A first impression: Canon Prima AS-1

'Maybe I could try floating one of my TLRs in a fish tank?' I had pondered the day before a shoot I had lined up at a swimming pool. What was the worst that could happen? I decided if I was going to sacrifice a TLR, it would have to be the Yashica A. I love that camera but it's the cheapest in the collection so will have to be sacrificed.

Fast forward six hours, many of which I was scrolling aimlessly through online classifieds for cameras, motorbikes and vintage stereo equipment (oh and of course a fish tank). I'm driving across town to pick up what would be the subject of this post. A mint Canon AS-1 in my possession and a 12 hours until the shoot, I can now sleep soundly knowing that my Yashica will live to see another day.

Because I love nothing more than doing things without thinking, I loaded the camera up with some Fuji 400H. That'll surely bite me in the ass when I'm shooting underwater with a blue pool liner. But as the camera had already sucked down the leader so we will have to see how muted the conditions will make this already pale emulsion go.

Oh and the water seals? Untested as of purchase. I'm starting to wonder if I should have picked up an old fish tank on the way here? I can vaguely remember seeing the red seal around the outside as I closed the camera back after loading the film.

A flick of the switch up front to 'Auto' and a slight noise later, it seems we have a working camera. I dive beneath the surface and snap frame after frame. No goggles on but I can see the blurry figure of my model through the large viewfinder. A smooth click and wind I wish the Canon AF35 made was all the confirmation I needed that water ingress had not yet bricked my new purchase.

As I'd only shot half a roll through the AS-1 during the pool shoot, I was keen to test the last few frames above water to better assess its use as an EDC (everyday carry camera). Shooting up to the sky in such a way that the viewfinder was showing larges amounts of flaring ... While general scenery shots are handled quite well.

A test of the macro mode revealed (that I should read the manual?) And the final few portraits of my daughter shows more promise in the focussing system than it does in my skills as a photographer. A notoriously difficult subject for autofocus systems.

#amateur #inspiration #tips