This is my first roll of Lomography Lomochrome Metropolis @400 ASA. I received it in the middle of the very uninspiring winter. To tell the truth it took some real effort to finish the 72 exposures under those conditions.
The first camera I decided to try it in is my modded Chaika 2M which now carries any Leica thread mount (LTM) lens with a flair. My thought process was that the strong characteristics of the camera would be the perfect fit for the film's very own distinct characteristics.
Being a half-frame camera the camera/photos don't do entire justice to the fine LTM lenses in not showing the full image. I've mostly used two wide angle 35 mm lenses making the photo crop equivalent to 53 mm on a full frame camera. The main lens was my Canon 35 mm. Some of the photos were exposed with an 35 mm Meyer Optik SLR lens (I don't know what mount it originally has) I've modded to LTM. One or two exposures were made using my Canon FL 50 mm lens on a FL/FD to LTM adapter. The 50 mm full frame lens makes for the equivalent of a tele-lens of 75 mm on the Chaika. (I may have made an exposure or two using my 20 mm Cosina for Nikon on a N to LTM adapter.)
Below are some of the exposures. Most are straight from the scanner which makes them a bit on the dark side. I do like that look - especially combined with the Chaika's framing and the loss of light in the corners. The photographs marked with an X have been slightly edited for brightness.
X
X
When I cut the film it turned out to very prone to curl. It isn't as stiff as the Agfa Variopan XL but is still a bother. I had to cut the strips in half lengths to be able to push them into the negative pockets.
X
X
Before I received the Metropolis rolls I did some research, and came to the conclusion that I wanted to expose it at 400 ASA. The film is rated to be exposed at 100-400 ASA. Depending on what you want to achieve with colours or contrast you can expose as you wish. What I saw in my research was that exposed to a lot of light (100 ASA) the colours came out being a bit on the pale side. I wanted more punch to the colours so opted for less light at 400 ASA.
I have to say that I am rather satisfied with what came out of the roll. Given the circumstances I had only mundane, badly lit subjects to photograph. The film doesn't enhance any "Kodak moments" of my life, but works well in compositions that I easily could have made in black and white instead.
Actually the idea of a high contrast colour film that almost could pass as a b&w in some conditions was what got me interested in the LomoChrome Metropolis in the first place. I like the idea of a black and white film that gives the impression of having had slight bits of colour added.
Experiencing these results my feeling is that this film is my new favourite colour film. However it is too expensive for me so I will only be able to use it a few times a year.
For most exposures I used my external rangefinder placed in the flash-shoe/coldshoe.
Lens: Canon FL 50 mm
Canon FL 50 mm
Canon FL 50 mm
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