The Ricoh 35 ZF: A $5 Film Camera Find

✍️ 🕑 October 6-8, 2022 • Series: Steve in Seattle • Tags: film photographygear reviewscheap camerasconcertsEurovisionEurovision 2020Eurovision 2021Eurovision 2021 • Places: Ballard Locks & Fish Ladder Gas Works Park Showbox Seattle

“I’m not planning to shoot film,” I said for most of the last however long I’ve been interested in photography. Except, I started flirting with film with the Kiev 60. The seller suggested I hit up the Seattle Photography Show in Kent, WA.

So, I did.

While I was there, a few things caught my eye. On the digital front, old Olympus DSLRs with the 4/3 sensor, a few lenses for my current camera like a circular fisheye, a very complete Ricoh GXR system – which features interchangable sensor + lens modules rather than interchangable lenses like a normal system – wooo, and the ridiculous Sigma dp2 Quattro camera.

Naturally, all of these things commanded prices larger than I was willing to pay, because they are nice, and not just a lark.

But, there were a few bargain bin things that I was interested in. I wound up walking off with two different $5 cameras. (Spoiler: they’re both fun, and they both work!!)

Of the cameras I picked up, one was in a bargain bin full of $5 cameras. It was a tiny compact, and it caught my eye because it was a Ricoh. I’m super fond of their modest, but capable pocketable digital cameras, and I figured for five bucks I may as well explore their analog lineage.

The camera was a Ricoh 35 ZF – it had a 40mm f/2.8 lens. The seller had no idea as to whether it worked, but mechanically it seemed okay, and that’s all I needed.

Snoqualmie Falls

on a Smokey, Autumnal Day

✍️ 🕑 • Tags: waterfallssacred placesforest firesTwin Peaks • Places: Snoqualmie Falls


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Snoqualmie Falls is among the most iconic waterfalls in Washington State.

I had come close to visiting them earlier in the year, during an ill-fated paddle just downstream from the falls.

I hadn’t realized that my paddle had a loose screw, and its two halves could rotate independently, so I was pinned against a rock and had to bail. My supposedly waterproof cellphone did not survive. Meanwhile, my companion had forgotten to wear shoes, and missed our get out point. So, I wound up going on a rather long walk, eventually catching a lift in the bed of a pickup truck.

Rather naturally, I failed to recognize the small turn off to the fishery where my car was parked, and my helpers actually did wind up making a u-turn at the Upper Falls parking lot, so that they could bring me to the right spot.

Strangely, given the above happenings, I was okay skipping on seeing the falls that day. But, I was eager to eventually check them out.

A good opportunity came when Spencer and I had some time to kill after hiking the May Valley Loop. So, the falls were where we headed!

May Valley Loop to Central Peak & Bullit Fireplace

✍️ 🕑 • Tags: forest firesIssaquah Foothillsinsect photography • Places: May Valley Trailhead


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Neither Spencer nor I had hiked in a few weeks.

The air in Washington continued to be filled with smoke, more or less of it depending on the wind. We were planning to possibly meet one of Spence’s friends for dinner near Redmond afterwards. The situation called for a trail that would allow for flexibility: to go further if we wanted, or to turn tail early if we wanted. Ideally, somewhere not too far from Seattle. Ideally, somewhere not too crowded.


The May Valley Loop fit the bill. It’s one of the closest trails from the city, a mere ~35 minute drive or so. The trail is part of an extensive network, and loops of various lengths are possible. You can continue onto additional trails, and connect up to places like Debbie’s View if you want, or you can hike a couple of miles and turn around.

We enjoyed the trail (and each other’s company) enough to hike a little over seven and a quarter miles. You can see our GPS Track here.

My First Frames with a Soviet Medium Format Film Camera

✍️ 🕑 Mid September through Mid October, 2022 • Series: Steve in Seattle • Tags: gear reviewsKiev 60film photographyferries • Places: West Seattle Water Taxi Fremont Ballard Locks & Fish Ladder

So here goes nothing!

