XP2 is still C41 process so still relatively easy to develop, well here in the UK anyway. The other illford film stock available tends to be a different process so just be sure what you’re buying is C41.

I know what you’re saying. The 1N I have makes every other film SLR seems massively outclassed.

I have a rolleiflex SLR body with rangefinder lenses I have tried to use, but the imagery I get is a bit too old school for anything I’ve ever shot. Perhaps if I got into shooting extreme vintage engineering from the 30’s etc it might work. I feel the 1N and 30V I have create the best blend of sharp imagery with the analogue feel.

I saw you touched on medium format in a post further up. I have shot on medium and large format in the past, they are fun but a much bigger challenge in terms of setting up shots and the size of the kit – especially when going to large format.

Anyway, I shoot with a Canon EOS 1V. I started out with my grandpa’s Nikon FM2 but broke the shutter a while back and then upgraded. I have a Minolta from my other grandfather from the same era, and a number of other film cameras that have been handed down to me which I haven’t tried out yet. Sort of hard to justify using any of them when I have the 1V, but sooner or later I’ll get around to goofing off with them. Hoping for some funky light leaks.

As you say there are definitely certain subjects that lend themselves to monochrome imagery and the Lotus definitely fitted that bill. You can almost dive into the black body of the car.

Not sure how many 35mm SLR bodies you have (I still have the 30v and I also have a 1N RS) but if you have two bodies and a selection of lenses I would load up one B/W and one colour, take them out and go for it. Perhaps avoiding trying ‘too’ hard to find subjects that definitely lend themselves. I’ve shot lots of stuff in B/W and sometimes have been pleasantly surprised by something I though wouldn’t look great when letting the shutter off.

It is pretty cool to see film being used more widely, though. I know of a number of prolific portrait photographers who never stopped. You just really have to know your stuff to get it just right, pairing the right locations and subjects with the right film type and so on. There’s definitely a lot to it that I haven’t come close to mastering.

I think the oldest film I’ve shot with is this – http://www.speedhunters.com/2018/12/old-cars-old-film-mooneyes-on-expired-35mm/

Here’s the soviet glass, too, although this was shot on digital – http://www.speedhunters.com/2018/08/shooting-million-dollar-935-22-lens/

Medium format seems to be all I’m missing. Probably won’t make a go at that any time soon, though, if I’m honest.

I used to run a small business making photographic books – the shot I’ve selected was a Lotus Exige owned by a family friend, who has since sadly passed away. Shot on a Canon EOS 30V using Kodak BW400CN film.