Film Photography
The Fujifilm Instax WIDE 300 camera was a delightful experience, despite its cumbersome size. There’s an unparalleled joy in holding a physical photo of a scene that, just moments before, existed only through the viewfinder. This tactile magic simply can’t be replicated with digital photography. Each film print found a personal touch—a Sharpie-written caption—before being tucked into a photo album sleeve. Some prints were gifted to family and friends, serving as cherished keepsakes of moments spent together.
Over time, I realised that the Instax camera gives a more enjoyable experience of capturing memories with loved ones rather than urban photography—the purpose it was initially purchased for. This thought steered me toward the next logical step in analogue photography: exploring film cameras.
To keep things simple, I decided to start with a point-and-shoot. My research led me to the Olympus XA series. For a while, I was fixated on the original XA, which many personal blogs and forums lauded as the best in the series. However, given that all XA models function as point-and-shoot systems, I opted for the XA2. Its zone-focusing system combined with auto exposure makes for easier and faster shooting considering that, after all, the XAs are small cameras with small viewfinders. Another reason I picked the XA2 was that it was more affordable compared to the original. After finding a great deal on eBay from a Japanese seller, I decided to take the plunge.
The smallest and the biggest camera I own.
Once the camera arrived, I replaced the deteriorated light seals, loaded it with film, and took it out for a spin. On the third exposure, I found myself unable to press the shutter release button, leading me to suspect a malfunction. After some research, I discovered the issue could be due to improper film loading—and sure enough, it was. Rookie mistake. Fixing it meant sacrificing the first few frames, making for a frustrating start to my film journey. Thankfully, I resolved the issue without opening up the camera and was able to continue my test shoot without further hiccups.
Slowing down to compose. Every shot is money.
Film photography offers a completely different kind of adventure. Unlike Instax, where results are immediate, I couldn’t see the images instantly and often forgot what I had captured. I felt a mix of impatience to finish the roll and reluctance to waste frames on scenes that didn’t resonate with my style. Occasionally, I’d glance at the frame counter, eager to see how many more shots remained.
The only qualm I have with the XA2 is its shutter release button. While it does look aesthetically pleasing, it lacks the reassuring tactile feedback of more traditional designs.
A fortnight later, I finally finished the roll and took it to Whampoa Colour Centre for development and scanning. Less than three hours after dropping it off, my inbox pinged with a WeTransfer download link to the photos. I was both ecstatic and nervous. To my relief, the photos turned out beautifully, confirming that the camera was in perfect working order. I couldn’t have been happier.
A joy to collect the negatives from the lab.
A month later, the Olympus XA2 joined me on a holiday trip to Bandung, Indonesia. One of the most memorable moments was when a group of children asked me to take their photo. After snapping the shot, they rushed over, eager to see it, only to be left disappointed and puzzled when I explained it was a film camera.
Read about the trip and see the photos here.
Bandung kids. Wish I had my Instax for this. Could’ve left them with a memento.
Film photography, as fulfilling as it is, remains an expensive hobby. While I occasionally shoot with my Fujifilm X100F (and sometimes the Sony A7C), the film’s tactile allure keeps me coming back. Sure, there are cost-saving methods like bulk rolling film or developing and scanning negatives at home, but currently, those options require resources that are not feasible for me. Anyway, I’m still wading in the baby pool of analogue photography.
