I’ve finally completed a test roll of ISO 400 35mm Fujifilm in the Canon AE-1 film camera. Sadly, there are light leaks, and I only got about 2 good photos. On top of that, the flash that came with it does not work, so the shots I attempted to take with the flash are under-exposed.

Putting film into a camera took some getting used to. I haven’t put film in a camera in about 6 years. The first roll I used wasn’t inserted correctly and actually came back from the lab blank!

After watching some YouTube videos, I finally got it right.

Sadly, I discovered after developing this latest roll of film that I have a light leak that I need to patch up somehow. Most of my shots came in a little over exposed, so I need to take a look at other videos to see what I can do to perform some basic maintenance on this particular type of camera so I can make it run as good as new.

The scans don’t do the originals justice.

You just don’t get the same FEEL out of a digital camera like you do using an old 35mm film camera. Paying and waiting for film development at your local WalMart is a downside to working with film, but some day, it would be nice to go back to working with Black and White film and get my own dark room… Now THAT made you really proud of your pictures, because every shot counted. Every shot needed to be perfect because it costs you money every time you press that shutter button!

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’ll hang on to my digital camera for ease of use, but nothing can replace film. Not the experience of it.

In recent months, I’ve found myself slowly becoming more and more interested in going back to a time when things were simpler. I just recently picked up a Canon AE-1 film camera. The damned thing retailed for over $1,100 back in the 80′s. The nice thing about film is that its resolution is still comparable to modern digital cameras, unlike buying a VHS Camcorder from 1993 for $1,000… The resolution is crap.

Finding camera film in your local WalMart is easy, but developing it is getting harder and harder. My last roll of film I developed, the prints came back smelling like vinegar… A sign that they need to change the developing fluids in the machines that develop the prints.

I’ve read that there is a way to develop film using caffeine, called “Caffenol,” but this only really works on black and white film, which for some reason costs more than color film.

I’ve also discovered an original Kodak Model 20 at a flea market this past week. It’s probably the first 8mm camera that made the format popular for amateur filmmakers. I’ve ordered 5 reels of film from a company in California, and there is a place in Michigan that still develops it… It’s not cheaper than digital, but it does have that haunting nostalgia to it, when you watch actual film.

I think I’m going to finish this blog post on my Olivetti Studio 46 typewriter.

Samples of voice acting characters found in the mind of Herbert Filby including:

• Natural speaking voice
• Gruffo
• Mad German Scientist
• Twisted Mickey Mouse
• Charles the Radio DJ
• Creepy Innkeeper
• Star Wars Fan
• Kiddo paints a fence
• Old Martin
• Phil the Bear
• Insane Hippy
• Griff
• Sniveley Snitch
• a joke found on a portable tape recorder circa 2009

Kino International has finally released Buster Keaton’s independent shorts on high-def blu-ray.

As a fan of Buster Keaton since 1995, I have been collecting Keaton’s films on a variety of formats, going all the way back to VHS. On viewing the new Blu-ray release from Kino, I must say that I am extremely impressed for the most part. I am still comparing this new blu-ray set to other previous DVD releases.

The only downside of this particular release was that Kino was unable or otherwise did not include elements of the films that were originally provided by Lobster Films in Kino’s “Keaton Plus” DVD release. And to make things sadder still, in not using Lobster to produce this set, they missed out in the best possible source footage.

For example, in the comparison below, you can see that the DVD version of the Master’s of Cinema 2006 release actually is a better cut of “Convict 13″ than Kino’s source footage.

BUT, there are other films where the Kino version contains more information, as seen here:

Overall, though, I must say that Kino did an excellent job.

Below are screen captures comparing the new Blu-ray set, Kino’s 2001 DVD collection called “The Art of Buster Keaton,” and the Masters of Cinema Buster Keaton Complete Short Films DVD set.

The film used for comparison will be “The High Sign,” because in Kino’s new Blu-ray release, they’ve included two versions, one of the regular film, and one ‘enhanced’ version where most of the film grain and scratches were digitally removed.

Click the Blu-ray thumbnails below for a high res version.

Kino 2001 “Art of Buster Keaton”

Masters of Cinema 2006 “Buster Keaton Complete Short Films”

Kino 2011 “The Short Films Collection”

Kino 2011 “The Short Films Collection” – Enhanced version

Kino 2001 “Art of Buster Keaton”

Masters of Cinema 2006 “Buster Keaton Complete Short Films”

Kino 2011 “The Short Films Collection”

Kino 2011 “The Short Films Collection” – Enhanced version

Kino 2001 “Art of Buster Keaton”

Masters of Cinema 2006 “Buster Keaton Complete Short Films”

Kino 2011 “The Short Films Collection”

Kino 2011 “The Short Films Collection” – Enhanced version

Kino 2001 “Art of Buster Keaton”

Masters of Cinema 2006 “Buster Keaton Complete Short Films”

Kino 2011 “The Short Films Collection”

Kino 2011 “The Short Films Collection” – Enhanced version