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In the early 1990s I took photos with a range of Nikon cameras - FM2, 801s and an F2 AS Photomic. I loved using the 801s as it had auto focus and worked as it should. That is until I dropped it crossing the road and broke the top plastic. The F2 AS Photomic has no such fragility and it was used quite a bit. It was taped up to hide that it was a Nikon and to keep the corners from getting scuffed. Because of it's solid build, I took it to India in 1997 and after that I don't think it was used much again... until last Saturday.
Dug it out of a box in the cupboard and loaded up a film that was sitting in the fridge. The film was supposed to be used by 2005! Took a little while to remember how to load the film and there were buttons on the camera that I had no idea the function of. I had to refer to the manual! But it was such a pleasure to use. As each frame represents an expense, it slowed down the whole picture taking process, making you think about the whole of the picture taking process. With the digital cameras it can be a case of spray the general area in the hope of catching a usable frame. There is no such option with this. For a start it require manual film advance. It uses manual focus, a skill blunted with lack of use. Exposure requires the changing both aperture and speed dials. Dials! Mechanical moving things! When you press the shutter release, it's instant, there is no delay what-so-ever!
In the course of the weekend I took a total of 10 frames. I missed some shots because my focusing skills are not up to scratch, but I am hoping that each shot should be a good one. there is something nice about having to wait to see if your pictures have come out as you thought they would. A practise of patience.
My youngest son is nearly 3. He has only seen digital cameras so when I took his photo with the F2, he rushed over to look at the back of the camera to see the preview... only to find there was just a blank back plate. He had no idea why there was not one and was most disappointed that he could not see the photo I had just taken. :)