I find myself in the odd position of deciding when/if I will replace a camera’s light seals. The question seems simple— and it is, if you have only a few cameras. However, the VMLP has made the issue of when/if to replace light seals one for debate. I haveContinue Reading
I bought two rolls of Fuji Pro 400H a few years ago, and they remained in the freezer until this summer. To be honest, I had forgotten about them until I inventoried my film stock. I can’t recall why I bought this film other than to try it out–noContinue Reading
On looking at the negatives, my first thought was of the old Outer Limits TV show. The odd light patch looked like a spider from another dimension (I took that show way too seriously). Apparently, this happens with high-speed film in dry conditions. I was testing focus accuracyContinue Reading
For the last four years, I have been scanning and developing at home. Scanning B&W film is usually straightforward, while color film can be a headache. Rarely am I dissatisfied with B&W scans straight from the scanner. A while ago, I learned to adjust the scanner settings usingContinue Reading
By May 2019, I was three months into my photography journey. My camera collection consisted of a Maxxum 7000i with a crumbling grip, a Maxxum 5 with a discolored focus screen, 600si, 7xi, 700si, 7, and 7000. It had been maybe a little more than a month since IContinue Reading
The Epson V600 arrived in 2020 when the pandemic closed everything. My first scanning setup paired the V600 with a 2012 MacBook Pro. Once I got the correct drivers, that combo worked fine. Then, two years ago, without warning, my Mac died, and I got an M1Continue Reading
I have seven types of cameras: AF SLR, Manual SLR, P&S, rangefinder, TLR, folding, and digital. I count the Pentax 645 as a manual SLR. There was a time when I had only AF Minoltas. They all work pretty much the same, with the higher-level models having more features. AsContinue Reading
User manuals are good for learning controls and basic functions, but using a camera effectively requires more information. Eventually, I discovered the Hove Foto Books and the Magic Lantern Guides, which helped me take better advantage of camera features. Along the way, I came across Carl Shipman’s guides, which coveredContinue Reading
I’ve spent much more time testing cameras and lenses than trying to produce art. My still-life ambitions and desire to shoot North Georgia landscapes haven’t lessened. However, casual shooting has made it clear that I need a better understanding of the tools of the trade. A fundamental question for thoseContinue Reading
The first time I saw a picture of the Konica Pearl II, I knew one was in my future. It had the right balance between art and machine; what little I had read about it was decidedly positive. My quest for a Pearl grew from my desire to shoot withContinue Reading
