A Day at the Manchester Museum

Before purchasing it the LC-A+ was the number one camera on my photography equipment wishlist. I dreamt of the days that me and my LC-A+ would go on grand adventures together. It'd be so small that I could go out without being ladened down by the usual cumbersome bag I take with me everywhere. Day or night that LC-A+ would be there right beside me. However as a social recluse my LC-A+ instead spends time looking at me wistfully. However we did get a trip out recently along with my nephew and dad as we went for a mosey around the Manchester Museum. I'd initially been in conflict as to which camera to take but considering my nephew is notorious for wishing to be carried by me it became obvious I needed something lightweight and small for slipping in my pocket as soon as those fateful words "pick me up" were said.

I love the Manchester Museum and have been there a few times now. For a free trip out it's a pretty good place to go as they've got a bit of variety of what you can look at. My favourite is without a doubt the animals although Stan comes in a pretty close second. I felt like I was on snapping form when we got there. LC-A+ in hand I soon got through a roll even with my nephew tugging me this way and that. He was my digital photography assistant helping me complete the 'Green" prompt for February Photo A Day so I was flicking between the two cameras and being an attentive auntie. A mighty task you may think but I felt I was doing a top job.

After my not entirely successful roll from the Blue Planet Aquarium I took special care to listen for the LC-A+'s distinctive second click whilst I kept as still as possible. I thought I'd done a good job. A week later, after a trip to Jessops (£6 for developing and scanning to cd in an hour) I returned home to look at my photos. And I was overwhelmingly disappointed. I was convinced I'd have a much better roll and whilst I have ended up with slightly better shots than the BPA roll it's still a measly 14 out of 36 exposures. It just feels like such a waste, it wasn't one of my cheapo rolls either! Anyways here are the shots that were in focus and a couple that might not quite be in focus but I wanted to post anyways.

I'm aware that my jumper wearing ram is blurry but I can't not post it. It's wearing a jumper! My nephew and me laughed so hard at that ram that other people around us started laughing at us. Anyways those are the best shots from that roll, the rest are a blurry mess. Now I have heard for a few new owners of the LC-A+ that with their first few rolls they become a little downhearted. The LC-A+ doesn't live up the hype, this camera is supposed to be a wonder camera! It should be able to handle anything! Surely it can't be the photographer who's messing up these photographs? It must be the camera right? Ahhh no.

See what I forget about the LC-A+ is that this is a zone focus camera. What does that mean? It means that the LC-A+ comes with fixed focal lengths so if I want clear shots I need to be within these focal distances to ensure just that. However I perhaps may have misjudged my skills at estimating those distances. Or disregarded them entirely. So rather than put my LC-A+ back on the shelf to gather dust I'm going to make a concentrated effort to learn my distances.

For now though I hope you've enjoyed these few shots. I think I may well take another of my cameras to the Manchester Museum for a solo trip because there is so much more there that I want to shoot. Until then though I best dig out my tape measure.

Laters,

P x