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James Tocchio

James Tocchio

James Tocchio is a writer and photographer, and the founder of Casual Photophile. He’s spent years researching, collecting, and shooting classic and collectible cameras. In addition to his work here, he’s also the founder of the online camera shop Fstopcameras.com.

A Cheap Lens and a Rabbit
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James photographs a rabbit with an old telephoto zoom lens. It took 30 minutes, 60 dollars, and his mind off of stressful stuff.

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I Shot Wolfen NC500, a New Color Film from ORWO
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James stands in the Gulf of Mexico, gets sun poisoning, and shoots the new color film from ORWO, Wolfen NC500.

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The Dubious Origin and Uncertain Future of the “Standard” 50mm Lens
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James examines the origin of the 50mm “standard lens” and why what we percieve as “standard” may be changing for the better.

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Shooting a 100-Year-Old Camera – the Contessa Nettel / Zeiss Piccolette
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James shoots a 100-plus year old camera, the Contessa Nettel / Zeiss Ikon Piccolette. And we have pictures!

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Japan’s “Bloody May Day” and the Pistol Cameras That It Created
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A violent protest in Japan in 1952 lead to a new treaty with the United States, and a handful of odd pistol-shaped film cameras.

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Voigtlander Nokton 40mm F/1.2 Aspherical Lens Review – Nikon Z Mount
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James reviews the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm F/1.2 Aspherical, an ultra-fast manual focus prime lens for Nikon’s Z Series cameras.

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Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm F/2.8 VR S Macro Lens Review
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Nikon offers two dedicated macro lenses in their Z Series lens range. Here we review the longer of the two, the Nikkor Z MC 105mm.

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The Three Fs of Polaroid Photography
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During a televised comedy special in the 1980s, a once-beloved comedian famously spoke the old witticism that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” After that,…

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Canon Sure Shot Zoom XL Review
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James reviews the Canon Sure Shot Zoom XL, a chunky Canon point and shoot 35mm film camera that first debuted in 1989.

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The Nikon Z5 is the Best Value Full Frame Mirror-less Camera Available Today
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Here’s why the Nikon Z5 is the best value full frame mirror-less camera you can buy today.

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Pentax Unveils Plans to Build a New Range of Film Cameras
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Pentax unveils plans to release a whole range of new film cameras! Details here!

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A Thank You Note, and Happy Holidays
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Ray Bradbury, my literary hero, famously posted a sign above his typewriter that read “Don’t Think.” The idea, as he related it, is that a writer should write not with his or her head, but…

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Keks KM02 OLED Light Meter Review
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James reviews the latest OLED light meter from KEKS, the KEKS KM02. At $110, it’s a real contender for best value light meter.

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Ray Bradbury’s Sun and Shadow Shines a Light on Photographic Cultural Appropriation
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Ray Bradbury’s Sun and Shadow is a beautiful short story that examines photographic cultural appropriation. Synopsis and thoughts in today’s article.

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