Calumet Studio Camera : CC-400

Calumet CC-400 studio camera

Large format cameras come in all shapes and sizes and diverge wildly in regards to what features the camera has and what kinds of and how many movements it can do. The style of photography you’re doing or learning directly influences the type of camera you want. Picking a camera There are really only three … Read more

Pax M4 35mm film camera

Pax M4 35mm film camera

The Pax M4, a compact 35mm film camera that’s the perfect size to toss in your bag and take everywhere. The M4 is the next iteration of the Pax M3 and there aren’t that many differences. Adding a frosted center panel to the rangefinder makes the M4 bright-line viewfinder bright and clear. There are subtle … Read more

The Nikon F3 – Cadillac of film cameras

Nikon F3 with a 45mm f/2.8 lens

The F3 was Nikon’s third professional film camera and would remain a top-of-line body in the family until it was discontinued in 2000. Even though there were newer cameras with more advanced features like the F4 and F5, Nikon continued to produce the F3. There are several models of the F3, each with their own … Read more

Bronica S2 medium format camera

Bronica S2 medium format film camera

Bronica started designing and producing medium format cameras when it was founded 1958 by Zenzabur Yoshino in Tokyo, Japan. They continued to produce high quality cameras until 2005 when the last model, the RF645 was discontinued and ended their 47 year run. I stumbled onto the Bronica S2 system in 1995 while wandering around a … Read more

Halina 35X – compact 35mm film camera

Halina 35X 35mm film camera

Built by the Haking company in Hong Kong, the Halina 35X is a stout little rangefinder 35mm film camera and released in 1959. It’s smooth design and compact size make the Halina 35X an attractive film camera. History and details Founded in 1956, the W. Haking Enterprises Ltd. made film cameras and binoculars, but also … Read more

Bolsey Model C 35mm Twin Lens Reflex

Bolsey Model C

The Bolsey Model C is a curious little 35mm film camera with its TLR design and cast aluminum body. The design of the camera is unique and eye catching, one of very few 35mm film cameras that boasts a twin lens reflex system, waist level finder and, just to make it even more unique, a … Read more

Argus C33 – A beautiful brick

Argus C33 35mm film camera

Years ago I read that War Correspondent Ernie Pyle used an Argus C3, which would be a great segue into this post, but I haven’t been able to confirm it. Regardless, the C3 35mm film camera, the third in the “Brick” series was the most popular camera that Argus made selling 2 million or more … Read more

Lordomat – a compact 35mm rangefinder

Lordomat 35mm film camera

The Lordomat 35mm rangefinder camera is a 50s era film camera that has a lot going for it. With many lenses available for the camera, and other accessories it would have been a good pick. The Lordomat is easy to operate and fun to use, so the unique design is just icing on the cake. … Read more

Konica FS-1 : The best camera you’ve never heard of.

Konica FS-1

The Konica FS-1 35mm film camera is a sturdy, well made camera. With a solid built-in metering system, a huge variety of lenses for it, and a fast motor-drive, the FS-1 is a solid performer. Perfect for photographers of any level. History Konica has been making cameras and photographic materials since 1873 and was Japan’s … Read more

Shoot film in style with the Canon EOS Elan ii

Canon EOS Elan ii camera

Most of my cameras are manual cameras in that they don’t have auto-focus, a motor to advance the film and they don’t have a bunch of presets for sports, landscape, aperture priority, etc. Honestly, that’s by choice, but there are times that I enjoy being able to just trust the camera and worry about framing; … Read more

Comparing features of Nikon 35mm film cameras: FE, FM & F3.

Nikon film cameras

Nikon has been making high quality 35mm film cameras for more than a century. As a result, they’ve made dozens of models over the last 103 years. If you’re looking to add a film camera to your stable, and want a manual camera with a built-in meter then this post is ready-made just for you. … Read more

Fairchild K-20 – Versatile large format film aerial camera

Fairchild K-20 Aerial Camera

I have always been interested in aerial cameras and photographing places from a perspective that most people will never see. Finding work from photographers like Bradford Washburn and Vittorio Sella served only to pour gas on an already raging fire. Their portfolios of remote mountain ranges, glaciers and snow covered peaks from around the world … Read more

Mamiya C220 Twin Lens Reflex Medium Format

Mamiya C220 medium format film camera

When I hear someone talking about a TLR, my mind instantly goes to Rollei. They ruled the market on high quality TLR cameras (and some others). The next best thing to a Rollei is a Mamiya from the C line of cameras. The Mamiya C220 is the third camera in the Mamiya C line. It’s … Read more

There’s a format for everyone with the versatile line of Kodak folding pocket cameras.

Kodak folding cameras

Kodak always seemed to have a firm handle on the concept of branding and how brand longevity increases the product awareness among consumers. It doesn’t really matter if it’s film or actually cameras, they named them, and kept that name through a variety of redesigns to add features, change the film format or maybe just … Read more

Finney Field Camera : a 4 x 5 Pinhole

Finney Field Camera

Over the years there have been more than a few cameras that I have always kept an eye out for. This post features the Finney Field Camera, a 4 x 5 pinhole camera. The thing that attracted me to this particular camera was the fact that it is adjustable. It’s capable of several focal lengths … Read more

%d bloggers like this: