Posted inArticles

Taking Stock: A shootout with 3 very different color films highlights creative possibilities – Kodak Portra, Fuji C200 and Fuji Velvia 100

I recently acquired a Rollei 35 after dreaming about shooting with this ultra-compact camera and its legendarily sharp Carl Zeiss lens for many years. I was able to score a great deal on a lightly used “Made in Germany” variant at my local camera shop by trading in an old Canon A1 and 50mm lens […]

Posted inLomography Film Stock Reviews

Purple nights on Lomochrome Purple with the Pixels and Grain Collective

Lomochrome Purple XR 100-400 is an interesting film, with unclear origins, that shifts colours towards the purple spectrum, like a fantasy/dream.  Greens become purple, blues aqua/green, and skin tones orangey, in a psychedelic way. Iso 100? 200? 400? Take your pick!   While there are many articles out there about the colour shifting properties of this film, […]

Posted inArticlesFilm camera reviewsReviewsRollei film camera reviews

An accidental Rolleiflex TLR: A new experience with the Rolleiflex Automat 6×6 Model RF 111A

I had used film from the late 1950s right up to the digital revolution when I was seduced by what the new cameras could do. As DSLR cameras improved (I now have a Nikon D850) there were few practical reasons for working with the older technology. But what does practicality have to do with anything? […]

Posted inArticlesFilm camera reviewsMamiya film camera reviewsPentax film camera reviewsReviews

Same format, different story: Making the switch from a Pentax 67 to a Mamiya 7ii

I had been meaning to get into the medium format 6×7 game for a while and I finally bought the Pentax 67 (the “middle” version before the 67II) at an auction. For a long time, it was my go-to medium format camera. We had a real love-hate relationship. I loved the 105mm lens and hated, […]

Posted inArticlesFilm camera reviewsNikon film camera reviewsReviews

Less than the sum of its parts? The Nikon F3P, a press camera

Back in the day, the “stock” Nikon F3 was so popular amongst Japanese photojournalists that Nikon decided to make a “Press” or “Professional” version to the Japanese market. Apparently, only accredited photojournalists could get their hands on one of these babies, so only limited quantities were produced until… Nikon decided to make extra ones called […]

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Maximum readiness, effective robustness: The Durst Sei Sei (Durst 66)

During the never-ending cycle of lockdowns here in the UK, I’ve set myself a little project wandering about on my permitted ‘one-exercise-a-day’ time, documenting my hometown of Stone in the West Midlands. My preferred film is ILFORD HP5 PLUS: absolutely bomb-proof. A friend regularly develops his in his coffee (Caffenol) and he gets printable negatives […]