Review: Nikon L35AF

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This is another camera from my boyfriend's stash of film cameras (he has more cameras than you can imagine).

The Nikon L35AF is a standard-looking point-and-shoot film camera. It is the first compact automatic camera from Nikon with an autofocus. It's a cult classic among collectors and was an instant hit when it was first released due to its design.

It has a 35mm lens with f/2.8 widest aperture. It's in-viewfinder focus indication makes it handy for users to check if they are in focus or not. It has portrait, group, and landscape symbols inside to know how you're focusing. It focuses from 0.8m to infinity. The camera has its own flash and is powered by two AA batteries.

I've heard a lot of good things about the camera. You can read Shawn's review here and Ken Rockwell's review here. My boyfriend seems to enjoy this camera too and lent it to me for my out-of-town work trip. However, I found it too heavy for me, especially when it's a compact camera. Though it is sturdy, I guess I just prefer those lightweight toy cameras for lugging around.

I also found the autofocus cumbersome. I know this might be weird, but I just didn't like it. I found it difficult to adjust and recompose my shot, especially when I changed my mind on a shot. Maybe it takes some getting used to.

It takes decent photos for its size. This camera takes wide photos and this is usually hard to come by for a compact camera. The L35AF is also considered as a cheap alternative to the Contax T3. I love how some of the photos I took were good.

scratches all over :(

However, I was also frustrated with how the other photos turned out. I used a Fujicolor 200 on the camera. I'm thinking that this has something to do with my local lab since all of my other films aren't turning out right. Most have scratches and there are some random dots on some frames. I'm planning to switch to a new one this year. (I recently switched film labs and got "better" developing and scanning compared to my previous one.)

The Nikon L35AF is a pretty decent camera for its size. I'm sure all the Nikon fanatics would enjoy having this little one in their collections. Since it takes up 35mm film and uses AA batteries, it's pretty easy to use the little guy. Since my first roll from the L35AF didn't turn out great, I'm thinking of taking the camera for another whirl using a brand new lab.

Do you have a Nikon L35AF? Tell me your experiences and thoughts on the L35AF.

Eating Iligan

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They say you get to know a place by tasting the food it has to offer. And, eating was what we certainly did in Iligan City.

I guess as a general rule and theme of our gastronomic escapade, we had no expectations for we didn’t know what was available. Throughout the eating trip, we were checking out the places we passed by and what seemed appetizing. We also relied on Foursquare, which was always a savior in our travels.

Tedts' (near Gaisano)

kuya, the buko vendor

Tedts' was our first stop in Iligan. As a sucker for anything with sugar, the cupcakes sucked me in. It was just a quick lunch before heading out to Gaisano for further exploration.

The buko (coconut water) vendor near Iligan’s plaza was probably the highlight of our visit. Unlike the usual buko in Cebu that comes with white sugar and milk, in Iligan they use brown sugar instead. For P10, you can get a glass of iced buko. What’s interesting is that you can get a refill for free! Free! We didn’t know about this until we saw other people asking for a second glass without paying. From then on, this has become our favorite.

Pan-Q was another interesting food in Iligan. I heard much about this from the boyfriend’s sister and her husband. Think of it as a sandwich version of the Filipino barbecue. The catch is that both the bun and the meat are grilled and slathered with the sauce. Although I found it a bit strange at first, it was actually appetizing. I guess slathering the sauce on the bun made the flavors similar. So, it's all BBQ-y in taste.

Coffee Works

We grabbed some quick coffee at Coffee Works, which was just a few minutes away from the boyfriend's family's shop. It was just a quick stop to cool down since Iligan can be pretty hot and humid during the day. We were a bit disappointed at the coffee and the price. However, the place is pretty nice and quiet.

Pizarella in Iligan

me in Cozycup

We stumbled upon the pizza place by accident when we were dropped by in the area. Since we always love a good pizza, we said why not. Pizzarella has quite yummy pizza, I must say. They had really good selection of pizza and you can also get a free bottle of soda.

Cozycup was a milk tea place that we hunted down since last year. We knew that if we’ll be going to Iligan together, we have to try this place. It was all pinterest-y and cute with its pastel colors and buntings. It was definitely an Instagram-worthy place. The milk tea was just okay and pretty basic compared to other posh milk tea places here in Cebu.

There are definitely quite a lot of places to dine when in Iligan. If you love food then you wouldn't be disappointed. There were still a few places we weren't able to try, but we're looking into it when I'm back in town.

What's your favorite restaurant in Iligan?

PS. Forgive the bad scanning of my local lab. Can't seem to get rid of the white dots on the last two photos.