I was browsing Craigslist & happened to see a good deal for a film camera in good condition, and I decided to buy it. I mean, what the heck. Film is expensive, and I might not shoot it all that often, but it’s flipping cool to have the option, and it would be really fun to have the option to… y’know, try it out. And if not, the camera can just sit on my shelf looking pretty, right?


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And by looking pretty, I mean, looking bulky and utilitarian, and yet, somehow to my eyes, more aesthetically pleasing than a few of its medium format brethren. Knees for scale!

52 Frames (November 2022)

✍️ 🕑 November 2022 • Series: 52 Frames • Tags: ethicsSurinameMiamibeaches

November 2022 was a heck of a month. Not only did we have some U.S. Elections (ending with the Democrats narrowly holding onto the Senate,) but we also got to celebrate my choice for my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving. And, besides those things, I embarked on my first trip outside of the United States and Canada since the summer of 2019!

It has been a busy month, made all the more so by travel that was probably faster than it ought to be. So, some of these frames were taken on stopovers, or brief moments where I was catching my breath and had phone service. And so they are pretty interesting.

Let’s get into it…

Olympus Test and Wow: A Weekend in Portland, Oregon with the Olympus 25mm f/1.2 Pro Lens

✍️ 🕑 September 23-26, 2022 • Tags: gear reviewsconcertseurovisioneurovision 2022flowersrosesgood eats & 2 More Tags • Places: Doug Fir Lounge International Rose Test Garden, Washington Park Mt. Tabor Park

When Chelsea and I first sat down and watched all of the entrants for the 2021 Eurovision song competition, Maro was one of our favorite entrants. Her soulful voice made its way into our hearts.

When Chelsea saw that she was playing a show on a particular friday night in Portland, the decision to spend a weekend down there was an easy one. I hadn’t really given Portland a proper visit, only stopped by a now-closed storefront for a chocolatier, so I was eager to get to know the city better.

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Meanwhile, I had a great experience borrowing the 300mm f/4 PRO Lens through the Olympus Test & Wow Program. The program has a few other lenses available that I wanted to try – mainly the f/4 zooms. But, I was also interested in the 25mm f/1.2 prime lens.

I used this lens for all of my photography around Portland, from flowers to woof-woofs to the concert. Man, was I impressed!

Just like my last Olympus Test & Wow Post, all of my images (more than I’ve embedded in the post) can be found in a Flickr album.

Labor Day Weekend at Osoyoos

Canada's Hottest Lake, and the Southern Edge of B.C. Wine Country

✍️ 🕑 September 2-5, 2022 • Tags: holiday weekendsBritish Columbiasacred placeswinelakesborder crossingsmountains & 6 More Tags • Places: Osoyoos, B.C. Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Center, Cellars, Restaurant Moon Curser Vineyards sw̓iw̓s Provincial Park (Haynes Point) Spotted Lake Old Molson Historic Site Leavenworth, WA Leavenworth, WA

A view from an overlook of Lake Osoyoos and surrounding vineyards
A view from an overlook of Lake Osoyoos and surrounding vineyards open_in_full   info

Picture this:

You’re Steve. You want to go out of town for Labor Day weekend, and you don’t want to go somewhere too crowded. Also, you’re going to be bringing your comrade Chelsea along, and so you ought to actually plan something and make reservations.

Originally, I hadn’t been thinking of leaving Washington State; what advantage was there to visiting Canada when they have the same bogus Labor Day holiday on the same exact day as the United States. But, when spitballing ideas, Lake Osoyoos came up.

Though its slender body crosses the U.S.-Canada border, most of the infrastructure, accomodations, cool stuff to visit, and indeed, most of the lake itself is on the Canadian side.

Perhaps 'Desert Surfside' is not what immediately comes to mind when you picture British Columbia
Perhaps 'Desert Surfside' is not what immediately comes to mind when you picture British Columbia open_in_full   info

So, why not book a hotel six minutes across the border, and try a few wineries? Why not enjoy “the last weekend of summer” in a spot that is home to Canada’s warmest lake?