From the neon lights of Shinjuku to Tin sheet houses in 10 minutes
How often do you hear about how modern and impeccably maintained Tokyo is, or that living here feels like stepping into the future? But, as with any place, there’s another side to the story. Today, I want to introduce you to a lesser-known, perhaps more authentic corner of Tokyo, captured through the lens of a relatively new type of film.
Ilfocolor 400 Plus Vintage Tone is a strikingly nostalgic film that harks back to the aesthetics of classic photography, offering a unique blend of subtle tones and modern usability.
The official website says: “With its 400 ISO rating, it performs well in various shooting situations, indoors or outdoors”. I’m not an expert and this are only my personal “2cents” but I’m not sure this is totally true. I set my camera to ISO 200 and tried to shoot one stop over. At times, I missed it slightly, and the results changed drastically.
The film can sometimes struggle with high-contrast scenes, where shadows may lose some detail, but this is part of the vintage appeal—an imperfection that can enhance the character of the shot.
In terms of sharpness, Ilfocolor holds up well, though it prioritizes mood over clinical precision. The grain is noticeable but fine in a well exposed photo but becomes exaggerated if you fail the exposure only by a little.
Let’s take a look of this two shots, the first time I mistook the exposure by two stops, counting that I was overexposing by one, it should be only one stop under.
Let’s ignore this sticker for a moment and focus on grain and dynamic range. Let’s say that the phrase “it performs well in various shooting situations, indoors or outdoors” is at least a little questionable…
But let’s talk about the place, Daitabashi.
ChatGPT says: “Daitabashi is a small, charming neighborhood in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, known for its relaxed, local vibe that contrasts with the city’s fast-paced modernity. Just a short train ride from the bustling Shinjuku area, it offers a quieter, more traditional Tokyo experience”.
The oldest part is called Okinawa Town, and it is here that you can find tin metal sheet houses built a long time ago but still standing, almost impervious to the passage of time. These houses have taken on a rusty appearance that is both romantic and terrifying at the same time.
Here are some photos taken with the Ilfocolor vintage tone, didn’t shot all 36 frames in Daitabashi, so finished the roll the next day in different places
All in all, I am pretty satisfied with the results of this film. I believe it performs best when treated more like an ISO 200 rather than ISO 400 for optimal results.
However, these are just my personal opinions and you should try it by yourself.
All photos taken with Minolta SRT Super + Mc-Rokkor 28mm F3.5 lens
Gabriele T. Enna 