Adjustable Work Platforms

Perhaps what I disliked the most about the Olympus AF-1 is that it was absolutely a point and shoot for me.  Even my newer point and shoot cameras (Yashica T4 for example) allow me to adjust my photos in some way and be thoughtful in the act of taking photographs.  This camera just doesn’t encourage thoughtful photography, for me.

Stationary WorkPlatform

That photo of Andy Warhol is of him using an Olympus OM77 AF SLR, not an AF-1 Infinity. I have the same camera. It was manufactured in the mid 80’s and used special AF lenses, and could also use the manual focus OM lenses. It had 2 battery grips available, the #300 grip had a pop up flash, and the #100 grip did not have a flash. The camera used 4 AAA batteries and was pretty much point and shoot. Here is a photo of the camera from Flickr that someone has posted:

My test roll was shot driving around, on my lunch hour walk in Mount Prospect, IL, and working in our Chicago bungalow’s backyard.  ASA 200 speed color print film from Walgreens.

There is evidence on the Internet that Andy Warhol used an Olympus AF-1 camera.  Although I can find pictures of Andy Warhol using an Olympus AF-1 camera on the Internet, I don’t know who owns those photos so I won’t show them here.  But The Shutter Goes Click has a nice article on Andy Warhol and his cameras.

Folding WorkPlatform

Perhaps Andy Warhol and I would agree:  the Olympus AF-1 camera is an average film camera from a great manufacturer, Olympus.  I can’t speak for Warhol, I can only speak for myself.

Here’s a taste of what an Olympus AF-1 camera can do with ASA 200 speed film.  This photo was taken near dusk as shadows covered the alley behind my Chicago, IL bungalow.  It may not be exciting, but it’s Chicago.

Small platformfor home

photo credit: Sonietta46 Since I visited an Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh, PA with my family, since I do shoot film cameras, because I had read on the Internet that the lens for this camera was very good, I purchased two of them on eBay.  $12 plus shipping in the fall of 2010.

OK, I’ve been a bit negative about this camera.  But if you’re photographing landscapes that aren’t too bright, I think the Infinity can do well.  The photograph below was taken from inside my Toyota Camry in rush hour traffic on North Milwaukee Ave in Chicago.  I think it’s a pretty good demonstration of the accuracy and clarity of this camera on a good day.