This summer as I’ve ridden my bicycle around, I’ve slipped whatever camera had film in it into the pannier. It hasn’t worked out as well as I’d hoped; camera after camera, roll after roll, many of the images are quite hazy from (I presume) a lens fogged by the humidity inside the bag. When my Olympus Trip 35 found its way into the pannier, it suffered from this, too. Here are some images I was able to rescue well enough in Photoshop.

This bar and restaurant is a couple miles north of the house in old Whitestown.

LA Cafe

I was surprised to find this sign on a country road. I probably shouldn’t have been; there are plenty of horses out here, and plenty of wealthy people who would use the word equestrian instead of horse.

Equestrian Xing

I love the look of this property and have photographed it several times. The trees near the end of the lane are probably peach trees — last time I drove by, there were big buckets full of fruit, labeled “Free Peaches,” at the end of their driveway.

Toward the orchard

One of my usual rides takes me over I-865. Here it is northbound, its end visible in the photo.

I-865 NB

It was a gray day when I dropped one of our cars off at my mechanic’s in Carmel and rode home. I seldom get to ride out here and made sure my route home passed by the stunning Mormon Temple.

Mormon temple

That route home took me past Coxhall Gardens, a park I’ve photographed many times. You can see a little haze still in this photograph.

Coxhall Gardens

By the time I got back to Zionsville, my lens had gone all foggy. I wish I’d checked it and wiped it before making several shots. Perhaps I need to find a different way to carry a camera while on the bike. This pedestrian bridge is near Lions Park on the east edge of town.

On the ped bridge

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Comments

17 responses to “Fujicolor 200 in the Olympus Trip 35”

  1. Steve Mitchell Avatar

    A great little camera the Trip 35, and great pictures too, I really get a sense of where you are. That condensation is a pain, I like to put my camera in a bag with a couple of bags of silica gel to try an reduce the moisture. Seems to work most of the time, but some conditions are just challenging!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      The dessicant idea is worth trying. I get dessicant packs in medicines and supplements all the time. Thanks!

  2. brandib1977 Avatar

    I love that you’re able to bike where you live. I’m on a curvy county road where it’s unsafe so I have to put my bike in the car and drive somewhere to use it.

    Great images! I noticed how lush and nice the grass is near that Equestrian Crossing.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I’ve worked on dealing with my discomfort riding on the main roads — I used to never, not as an adult. Where I used to live I hardly ever rode because of it.

      1. brandib1977 Avatar

        That would be an obstacle to overcome but I’m glad you’re doing it. My bike has been sitting for so long both tires are flat and I keep thinking I should either find a place to ride or sell.

  3. Andy Umbo Avatar
    Andy Umbo

    A couple of years ago, I checked on-line and was able to buy a half gallon size plastic tub full of silica gel packets, for packing my lenses away and all. Still plenty left, and it wasn’t that expensive. I’ve also tried using those renewable ones you can find at B&H that go in the oven when the beads turn dark green, then you heat them which renews them; unfortunately, it takes too long and too much oven energy to do correctly. Ran across this item lately which seems to be something I’d like to try:

    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1377864-REG/ruggard_pdc_rd_portable_dry_case_renewable.html?sts=pi&pim=Y

    Humidity is certainly the “killer” of camera equipment, and buying equipment on-line, I learned my lesson about 15 years ago, and I never buy anything from south of the Mason-Dixon line and east of the Mississippi, unless it’s from KEH. People store stuff in their garage in Georgia or the Carolinas, etc., and then take it out 20 years later and put it on eBay, and all the internals, especially the lenses, are covered with mold and mildew. Really not worth taking the chance.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I’m going to keep my gear out of my pannier from now on, as I don’t want to kill it with humidity.

  4. arhphotographic Avatar
    arhphotographic

    Many thanks for the reminder of what a great camera the Trip is. As for the haze, haze = creative intent . I had to open up mine to repair stuck aperture blades. I can’t believe I haven’t gone out and used it. Thanks for giving me the incentive.
    Andrew

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I might shoot the Trip but once a year, but every time I do I enjoy it. It is a keeper for sure!

  5. gg1978 Avatar

    I believe you mean westbound on 865?? :) Although your bike would have presumably been facing north, hence an honest mistake :)

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Eh, good point. This is just about where it merges with I-65 on its way to Chicago, so that’s where my head was as I wrote northbound!

  6. Nancy Stewart Avatar
    Nancy Stewart

    I always enjoy your photos, wherever you are. And by the way … most of we horse people use the word “equestrian” … even though most of us are definitely not “wealthy” !!!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Good to know!

  7. Greg Clawson Avatar
    Greg Clawson

    Jim, I use crystal cat litter from Walmart as desiccant. It is just silica beads, I put them in little bags or peanut cans with holes punched in the lid, depending on the use.

    It’s only $5 for a 4lb bag, and it will last you for a long while.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      What a fascinating idea!

  8. Kodachromeguy Avatar

    That is a real shame about the humidity, and also a bit of a puzzle. Why are your panniers humid inside? I have a suggestion. Buy a simple nylon padded pouch with some sort of strap long enough to go over your shoulder and carry the Trip 35 in it.

    The trip is nice, and remarkable that so many of them still have their selenium cells in working condition. On so many other cameras, the selenium meters are highly non-linear to totally broken. That really mars the gorgeous Canon 7 rangefinders.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      The panniers are black and plasticky. I’ll bet any humidity just builds up in there with hardly any way to vent.

      I agree that it’s remarkable that Trip meters still function. I keep my Trip capped; I hear that keeping a selenium meter in the dark when not in use is the key to longevity.

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