Analog.Cafe

642 Reviews, Guides, and Essays

Nikon FM2/FM2n Film Camera Review
With Honeycomb Titanium Shutter
January 14, 2025
This camera’s 100% mechanically powered titanium honeycomb shutter curtains can reliably sync with flash speeds up to 1/250s and fire at a bullet speed¹ of 1/4,000s when needed. The FM2 is one of Nikon’s longest-living SLRs: it remained in production for 19 years! This review dives deep into this camera’s pedigree and features.
New!Film Cameras and Gear Save
Adox CMS 20 II: An Ultra-High Resolution Film Review
Tested With Adotech IV and a 400-Megapixel Scan
January 10, 2025
In this review, I share my experience shooting and processing this film with the specialized Adotech CMS IV developer as well as the non-specialized Ilford DD-X, discuss its technical specifications, and share the results of my attempt to produce a 400-megapixel scan (the absolute maximum I’m capable with my current hardware and software).
Film and Darkroom Save
Pushing Ilford HP5+ to ISO 100,000
Samples, Recipe, Discussion, and Development Times
January 8, 2025
This article is a follow-up to yesterday’s experiment with pulling HP5+ to ISO 3; whereas the former was fairly easy to do, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend you try what I’m about to share with you here. Still, this resource comes with all the techniques and recipes necessary to replicate the experiment, as well as suggested times for developing HP5+ at EI 12800, 25600, and 51200.
GOLDFilm and Darkroom Save
Pulling Ilford HP5+ to ISO 3
Samples, Recipe, Discussion, and Development Times
January 7, 2025
Ilford HP5+ is a ninety-year-old¹ black-and-white film known for its versatility, sharpness, and controlled response to various development methods. Many photographers love to push-process it and occasionally pull-process. Yet, to my knowledge, no one has pull-processed it to this extreme; thus, this may be the first time anyone has ever shared the technique and the results with the HP5+ shot as if it’s an ISO 3 film.
GOLDFilm and Darkroom Save
The Tsushima Cyanotypes
Book Review
January 6, 2025
The Tsushima Cyanotypes is a black-and-blue photobook of cyanotypes by KC Ahonen, limited to just 200 copies. I loved flipping the 76 pages of this A5-sized uncoated book and seeing the 30 masterfully printed blue-on-white cyanotype prints. Yet, the most impactful piece of this book was the artist’s statement, where KC revealed the source of his images and its uncanny connection to our modern lives within the parallel universe from ones and zeros.
Books Save
Rediscovering the Digicam With Pentax Optio E10

January 3, 2025
Digicams are making a comeback. To understand why, I read dozens of articles, spoke to the new digicam users and tried my hand with Pentax Optio E10, a nineteen-year-old six-megapixel camera. In this article, I’m digging a little deeper for reasons to use one today (including ways to do it better) and the trend’s relationship to the still-rising popularity of film photography.
Film Cameras and Gear Save
Nikon Series E 50mm 𝒇1.8 Lens Review
One of Nikon F’s Lightest, Most Compact, and Cheapest “Pancake” Lenses
December 30, 2024
Nikon Series E 50mm 𝒇1.8 is one of the most compact vintage Nikon F-mount lenses. The all-black version tested here weighs just 137g/4.8oz and protrudes about 2.5cm/.98” from the mount. Costing an average of $50 (depending on condition), it’s also an affordable one to try.
Film Cameras and Gear Save
An Experiment in Pushing Boundaries
A Monthly Newsletter for GOLD Members
December 20, 2024
This month’s “How to Make Sharper Photos on Film” has the most lessons I wish I’d learned earlier. In fact, there are 23. That’s a lot — good thing they’re ranked by importance. I explain how I did that below. This year’s last newsletter also covers a few blog updates and an Easter egg that’s a clue to the next month’s film experiment.
GOLDNews Save
Film Photography News — December 2024 Recap
A Year-End Special 🥳
December 17, 2024
We have a winner! I speculate about the future of film photography. Three new film camera accessories launch this month, each discussed in the new “News” page. Plus, what’s your holiday project?
News Save
How to Make Sharper Photos on Film
23 Ranked Tools and Techniques for All Skills and Budgets
December 10, 2024
Photographs that show great detail, even when examined up close, can enhance the viewing experience. Images shot on film with vintage cameras can produce enormous amounts of sharpness and resolution — but that’s not necessarily the default, even if you’re wielding a premium point-and-shoot. These 23 tools and techniques summarize some of the most effective ways to improve sharpness and resolution in your film photography. They’re ranked based on their potential and include practical advice with appropriate references.
GOLDGuides and Tutorials Save
How to Service the Nikon F2 Photomic Metered Prisms
A Simple Way to Fix Inacurate Meters
December 5, 2024
Nikon F2 Photomic metered prisms are beautiful and sturdy like the rest of the camera but are prone to issues. Perhaps the most common fault on the nearly indestructible Nikon F2 cameras is a malfunctioning metered prism. I’ve seen many copies sold with the readings off by a few stops. In this short guide, I’ll explain what may be causing this problem and how to fix this issue at home.
GOLDGuides and Tutorials Save
Nikon F2 Film Camera Review
Nikon’s Last (Maybe Best) Mechanical SLR
December 3, 2024
Nikon F2 (i.e., Nikon F2 Photomoic with the Photomic DP-1 viewfinder prism) is a burly, pro-level SLR with an impressive history of being one of the most trusted cameras of its time. It is a sequel to Nikon’s iconic design, which went to space and deflected a bullet, saving a war reporter’s life. In this review, I’ll explain what makes this camera so good (and not so good), outline its historical context, and talk about shooting the F2 fifty-three years past its release.
Film Cameras and Gear Save
Film Photography News — November 2024 Recap
Kodak Pauses Film Production, Polaroid Puppet Show, Camera Giveaway, and More!
November 26, 2024
Kodak pauses film production, Polaroid puppet show, new apps for film photographers, a camera + film giveaway, and other deals. Plus: What’s the best glue for replacing leatherettes? And a new Valoi digital camera scanning rig.
News Save
Best Film Camera Finder
Web App 📱
November 25, 2024
Photography was invented around the 1830s. Since then, we’ve built over a billion cameras, which can make picking one seem overwhelming. Best Film Camera Finder helps you discover film cameras suitable for your needs based on answers to these five questions.
Apps and Downloads Save
Film and Lab Tools
A Monthly Newsletter for GOLD Members
November 22, 2024
Keeping diligent notes helps avoid disasters and improve image quality, but it can be burdensome (who wants another chore?) Film Log & Chem Log are the two sister apps that make the job easier. In this letter, I’ll introduce and explain how those apps work. Subsequent posts will explore various flows and use cases for those apps.
GOLDNews Save
A Unique Look? Harman Phoenix 200 in E-6 With Flash