A Quick Glance of Iligan

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reminds me of downtown Cebu

A lot of people might think of Iligan as a quiet city. That was what I thought, too. However, there are so many things going on in Iligan and it can be an interesting place.

Iligan City is known for its waterfalls. If this is something that interests you, then Iligan is the place to be. There are quite a number of falls that you can go to in Iligan. It has 23 falls. Maria Christina Falls, Tinago, Mimbalot, and Abaga falls are among the most notable.

Maria Christina Falls

a man-made cave near Maria Christina (with tons of bats)

The Maria Christina Falls is by far among the most famous waterfalls in the country as it powers most of Mindanao. For a minimal fee, you can go up the National Power Corporation Nature Park and see the grandeur of Maria Christina up close. The plant only opens to tourists on Sundays so expect other visitors. There are also other recreational activities in the park, like zipline.

Gloria's playhouse in the property

The Macapagal-Macaraeg ancestral house was one of our touristy stops in Iligan. It was the home of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's youth. The caretaker of the property will tell you a lot of things about the house and the family. It can be an interesting historical treat. The house is open for everyone without any fee. You can donate any amount to the caretaker, though.

Transportation is not a problem in Iligan. You can go around the city riding jeepneys. That's what the boyfriend and I did when we explored downtown. You can ride a jeep to anywhere you want to go. 

a busy street in Iligan (on a jeep)

Unfortunately, we weren't able to spend ample of time going to touristy spots in Iligan, aside from Maria Christina Falls and the Macapagal-Macaraeg ancestral house. I'm looking forward to visiting Timoga Cold Springs next time I'm in town. We did enjoy rummaging through the different restaurants in Iligan, which was the best part of the trip (and will be up next week). I guess I'm going to see Iligan next time. ;)

2014: The Year that Was

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feet on the water (Tingko, Alcoy)

2014 was as swift as the wind. I guess when you get older, days and months seem to pass by quickly like nobody's business. And, before you know it a full year has gone.

Although this year was a sick year for me, I wouldn't have done it any other way. Being hospitalized in the first of January without even knowing why was definitely hard. I actually thought that would be the end of me. Although I recovered, I still have to be on the look out in case I experience the same symptoms again.

new year at the hospital *

Because of that experience, I was keen on living life and prioritizing what I thought was important. It was like a wake-up call to focus on things that actually matter. It was also that time when I realized who are the ones who will be there for me when I needed them the most.

us (Maria Christina Falls) *

2014 was also a year of firsts for me. I flew to Manila for the first time (for work). I went to Dipolog/Mindanao for the first time (still for work). I spent a couple of days in solitude with my boyfriend in Siquijor. I visited his family in Iligan City for the first time. The list goes on, actually. I could say I've managed to cram quite a few locations in 12 months despite my lack of budget. All these trips made 2014 even more memorable.

This year I decided to do myself a favor and write a little list of yearly achievable goals. While I was at the hospital, I realized I don't want to die without doing something for myself, like going out of my comfort zone and meeting new people.  I know I seem to do it every year, but this is the first time I was able to tick a few on the list, like getting my passport. Learning to drive and swim are still carried over to my 2015 list. *wink*

three (plus one) on a motorbike to Mantalungon

I guess this 2014, I didn't fail in celebrating and patting myself at the back for the little accomplishments I've done. Nobody will pat myself if I won't and nobody will accomplish those things for me, unless I do it myself. Overall, 2014 has been a can-do year and I'm happy on how it turned out. It wasn't so bad after all.

I can't wait for 2015 and I'm hoping it's going to be a big one. I now have a fresh list of what I want to do next year. I know it won't be easy, but who said life is? I thank heavens for a brand new year and a year of opportunities. So, bring 2015 on!

Note: * digital photos 

Death and His Scared Friends

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cross on a hill
Fuji XTRA 400 x CD-R King

Death can be such an awkward, scary, and interesting topic to talk about. Some people also think it's taboo. It's something so abstract yet concrete at the same time. We are very familiar with it and it can also be a stranger at times. Oh, such is death.

A few hours earlier on our way home from a fashion shoot, most of the team talked about recent murders and deaths. One of the makeup artists scolded me for nonchalantly joking about my death. During the shoot, I joked about my soul being called (in a nearby chapel that's having a novena or a mass). They said that when you do joke about your death, you should take it back right away or else it will come to you.

I've never been the kind of person who believes in superstition. I've always been rational. That time, however, my heart beat fast which was strange. I then tried to rationalize that bit of fear I had.

