35mm Film

Contax 139 Quartz – Camera Review
1280 720 James Tocchio

I recently found myself the reluctant owner of a Contax 139 Quartz 35mm SLR, a camera about which I knew little and for which I cared even less. After all, if this rebranded, electronic Yashica…

read more

Not Everyone Needs a Leica
1200 675 James Tocchio

I recently overheard a teenage customer asking the clerk of a local camera shop about some gear. He wanted to replace his kit lens, but he couldn’t afford the lens he thought he needed to…

read more

How To Process Black and White Film at Home – Part One: What You’ll Need
5985 3351 James Tocchio

There’s no better way to connect with the very essence of the medium than by shooting black-and-white film, and while the C-41 process B&W films are at times excellent, our curiosity will inevitably get the…

read more

Five Best Cameras for Photography Students
1500 844 James Tocchio

There’s a certain question that I get asked virtually every single day. People need to know what camera they should buy for their upcoming high school or college photography class. It’s a great question, and one…

read more

Canon AE-1 – Video Review
2448 1632 James Tocchio

After much filming, lots of trial and error, and countless hours of editing, we’ve finally finished our very first video review. We’ve started with a camera that’s among the most popular film cameras of all…

read more

Minolta XE-5 – Camera Review
1280 720 James Tocchio

I began my photographic journey with a Minolta DSLR, the rather fantastic-in-its-day Maxxum 5D, so when I felt the urge to try some film shooting more than a decade later, Minolta became my launching point.…

read more

10 Holiday Gifts for Photo Geeks
1280 720 James Tocchio

The holidays are here, and you’ve got a photographer on your shopping list. At the best of times, this can be a daunting task; camera enthusiasts are seriously picky about their gear. But this isn’t just any shopping…

read more

Argus C3 – Camera Review
1024 576 James Tocchio

I love film cameras. But the idea that film will ever again be the dominant medium in photography is unthinkable. The technical mastery and convenience of today’s digital machines is just too amazing, and we love…

read more

Canon FD 24mm F/2.8 S.S.C. – Lens Review
1600 900 James Tocchio

Not long ago, I penned an opinion that every photo geek should own a wide-angle lens. In case you missed it, I talked about the incredible ability of wide-angle lenses to present a vision of the world that just…

read more

Why Everyone Should Shoot a Wide Angle Lens
2200 1467 James Tocchio

One of the simplest ways to increase the dynamism and visual interest of our images is by using a wide-angle lens. By widening our angle of view, we’re able to capture shots of the world around us…

read more

Pentax – A SMC 35mm F/2.8 – Lens Review
5817 3272 James Tocchio

I’m back from a brief vacation and I’ve brought with me a treasure trove of material for my photophile friends! First on the docket is a review of a pretty rare and rather wonderful legacy lens from Pentax.…

read more

Pentax ME – Camera Review
5815 3271 James Tocchio

Well, it’s finally happening. We’re reviewing a Pentax. It’s the Pentax ME, an entry-level 35mm film SLR that entices with its promises of creative photographic controls, exceptional optics, and adequate build quality, all joined with…

read more

The Best First Film Camera for Any Shooter
5269 2964 James Tocchio

It’s one of the questions we’re asked most often here at CP, across our social media accounts, and through our online shop. Every day, new shooters and experienced digital photographers ask us to help them choose their…

read more

Jay Tsujimura Soft Release Buttons – Product Spotlight
6000 3375 James Tocchio

Today’s product spotlight is firmly fixed on the exquisitely crafted hot shoe covers and shutter release buttons made by Jay Tsujimura. Based in Japan, Jay meticulously carves, shapes, and polishes tiny camera accessories in a variety of precious…

read more