Fabrice on Film

After photographing for over 25 years, I realized the ideal camera(s) for me has to have the following: -Very small in size / light -WYSIWIG viewfinder if possible -Manual focusing capable -Cell / under or overexposure indicator -Freedom to shoot - aka not having to worry too much about reaching the end of the roll too fast -Give me an "analog photography" feel - aka the results need to feel like film -Double Exposure capable -Interchangeable lenses These are my 8 Golden Rules for me to fall in love with a tool and incorporate it in my workflow. Therefore, my favorite cameras to own and use are the following: 110: -Pentax Auto 110 - 6 out of 8 Golden Rules, one extra point for being a SLR that fits in a jacket pocket and giving out outstanding results 35 half-frame: -Olympus Pen F (with two lenses) - 8 Golden Rules attained! - extra point for the freedom brought by half-frame (72 exposures...)     35mm: -Minolta X-300 - 8 Golden Rules attained! Medium Format: I'm still s...

 One of the things I enjoy about shooting film is using cameras that were designed before the digital era, built out of nice materials, and meant to be nice to look at, simple to use, and durable.  So when I found out about Vermeer cameras, I immediately wanted to try one out.  Cezary Bartczak makes them by hand in Poland, out of wood, metal, copper, and each piece is numbered. The cameras, which come in blue or brown, are absolutely beautiful, and would look great in anyone's collection even as an object to display.  The Vermeer Curved Plane Medium Format Camera The pinhole lens The beautiful, metallic knobs on top of the Vermeer Curved Plane Camera The numbered plate at the back, hiding the photo numbers window. And while many people out there think film cameras are not being manufactured anymore, the Vermeer cameras offer a good counterargument.  Rather than giving money to camera manufacturers such as Canon or Sony, which perpetuate a business model based on...

I picked up this Kodamatic Nº2 at a flea market for $10, because it looked great and because the shutter fired, but little did I know what challenges it would bring. The bellows had holes in it. The front lens focused at different distances than the ones marked. And it shot 616, a long-lost format. "Challenge accepted" said a little voice inside my head... I tediously sprayed the bellows with black sealant for two months. I measured the focus and corrected the distance markings using a laser rangefinder. Oh, and I designed and 3D printed adapters to fit 120 film inside it. Turns out the hard work paid off: the photos are simply beautiful! Largest negatives I've ever shot (61x108mm).       

 In 2015, I was asked by Film Shooters Collective to review one of my all-time favorite cameras, the Pentax Auto 110. The review, which contains many samples taken with this incredible camera, can be found here . If you own one and you want to show it some love, run a roll of fresh film through it. If you don't and you'd love to use one, find one and get busy shootin'!