Dmitri

Betty

35mm rangefinder, fixed 45mm f/2.5, S, 1965 Japan, $

Canon Canonet QL-25

A Gift From a Family Friend

Canon’s series of Canonet cameras are all fixed-lens 35mm film rangefinders. They are mostly known for the sought-after QL17 GIII, though they tend to differ widely in form and function throughout the line. QL25, isn’t nearly as popular its top-of-the-line rival, GIII, due to its bulkier construction and a slower 45mm lens that opens up to 𝑓2.5.

QL25

35mm rangefinder, LSM 55mm f/2.8, M, 1977 USSR, $

FED 5b with Industar-61

Made in USSR

ФЭД 5в (Russian в is read as an English v) is a Soviet-built rangefinder film camera with a Leica screw mount lens base, which typically comes with a 𝑓2. 8 55mm Industar-61 L/D. It is a fully mechanical shooter that can fire a silk curtain shutter between 1 and 1/500th of a second.

FED 5b With Industar-61

35mm zone focus, fixed 24mm/30mm f/8, M, 2007 Austria, $

Lomography Diana Mini

A Tribute to the Tiny Plastic Wonder

Diana Mini is a fixed-shutter-speed, dual-aperture viewfinder camera with plastic body and lens. It can shoot at 1/60th of a second, with a choice of 𝑓8 and 𝑓11 at 24mm focal length. The camera has a bulb setting, zone focusing switch, and allows toggling between half-frame and square format on 35mm film at any point.

35mm no focus, 4 ✕ fixed 24mm f/11, M, 2007 Austria, $

Lomography SuperSampler

For In-camera cubism

Lomography SuperSampler is a small plastic box with four 20mm fixed aperture 𝑓11 lenses. It is “in focus” from 1ft (30cm) until infinity. Its shutter fires at a fixed 1/100th of a second. There is no viewfinder. The camera accepts 35mm film and is recommended to be used with 800ISO for most situations.

35mm rangefinder, fixed 35mm f/2.8, A, 1979 Japan, $$

Olympus XA

Mini-Review

My well-used Olympus XA rangefinder had an iffy light meter needle and a loose door that kept on getting in the way. But it’s the red shutter button that pushed me to sell the little gem. Olympus XA is the smallest full-frame rangefinder camera. It comes with a fast 35mm F.

Instant 3⅛²” SLR, fixed 116mm f/8, auto, 1972 USA, $$$

Polaroid SX-70 Alpha 1

The Most Comprehensive Instant Camera and Film Guide Online

SX-70 is a stunning camera. Along with film, it is one of the most technologically advanced products ever created. This is Polaroid’s finest offering; world’s one and only foldable instant SLR. The company that built it occupied a position of respect and commercial success similar to what Apple is enjoying today.

Polaroid Land SX-70

35mm half-frame zone focus, fixed 25mm f/2.8, M, 1961 Japan, $$

Ricoh Caddy

My Half-Frame Camera of Choice

My husband and I purchased the Caddy as a set along with a Canon Demi. After some online research, I was initially set on keeping the Demi. It was a cuter and lighter camera… I chose the Ricco Caddy because it allows for more artistic control. Ricoh Caddy is a half-frame Japanese viewfinder camera with a tack-sharp 𝑓2.

35mm rangefinder, fixed 50mm f/2.0, M, 1954 Germany, $$$

Voigtländer Vitessa L3

German Precision Optics in a Foldable Rangefinder Camera

A brief history of the Voigtländer Vitessa series. Voigtländer Vitessa is a German 35mm film rangefinder camera, manufactured in the mid-1950s. At the top of its line, it boasts a highly-regarded fixed 50mm foldable Ultron lens with an aperture range of 𝑓2-22.

Voigtländer Vitessa L

35mm rangefinder, fixed 45mm f/1.7, A, 1970s Japan, $$

Yashica Electro 35

The Classic Rangefinder Camera

Electro 35 was a popular series of film cameras produced by Yashica around the 1970’s. They are fixed-lens rangefinders with 45mm 𝑓1. 7 Yashinon optics, an electronic shutter which fires in aperture-priority mode between 1/500ᵗʰ and 30 seconds. Electro 35 is not just one camera.

Joy Celine Asto

Take Kayo 嘉陽宗丈

2019 Edition

Shooting analogue cameras is not difficult, as long as you have a solid idea of how to do it right, which this guide should aptly provide. If you’ve already got your film and camera, scroll down to “Photography 101,” a three-part section about key photographic concepts.

A Beginner’s Guide to Film Photography

For Canada, US, EU, UK, Japan, and Thailand

Shopping for new film can be challenging. Especially if it’s something new and you are looking to get a good deal. Sticker prices for fresh stock can range anywhere between two and twenty dollars per roll. And there’s plenty of choices to get lost in.

35mm Film Price Guide

Photo essays written about travel, a place or a destination. Sorted by continent then country. This collection does not include gear-centric articles — just the stories about being or going somewhere.

Travel Essays

A collection of all the portrait photography on Analog.Cafe. Includes photo essays with human focus and/or prominent stories about the subjects. Street or event photography isn’t generally a part of this collection, unless the person(s) are at the heart of the narrative.

Portraits

Last year was my seventh year as a film photographer. I wrote the short essay below to mark the occasion. While cleaning my room a few days ago, I stumbled upon a big bag of empty film canisters. Most of them, I figured, were from my restless, shutter-happy years.

Still Scratching the Seven-Year Itch

Get Your Article or Essay Featured on Analog.Cafe

Analog. Cafe “A Film Photography Magazine” is a group effort. There certainly is no office; most of us never met. I’ve had an author send me submission while waiting for a delayed flight at an airport. Another came from an expat documenting his peculiar discoveries while living abroad.

Open Call

Film camera reviews and guides, illustrated by Betty and Dmitri. Sorted by brand then model. Listings include focusing mechanism and lens information. Primary shooting modes shown: [A]perture/[S]hutter priority, [M]anual, or auto.

Drawn Film Cameras

Lomography

Louis Dazy

Nicola D’Orta

Daisuke Hashihara

Yoshitaka Goto

Daniel Stewart

Samuel Eder

Specs, History, and a Detailed Overview of the New Film From Lomography

New colour film is coming! I spoke with Birgit Buchart, a Marketing PR Manager at Lomography USA on Thursday about the email I’ve received earlier. Titled: “Confidential: NEW Lomography Color Negative Film in the Making. ”Today I am able to reveal some of the details about this new stock.

Lomochrome Metropolis

Robert Buelteman

Beyond Cameras, Lenses, and Computers

Through the Green Fuse is a portfolio of images that I created as an interpretation and celebration of the design of being, and through them, to enhance my understanding of its nature. Nineteen years ago I felt the need to explore photographic processes beyond both traditional and innovative uses as the means to advance my self-expression.

Through the Green Fuse

Discounts, Downloads, Bookmarks, Submissions, Newsletter, and Magic Links

On Analog. Cafe, you can do a little more than with a typical art-inclined blog. Here you get to own an account that comes with a few perks. Discounts. If you’re interested in getting deals on film, printed publications, cameras, and more, there’s always something special waiting for you on Your Account page.