Analog.Cafe

564 Reviews, Guides, and Essays

Anniversary Edition 🎈
A Letter for the Supporters
July 26, 2024
Analog.Cafe launched seven years ago tomorrow. I would like to thank all the Analog.Cafe supporters — whether you’re a GOLD member or a casual reader. This project would not exist without you!
GOLDNew!Community News Save
Polaroid Land SX-70 Quick Start Manual
Printable PDF 📑
July 23, 2024
This is a scan of the original booklet that came with Polaroid Land SX-70 instant film cameras. It has all the basic tips for getting started with illustrations. The contents are cropped & rearranged for readability. OCR embedded. PDF (English), 15.5MB.
New!Apps and Downloads Save
How to Get Pastel Colours on Film
There’s More to It Than You Think
July 16, 2024
This guide covers film types, exposure settings, scene selection, gear, and digital colour grading techniques for making airy, painterly photographs that feel like pastel art.
GOLDGuides and Tutorials Save
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.
Film Cameras and Gear Save
Lomography Fantôme Kino 8 Film Review
A Slow Black-and-White Film for Sunny Bokeh, High Contrast, and Fine Grain
July 8, 2024
Lomography Fantôme Kino 8 is a low-ISO black-and-white motion picture film sold in 35mm only. This film shows exceptionally fine grain, which it typically renders in high contrast. I was able to get very natural-looking images out of it when I developed it at home with my solution of Rodinal 1+50. This film has also taught me things I’ve never expected about my old Ultron lens.
Film and Darkroom Save
Accidentally Wes Anderson
Book Review
July 4, 2024
Accidentally Wes Anderson is a phenomenon that went viral around 2017 and materialized into a book with a foreword by the man himself. It is a study of colour and composition but maybe not so much of a travel guide.
Books Save
What’s Bokeh and How to Get It on Film?
Lens, Focus, Light, Film Format, and Film Type Can Make a Big Difference!
July 2, 2024
You can have a lot, a little, or no bokeh. It can be gimmicky or beautiful, have a cat-eye or onion-skin effect, be swirly or not, make soap bubbles, or appear diffused. Bokeh is easy to replicate! This article explains how it works.
Guides and Tutorials Save
Visiting Algeria With My Olympus XA
A Long Story Short
July 1, 2024
@tomodayes returned to Algeria to see his grandfather with his faithful Olympus XA. This photo essay is about that trip with a bit of history about the country and his family.
UpdatedEssays Save
Ricoh Auto Half E2 Film Camera Review
A Fully-Mechanical Point-and-Shoot Half-Frame Film Camera!
June 28, 2024
Ricoh Auto Half E2 is a 35mm half-frame film camera with a unique combination of features that make it one of the few full-fledged point-and-shoot film cameras that don’t need any batteries.This camera will set the exposure and advance the film for you, once you wind it like an old toy.
Film Cameras and Gear Save
Rollei 35AF Instructions Manual
Printable PDF 📑
June 26, 2024
A quick start guide for the new Rollei 35AF in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Slovakian, and Czech. 1.5MB PDF.
Apps and Downloads Save
Film Photography News — June 2024 Recap
New Film Camera From Pentax, Rollei, Fuji: Film Made China, and Portra 800?
June 25, 2024
In this Letter, I tell the story of the new MiNT camera project, share my reaction to the ‘17 launch, discuss Fujifilm’s move to China, compare all the ISO 800 colour film stocks, and list a few good, cheap alternatives to the new Pentax half-frame.
Community News Save
10 Half-Frame Film Cameras for Under $500
June 24, 2024
You can save lots of money on film with a half-frame camera, but why stop there and not save on the camera itself? This overview lists nine better-than-good vintage cameras and a brand-new one for less than $100!
Film Cameras and Gear Save
All the C-41 ISO 800 Colour Films, Compared
Portra 800 vs. FunSaver 800 vs. Lomo 800 vs. Aurora 800
June 24, 2024
There’s seemingly some choice when it comes to high-speed daylight-balanced colour-negative film. But is it all branding? We compare all the ISO 800 films we could find side-by-side to see if there’s any actual difference once developed and scanned.
GOLDFilm and Darkroom Save
Thank You and Welcome to Analog.Cafe GOLD!
A Letter for the Supporters
June 21, 2024
I would like to thank all the Analog.Cafe supporters — whether you’re a GOLD member or a casual reader. This project would not exist without you!
GOLDCommunity News Save
Asahi Pentax K1000 Film Camera Review
With the Kit SMC Pentax-a 1:1.7 50mm Lens
June 19, 2024
Asahi Pentax K1000 is one of the most popular vintage film SLRs today. It’s still used in classrooms around the world and there are tons of great lens options.
Film Cameras and Gear Save
Kyocera/Yashica Samurai x3.0 Film Camera Review
A Camcorder-Looking Half-Frame Point-and-Shoot SLR With Motorized Zoom
June 13, 2024
Kyocera/Yashica Samurai x3.0 half-frame 35mm film SLR is one of the strangest-looking cameras ever made. It looks like an old-school video recorder (it is not); it’s bulky (even though it makes tiny frames); and it doesn’t have manual overrides — but it’s actually quite good!
Film Cameras and Gear Save
Harman Phoenix 200 — New Colour Film Review
The Most Important Film Photography Product of 2024
June 8, 2024
Harman Phoenix 200 is the most important film photography product of 2024. It opened the doors to a new colour film facility at a British factory which has been continuously supplying us with photochemistry for over 140 years.
Film and Darkroom Save
Polaroid Go Film Review
June 3, 2024
Polaroid Go instant film packs include two perfectly miniaturized Polaroid I-Type/600 film cartridges — with the emulsion and frame materials faithfully replicated. They’re smaller (which makes them cheaper) but the choice of cameras that can take advantage of this format is limited.
Film and Darkroom Save
Film Photography News — May 2024 Recap
New Film, New Cameras, FREE Camera, ULF, and Film Canisters
May 28, 2024
Polaroid’s old-school SX-70 film packaging, but even more importantly: a significant update to their B&W 600 emulsions. Foma Bohemia and Shanghai also release new¹ films. Ilford announces their Ultra Large Format order window. I complain about the plastic 135 film canisters and the internet agrees. Nana (Kickstarter) and Lomo’Instant Automat are the new² film cameras just this month. Plus: northern lights 💫 on CineStill 800T pushed to 6400!
Community News Save
Giveaway: Kodak Ektar H35N Half-Frame Film Camera
Ends on June 23, 2024 ☝️
May 23, 2024
To win, comment on this article telling me why you’d rather shoot on film and share this page on a social network of your choosing by Sunday, June 23, 2024. ❤️
Community News Save

