Hanoi in colour
I’v decided to go to Hanoi once again mostly because I intended to buy Nikon F2T (spoiler: I did not).
So before it I watched almost every video of the @grainydays and saw one where he described in a few words the conversion of the Leica R lenses to the F mount.
As a Leica guy, I guess, I was excited about it and bought the same lens Leica R 35-70 F4. Tried it with a borrowed from a local film store Nikon FM10 and the results were beautiful, so I decided to get the Nikon F2T camera then.
Quickly found one in the local Hanoi camera store and took a flight from Ho Chi Minh city to check the camera. Also took some colour Cinestill 400D and 800T with me.
Straight from the airport I went to a camera store and checked out the Nikon F2T. It was almost like new, but I had some concerns, so I decided to go back the next day to think more, especially considering the price of $2500, quite expensive for a second camera that will be used occasionally.
Next morning I loaded Cinestill 400D in my Leica MP and went around the neighbourhood to take some pictures and finally ended up in the camera store.
I lined my path through Leica Boutique Hanoi, down to the film lab, through a vintage camera store and Starbucks of course.
In Leica store I wanted to check 21mm F3.8 lens but they didn’t have one. The lab was very small but location near the lab was gorgeous. The light was perfect and 400D nailed it.
After making some shots and waiting for the perfect light for another shot that never happened I followed my way to the vintage camera store, without any reason, just love such stores so much. The store is on the second flour of the restaurant that was closed when I came but the vibe of it was so perfect and colourful.
Not finding anything interesting in the store, just checking the old cameras and talking to the owner, I decided it was time for a Starbucks coffee and a ham and cheese panini. After running into one of the small grocery stores and buying a lot of different types of liquid, because it was damn hot outside and getting a compliment, probably, that I am a big guy, I made my way through the cozy streets to one of the Starbucks.
One that I pointed in the google maps was closed but nearby was another one. It was so hot that I just decided to grab some ice tea and panini of course. The cafe was very atmospheric. Lots of girls took pictures of each other in every corner. I sat in the coffee bar and chilled a little, outside was still hot as hell.
Ended with my afternoon meal I decided to finally go to the camera store, taking some Vietnamese coffee along the way. I already decided that I will not spent so much money on the camera and maximum buy some old Nikon F maybe if the condition will be okay. The condition was not okay, so I bought one roll of Portra 800 and went to the park nearby to kill it till the sun goes down so I can load Cinestill 800T.
There was some festival in the park, loud music and everything. I went through the park and found myself on the bench near the lake, relaxing before the rain has come. Even sitting I took some shots and when the rain started maid another one with flash.
Evening and rain came at the same time so I followed my way to the Starbucks again to hydrate with ice tea with another one Hum&Cheese panini. Also I killed the roll of Portra 800 and could use 800T in my Leica MP.
Because of the halation, I tried to choose scenes with artificial lighting. Returning to the hotel in the rain, I took several pictures, covering the camera with both hands from the rain.
I also had a plan to take some photos in the hotel and in my number. So I did them.
Next morning I had no strength to go out early in the morning, so I slept till 9:30am and almost missed my breakfast in the hotel. But did not missed some nice shots.
I still had a few Cinestill 800T shots left, so after breakfast I headed straight to the rooftop pool. And that was the last photo from the roll.
Sitting in the taxi with air condition on the way to the airport I caught myself that the view is almost like the early autumn in Moscow, except the damn heat.
