To me, one of the more fascinating aspects of using old film cameras is that it feels like I’m actively touching history. I’ve written about this before regarding my Rolleiflex Automat MX, which was made in 1951 — making it the oldest camera currently in my collection. But when I received a pack of four 4×5 film holders from an eBay seller recently, I was brought into a similar type of reflection, and it all started with two words hand-written on the bottom of the holder: Graveraet Tatler.
Continue reading…Wesley King
Pandemic Distraction Project: Microcosms
Being trapped in the house during a global pandemic, what with stay-at-home orders in-effect, etc., has put a damper on my photographic endeavors. While I could certainly take a film camera along with me during walks, hikes and other permitted outdoor activities (well away from other humans), I decided this past weekend to instead load a roll of Kodak Tri-X in my Rolleiflex SL35 (my favorite 135 camera), set it to push to ISO 1600, put-on one of my heretofore unused extension tubes, and set about finding photographic subjects hidden in plain sight. Microcosms is what I’ve called the surprisingly satisfying results, and this article is the guide to the series.
Continue reading…Review: Mamiya RB67 Professional S Medium Format Film Camera
One of the most glaring omissions in my camera collection was some sort of 6×7 medium format model. I’d been intrigued by what I’d heard about the Mamiya RB67, and started keeping my eyes open for one. When I saw one for sale at National Camera Exchange, I decided the time was right to jump. What I discovered in the process is without question the quirkiest camera I’ve yet had the pleasure of using.
Continue reading…The 4×5 Journey Begins
It had been my intention to explore large format photography in 2020, but it all started happening faster than I expected. First, the perfect Graflex Pacemaker 45 Crown Graphic materialized out of nowhere. Then I started meeting people on Instagram who encouraged me to just jump-in. Next thing you know, I’m getting what I needed to do just that. Now I understand why people the people who shoot it are so passionate about it.
Continue reading…Review: Benro TMA37AL Mach3 Aluminum Tripod and B2 Triple Action Ballhead
I’ve recently become massively annoyed with my old ProMaster XC525 tripod. Back when I bought it, I honestly wasn’t that much into photography, and didn’t know what I needed. Turns out, what I needed wasn’t really a budget priced, mass market tripod that’s a pain to use, has a jammed center post, and leaves gooey gunk on my fingers after only a couple of years’ use. That sent me on a mission to find something better.
Continue reading…Calibrating a Kalart Rangefinder (Yes, You Can DIY)
I recently acquired a Graflex Pacemaker 45 Crown Graphic camera from National Camera Exchange in Minnesota (see my Vendor Directory for a link). The camera is in really outstanding physical condition (look for a review soon), but it does (or did) have a couple of unsurprising issues.
Continue reading…Film Comparisons Made Easy (Courtesy of The Darkroom)
The Darkroom is arguably one of the leading mail order labs in the country at the moment. Their team has been very proactive in engaging with the film community, eager to interact with photographers on social media, and working to meaningfully contribute to the community with information and education through their occasional blog posts. But the company recently launched a new project that I’ve found quite helpful: their Film Index.
Continue reading…Review: Bergger Pancro 400 Black and White Film (120)
Since getting back into film photography, I’ve been on a mission to try pretty much every filmstock out there. It was that mission which motivated me to order a few rolls of Bergger Pancro 400 from B&H Photo and Video in New York City a few months back and give it a try. I was suitably impressed.
Continue reading…Trip Report: New York Photo Trip and Conversation Starters
One of the things I enjoy about shooting film, especially in busy places, is that cameras like a Hasselblad or pretty much any TLR are always conversation starters — ice breakers that result in anything from strange looks to engaging chats with total strangers. They also invite a lot of smiles, pointing, fascination, questions, and comments like, “Cool camera!” And when you’re shooting film in a city like New York, all of that can be as much fun as the actual picture taking.
Continue reading…Review: Kodak Duaflex II Medium Format Film Camera
It seems to me that for decades, Kodak had a successful, two-part business model.
- Sell photography itself as a lifestyle, a necessity for documenting some of life’s most important moments.
- Sell products and services that support that, ensuring a robust recurring revenue stream.
For a very long time, it worked quite well for the company.
When it came to cameras, it appears that part of Kodak’s strategy was making as many different cameras as possible, with a range of sizes, styles, feature sets, and price points. Most were centered on ease of use, as evidenced by the venerable Brownie series, or the more recent Instamatic series. An oft-forgotten family of Kodak cameras was interesting in its own right as well: the Kodak Duaflex.
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