Camera Catalog

After exclusively using digital cameras for a long time, I have gradually been switching to film cameras. I started on this path during the pandemic. As a fun project that could be completed at home I restored an old twin lens reflex camera camera. A restored camera deserves to be shot, and the images from the superannuated camera turned out much better than I imagined they would. Since then I have increased the amount of film that I use, and now my ratio of film to digital is probably something like 10-to-1.

As happens with many things, since I recognized that vintage cameras still existed, I have noticed them in more places. So, I have been picking up the cheap ones - ones that are clearly defective in some way. In most cases I have found that it only takes a little bit of work to make them operational again. Though it can definitely take a lot more work to make them reliable and fun to use again. I have also traded my way up to having some very nice cameras that are unlikely to be found at a thrift store. These are all the cameras which I have worked with so far.

Favorites

People have asked which camera is my favorite. For a while I was into big, mid-century fixed-lens rangefinders, at that time I was always carrying around the Minolta Hi-Matic 9. Currently, I don’t have a single favorite. Having experimented with a wide variety of cameras, I have come to appreciate different cameras for specific purposes or situations. My view on this evolves over time, but below are my current situational top picks.

• all-rounder, 35mm — 1999 Nikon 35Ti
• all-rounder, instant — 1973 Polaroid SX-70
• all-rounder, medium format — 1988 Hasselblad 503cx
• backpacking, 35mm — 1981 Olympus XA
• backpacking, subminiature — 1984 Minox LX
• car camping, 35mm — 1985 Minolta X-700
• climbing, 35mm — 1981 Olympus XA
• evenings out, 35mm — 1982 Canon A-1 with 50mm f/1.4
• indoors, 35mm — 1979 Agfa Optima 1535 with Agfatronic 380 flash
• indoors, instant — 1978 Polaroid SX-70 Sonar with Polatronic flash
• sports (soccer), 35mm — 2000 Canon EOS ELAN 7e
• sports (soccer), digital — 2011 Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Example Photos

A quick note on the photos in these posts. The photos were selected to give an idea of how the camera performs under different conditions, not to demonstrate the photographer’s [lack of] ability making photographs. Given that the photographer is a slightly below average amateur, if the photos are pleasing then that is a testament to the camera. On the other hand, if the images are terrible it’s probably due to the photographer, but it could also be due to the camera. Most of the cameras are really old.

Since the intent it to showcase the cameras, no manual editing is done on the images, except for dust and watermark removal. The negatives are digitized using a light box and a T3i. Then, the digital images are inverted using a custom python script and the frame borders are cropped out. The images are optimized for the web prior to being uploaded.

Light Meters

I have picked up a few old light meters over the years. I used to really enjoy using the Gossen Luna-Pro, but it would periodically act erratically, so I lost faith in it. Now I only use a modern Sekonic L308. Working with old cameras brings enough challenges, I see no reason to add the complexity of compensating for an old light meter with various quirks and inaccuracies.