I’ve always been drawn to photography, but recently I decided to slow things down and try film for the first time. That’s how I ended up with a beat-up little Minolta Riva 75W I found on Etsy for $40. What started as a simple experiment turned into one of my favorite creative experiences. From testing it out at a Shawn Mendes concert, to capturing the streets and Japanese Garden of Buenos Aires, and finally developing the rolls at Puerto Rico’s only film lab, Boca de Lobo, this camera has already taken me on a journey I didn’t expect. Images at the end.

Shawn Mendes Show Roll

I brought the Riva 75W to a Shawn Mendes concert. Risky, maybe. But I’m glad I did. I loaded it with Kodak Gold 200, which I bought off Amazon, and just started shooting. It’s not the fastest camera in the world, but that’s part of the charm. You’re not just snapping a million shots, you’re waiting for the right one.

Shooting film during a live show was a different kind of thrill. I didn’t know if any of the photos would come out. But that anticipation? Addicting. This time, I dropped the roll off at a local place in Puerto Rico called Boca de Lobo Film Lab. They’re located in San Juan, and in September, they opened a new location in Santurce. They sent everything back in just a week, and they let me keep the film—so I’ll be picking it up soon in the new Santurce store. They seriously delivered.

The Argentina Roll

A few weeks later I took the Minolta with me on a trip to Argentina. This time I really got to see what it could do outside of concert lighting.

Walking through Buenos Aires, I snapped photos of the streets—old cars, textured walls, people rushing by. The Riva handled it all with raw, imperfect honesty. The slightly soft focus and subtle grain made every frame feel like a time capsule.

One of my favorite calm spots was the Japanese Garden. I slowed down with the camera here. The bridges, koi ponds, and bonsai-like trees felt almost cinematic through the Minolta’s lens. The shots came back serene and balanced, completely different from the concert roll but just as satisfying.

Later in the trip, I took the camera with me to Iguazú. Standing in front of Garganta del Diablo, the sheer power of the waterfalls was unreal. The Riva couldn’t capture every drop or every sound, but that’s the beauty of film—you don’t get perfection, you get a memory frozen in its own raw way. Those photos came back dramatic, full of mist and movement, and they instantly became some of my favorite frames from the whole trip.

Big Props to Boca de Lobo Film Lab

Boca de Lobo is an independent analog photo lab and shop in Puerto Rico. Their services include developing, digitization, printing, plus film and camera gear. BOCA DE LOBO

They have a location in Viejo San Juan, and just opened a new one in Santurce (as of September) on Ave. De Diego local #1005. BOCA DE LOBO

What stands out:

• Turnaround was really fast — everything was back in just a week

• They let me keep my film so I could pick it up later at the new Santurce store

• Their service is professional, friendly, and clearly passionate about analog photography

You can check them out at their website: Boca de Lobo Film Lab

And on Instagram: @bocadelobofilmlab

Final Thoughts

This camera might not be perfect, but it’s perfect for me. It’s simple, a little scratched up, and totally reliable. I wasn’t sure if a point-and-shoot would be my thing, but the Minolta Riva 75W made me fall in love with film. No menus to dig through. No lens to swap. Just you, the scene, and the shutter.

From the chaos of a Shawn Mendes show to quiet moments in a Japanese Garden, it held up. And thanks to labs like Boca de Lobo, the whole process — from shooting to seeing the results — feels meaningful. If you’re thinking of getting into film photography or just want something small, cheap, and real, this is a solid pick. It’s not about perfection, it’s about capturing the feeling.