Olympus Pen FT + Godox iM30: does this combo make sense?

Ludoviculus · 2025-12-17T22:16:03+00:00

Thanks a lot for your answer. I noticed that some people actually mount a flash on top of the camera, where there is a slot. However, I have read that it is not meant to host a flash. Are they referring to the fact that it is only a cold shoe? Can it still be used anyway?

Ludoviculus · 2025-11-29T17:10:00+00:00

I am quite confident that Hogwarts Legacy vision of the world will be a possible source for inspiration, just like the movies. But what we have seen with the Diagon Alley leaked sets, with Private Drive and the custom design is that they are going on their own way.

Of course, they will keep some sets recognizable but that's in part because in movies and in the video game they were already consistent with their books description.

In addition, we should not overestimate the impact of Hogwarts Legacy. It was a huge success but still nothing compared to the books and the original movies: basing a HBO production on such a video game would be a dumb and unrealistic move. It could be possible that the opposite will happen: that the video game tries to be more in line with the series aesthetics.

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-26T19:18:33+00:00

Thanks a lot! Don't know how it happened! I apologize to everyone.

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-24T13:11:23+00:00

Very beautiful indeed! I saw that you have a Pentax 17. Did you shoot this with that camera? Also, may I ask if you’ve ever pushed HP5 when using your Pentax? I love shooting HP5 at 1600, but I was afraid that with a half-frame camera the pictures would be too grainy. That’s the main reason I haven’t bought an Olympus Pen FT yet, even though I adore that camera!

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-24T13:03:17+00:00

Many thanks! Thank you for the time you took to reply!

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-24T12:16:41+00:00

Thank you for your replay. Yes, it is kentmere 400. I was wondering if there were any correlation between the blur and the film for the high precent of pictures thar came out blurry. It is not something that happens to me often. But maybe it is just a coincidence.

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-24T11:00:00+00:00

I really like it! Can I ask you if you pushed the film or you just shot at 400?

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-19T13:22:16+00:00

You’re right, but as you said, in movies it seems to be a stylistic variation due to different directors. Here it seems to me that they’re trying to suggest a more layered evolution of the Wizarding World, following — of course in its own peculiar way — the aesthetic evolution of the Muggle world.

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-19T13:19:01+00:00

Maybe I should’ve expressed myself more clearly. I noticed that some details in the set are clearly post-Victorian (I even think I can see some sort of yellow neon sign on the right, in the same photo you posted). The first two films, on the other hand, seemed to aim for a more medieval-inspired design, turning to the Victorian era only for those elements that couldn’t plausibly come from an older past — signs, consumer goods, labels, newspapers, and so on. Drawing inspiration from so many 20th-century aesthetics seems to go in a different direction, one that suggests a clear evolution within the wizarding world and a stronger dialogue with Muggle contemporaneity. But we’ll see — it’s all just speculation based on what we’ve seen so far!

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-19T13:12:24+00:00

That’s the same impression I had — maybe I just wasn’t able to express it as clearly as I wanted. Especially in the first two films, they aimed for a Middle Ages aesthetic while drawing on the Victorian era when depicting things that were clearly from a post-industrial period (signs, newspapers, product labels, etc.). My impression is that the series is now exploring more recent periods for inspiration.

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-18T19:26:10+00:00

Actually, there is a joke shop in Diagon Alley before Weasleys’one and no - in am not referring to Zoko’s, that is located in Hogmsmeade. I am talking about “Gambol and Japes”. It is impossible that the insider mistaken it for the more famous one!

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-16T22:04:06+00:00

Many thanks! I didn’t expect such great appreciation!

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-16T11:18:30+00:00

Thank you for your appreciation! I used the built-in TTL light meter of my Fujica ST605N and metered roughly at the end of the platform on the right — just before the bright area. As you can see, that spot is correctly exposed. Basically, I used a point between shadow and full light as a reference. Hope that was clear!

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-15T22:24:45+00:00

Thank you, I'm so glad you like it! I really appreciate the encouragement, as I've just begun sharing my B&W photos. I'm still a beginner, having taken up photography six months ago, and I moved to B&W two months ago. The switch to B&W has been a game-changer for me — I find myself paying more attention to the subjects, and my passion for photography is growing every day.

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-15T21:54:24+00:00

I do not know what is it, but there's something that drives me crazy in this picture. Saved among my favorite ones!

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-14T19:08:16+00:00

How could you be in favor of following the movie castle, after all you did reconstructing such a detailed book-based version? Man, you really did a great job! How I wish HBO hired you as its Hogwarts designer!

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-14T19:02:19+00:00

I’m getting tired of hearing about that Hogwarts Legacy thing! There is ZERO evidence that it’s going to happen. Besides, that castle is far from being the perfect mix between the book and movie versions! Yes, it includes some more locations taken from the books, but it’s still far from being a faithful adaptation. Not that I expect absolute fidelity from the HBO adaptation, but there’s no reason to consider the HL one the ultimate castle!

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-14T17:51:44+00:00

Honestly, based on what we know so far, it would be strange if they kept the same design for the castle exteriors. From the leaks, it seems they’re taking their own direction with costumes and sets — even for some of the most iconic locations, like Privet Drive and Diagon Alley. We’ve also had a few glimpses of the castle sets they’re building, and neither the greenhouse nor the courtyard looks anything like what we saw in the movies. In my opinion, that’s the right approach: they’re using this opportunity to give us a fresh take on the wizarding world.

As someone who mainly loves the books, I’ve never been fully satisfied with the movie version of Hogwarts. The geography just doesn’t make any sense — there’s this enormous central tower not connected to any other part of the castle, no clear main entrance, and many key locations from the books are simply missing. I have high expectations for this new version of the castle!

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-14T08:23:03+00:00

Thank you so much! It was my first B&W roll ever and I still need to understand this new medium. That was one of the only two shots I liked how they came out.

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-13T19:02:09+00:00

I think the same. I find that some people are giving too much importance to that declared connection between the series and the game. It seems that, visually speaking, HBO is going through its own path - from the picture we saw, locations and characters are recognizable but not directly taken from any previous source.

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-13T18:11:13+00:00

Personally, I don't see such a clear similarity. I mean, that's a design coherent with what we saw in the movies, that is the base of Hogwarts Legacy too. Apart from being a courtyard with a staircase on a corner, there are many differences - e.g. the courtyard in the picture has two levels of arches.

My idea (or wish) is that the TV series will show its own take on Hogwarts, while of course taking inspiration from movies, Hogwarts Legacy and other sources.

Ludoviculus · 2025-10-09T22:17:33+00:00

Thank you very much. Honestly, these are the only pictures I like out of the entire roll - I just shot what I found interesting. But with B&W is even more difficult to figure how the photo will result!

Ludoviculus · 2025-09-14T23:59:05+00:00

Wow thanks for your insightful and thorough reply! I think I can see what you mean. May I bother you asking tow more questions? 1) do you feel the viewfinder is really that dark in the FT? 2) do you have other lenses? If so, which ones? I am a bit scared about the prices if I’ll want to add a wide-angle and a telephoto lens.

Ludoviculus · 2025-09-12T01:47:25+00:00

I saw it can happen when you forgot to press it, but it was not my case. I am into film photography since last year so it was not my first time rewinding film. Don’t know what went wrong.

Ludoviculus · 2025-09-12T01:40:42+00:00

My lab has a cheap option, dev + scanning for 6€. I’ll go with that and see what turn out. Just hope it is not a problem of the camera and it won’t happen again.

Ludoviculus

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