*Warning: Some of the images below may be disturbing.

I thought I was done with film. With the price of rolls skyrocketing and my output dropping to just a roll or two a year, it didn’t feel sustainable. I had even sold my beloved Leica CL, Voigtlander Bessa L, and Olympus XA. But then, last year, I made an impulse buy that changed everything.

I spotted a Nikon F3 paired with an AI-S 35mm F2. It was in mint condition and listed for a steal. I couldn’t resist.

This camera is a tank. Having owned the older Nikon F2 years ago, I was pleasantly surprised that the F3 felt manageable and compact for a pro-level SLR. To test it out, I headed to Petak Enam, Jakarta Barat. As luck would have it, I walked right into a ‘Kirab Toa Pe Kong’ event. With a roll of Kodak Ultramax 400 loaded and the camera set to Aperture Priority, I captured the energy of the streets.

When I got the scans back, I was blown away. The sharpness, the accuracy, and the exposure were perfect. It reminded me exactly why I shoot film.

So will this camera make me use film photography even more? I think so, i’ll be more experimenting with many new film release, but will still keep only spend 1-2 rolls max per year. But this camera? will probably keeping it forever.