November 21, 2024
Typically, Harman Phoenix is processed with C-41 chemistry, but I decided to go a different route and try E-6. Why? I was after something perhaps more unique — a shift in colour that would add extra character and depth to a project I was working on (more about that later). The idea was to use the film to make it feel less like a straightforward documentary and more like a visual statement.
Film and Darkroom Save
Chem Log
Web App 📱
November 19, 2024
Improve image quality and avoid mistakes when developing film at home. Chem Log keeps a record of all the mixing dates for your chemicals. This will help you avoid using expired chemicals. Chem Log keeps a record of films that were processed in each of your chemicals. This will help you avoid or compensate for exhausted chemicals.
GOLDApps and Downloads Save
Giveaway: A Holiday Film & Camera Pack
Ends on December 16, 2024 ☝️
November 14, 2024
I’m giving away a half-frame camera and three rolls of film to one lucky winner! Subscribe to Analog.Cafe GOLD membership before December 16 and you’ll be entered into the draw. If you are already a subscriber, you will be entered into the draw automatically. I’ll announce the winner on December 17, 2024.
News Save
Kodak Vision 3 50D 5203/7203 Film Review
Shot as Stills and Developed in C-41
November 12, 2024
Kodak Vision 3 50D 5203/7203 colour negative film was designed for movie cameras. But in the mid-2010s, CineStill popularized its use in SLRs and rangefinders with a remjet-less version, the 50D. As the availability of ECN-2 developers increased, the original Kodak (non-CineStill) version of this film also began to gain popularity amongst us still photographers. In this review, I’ll cover all the technical specifications, share samples, and review the various ways of getting hold of and developing this film.
Film and Darkroom Save
Nikon Nikkor 28mm 𝒇3.5 AI-S Lens Review
A Sharp, Well-Made Wide-Angle Lens for Under $100
November 7, 2024
The 28mm Nikkor AI-S is sharp, relatively distortion-free, it’s a pleasure to use, and it features a close focus of .3m/1’. In this review, I’ll cover the specifics of this 28mm wide-angle lens, retell its brief history, and share plenty of high-res scans, including an image (with an enlargement) shot on the highest-resolving photographic medium ever created.
Film Cameras and Gear Save

Nikon FM2/FM2n Film Camera Review

With Honeycomb Titanium Shutter

January 14, 2025

Adox CMS 20 II: An Ultra-High Resolution Film Review

Tested With Adotech IV and a 400-Megapixel Scan

January 10, 2025

Pushing Ilford HP5+ to ISO 100,000

Samples, Recipe, Discussion, and Development Times

January 8, 2025

Pulling Ilford HP5+ to ISO 3

Samples, Recipe, Discussion, and Development Times

January 7, 2025

The Tsushima Cyanotypes

Book Review

January 6, 2025

Rediscovering the Digicam With Pentax Optio E10

January 3, 2025

Nikon Series E 50mm 𝒇1.8 Lens Review

One of Nikon F’s Lightest, Most Compact, and Cheapest “Pancake” Lenses

December 30, 2024

An Experiment in Pushing Boundaries

A Monthly Newsletter for GOLD Members

December 20, 2024

Film Photography News — December 2024 Recap

A Year-End Special 🥳

December 17, 2024

How to Make Sharper Photos on Film

23 Ranked Tools and Techniques for All Skills and Budgets

December 10, 2024

How to Service the Nikon F2 Photomic Metered Prisms

A Simple Way to Fix Inacurate Meters

December 5, 2024

Nikon F2 Film Camera Review

Nikon’s Last (Maybe Best) Mechanical SLR

December 3, 2024

Film Photography News — November 2024 Recap

Kodak Pauses Film Production, Polaroid Puppet Show, Camera Giveaway, and More!

November 26, 2024

Best Film Camera Finder

Web App 📱

November 25, 2024

Film and Lab Tools

A Monthly Newsletter for GOLD Members

November 22, 2024

A Unique Look? Harman Phoenix 200 in E-6 With Flash

November 21, 2024

Chem Log

Web App 📱

November 19, 2024

Giveaway: A Holiday Film & Camera Pack

Ends on December 16, 2024 ☝️

November 14, 2024

Kodak Vision 3 50D 5203/7203 Film Review

Shot as Stills and Developed in C-41

November 12, 2024

Nikon Nikkor 28mm 𝒇3.5 AI-S Lens Review

A Sharp, Well-Made Wide-Angle Lens for Under $100

November 7, 2024