Right camera - right time…
Choosing the correct camera for the day may not seem like an obvious problem to solve but I think each camera has it’s niche. For example taking a point & shoot on a landscape trip is like taking a knife to a gun fight! This is no more evident than when I bought the Chinon Splash AF.
Chinon Splash AF
I had read a post online where the writer claimed it was a great all round point & shoot, so I loaded it with some Ilford HP5 on a rainy day and headed out. It wasn’t a particularly inspiring experience - there are far better choices for a carry around. The results were equally uninspiring…
Chinon Splash AF - Ilford HP5
The camera is a bit chunky, the auto-wind is a bit noisy, and generally just a boring shooter… That is until it gets into it’s own little niche - the beach!
It was a hot sunny day, and we were heading to the beach, so I thought I would give the Splash another chance. Loaded with Fujicolor C200 for the bright conditions and blue sky. The ability to head off into the waves and not have to worry was liberating, and allowed me to get some really fun shots.
Chinon Splash AF - Fujicolor C200
Yes the lens is not that great, but it’s not about the quality, it’s about the feeling of the image. This roll oozes summer fun vibes, and the camera itself was actually fun to use - a stark contrast from the the rainy grey day on HP5.
Chinon Splash AF - Fujicolor C200
The Splash AF really shone in these conditions, and although it is said to be only splash proof, it ended up under the water several times trying to capture the breaking waves from low down. This didn’t effect the camera in the slightest. It ended up covered in sand and sea water, but a quick rinse under the tap sorted that out - you can’t do that with a Yashica T4!
Chinon Splash AF - Fujicolor C200
So this is the story of a camera going from zero to hero! It does however make me question whether other cameras in the collection deserve a second chance, maybe I shot them in the wrong conditions, or with the wrong film…