Today, I bought a used Nikon N6006 35mm camera with Vivitar 75-205 manual focus lens from a gentleman on Craigslist, went into Target and bought 3 rolls of Kodak 400, and immediately went out and took a variety of shots with the Vivitar, Tamron 70-300, and Nikon 50 f/1.4 lenses:

The above pictures were scanned by Walgreens as part of their photo CD option, so the quality isn’t fantastic.  (I attempted to scan in the 4×6 prints on my HP Printer/Scanner/Toaster Oven but the results were pretty awful.)

My father had a Nikon 35mm that I used in high school and on a few rare occasions in my 20s.  Judging by the pictures I found online, I believe it was the Nikon EM as I clearly remember the light meter in the viewfinder.  I have asked him to try and find it.

Until today, my film SLR experience started and ended with the Nikon EM.  For most of the 1990s and 2000s I used a Canon Sure Shot 80 Tele 35mm point-and-shoot and a Kodak DC3200 digital camera, both given as gifts from my father over that time period.

I love the fact that I can use several of the lenses I’ve gathered while venturing deeper and deeper into the Nikon Digital SLR world on the N6006.  Long live the F-mount!

Sometime this summer, I plan to shoot a roll of B&W 35mm on the N6006 and have them professionally developed (read: not at a pharmacy).  It’s been a very long time since I’ve shot B&W film, and I’m really looking forward to it.

I credit my original interest and instruction on photography to my father (Thanks, Dad!) and credit my wife for jump-starting my current interest with her encouragement (and chunk o’ money) toward the purchase of the Nikon D60 in 2008.  I think it’s safe to say I’m doomed, now…

Update: Dad said he junked the Nikon EM as no repair shop indicated it’d be worth the effort to fix.  Must…resist…finding…one…on…eBay…