Yesterday I picked up another camera off of facebook marketplace, the third in two weeks. I’ve dabbled in photography before (I even like some of the pictures I take), but have – I think – been trying to avoid it as a hobby. With my most recent acquisition, a Minolta SR-T 101, I can feel myself being pulled into a bottomless money- and time-pit. That said, I can’t find it in myself to care right now. I really like the photos I got developed on the cheap point-and-shoot camera I picked up (a Chinon 35FS), and I’m very excited to see what I capture on the SR-T 101.

Photo taken with my Chinon 35FS
Photo taken with my Chinon 35FS

The camera itself (the SR-T 101 that is) is a very satisfying object to own; it’s a solid brick of mechanical components. It’s in pretty good shape for it’s age (from what I understand, I’m not a camera expert). I think it might need some lubrication, since the shutter speed timings feel off, especially at slower speeds. According to some resources I was already able to find, it’s maybe not the most maintenance-friendly camera for a beginner. There’s a system of pulleys that interconnect the various systems inside the camera, and apparently they’re pretty annoying to work around. Still, just the idea that I could fix issues, given enough patience and effort, makes me happy.

It’s nice to own things that aren’t computers.