Film Cameras and Gear

142 Lens, Accessory, and Camera Reviews

Nikon AI-S Nikkor 50mm 𝒇1.8 Lens Review
And Its Five Siblings
February 11, 2025
Nikon AI-S Nikkor 50mm 𝒇1.8 is a lightweight normal manual focus lens for Nikon F cameras. In this review, I’m sharing my experience with it on my Nikon FM2n and FE cameras, a bit of history, and identification for the SIX variants. Plus: my thoughts on whether the Nikkor is worth the extra ~$75 as compared to the cheaper Series E.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Minolta MD Zoom 35-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 Macro Lens Review
October 30, 2024
This zoom glass caught my attention for its incredibly light 189g/6.7oz frame and the apparent fact that it’s optically the same as the Leica Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5. There’s also a version of this lens with macro capabilities that weighs a bit more but can focus at 33cm/13” with a 0.25x magnification factor.
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Nikon FE Film Camera Review
Zero Compromise for Purpose and Price
October 21, 2024
Nikon FE is an SLR with a delicate balance of features to accommodate portability, practicality, build quality, speed, and price. It is also built with exceptional attention to detail.
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Minolta MC TELE Rokkor-X 135mm 1:2.8 Lens Review
A Beautiful, Well-Built Portrait Lens for SR Mounts, One of 16 135mm Models
October 15, 2024
Minolta MC TELE Rokkor-X 135mm 1:2.8 is an affordable, well-built manual focus lens for Minolta SLRs. It has enough speed and focal length to capture fast action at a distance and bokehlicious portraits up close. One of the nicest lenses (by feel and looks) in my collection!
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SMC Pentax-M 100mm 𝒇4 Macro Lens Review
October 14, 2024
SMC Pentax-M 100mm 𝒇4-32 is an affordable macro lens with 0.5x max magnification that can be converted to 1:1 with extension tubes or used as a telephoto.
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Hands-on With ZH1, a WORKING LEGO Film Camera
Made From Just the Official LEGO Components, It Takes Real Photos on Film
October 8, 2024
This August, I had the chance to interview Zung Hoang , the inventor of the first fully functioning (yet to be official) LEGO film camera over chat. A few weeks later, I met with the man to learn more about the project, see the camera stripped down, and borrow it for an entire month. This is the story of LEGO ZH-1, a fully functional film camera and its creator.
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Yashica T2 Film Camera Review
Carl Zeiss P&S for Less?
September 21, 2024
Yashica/Kyocera T2 is a relatively affordable point-and-shoot camera with a fantastic Carl Zeiss Tessar 3.5/35mm T* lens in a somewhat bulky but very fun package. This camera is a lot of fun to use and it can produce sharp images with unique rainbow flares.
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Minolta X-700 Film Camera Review
Affordable, Fun, Beginner-Friendly Vintage SLR With a Cult Following
September 19, 2024
Minolta X-700 is one of the easiest and most fun film SLRs ever built. This vintage camera can suit almost anyone, and the expansive Rokkor lens selection is considered by many to be the best quality per dollar spent. But no gadget is perfect. In this review, I’ll cover my extensive experience with the camera on the road and in my mini-studio, its strengths and quirks.
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Rollei 35AF: About the Project & First Impressions
September 10, 2024
MiNT’s Rollei 35AF is one of the most anticipated film photography products of the year. In this article, I’ll share my initial impressions of the camera, its specs, and the project history. A premium compact film point-and-shoot in 2024 is a dream come true for the film photography community, but the camera may not be what you may’ve expected. Nor has it been built by a large company with the ‘90s tech. It’s different, and I’m here to tell you how.
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When Is the Best Time to Sell a Film Camera?
A Brief Data-Based Insight for the New Vintage Gear Traders
September 5, 2024
I figured out the best time to sell film cameras based on data from 43K referrals that generated $196,815 in sales from 1.2K transactions.
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Canon F-1 (Original) Film Camera Review
It Will Probably Outlive Me
September 3, 2024
Canon’s F-1 was the company’s last purely mechanical SLR design. It’s hefty, but with that heft comes reliability and durability. Even the prolonged wear looks good on the F-1. In this review, I’ll compare the F-1 to F-1n and F-1 New and go over my experience shooting it on a hectic trip across Canada. I’ll also attempt to answer a question that seems to be coming up often: is the Canon F-1 a good camera for beginners?
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Olympus Pen W Half-Frame Film Camera Review
With History Overview and High-Res Scans
August 29, 2024
Olympus PEN Wides are some of the prettiest half-frame film cameras ever made. Painted brass only looks better with wear and an all-black pocketable design is decades ahead of its time. These cameras use no batteries or depleted selenium meters, offering instead full control over the mechanical system with zone-focusing.
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Canon “A”-Series SLR Comparison Guide
AE-1 (1976) vs. A-1 (1978) vs. AE-1 Program (1981)
August 12, 2024
Canon’s A-series SLRs were revolutionary for the company and the photography industry as a whole. In this article, I’ll disambiguate the differences, compare these keystone A-series SLRs, and help you pick the best camera for your photographic style.
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Canon A-1 Film Camera Review
The Most Capable “A”-Series Canon SLR
July 27, 2024
The A-1 film SLR was a technological and design philosophy leap for Canon. Introduced in 1978, it was the first SLR to automatically select aperture and shutter speeds using onboard electronics. While helpful for beginners, this new feature also gave proficient photographers a useful advantage.
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Canon FD 24mm 1:2.8 Ultrawide Lens Review
Sharp, Wide, Resistant to Flaring, Affordable — My Favourite Canon FD Lens!
July 12, 2024
Canon FD 24mm 1:2.8 is an ultra-wide¹ lens for vintage Canon SLRs like the Canon AE-1 Program. It’s sharp, renders nice bokeh, does the job, and it can still be found for less than $100.
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