Petri Color 35 – A Love Letter to a favourite camera

I’d like to talk about one of my favourite cameras, the Petri Color 35. Now sure you might be thinking that this is an odd choice. And to a certain extent you’d be right. But you are actually incredibly wrong. Well partially at least. The camera may max out at F2.8 and the fastest shutter speed may be 1/250, but do you really need more if you’re properly prepared with the right film and set of filters? Yes, the zone focusing requires near savant level snap distance measuring to your subject, but how many of us actually get closer than 15 feet? Not a call out by the way; merely a rhetorical question. Set the bad boy to infinity or set it to F8 and “be there” as the almighty who’ve come before us have so beautifully put.

Now some might compare this to the little Rollei 35 and find the Petri lacking. This is where, I think, I can adequately put any doubts to rest when compared to other comparatively small cameras. I can adjust everything on this camera with one hand. The index finger plays triple duty, adjusting the smooth focus, setting the tightly detented shutter speed dial, and pressing the clicky shutter button. The thumb rolls the soft and continuous aperture dial. I can snap focus, set shutter speed, adjust aperture, and take the shot all with one hand thanks to the dense little metal body. Speaking of which…

The body can take a hit or two, which I have unfortunately found out, but as my father always told me, “tools are meant to be used.” This inevitably leads to the odd scrape here and the slight bump there, and the occasional slip of grip. Now the original leatherette on my camera was replaced by a beautiful snakeskin-like blue material. It gives this little guy a beautiful and new look. The modern look lets it almost escape the immediate tells that this is a camera belonging to a different age. Now, I’ve gone on and on about this camera, but surely there is something which I don’t like about it. Right? Yes, but actually no. The shutter sound is a bit dull. BUT! This means when I point this small innocuous camera on the street as I so often do, no one, not even me sometimes, can tell I’ve done anything at all. Which is a boon isn’t it? A tiny capable camera great for travel and street which when closed properly, fits into most jeans pockets.

I’m an avid motorcyclist making my way through cluttered streets, dusty roads, all while stopping whenever something catches my eye to shoot a photo or two. The Petri slides well into my jacket pocket, or jeans, or my Spyder holster. Quick sidenote: the Spyder camera holster is the best camera carrying device I’ve ever used, period. The Peak design clip is also pretty good, just not my preferred weapon of choice. To return to my previous point, the features we all absolutely need, with a nice light meter, in a tight package, make this compact body perfect for just about anybody. I’ve run through a few different cameras and while they all have their uses and benefits, I find myself reaching for this camera again and again.

Now to the part which I think most people ultimately care about when it comes to a fixed lens camera: the lens. It is a 40 mm F2.8 lens with a 40.5 mm filter thread. It’s collapsible which adds to the compactness of the body. The focusing ring extends the lens with each turn and prevents the shutter from being fired when the lens is collapsed past a certain point. The lens also has a Cds light meter right above the front element so any filters will be accounted for without any added hassle. Another neat little trick which I forgot to mention earlier: the light meter only engages once the shutter has been cocked, leading to a near infinite LR44 battery life. The bokeh here has all the nice features of old cameras before the advent of computerized design made many lenses samey-looky. There is distinct character here which I find hard to define, but maybe you can do that for me. How would you describe the bokeh on this camera?

As I explore my new home in Taiwan, I want to explore my surroundings to ground myself. What better encouragement than an easy to use camera and cheaper film development? Not to rub it in, but my local lab develops and sleeves my film into a binder page with an included contact card of all my scans for a roll. All for about 3 USD. Now, obvious gloating aside, I do love this hobby of mine, and having great tools which inspire us to go outside is probably one of the few things that actually matter in any hobby/profession. This and my Olympus Pen-D get me out of the house constantly. What cameras are you always grabbing to take out? I know many of us have collections and I’d love to know what your trusty partner is.

I’ve recently rejoined  Instagram to share new photos, take a gander if you have a moment, and if you are in the Taipei area feel free to reach out.

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