Testing the Nikon F55 and 28-80mm kit lens as a Travel Camera in Shanghai

... in which I wander the streets of Shanghai's old French Concession and ask, could a plastic fantastic SLR from the dying days of film actually be the best film travel camera? The Nikon N55 / F55 has a sketchy reputation for being a functionally crippled and poorly made consumer camera for Mums that didn't see the juggernaut of digital in their rear view mirror on the drive to soccer practice. But it's light, and despite its limitations has enough trickle-down technology to beat many more in-vogue film options. And what about the lens? After all, a camera is just a light-tight box, with the lens doing most of the heavy lifting. It's just as light and flimsy, with modest specifications; but perhaps this unassuming little optic has a surprise in store?

Camera: Nikon F55
Lens: Nikon AF NIKKOR 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G
Film: Generic 800T and Ilford HP5 @1600 ISO
Location: Shanghai China (and a bit of Guangzhou)
Date: October 29 2023.

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