Well, it finally happened. The postie arrived with a package that felt a bit more substantial than the usual Amazon fluff. Inside, wrapped in enough bubble wrap to survive a fall from the top of the Buachaille, was the latest recruit to the Fellowes Photography squad: Rick Ranger.
For those not fluent in "Vintage Camera-ese," Rick is a Ricoh 500 ZF, a compact 35mm rangefinder from the 1970s. Holding him in my hand is a bit of a surreal experience; it’s the first time I’ve properly dabbled with a 35mm film camera in over 30 years. Honestly? I’m like a child at Christmas, but with fewer chocolate coins and more light meters.
Why the Blast from the Past?
You might be wondering why, in 2026, I’m looking backward instead of forward. Well, a part of my grand plan for a creative future is all about texture, soul, and finding a unique "eye." While my digital kit is brilliant, there's a specific nostalgia in a certain 1960s/70s series of souvenir books and postcards that I’ve loved since I was a lad.
To recreate that "punchy" 70s look, I felt I needed a tool that actually lived through that era. Enter Rick.
The Technical Handshake
Stepping away from the M100’s touchscreen and into Rick’s world is a bit of a learning curve. For starters, Rick is a rangefinder, and that's a type of camera I've not used before. There’s no looking "through" the lens here. Instead, you look through a little window and try to align a ghostly yellow patch with your subject. It’s a bit like trying to solve a puzzle while the sun is setting over the local rooftops.
I’ve already loaded him with a roll of Kodak ColorPlus 200. Why? Because it has that warm, slightly grainy, "wish you were here" aesthetic that digital filters just can’t quite fake.
The Logbook and the Long Game
I’m being a proper "Geek" about this, too. I’ve converted a little notebook into a dedicated Exposure Log. Since Rick doesn’t have EXIF data (he’s 50, give him a break!!!), I’m manually recording every frame:
Aperture & Shutter Speed: Comparing Rick's internal logic to my own.
The "Neil" Factor: Notes on the light, the weather, and whether or not I remembered to take the lens cap off (it happens to the best of us).
What’s Next?
This weekend, I'll be staying close to home, heading off into the village Galston in East Ayrshire (a.k.a. home) to catch the morning light. No pressure, no "fine art" masterpieces - just me and Rick getting to know each other. It’s about the mechanical "thunk" of the shutter and the slow, deliberate process of winding the film, and checking out what may or may need some attention, such as light seals etc.
I’m grounded enough to know there might be a few "blips" - light leaks or missed focus - but that’s the joy of it. As I always say: one singer, one song. Right now, the song is 35mm, and I’m enjoying every note.
So, at this moment in time, Rick’s ready. I’m ready. Let’s see what 24 exposures can do.
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