Originally posted by pathdoc The 67 uses the sort of film you sort of need to be a miser with. But in street photography it is a rule that sometimes composition beats both correct exposure and ultra-sharp focus. GIven the size of your negatives, you have a bit more latitude than 35mm and 120 shooters for creating the same-sized print in this regard. That's not a licence to go all balls-out, who-cares-about-focus Lomo style; just that sometimes there has to be give around the edges of picture quality.
The advantage of the 67 and cameras like it is that while it isn't exactly the most unobtrusive camera (take an ME or MX if you want that), it's the sort of thing that rates as an antique in most people's minds; it's practically a conversation-starter. I keep a few pics on my Flickr and in my phone that I can show people to demonstrate what I do, and quite a few are interested to see that film is still a thing (especially when I tell them about Caffenol).
Choose the right brimmed hat and you will look like a refugee from the days when the 67 was king. Shoot it proudly. Take pics of, or focus on, inanimate objects occasionally so people are comfortable with seeing it in your hands. Mark out a beat. Take it for a coffee regularly. Become part of the furniture. The more you're known, the more likely it is people will vouch for you if some idiot takes undue offence.
I am hoping that I can eke out extra sharpness on 8x10 prints than a 35mm even if things go badly. But my hope is to get good enough I can capture very sharp images of well-composed street shots.
I can't go 30 minutes without someone asking me about my camera. People usually say "thats a really nice camera!" but when further probed they know nothing about it or photography. What they mean is "thats a BIG camera." I'll take it - it starts a conversation. And yes, people seeing me shoot buildings and wide scenes makes them feel more comfortable with me being around. St. Louis is small enough for people to begin to recognize me as "the camera guy."
What do you think about my technique of shooting on faster film to be able to close down more? At some point almost everything will be adequately in focus. Definitely not at f/4, maybe close enough at f/8, and probably so a f/11 or f/16.
Thanks for the feedback!