There’s no doubt about it, the 80s was a loud decade. Loud Hair, Loud Colours, Loud TV, and Louder Music. And then there are the cameras, the 1980s marked a radical shift in camera technology. You had the advent of consumer autofocus (which was noisy), the introduction of compact point-and-shoots, and the matrix metering systems. And we’re not saying the cameras we have today are loud, but they certainly speak volumes. Cameras featured on today’s show… Minolta XG-M The XG-M would become the more desirable of all the cameras in the XG-M series as it has full manual controls. It’s small, light-weight, and has aRead More →

Some media focuses on the camera, others show cameras just in the background, but between the seven of us we have a lot of cameras many of which have been featured on the big and small screen, so for July, it’s our own summer blockbuster! Kodak Retina – Four Weddings and A Funeral One of the best little rangefinders to come out of Kodak German plant, the Retina series is one that holds a special place in any photographer who owns one. Though people with large hands have some trouble with the tiny controls of the camera and it seems odd that such an olderRead More →

Regular Maintenance – Keeping your Camera in Fighting Shape Ever since Ontario lost Roger, the former owner/operator and general all-around genius with most camera systems, getting your camera maintained has been a hit-and-miss operation. But there are plenty of options that you can do yourself! And to bring us up on how he handles his used cameras is James Lee. One of the best tools he uses is the Mr Clean Magic Erasers to help clean up scuffs, marks, oils, and generally ground in dirt. Lysol Wipes are okay, but a little too damp, however, you would be better off using Electronics Cleaner or isopropylRead More →

In all cases, it’s all about picking the right gear for the job, so this episode the gang talks about the cameras they use when they’re in specific situations from street photography to travel, sports to portrait work. It’s all about picking the right poison for the job. Portraiture – James is an amazing portrait photographer who has done hundreds of wedding and even taught on the subject. And while he does shoot plenty of digital images when out doing portrait work he uses a few film cameras. The iconic Hasselblad 503 and more importantly the Carl Zeiss Sonar 150mm f/4 lens and the otherRead More →

We’ve had a lot of experiences out in this digital world with our film cameras so we all sit down to share some of the more interesting stories of what we’ve experienced out there. And we’re not just talking about the age-old “Can you still get film for that” question. But run-ins with the law, security, great conversations, strange questions, and so much more. So sit down, take a listen, and let us know in the comments of any stories you have! Looking for a good spot to get your gear and material fix check out Burlington Camera (Burlington, ON), Downtown Camera (Toronto, ON), FilmRead More →

Today we talk about those great little cameras that may not hit the professional mark, but instead take on a more plastic approach. That’s right we’re talking consumer cameras this episode we also have a great new film stock to talk about, that’s right the first film out of Kosmo Foto, Mono 100! Cameras in Today’s Show… Nikon F90 Don’t let this camera fool you, the Nikon F90 is a solid piece of engineering often overshadowed by the Nikon F4, but for John and Alex, it is their camera of choice when they want an SLR, without having to carry around a massive camera. Make:Read More →

When it comes to T-Grained (modern films like TMax and Delta) I can be fairly picky, the 100-speed ones I tend to like while the faster 400-speed ones I can be overly critical about. That being said I’ve found that recently I’ve been warming up to these faster emulsions the more I experiment with them. As with Delta 400, I’ve warmed up a little to TMax 400. Oddly, TMax 400 was the first roll of film I processed on my own under the watchful eye of Julie Douglas back in 2010. Film Specs Type: Panchromatic B&W, T-Grain Film Base: Acetate Film Speed: ASA-400, Latitude: 50-3200Read More →

We’re in the midst of a cold snap here in Ontario but that’s no reason to always stay inside. So the gang brings up their best and worst choices for cameras out in the cold weather! We also discuss the weird things we do to film in shooting and processing. Cold Weather Cameras – The Best What are our cameras of choice when out in the cold? Well everyone has a different approach to why they pick certain cameras when heading out for some cold weather shooting. Mamiya m645 – When it comes to usability outside, a camera that relies on a battery and electronicsRead More →

While we mostly focus on cameras on our podcast, with the weather reports speaking to a classic Canadian winter it might be time for the whole gang to settle into some solid printing time in the darkroom. So to get us and you ready the gang speaks on everything darkroom that’ll have you seeing red (under your safelight). Enlargers, chemicals, papers and more. Sorry, no detailed episode notes for this show. But here are some of the items discussed. Durst M601 – A solid enlarger that has a built-in film carrier with adjustable masks that work great for 35mm up to 6×6. Leitz V35AF –Read More →

Some cameras are best left in the studio, yet we still give ourselves back problems by carrying them out into the field with us! The gang takes on the entire chiropractic industry by flaunting our massive cameras that are best left inside, yet we’ve authorised these beasts for field use. Cameras Featured on this Show Mamyia RZ67 -Have you ever wondered what sort of quality photos a cinderblock with a lens would take? Well, that is pretty much what the RZ67 is, a cinderblock that takes stunning images! Surprisingly there’s even strap mounting lugs on this beast! The electronic version of the all mechanical RB67Read More →