Analog.Cafe

686 Reviews, Guides, and Essays

Polaroid BW Tests, C-41 Reversal, Homemade Halations
A Monthly Newsletter for GOLD Members
July 25, 2025
In this newsletter, I talk about the sudden change in priorities, free film, shooting Polaroid B&W 600 film in unmodified SX-70 cameras, developing Harman Phoenix film as slides with Rodinal, and my plans for the month of August on Analog.Cafe.
GOLDNew!News Save
Halation in Film Photography, Explained
A Physical Phenomenon, an Artifact on Film, and a Creative Effect
July 23, 2025
Film is an imperfect, physical medium. In the post-perfectionist world, where clinical image accuracy is relatively easy to achieve, film artifacts are now valued for their expressive potential and unique, one-of-one renderings of the real world. Halation is one such artifact, which I will explain and discuss at length in this mini-guide.
New!Guides and Tutorials Save
Film Prices Up 9% Since February 2025
Tri-X, Foma, and ColorPlus Are Still the Best Deal, Fujichrome Up $5/roll
July 18, 2025
In this article, I’ll share the latest insights on the best-priced films, name a few emulsions to avoid, and provide a few insights about the costs of shooting film in 2025 and beyond.
News Save
Harman Phoenix C-41 Reversal Process (Rodinal)
I Tested 7 Recipes for HARMAN PHOENIX SLIDE FILM With C-41 and Rodinal
July 16, 2025
Harman Phoenix 200 is the company’s first colour-negative film in over five decades¹. Using the most common developer chemicals found in film photographers’ bathrooms, you can develop it as a slide film! Beware: this is an experimental technique for an experimental emulsion.
UpdatedGuides and Tutorials Save
Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super B Film Camera Review
It’s Cheap, It’s Hefty, It’s Weird, It’s Pretty, It Has a Beautiful Lens
July 15, 2025
Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super B is an unusual but well-built camera that features a sharp, expressive lens. It uses relic technology, like a non-returning mirror box, but also features interchangeable film backs, a leaf shutter mount, and a 100% DOF viewfinder. It’s also very affordable.
Film Cameras and Gear Save
Polaroid 600 in SX-70 NO Filter, NO Mods, NO Flash?
A Review of the 2024 ‘Big’ Improvements in the Polaroid B&W 600 Chemistry
July 8, 2025
After several rounds of controlled and field tests, and a short conversation with Polaroid, I’m finally ready to share my independent experiment-based findings: Does the new B&W 600 film work with unmodified Polaroid SX-70 cameras?
GOLDFilm and Darkroom Save
Kodak Tri-X 400 Film Review
Instant Classic Kodak Grain & Contrast
July 3, 2025
Tri-X is one of Kodak’s best-recognized films that has been around for over 85 years. In this review, I’ll introduce you to the history that lends significance to this film as well as the technical aspects, like the grain structure and dynamic range, that make it an excellent choice for home and lab scanning. I will also briefly compare Kodak Tri-X to the other long-standing ISO 400 black-and-white photographer favourite, Ilford HP5+ and explain the difference between Tri-X and T-Max.
Film and Darkroom Save
Micro-Nikkor 200mm 1:4 AI-S Lens Review
Affordable, Sharp, Versatile, Compact
July 2, 2025
The 200mm Micro-Nikkor AI-S 1:4 IF is a telephoto lens that can focus as close as 2⅓ feet (61cm) while reproducing a 1:2 image on film or a full-frame sensor. In this review, I’ll explain what this lens is for, how it came to be, and what its modern analog is. Expect lots of samples, a full recollection of what it’s like to shoot, and whether you should get one, too.
Film Cameras and Gear Save
Film Photography News — June 2025 Recap
Leica’s First Film, Portra in Bulk?, Fancy Lenses, New Film, and a Podcast
June 24, 2025
New film: Leica’s first 35mm black-and-white Monopan 50, Harman’s Red in 120, Ilfocolor 400 Cine Tone. Plus, CineStill teases several new products, set to launch this summer. Light Lens Lab shares samples of their soon-to-ship black-and-white emulsion, along with very ambitious goals. Meanwhile, Kodak ditches remjet from their Vision 3 films, throwing CineStill’s halation products into question. Omnar announces Bertle 50mm 𝒇2 MC FLB, and Jollylook makes affordable no-batteries-needed Instax film backs for Mamiya RB67/RZ67 MF cameras.
