While digging through some of my collection I came across this, the Fuji DL-25. A camera that I’ve had since at least 2013 and yet has only… Read more “For your consideration: Fuji DL-25”
Restrictions and the freedom they bring: Lomography Simple Use Camera
Sometimes you don’t really need much. Sure it’s nice to be carrying around an slr or rangefinder on holiday. Knowing your lighting is being expertly metered or you’ve been waiting to try out that new wide angle lens in a city you’ve never visited before.
But somewhere along the way you get bogged down by the burden of choice.
(more…)Yashica Electro-35 GT
There are some entries in my collection that exist because they were found. This camera I actively sought out. Back when I was addicted to Tumblr I came across some amazing work that was shot exclusively using the Yashica Electro-35. As this was very early on on my collection, I became obsessed with this camera thinking “I can take photos like that if I had that camera” of course now I realise while a camera can have certain distinctive characteristics, the camera actually had very little to do with the images in comparison to the photographer who shot them.
Olympus Trip 300
The Olympus Trip series of cameras is one that’s been featured on this page alone at least twice already with appearances from my custom trip 35, and… Read more “Olympus Trip 300”
They weren’t kidding when they named it Perfection
a scanner review 3 years in the making!
Mamiya RB67
This camera has become my main workhorse. I’ve been using it for everything. Portraits, street work, events, landscapes and so much more.
It is one of my all time favourite pieces from my collection, which is a good thing considering how much effort is required to use it.
(more…)Ensign Ful-Vue
Due to the varied nature of photography, many different breeds of camera exist. Some more complicated and set up for the professional, and others are for a far more simple market.
Box cameras are some of the earliest and basic designs, that often still function even to this day. Most operate using a simple leaf shutter and most having very few, If any aperture options.
The camera was made in England between 1946 and 1950. It is a simple square format box camera, with very little in the way of exposure control. It has a stamped metal body and a huge, bright waist level viewfinder.
It has two shutter speeds “I” for “Instant” (roughly 1/30th sec when manufactured) and and “B” for “Bulb” by my guess, the aperture is somewhere around f.8 which is fairly typical of these kinds of cameras.
As a result of the fixed shutter speed and aperture, the only part of the exposure process that the photographer has control over is the film speed. In my research I’ve found most film from this era to be around the 100iso region but is often (unhelpfully) labelled as “panchromatic” own brand film as most of these companies produced cameras to sell their own film stock.
As a result I often use Ilford fp4 in cameras of this era because it has the best chance of getting the correct exposures.
The camera is reasonably nice to use, again it’s super basic and ergonomics were unheard of in the 40s in the UK.
That being said, it’s a wonderful addition to my collection, you really don’t have to think about much while shooting, because there’s nothing you can do to adjust exposure anyway. Just being able to focus on composition is a great exercise for any photographer. And cameras like this are the perfect opportunity to practice!
Polaroid 600 Extreme
UPDATED POST: this first went live YEARS ago so please excuse the incredibly basic review format
There are more varieties of Polaroid 600 cameras out there than there’s been iPhone updates – it would be ridiculous of me to review every single one. However, you will see more Polaroid reviews from me in future, if I find something that breaks the convention.
The Photographers Christmas Gift Guide 2020 (things your favourite photographer actually wants)
It’s that wonderful time of year, where you get to fly into a blind panic trying to think of thoughtful and meaningful presents for the people in… Read more “The Photographers Christmas Gift Guide 2020 (things your favourite photographer actually wants)”
On Lockdown
I’ve been in two minds about posting these images. But I feel that it’s even more important to keep making work during times like these. It’s our responsibility as photographers to keep working and creating even with the lockdown in place.
With all the downtime I’ve been landed with as a result of Covid-19, I ended up shooting and processing my remaining rolls of Kodak TMAX.
These images were shot using a Nikonos IV-A and Zorki 4 during the first 2 weeks of lockdown. Some images taken in Cardiff in the week before the lockdown came into effect, and the latter shot where I live in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.
Despite the past month being the warmest of the year, the whole world has seemed cold. Seeing the social distancing measures in place as people queue up for supplies, or seeing near deserted beaches at Barry Island.
Places such as this rely on tourist trade as a source of income. It was sobering to have the sun beating down on your back while every shop on the waterfront had closed shutters and empty displays. The rides have not moved an inch in over a month.
RPeterThomas Photographic 