It seems clear at this point that my film camera fascination is spinning slightly out-of-control. It seems nearly justifiable that I might seek out cameras that fill a gap in the collection, like Mamiya RB67 (with its 6×7 image format), or the Mamiya Press Super 23 (with its 6×9 images). But there are already multiple 6×4.5 cameras in the house, and yet, an M645 1000S had been in the back of my mind for some time now, and one finally joined my growing family of film cameras.
Continue reading…Medium Format
Review: Ilford Ortho Plus Orthochromatic Black and White Film (120)
In 2019, Ilford Photo started hinting at a new product. Late in the year, we learned what it was to be — a “new” orthochromatic film in 120 and 135 formats. The word “new” is in quotes because the emulsion isn’t new; it’s been available for years in large format sheet film, but it is new to roll film users. I was particularly excited to try Ortho Plus, and after shooting several rolls of the film, I feel I’m finally in a position to write a proper review.
Continue reading…Review: Mamiya Press Super 23 Medium Format Film Camera
One camera series that you just don’t hear much about, or see very often in North America is the Mamiya Press. Like the Mamiya RB67, the Mamiya Press cameras are big, funky, strange-looking, quirky, and a lot of fun to shoot. They also provide some really nice images. It all added-up to the camera being an ideal candidate for a comprehensive review.
I’ll caution readers that this is the longest camera review I’ve ever written, in large part because the back story is itself incredibly long. That story starts in late January 2020, but I didn’t have a fully working, usable camera in my hands until nearly four months later — mid May 2020.
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…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…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.
Continue reading…An Unexpected Question: What Film Would I Recommend?
I was recently asked a question by someone new to film photography, a question I never expected, and have never been asked before: What film would I recommend — black and white, as well as color — for someone new to film photography? Well, for sure, it made me think.
Continue reading…Review: Hasselblad 503CW Medium Format Film Camera
There are just a handful of camera brands that have achieved truly legendary, truly iconic status, and for me, at least, there are just three: Rollei, Leica, and Hasselblad. Of those, only Leica doesn’t (yet) grace my camera collection; I’ve not been bitten by that bug enough yet to overcome the price points. But Hasselblad? Hasselblads have been the camera in my mind for decades, and I frankly never thought I’d be able to hold one, let alone actually use one. And now, I not only use one, I own one. So, has it lived-up to its reputation in my own mind? (Spoiler alert: Yes.)
Continue reading…Review: CatLABS X FILM 80 Black and White Film (120)
One film I don’t hear that much about — which is a shame — is an interesting one from CatLABS, called X FILM 80. This traditional slow-speed film is supposedly modeled after Kodak’s iconic Panatomic-X black and white film, which has been discontinued for decades now. Many forum posts seem to effectively dismiss this film as an imposter — Shanghai GP3 in a different box — but it’s among my favorites at the moment.
Continue reading…Review: Fomapan 100, 200 and 400 Black and White Films (120)
Let’s face it: Shooting film is not exactly the cheapest of all possible endeavors. And many of us are looking for ways to shave a few bucks off the cost of our favorite hobby. That’s originally what got me to try Foma Bohemia‘s three primary film stocks — all under the Fomapan name — but it’s not what’s kept me using them.
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