Ron Kolos' Blog: Retro Snap Chronicles: Canon T50 & Fujifilm Finepix S5800

Retro Snap Chronicles:

Canon T50 & Fujifilm Finepix S5800

Today I've decided to do a little retro camera experiment to see how the photos turn out on these old but trusty cameras, and then I will compare the images side-by-side. Both of these can be picked up second-hand for a bargain price. The Canon T50 is my first film camera in over 25 years. I haven't used a film camera since the 90s, so this is quite exciting. I've noticed on Photography books, magazines and websites that old-school 35mm film photography is making a comeback. And I do love that old grainy look to the film photos, and the unique color contrast they reproduce.

Fujifilm Finepix S5800

Release Year: 2007

This has an 8-megapixel sensor. The Fujifilm Finepix S5800 delivers high-resolution photos with impressive clarity. Its ISO1600 feature enhances performance in low-light conditions.

Unique Features: This camera is equipped with a 10x optical zoom, a Super Macro mode for extreme close-ups, and electronic image stabilization for steady video recording. It also includes Intelligent Flash and Anti-blur technology for capturing clear images of moving subjects.

Background: The S5800 followed the Fujifilm Finepix S5700, which had a 7.1-megapixel sensor and similar features. The S5800 improved upon its predecessor with a higher resolution and better zoom capabilities.

This is the Fujifilm Finepix S5800 bridge camera. It's only a light small little thing that fits in the palm of your hand. In the pictures it looks bigger than it is. But the pictures it produces still look great in my opinion. I will post a few at the end of this post.

Canon T50

Release Year: 1983

The Canon T50 is a 35mm film single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. It was the first camera in Canon's T-series, which was designed to be more user-friendly and automated than previous SLR cameras.

Unique Features: Known for its user-friendly design, the T50 includes a self-timer, and a fully automatic exposure system. It also features a unique "Quick Load" system for easy film loading. Apparently the apperture doesn't need to be set as the camera sets this automatically.

Background: Introduced as an entry-level model in Canon's T-series, the Canon T50 followed the Canon T70. It aimed to offer advanced features in a more compact and affordable package.

The film reel I will be using with the analogue Canon T50 35mm film camera.

I love how this thing looks. It's a real relic from the past.

History:

The T50 was the first camera in Canon's T-series of SLR cameras.
Canon introduced the T50 in March 1983.
Canon discontinued the T50 in December 1989.

Features:

It has a vertical traveling electronic shutter that operated from 2 seconds to 1/1000 in A mode.
It has a TTL SPD photo cell meter with a range of 1 to 18 EV (ISO 100).
It can use 50 to 1600 ISO speed films.
It is powered by two AA / LR6 batteries.
It has auto exposure, auto film advance, a hot shoe, and a self-timer.

Canon T50 first photos

The photos came out really terrible on this thing. Either it is fault or there was something wrong with the film. The photos all came out very dark, with barely any detail in them, no color, just a mess. The only way to make them look visible is by editing on Photoshop and adding a black and white filter, and crancking up the contrast to the max. The ISO 400 film should've worked fine at least on the outdoor photos, but there's something wrong.

Retro Rundown

Unfortunately, the Canon T50 photos didn't work out. I'll test it out again with another film reel at a later date, and try to figure out what the issue is.

As for the Fujifilm S5800, I think this camera is fantastic. This camera has won me over. While it might not be high-end professional gear and doesn't produce the sharpest photos, I believe it’s a superb piece of equipment. The quality of the photos it delivers is something I really appreciate. I recall having 8MP cameras in the past, but they never produced photos with the quality of this Fujifilm. I love the darker contrast of the photos and their overall look. The dark, dotted graininess reminds me more of an old 35mm film photograph than a pixelated early digital image.

Likewise, the amount of control the user has over the picture quality settings is impressive. There's so much you can adjust with regard to ISO, aperture, and shutter speed settings. However, the automatic setting does not always produce high-quality photos. The camera struggles to set the correct ISO for the conditions you're in, and many of my photos turned out smudged, blurred, and distorted with picture noise. So, you're often required to find the perfect settings yourself. I took numerous photographs of the same scene to find the best one, but over time, you get used to the different settings and eventually find the ideal one.

Conversely, another advantage of this camera is the 10x zoom, which produces sharp photos that are almost the same quality as when you're not zoomed in. I am very impressed with the zoom (you can see some examples below). I've grown to love Fujifilm Finepix, and I will definitely be on the lookout for another Fujifilm Finepix bargain for my collection—I'll try to find one with higher MP quality next time. But I will not get rid of this one. It's a keeper for my camera museum.

Here's a preview of some of the first photos. I will post more once the 35mm film is ready from the Canon.