.

I was going to scrap photography for good, having sold off all of my gear which I had bought over the years and being generally fed up with everything I thought I’d go out with a huge bang and take some nice photos for a change rather than mere crappy snaps as I usually do – “it’s better to burn out than fade away!” As the Kurgan says

One roll, one lens and then my last ever click of a shutter?

I chose Rollei Retro 80s as I wanted the look, the luminous whites and deep shadow. It felt like The One to end it with.

A tricky film but with a deep yellow filter and exposed right it is a killer Film!

The meter in the Minolta is exceptional – but with this film you sometimes should carefully expose for the highlights (as with slide film) (lock st the bright part of the scene) then move the camera and lock exposure when you feel it’s nailed – usually while judging by looking at the shutter speed – highlights a stop over are usually good. This comes with experience using it – it’s easy to blow and easy for results to look dire if done incorrectly, though I did point and shoot at times, and the meter performed like a champ! Though if you look closely, on some of the faces the Film’s limited DR has meant burn out.

There were times of lucidity and focus, strange to say that even though I wanted to chuck this last camera out of the window, there was something about it; the feel of it which evoked some lost joy and memories of different times, but as with Sméagol – that only made the dark part of me more determined to start afresh, a sort of solve et coagula,. But during some moments I did have the opportunity to pick up the camera and take an exposure from this Film, which had been in the camera for months. And every single photo was taken with care.

Here’s a selection from the roll to end all rolls.

Caerleon – Strange resemblance to my wife

I then met my Missus and she helped me through a lot, my interest in Photography was also rekindled.

I managed to finish the roll of Film, eventually, I think that was in early 2018. Strange, as being the superstitious type and believing in fate, I reckon if I’d finished that roll of Film earlier, I’d never have met my wife and wouldn’t be here right now…

I kept that camera and the lens, and used it until it broke down on me this Spring 2025. I now have the bigger elder tougher brother Minolta a-9 which I’m hoping will stay with me for many many years.

No last clicks as yet…

All Photos.
Minolta Dynax Maxxum 7
Minolta 50mm f2 macro
Rollei Retro 80s B+W Deep Yellow Filter.
Rodinal

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