UpdatedNews Save
RETO Pano Reusable 35mm Film Camera Review
With a See-Through Plastic Shell
June 23, 2025
RETO Pano is a new, affordable, reusable compact camera with an ultra-wide 22mm lens and an optional panoramic mask. Having put several rolls of film through the see-through plastic model, I am genuinely impressed with the value it delivers. In this review, I’m sharing all that is good, a few issues, and a shooting guide for better photos.
Film Cameras and Gear Save
A Podcast, Polaroid Film Test, Reviews, Guides, Apps
A Monthly Newsletter for GOLD Members
June 20, 2025
“A Beginner’s Guide to Film Photography” is now live on Analog.Cafe! I am also working on the audiobook version. Plus: upcoming film tests (including a well-documented DIY pre-processing attempt with local photographers), several camera reviews, article and app updates, and a new survey of the film price landscape.
GOLDNews Save
A Beginner’s Guide to Film Photography
2nd, “200 Years of Film Photography!” Edition
June 17, 2025
Film photography is easy, but it’s more fun if you know what you’re doing! This beginner-friendly guide goes beyond the basics and is available as an illustrated read and a 73-page printable PDF book. The guide covers everything you need to get started and excel with a film camera in a digital world. Including the historical context, current culture, money-saving advice, and tips for better results with modern tools.
GOLDGuides and Tutorials Save
All Photographic Film Sold Today
Sortable, Searchable List With Real-Time Updates
June 7, 2025
This page sources the incredibly comprehensive list of film stocks currently in production from Wikipedia and arranges it in an easy-to-parse table with real-time updates, a compact layout, sortable columns, and a search field.
Guides and Tutorials Save
Welcome to Karmir Film Lab in Yerevan!
A Creative Stronghold for Film Photographers in the Caucasus
June 4, 2025
An article about a film lab and a creative hub in Yerevan.
Film and Darkroom Save
How Photography Helped My Mental Health
Especially Analogue
June 2, 2025
I had depression. After over two years of therapy, I can happily say — ‘had’. Let me start by saying that help is available everywhere; no matter how dark it may seem around you, you are never alone! Taking photos has always inspired me. This is a story of photography, especially film photography, helping me find a way.
Essays Save
Film Photography News — May 2025 Recap
New Film, Free Film, New Camera, Exposure Tips, App Updates
May 27, 2025
Ilford launches Kentmere 200 black-and-white film and begins offering Delta 3200 in bulk rolls, RETO makes a new panoramic film camera, and Jolylook makes a new hand-crankable Instax Wide back for DIY cameras. This month’s winner of 3 FREE Cinema Shorts 50D/500T rolls announced (if it’s not you, you still have several chances). Plus, updates to the only web-based fully-featured film inversion tool, overexposure guides, and community submissions!
News Save
Overexposure, TIFFs, and the Giftable Guide to Film
A Monthly Newsletter for GOLD Members
May 23, 2025
Thank you ❤️ for supporting this independent, ad-free review, guide, app, and community publication for and by film photographers! Your contributions give me the time and the opportunity to work on projects like film Q, which is the only web-based negative film inversion tool with full 16-bit TIFF and camera RAW support. This newsletter covers app updates, community submissions, FREE film, and the upcoming articles on Analog.Cafe.
GOLDNews Save
Are TIFF Scans Worth It?
May 22, 2025
TIFF files are much larger than JPEGs. They often cost more if you scan your film at a lab. But are they worth all that extra storage and dollars? This guide features a simple-to-follow decision tree and an in-depth explanation of the popular digital image formats.
Guides and Tutorials Save
How to Overexpose Film
Pick the Right Film, Meter for (Over)Exposure, and Fix Colour Shifts
May 20, 2025
This guide will help you understand why and when overexposure is appropriate, which films to overexpose, how to overexpose your photos without destroying them, and how to scan and edit overexposed frames.
GOLDGuides and Tutorials Save
The Kubrick Code
In Praise of Knowing How Things Work
May 19, 2025
This article explores the balance between technique and artistry, as the London exhibition showed it in Kubrick’s work. It is not a review of the exhibition—there are plenty of those—but a reflection on what it takes to create something well.
Essays Save