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Pentax LX | Yosemite National Park | Kodak Ektar 100

Camera: Pentax LX SLR
Location: Yosemite National Park, California
Film: Kodak Ektar 100
Lens: Pentax M 50mm f1.4 SMC + PK Rokinon 85mm f1.4 + Pentax M 80-100mm f/4.5 SMC

On my last trip to Yosemite National Park I packed a bit heavy, bringing along 4 film cameras including my all-time-favorite the Pentax LX with a wast finder attachment. The other three film cameras were an Olympus OM-2, Rollei AFM 35, Rollei 35 S. Additionally I brought along three lenses for the Pentax LX, the Pentax M 50mm f1.4 SMC, the modern PK Rokinon 85mm f1.4, and the Pentax 80-100mm f/4.5 SMC lens. I never was and still am not a fan of zoom lenses. I bought the zoom lens at the last minute specifically for this trip, I had been to Yosemite before and I knew there would be a lot of opportunity for some telephoto reach.

I believe I accidentally underexposed the entire Kodak Ektar 100 roll by two or three stops, and the lab doing the processing and scanning did their best to save it. It's interesting and everything has muted tones, a blue cast, yet a very vibrant yellow in a few shots. When I look at the highlights of the Ektar 100 though it looks often overexposed. There was a definitive mishap in my setting of the ASA wheel on the Pentax LX and possibly some strangeness in the developing process as well.

It's unfortunate that I did not shoot the Kodak Ektar 100 properly, as it is known for its high sharpness, low grain, and vibrant colors, it was the best tool in my bag to attempt to capture the beauty of Yosemite National Park. And it would be another two years before I shot Kodak Ektar again.