Of prayers in yellows and reds
Centuria DNP 400 x CD-R King

Truth is, I've never been afraid of death. Back in my first few years in college, I struggled with my low self-esteem and suicidal tendencies. I wanted to die young because I was afraid to feel the whirl of emotions we all go through with life. I had this elaborate plan of dying that nobody knew about. I even had a core group of other girls who were struggling with their suicidal tendencies. We helped each other out and we cried on afternoons in the school campus when nobody was around. Now, we're all leading our own lives and have escaped that endless phase.

Earlier this year, I thought I was going to die but I felt so emotionless about it. I was hospitalized and the doctors didn't know what was wrong with me. Every day I was put through different tests and they still couldn't figure it out. I couldn't breathe and couldn't sleep. My parents were panicking but I never gave a damn. I was more worried about my expenses. Other patients in my ward were dying (really!). I cried every night. I didn't fear for my life but it hurt knowing families will be mourning.

Balete branches
Centuria DNP 400 x Konica C35

That fear earlier during the trip home was a shocker, especially for someone like me who has been casual with death. I'm not afraid of death. I'm more afraid of leaving my loved ones without security. I'm not scared of dying, but more of not passing through life without peace.

As a rationalize this fear in my head right now, I know I've led a good life. Although I'm never good with expressing my feelings, but I love my friends and family deeply.  Right now, I don't have regrets for the decisions I've made. I only have hope for the future that's yet to come and maybe of death that we'll all face in due time.

Crisis, Crises

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in the midst of shadow ( CD-R King x Centuria DNP 400)

Lately, I haven't been feeling myself. I guess the fact that it's almost the year end  is getting into me. I don't know about you, but I always panic around this time of the year. I feel like I haven't accomplished anything for myself. A year with 12 months is just a wee bit too short to do all the things you want and need. Although I have checked quite a few things on this year's must-accomplish list, I still feel a bit unfinished.

I have a few things on the list that I still need to work on and it breaks my heart that I may have to carry these things on to next year's list.

shining sun (CD-R King x Centuria DNP 400)

I think I'm also a bit pressured that next year I'll be turning 25. I know to some, this might seem young, but I already feel old. I feel like I need to step up my game for myself and for my family. To me 25 is like a benchmark year. You're no longer a teenager and you already have a few years of being an 'adult' under your belt. Just having some 'big' accomplishments will help you feel that you're on the right track to adulthood.

I've never been the "que sera, sera" type of person. I sometimes wish I was, but that kind of happy-go-lucky character has never been in my system. I've always been the worried-like-mom kind of person who wants to plan and be in control of everything. But, life doesn't work that way. Things can go awry any minute.

leaves falling (Smena 8M x Euro Color 200)

I guess what I really want in life is to achieve a lot of things for myself. Nobody can learn how to swim for me. Nobody can learn how to save and invest for me. And, nobody can work hard for the things I want to buy.

I owe it to myself to achieve great things. Sometimes, I just feel like I haven't been pushing myself too hard. There's a voice inside saying I can still do a lot of things and it's just waiting for me to take action.

Ricohflex TLS 401

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The Ricohflex TLS 401 is definitely a sturdy and cool-looking film SLR. It's interesting and can be a good camera to have in one's collection. This one was the boyfriend's and I got a chance to test it before he did.

This camera came out in 1970. What makes this Ricohflex camera interesting is its changeable waist-level and eye-level viewfinder. There's a knob on top of the viewfinder that allows you to change the viewing setting. Although this feature makes the camera bulkier, this can come pretty handy in shooting. You don't need to squat when shooting short subjects, like little children.

The camera gives you a lot of control, being manual. So you have the freedom to up your shutter speed or aperture depending on your needs. With the 1.7 f lens, the camera takes sharp and crisp images. I love how some of the photos came out. This can be a great camera for taking portraits.

My little model wannabe. *

Roadside vulcanize. *

Be careful in loading your film in the Ricohflex TLS 401. It can be tricky and it's quite different to the other film cameras I've used. I wasted around a month of shooting with the Ricohflex thinking that the film was properly loaded. Unfortunately, it wasn't. I wanted to cry and stab myself when I found out I lost a whole month of photos. Aside from that this specific unit had a hazy viewfinder. Focusing your subject can be a challenge and nearly impossible at night.

Kitty eyes. *

I guess the only problem I had with the camera is that it is REALLY heavy for me. I'm a small girl and this camera weighs as much as my usual work handbag. It also looks big on me. This makes it an impractical camera for daily shooting. However, it can be a sturdy camera that can withstand the daily grind, if you're up for it.

* photos taken with Centuria DNP 400 film