There’s something to be said about OEM lenses with full compatibility, native mount support, and a high level of quality control. That all comes with a cost attached. Then there are third-party manufacturers: companies that often offer the same level of compatibility, quality control, and multiple lens mount options, but many don’t carry a price tag as high as the original manufacturers’. So today, we have John and Bill, joined by Mario and Brian, to discuss all things third party, from classic Tokina, Tamron, and Sigma. Modern options from TTArtisans and 7Artisan lenses, and of course, Light Lens Labs, who are painstakingly creating modern, affordableRead More →

And Now for Something Completely Different… Today, Alex is joined by David Smith, a Biology professor and researcher at Western University in London, Ontario. While we mostly talk about cameras on the show, David has something unique: microscopes. As many history nerds know, many camera companies we know and love today began producing optics, including microscopes. Dr Smith came by this affinity for collecting honestly, as his mom is an antique dealer. David talks about his microscopes, how he started the collection, and how it led to film photography and a fantastic collection of Leica rangefinders, lenses, and medium-format cameras. You can find Dr SmithRead More →

Last year we chatted with James McFarlane about his journey and pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. What we did not count on is finding a second film photographer who took his film photography on his own pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. Today Tyler Cahoon of the Retro Film Project joins Alex and John as he talks about his Camino journey, the reasons behind his pilgrimage, the people, the photos, the cameras, and film that came along. You can find more from Tyler online… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retrofilmproject Watch Tyler’s Camino Journey Here: https://youtu.be/uOl7Dkm9VEE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrofilmproject/ Looking for a good spot to get your gear andRead More →

We’re back for Season 12! While we wanted to include a Mystery Camera Challenge as part of our 10th anniversary season, it just didn’t work out. So James, Alex and Bill head into Toronto to kick off the new season with another Mystery Camera Challenge, our sixth! This time around, we each drew a name and used that person’s camera, and then grabbed a roll of film from the other person! The cameras in this episode include Alex’s Nikon F65 with a 24mm f/2.8 lens, which James used, and a roll of Ilford HP5+. From Bill came the Nikon F90x with the 35-70mm f/2.8D, whichRead More →

It’s been a while since we’ve done one of these shows. It was back with the Nikon FA, and in that case, we just passed the camera around the table. But today we have something special, the Pentax MZ-S, the last professional camera from Pentax/Asahi with a rich history. The camera was provided by John Roberts (who is back on the show today). It was used by Alex, James, and Bill, along with the three limited-edition lenses that were released with the camera. You can read more on the Pentax MZ-S Alex’s Written Review & Video Review James’ Review Bill’s Thoughts Looking for a goodRead More →

We’re at the end of summer, and, like you, we don’t know how it went by so quickly. Also, the constant heat warnings here in Southern Ontario limited when and how long we could get out and practice photography. However, James, Alex, and Bill all had the opportunity to get out or at least intended to practice photography. And today, they sit down to discuss mostly film stocks, such as Phoenix II and Kentmere 200, which were used by the team’s cameras. But also when things go sideways and the best intentions to get out and shoot end up with leaving the camera (accidentally) behind.Read More →

Photography is a journey, and sometimes that journey intersects with another, and that’s what today’s episode is all about. For those who don’t know, the Camino de Santiago or Way of St. James is a network of pilgrim ways all leading to the Shrine of the Apostle James at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. And a couple of months ago, it was completed by a friend of the podcast, James McFarlane. James and Alex sit down to talk about the journey, the photography, and how it changed him. It’s something a little different for the podcast, but something thatRead More →

When it comes to photography, there’s always going to be the popular items. The ones that everyone wants to have and use, we’re talking the Leica M3, Canon AE-1, fast prime lenses, trending film stocks like Portra, and all the normal developers out there. But what about those things that are often overlooked, underrated and underappreciated? Well, that’s exactly what James, Bill and Alex sit down to talk about in today’s episode. From the Leica M5 to the Olympus OM series, 28mm f/3.5 lenses, slow films, and different developers, nothing is off the table. Looking for a good spot to get your gear and materialRead More →

This episode is another live show from the streets of Toronto during our 10th Anniversary Photo Walk & Brewery Tour. The tour took the gang from Sugar Beach and the Great Lake Brew Pub on Lower Jarvis, through Old Town Toronto and into the Distillery District for Old Flame Brewing Co and into Riverside for Eastbound Brewing and into Leslieville for Radical Road, Black Lab, Rorschach and finally Godspeed Brewery. Despite the weather (which was not plesent) about twenty people attended the event and everyone enjoyed the shorter, but safer walk. Alex took time to record short interviews with twelve folks attending and asked themRead More →

They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and that certainly includes the personalities of the film photographers! Join Alex as he sits down with Nick LoPresti, if you haven’t seen his work he certainly has a certain flare for humour, big jokes a bit of self-deprecation and a flare for not taking himself seriously. And you know, it’s a refreshing take on a hobby that often takes itself way too seriously. I mean, we here at CCR can often lean into the serious side of things, but we also don’t take ourselves too seriously. To find more of Nick’s Work, check him out inRead More →