Anniversary Edition 🎈

A Letter for the Supporters

July 26, 2024

Polaroid Land SX-70 Quick Start Manual

Printable PDF 📑

July 23, 2024

How to Get Pastel Colours on Film

There’s More to It Than You Think

July 16, 2024

Canon FD 24mm 1:2.8 Ultrawide Lens Review

Sharp, Wide, Resistant to Flaring, Affordable — My Favourite Canon FD Lens!

July 12, 2024

Lomography Fantôme Kino 8 Film Review

A Slow Black-and-White Film for Sunny Bokeh, High Contrast, and Fine Grain

July 8, 2024

Accidentally Wes Anderson

Book Review

July 4, 2024

What’s Bokeh and How to Get It on Film?

Lens, Focus, Light, Film Format, and Film Type Can Make a Big Difference!

July 2, 2024

Visiting Algeria With My Olympus XA

A Long Story Short

July 1, 2024

Ricoh Auto Half E2 Film Camera Review

A Fully-Mechanical Point-and-Shoot Half-Frame Film Camera!

June 28, 2024

Rollei 35AF Instructions Manual

Printable PDF 📑

June 26, 2024

Film Photography News — June 2024 Recap

New Film Camera From Pentax, Rollei, Fuji: Film Made China, and Portra 800?

June 25, 2024

10 Half-Frame Film Cameras for Under $500

June 24, 2024

All the C-41 ISO 800 Colour Films, Compared

Portra 800 vs. FunSaver 800 vs. Lomo 800 vs. Aurora 800

June 24, 2024

Thank You and Welcome to Analog.Cafe GOLD!

A Letter for the Supporters

June 21, 2024

Asahi Pentax K1000 Film Camera Review

With the Kit SMC Pentax-a 1:1.7 50mm Lens

June 19, 2024

Kyocera/Yashica Samurai x3.0 Film Camera Review

A Camcorder-Looking Half-Frame Point-and-Shoot SLR With Motorized Zoom

June 13, 2024

Harman Phoenix 200 — New Colour Film Review

The Most Important Film Photography Product of 2024

June 8, 2024

Polaroid Go Film Review

June 3, 2024

Film Photography News — May 2024 Recap

New Film, New Cameras, FREE Camera, ULF, and Film Canisters

May 28, 2024

Giveaway: Kodak Ektar H35N Half-Frame Film Camera

Ends on June 23, 2024 ☝️

May 23, 2024