Spain and Portugal by Spotmatic

[Julio1fer]

Took a trip with the family to Spain and Portugal. Lots of rental car driving but also lots of fun. I took a small digital (Canon G7x MkII) as main travel camera but of course some film camera had to come along. In the end I decided on the Spotmatic with a single lens, 35/2.

I took FP4+ which is not such a good choice for winter light, but the f/2 aperture helped somewhat.

A sample from the film pictures; the digital pictures were too much to classify, let alone post (about 2800 images). Maybe later on.

Ronda, bullfight arena



Calesa, Sevilla



Street scene, Merida



Cordoba alley, with the Mezquita in the background.



Cordoba Mosque (Mezquita), this is a favorite shot that I have taken in several visits with different cameras.



Tired tourists in Cordoba Mosque



Toledo from the Tajo river



Toledo street



Toledo, Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca



Aveiro, Portugal



Portuguese guitars, Braga



It was a long trip, with photography a distant third or fourth issue in the list of priorities. I enjoyed the little Spotmatic; exposure was perfect with its meter. However, I have gotten lazy with weight and the Spottie was used very sparingly.

I was briefly in Madrid (January 16) but had not coordinated with Alex, a pity.

Photobucket has been in trouble so excuse any viewing problem. Thanks for watching!

[PFMcFarland]

Lovely photos of Spain and Portugal, Julio. Those areas have so much history, it's probably hard to just look at things, and not take a photo.

PF

[alexvaras]

Nice photos, Julio!

Yes, you did quite a driving from center-south of Spain! From those places I miss visiting Toledo and it's not in my list.
I wonder how is possible now to visit such places without seeing tourists everywhere

I'm glad you enjoyed the trip

[Brazile]

I like the scenes you captured. Agree with you on the Spotmatic: nice camera, built like a tank! Carrying it is a bit of a workout, but makes a suitable defensive weapon if needed...

Robert

[Philip]

Wonderful pictures.

(To self: I should dig out my Spotmatic . . . )
(To self: I should travel to Spain, too . . . .)

[Julio1fer]

Thanks for the comments!

Alex, we did about 1500 km of driving, maybe a bit more (about 1000 miles). Not really that much, but about half of it on local roads. Spanish and Portuguese roads are well maintained, mostly. Most of the trip was to meet friends and relatives, who also took us around their areas.

The Spotmatic is 60 years old from its prototype in Photokina 1960, but those Takumar lenses are still awesome.

Lots of tourists in these areas, and I did see two or three with film cameras in the whole trip. A few more with digital SLRs or similar, and almost no one with small digicams like my G7x. Definitely cell phones are the current instrument for travel photography.

I should have taken a 120 camera, but could not bear the added weight and space.

No problem at all in airports, everybody was mindful of film and X-ray effects, to my surprise.

[PFMcFarland]

You must not have used any US airports, as Kodak is notifying everyone that the new CT scanners the TSA uses will fog your film, no questions asked. They suggest placing your film in a clear plastic bag, and asking for it to be hand checked. Kodak is also letting folks print out a Warning sticker they can put in the clear film bag to guard from it getting scanned.

https://petapixel.com/2020/01/27/kodak- ... your-film/

This is why I've always suggested to traveling folks to buy their film locally, and get it processed before returning or mail it back home.

PF

[alexvaras]

I had no luck with airports myself, I tried to pass the film aside not being scanned but they refused in Madrid/Moscow saying up to ASA1600 is fine, no fog film.

[PFMcFarland]

I had no luck with airports myself, I tried to pass the film aside not being scanned but they refused in Madrid/Moscow saying up to ASA1600 is fine, no fog film.

That's true for their scanners, Alex, but not the new ones in the US. I've read where folks have asked for a hand check on their film in the US, and the TSA said sure, then put it through the scanner after they hand checked it.

PF

[titrisol]

Excellent pictures!!!
Yes TSA is a very obtuse organization and I dont travel with film anymore

Last night I was looking for a hot-shoe adapter and I found a cople of old HAMA FilmSafe X boxes for 35mm that I bought in Germany eons ago
Are those still useful?