As a member of the "Wired in generation," I've always been surrounded by the wonders of digital technology. However, I was born at just the right time where I still had to use some of the analog ancestors of today. VHS tapes for video, cassette tapes for music, CRT TVs - and, of course, film cameras were all a part of my life. I used a lot of those cheap disposable cameras that you could get developed at Walgreens.

As I grew older, I developed a soft spot for film photography. However, I was too scared to jump into it on my own. That was until my grandfather sent over a camera bag full of his old camera gear from back in the day. The contents were impressive - a battery-powered flash, some crazy filters, grips, cases, a zoom lens, and the star of the show: the Minolta X-370 SLR with a 50mm f 1.7 prime lens.

The Minolta X-370 was made in 1984, according to what information I could find online. It's pretty sweet, especially as a starting point for me to get into film photography. The camera has an electronic shutter for auto exposure, allowing me to just focus on aperture and focusing while it handles the shutter speed. This is especially useful, as I've been used to digital cameras instantly reflecting changes.

The typical silver and black body of the Minolta X-370 feels very nice in the hands, despite being heavy. It makes a lot of DSLRs from today feel like cheap knockoffs. The battery is easy to replace and has lasted for a long time. Film is also easy enough to load and reload once you get used to it - although I do wish that there was an option for a motorized rewinder, which is not available on this model.

The Minolta X-370 comes with a self-timer and exposure lock, too. The viewfinder is easy to look through and check focus, although changes in aperture are not reflected - which is why I rely heavily on the auto shutter feature. Being used to digital cameras instantly reflecting changes took some getting used to. There's even a little dust on the mirror, but it doesn't seem to affect the shots at all.

So far, I've only shot with Kodak Portra 400 film and the 50mm MD lens that came with the camera. The lens is a beauty - sharp, easy to focus, and adjust the aperture. It opens up to f1.7, which looks amazing, especially in combination with the Minolta X-370. I'm currently hoping to get a speedbooster for it soon to see what it looks like opened up at 4K on my Panasonic G7 - but that's an adventure for another day.

My first 35mm shooting experience was great, and the shots from the Minolta X-370 blow me away. I've owned a lot of point-and-shoots, DSLRs, and mirrorless cameras in the past, and this is by far my favorite body to shoot stills on. The shots all have a nice, organic feeling to them - punchy contrast, and just the "right" amount of softness, in my opinion.

One thing that I really love about film photography is the ability to achieve a "soft" feeling without things seeming out of focus. With digital cameras, it feels like you can't quite get this effect right - whereas on film, you can still plainly see subject-background separation while having a nice soft feel to the image. And of course, there's that magical grain that never seems to be enough.

All of this is subjective, vague language, but I freaking love my shots from this camera. I will still shoot digital some, of course, but I look forward to every opportunity to put this camera to work and take great shots. For future experiences, I hope to do more shooting with the zoom lens in my grandfather's kit, try out some of the crazy filters and such that he had, as well as maybe pick up some cheap lots of expired film.

One day, I will test out that Nikon FM2 - but today is not that day.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enI’m in the “Wired in generation.”While I grew up as the internet was forming,my entire life has been spent with the wondersof digital being thrown in my face, and thenfinally brought to life.But I was born at just the right time whereI still had to use some of the analog ancestors.VHS tapes for video, cassette tapes for music,CRT TVs - and, of course, film cameras.I used a LOT of those cheap disposable camerasthat you could get developed at Walgreens.Well, nostalgia is one hell of a drug, andI’ve always had a soft spot for film photography,but was too scared to jump in on my own.That was until my grandfather sent over acamera bag full of his camera gear from backin the day.A battery-powered flash, some crazy filters,grips, cases, a zoom lens, and the star ofthe show - the Minolta X-370 SLR with a 50mmf 1.7 prime lens.This bad boy was made in 1984 - accordingto what information I can find online - andis pretty sweet.Honestly, I can’t imagine a better startingpoint for me to get into film photography.It has an electronic shutter for auto exposure,allowing me to just focus on aperture andfocusing, while it handles the shutter speed.I also have a Nikon FM2 that I’ve been tooafraid to try due to being full manual, heh.The typical silver and black body is quiteheavy, but it feels very nice in the hands.Makes a lot of DSLRs from today feel likecheap knockoffs.The battery is easy to replace and has lasteda long time for me.Film is easy enough to load and reload, onceyou get used to it.It does look like a motorized rewinder isan option, though I don’t own one for thisbody.It has a self-timer and exposure lock, too.The viewfinder is easy to look through andcheck focus, though changes in aperture arenot reflected - which is why I rely on theauto shutter heavily.Being used to digital cameras instantly reflectingchanges, this took some getting used to.There’s a little dust on the mirror, butnothing noticeable in the shots.So far, I’ve only shot this with Kodak Portra400 film and the 50mm MD lens it came with.This lens is a beauty - sharp, easy to focusand adjust the aperture, and opens up to f1.7.I am in love with this lens and I am hopingto get a speedbooster for it soon to see whatit looks like opened up a stop at 4K on myPanasonic G7 - but that’s an adventure foranother day.My shots are all developed by thedarkroom.com.They’re not a sponsor or anything, they’rejust the site I found during my research andI’ve been very satisfied with the results.I just mail my rolls off and wait a few daysand they deliver up to 30 megapixel scansready for me to download.I do wish they could deliver full TIF files,but the jpegs at 30 megapixels are plentyfine for me to tweak in Lightroom.My first 35mm shooting experience was a greatone.The shots I can get out of the Minolta X-370blow me away.I’ve owned a lot of point-and-shoots, aDSLR and a mirrorless, and this is by farmy favorite body to shoot stills on.The shots all have this nice, organic feelingto them.Punchy contrast, and just the “right”amount of softness, in my opinion.With digital cameras, I feel like you can’tachieve a “soft” feeling without thingsseeming out of focus - whereas on film youcan still plainly see subject-background separationwhile having a nice soft feel to the image.And, of course, dat magical grain.Never enough film grain.All of this is subjective, vague language,but I freaking love my shots from this.I will still shoot digital some, of course,but I look forward to every opportunity toput this camera to work and take great shots.For future experiences, I hope to do moreshooting with the zoom lens in my grandfather’skit, try out some of the crazy filters andsuch that he had, as well as maybe pick upsome cheap lots of expired film.One day I will test out that Nikon FM2, buttoday is not that day.--I hope you enjoyed this video.What was your first experience with film photography?Have you ever used the Minolta X-370?Let me know in the comments below!Like the video if you liked it, get subscribed,and I’ll catch you in the next one.EposVox is a Patreon-supported production.Our videos would simply not be possible withoutthe support and generosity of our patrons- whom you can see on-screen now.If you'd like to join the inner-circle andget early access to videos, among other things,go to Patreon.com/EposVox to learn more.\n"