Robert May
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robertmay.photography
Robert May
@robertmay.photography
Generalist photographer, unreliable YouTuber, occasional folk musician, ex-programmer, massive nerd.

https://robertmay.photography
https://glass.photo/robertmay
https://www.youtube.com/@robert_may
I quite enjoyed tai chi when I did it, but fairly quickly found out it attracts loony anti-vaxxers and I felt it would be too challenging to be zen when I wanted to smack them about a bit. Maybe something for the back garden by yourself instead 🙈
January 8, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Merry Christmas! I’ll try for a more seasonal video someday 😆
December 25, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Late night video release because that somehow seems slightly less dumb than releasing it tomorrow: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD1N...

#photography #cameragear #lens #youtube
This new SIRUI lens really surprised me
YouTube video by Robert May
www.youtube.com
December 25, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Took me until today to notice Sigma had released a firmware update for the Bf last month, and it has quite a notable improvement in how the AF behaves in continuous AF. It seems to have stopped that pulsing in-and-out behaviour and follows things more predictably.

#cameras #sigma #sigmabf
December 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
New 3D model for any of you Sigma Bf users out there: www.printables.com/model/151910...

Interestingly the top left of the camera is magnetic so I usually just slap the Rode receiver there on the rare occasion I need it, but here's a more secure solution I whipped up today.

#sigmabf #3dprinting
Sigma Bf Cold Shoe Adapter by robotmay | Download free STL model | Printables.com
www.printables.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Some autumn colour on Ektar 100, having fun with the Minolta 50mm f/1.4 which is very civilised when stopped down and bizarre wide open.

#photography #streetphotography #filmphotography
December 15, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Made a mistake on this - these were actually on a Yashica Mat 124G I was testing 😅

Was wondering why it didn’t quite look like how my Rolleiflex renders things.
December 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I do like the autocord! I repaired one last week actually, which had clearly been dropped at some point 😅 Might have to take it out for a spin before I sell it on.
December 11, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Ooh yeah that came out nice! I did try to import some of this myself to resell but the shipping and import duties mean it’s only really viable for the big shops right now, unfortunately 😅 Great to have another actually distinct colour film option available again though.
December 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Shooting a Rolleiflex with f/3.5 maximum aperture at night is an interesting experience. Pretty pleased with how these turned out on Delta 3200.

📷 Rolleiflex T
🎞️ Ilford Delta 3200

#photography #streetphotography #filmphotography #monochrome
December 11, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Yeah! It's quickly become my favourite 50mm I have. I've picked up a 35mm f/2.8 as well but that needs a strip and regrease before I can try it out.

The XD is a really interesting camera. I'm kinda confused as to why they're not more popular after using one for a bit - it's a very solid thing.
December 9, 2025 at 3:35 PM
So far I've only found two issues. Firstly Portainer broke, which is unsurprising, and secondly my terminal prompt looks wrong, which is actually the more irritating problem.
December 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I've been really getting into my Minolta cameras lately. Got a couple of SR-Ts because I keep picking up beaters that run really well, and an XD-7 I recently fixed. The main thing is probably the 50mm f/1.4 lens though - that thing is really, really nice 🤩
December 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Tried shooting some pushed HP5+ at night on a Minolta SR-T 303 and I'm kinda digging it - the added contrast from being shot at 1600 really suits the bright internal lights/dark exterior of shops and bars.

#photography #streetphotography #filmphotography
December 9, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Upgrading my home server from Debian 11 to 12 to 13 on a whim with no preparation. I suspect the chances of this going well are slim.

#linux
December 9, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Uploaded my 120 3 slot holder as well: www.printables.com/model/150186...

Weirdly this one was harder to perfect than the 35mm one. Still have plans to make a 5 slot one of these as I like to have lots of options when shooting medium format!

#3dprinting #photography #filmphotography
120 Film Holder, 3 Slot by robotmay | Download free STL model | Printables.com
www.printables.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:43 PM
If you're into both photography and have a 3D printer, I've started publishing some of my camera repair bodges and accessories over on Printables, such as this: www.printables.com/model/150021...

#photography #3dprinting #analogphotography #filmphotography
135 Film Holder, 3 Slot by robotmay | Download free STL model | Printables.com
www.printables.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:46 PM
This evening I got jumpscared by the pope.
November 21, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Welp, been two months since I last uploaded a video but here's episode two in my mid-Wales trip, finally:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOjg...

#photography #landscapephotography #youtube #sigmabf
I make excellent decisions at 4am above a reservoir
YouTube video by Robert May
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Started writing some blog posts about photography, as a bit of an alternative to my usual approach of ad-libbing for YouTube

This one’s about another camera I didnt need: robertmay.photography/the-minolta-...

#photography
The Minolta SR-T I kept for myself
I buy and sell cameras in an antiques market here in Cardiff (read more over on ), which is really just an excuse to play with the near infinite backlog of c...
robertmay.photography
November 4, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Looks like Sony have fixed one of my major complaints with their AF system on their top-end cameras, which is nice to see!

This was an absolute pain in the arse for birds in flight on the A9III I briefly owned.

#photography
October 30, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Picked up a Wirgin Edixa Mat recently, and it's by far the easiest camera to service I've tried so far. You can just unscrew a plate behind the rollers and lubricate them, no removing the mirror box like most other cameras - what a lovely piece of design 🤩

#photography #camerarepair
October 29, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I didn’t on this one but I have been thinking about making some technical videos like that - next time I have a lens to do I’ll try to record it 😀

Mamiya lenses aren’t too bad to repair, aside from when they fire a ball bearing at your face 😑

Still planning to make a video with your OM-4 as well!
October 8, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Decided to take a day for myself and sort out part of my own backlog of repairs. Stripped, cleaned, and regreased this Mamiya 150mm f/4 which had the dual fun of split grease and sand, but optically it was great and so worked out a bit of a bargain for £30 now I've fixed it up.

#cameras
October 8, 2025 at 9:28 AM
On a complete tangent from my usual posts, I feel more people should be subscribed to this YouTube channel:

youtu.be/6VnEJ4VBhZM

This is in my mind the purest form of YouTube videos, circa 15 years ago.

#music #youtube
「森の小さなレストラン」トイレット・アンサンブル(一人奏ジョニー)
YouTube video by 一人奏ジョニー
youtu.be
September 23, 2025 at 10:05 PM