Roll #257
Film: Ilford XP2 Super 400
Developed & scanned: DEP Lab, 2025/4/30
Camera: Olympus Mju II 35mm f2.8
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Over its history, Olympus produced seven autofocus cameras with fast f2.8 prime lenses:
1981 | Olympus C-AF (38mm f2.8)
1984 | Olympus AFL (38mm f2.8)
1986 | Olympus AF-1 (35mm f2.8)
1986 | Olympus AFL-T (36mm f2.8)
1986 | Olympus AFL-S (38mm f2.8)
1991 | Olympus AF-1 Super (35mm f2.8)
1997 | Olympus Mju II (35mm f2.8)
Of these, the Mju II is the only one with a minimum focusing distance of 0.35m and a maximum shutter speed of 1/1000s. That spec sheet probably explains why it sold so well at the time. But in terms of pure usability, I actually prefer the 1991 Mju I with its 35mm f3.5 lens. The Mju II's controls are on the back of the body and use soft, mushy buttons that offer almost no tactile feedback. The Mju I puts its controls on the top plate with proper clicky buttons. For anything like turning off the flash or setting the self-timer, the Mju I just feels miles better in the hand.
My point-and-shoot research journey is probably winding down. The bigger problem right now is that I'm genuinely tired of the look of Kodak's mainstream color negative stocks.
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#1
Dropping off film at DEP Lab. I've always wanted to build them a proper website — something with a real brand identity — but I've never actually brought it up with the owner.
#2
We got a new tent — not for camping, it's my son's indoor fort. It's a Camvil Sora Cot, so technically it could go outside too. I've always had a feeling Camvil is a Chinese brand with a Korean-looking website. A few too many tells. Hard to explain in one go.
#3
Keeping fish is more work than I expected. So much water changing. So. Much. Water changing.
#4
Picking up three rolls of developed black and white from Li-lai Photo in one go.
#5
No idea why, but I had a sudden urge to listen to Tiě Zhú Táng's 2003 album that day.
#6
Back at DEP Lab to pick up developed film. Close focusing on the Mju II is tricky — the viewfinder is so narrow that even a slight angle off-center and you get dark vignetting creeping in. The Mju I doesn't have this problem at all.
#7
Just paid my credit card bill at Hi-Life. While I'm at it — the Mju II has a lot of annoying quirks. The narrow viewfinder is one. Another: you have to power the camera on just to check how many frames are left. Don't buy a camera because it's trending. A good review video says more about the reviewer's filming skills than the camera itself. And when a celebrity shoots with a particular camera, it's because they happened to have that camera — not because it's objectively good. The only way to really know if a camera works for you is to shoot a lot of different ones. Not just one. A lot.
#8
Took my son to upgrade his bike — he's finally tall enough. For kids' bikes, my advice is to buy something that holds its resale value. Between Giant and Decathlon, I'd actually go Decathlon. Giant doesn't put nearly as much thought into their kids' line.
#9
Haven't shot this angle in a while. Last time was with the Pentax-A 645 75mm f2.8.
#10
One of the biggest differences between the Mju II and most point-and-shoots is the viewfinder coverage. Most compacts use a bright-line rangefinder-style finder that shows slightly more than the lens actually captures — useful for anticipating what's about to enter the frame. The Mju II does the opposite: coverage is only around 90%, so you're seeing less than what ends up on film. Genuinely can't recommend this camera.
#11
Self-portrait angle with a 35mm prime.
#12
Changed up my phone wallpaper. Something I do every once in a while.
#13
Still getting used to the new bike. The tires are wider than I'm used to.
#14
Wide tires, but it has gears — hills are so much easier now.
#15
Along the Dadaocheng waterfront. That should be Guanyin Mountain across the river.
#16
My bike. Can't ride it now with the shoulder injury, which is a bummer.
#17
I shoot a lot of film photos of my kid.
#18
Close focus test on the Mju II.
#19
On the way to catch a train to the book club meetup.
#20
Train was packed.
#21
A rare old stone pillar on a Taipei street, in front of Lin Tian Bucket Shop.
#22
Looked it up — Lin Tian Bucket Shop has been around since 1928.
#23
Taking a selfie in full sunlight — and the Mju II fired the flash anyway. This camera really loves to flash.
#24
Same shot with flash off. So much more natural.
#25
Everyone at book club was recommending this one. I haven't read it though.
#26
Hsu Chung-wei's book club, April 2025.
#27
After the meetup, I walked over to the Eslite at Zhongshan underground mall to browse the business books section. Hadn't been inside a bookstore in ages.
#28
A quiet, full day. That's enough.
That's the full roll — Olympus Mju II 35mm f2.8 with Ilford XP2 Super 400. Thanks for reading.
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Next up: EP258 Asahi Pentax 6x7 MLU with Lomography Color Slide X-Pro 200, cross-processed.
