I got another film camera… and a free lens.
For all the people that read this blog you’re probably already aware my first film camera was a Chrome Minolta XD-11 that I still use to this day. If I had never got that camera and starting shooting film I probably would’ve never realized the genuine love I had for photography.
The day I walked into Artifct here in Nashville, I had planned on getting a Pentax K1000 after watching several reviews looking for a beginner film camera. I was open to getting a different one if it called to me and after I had a look around. So I asked Avery at the counter “What film cameras do you recommend for a beginner?” He happily shared a few but I remember him saying Minolta lenses have amazing glass and are compatible with Sony cameras and I thought that was neat. Lenses are already expensive and your telling me I could use this lens on multiple cameras that I already own? Immediately interested.
I took a look at a few of the Minolta Cameras they had and I saw a chrome XD-11 calling to me from the shelf like I was Golem and this shiny well loved camera from the 80’s was the ring to middle earth. I LOVED the form factor after picking it up.. it was a smaller camera and didn’t weigh a brick ton. Comparable to the Sony ZV-E10 I own, it was practically the same size. The viewfinder was a little dirty but it’s an old camera and it just added to the charm.
Fast forward almost a year later that camera still works and i’ve shot so many rolls of film through it. Just recently a piece of the film spool cracked off and I panicked lol. I drove straight to Artifct that same day and walked in looked at Micheal and my first words were “A tragedy had happened”. Luckily he assured me the camera will still work and it’s a common issue for this specific camera over time for a piece to break off.
That’s just the nature of the game with camera’s from so long ago. Needless to say I didn’t want to wait till it broke completely to find another camera. I went to KEH online store within that week scoping for other cameras. Should i get the same one? A different one? A rangefinder? Possibilities endless.
Then I see it, my precious. Not only an XD-11 body.. a black version of the XD-11 that were made in limited quantity at BARGAIN condition. Say less buddy..sold.
I couldn’t wait to test it out. Now recently a co-worker had given me a Minolta XG-1 with a stuck shutter she had from her dad but never used and didn’t plan on using. It came strapped with a 50mm MD 1.7 lens. I thought why not kill two birds with one stone? So I hit downtown Nashville and shot a roll of Kentmere 400 @ box speed on Aperture Priority mode on my “new” XD11 and that sweet piece of glass that I was recently gifted.
