Retrospectives

Japan’s “Bloody May Day” and the Pistol Cameras That It Created
2800 1868 James Tocchio

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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A Vest Pocket Kodak Camera Retrospective
2000 1125 Echo Lens Photography

The Vest Pocket Kodak camera is over 100 years old. Here’s everything about it, and why it’s one of the most important cameras ever made.

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  • Echo Lens Photography
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F/8 And Be There – the Unclear Origin of a Photographic Mantra and What It Really Means
2560 1440 James Tocchio

James explores the unclear origin of “f/8 and be there” and contemplates what the photographic mantra really means today.

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These Star Wars Props Were Made Out of Vintage Camera Parts
2560 1600 James Tocchio

Star Wars is packed full of props, and its no surprise that many of them were made from recycled camera parts! Here are a few.

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A Final Salute to Nikon’s AF-D Lenses
2000 1331 Jim Graves

Jim Graves takes a fond look at Nikon’s AF-D series of lenses – the company’s first autofocus lenses that combine affordability and quality.

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  • Jim Graves
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A Better Look at Konica
1511 850 Dario Veréb

Dario makes a case for Konica (and other lesser-celebrated Japanese camera brands) in our latest retrospective.

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  • Dario Veréb
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Close Focus: The Life, Work, and Cameras of Robert Capa
2000 1125 Ryan Alexander Huang

Ryan examines the life and work of Robert Capa, by way of the cameras he used throughout his storied career.

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  • Ryan Alexander Huang
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As Olympus Exits the Camera Business, Let’s Look at Our Favorite Olympus Articles
2000 1125 James Tocchio

Olympus has quit the camera business. In fond rememberance, we look back at our favorite Olympus articles of the past six years.

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All About the Nikon Nikkormat Series – a Retrospective
2560 1440 Josh Solomon

Josh dives into the history of Nikon’s first succesful amateur SLR camera, with details by model and which you should buy today.

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Rokkor, Nikkor, Takumar and Zuiko – The Stories Behind Japanese Lens Names
2560 1440 Josh Solomon

What’s with those names? Josh briefly tells us the origins of lens brand names such as Nikkor, Zuiko, Rokkor, and Takumar.

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Women at War – Three Pioneering Female Combat Photographers – Part 2
1432 1127 Josh Solomon

We spotlight three incredible, pioneering conflict photographers who also happen to be women, in part two of our series on the topic.

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A Quick Look at the Polaroid Polaprinter Slide Copier
2800 1575 James Tocchio

Friday afternoon, end of the workweek, and my camera shop employee, Kyle, is walking out the door. I notice for the hundredth time a box in the corner of the office, and call, “Hey we’ve…

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Nearly Dead and Almost Forgotten – 127 Film Today
2800 1575 Jeb Inge

A brief history of 127 film, an overview of the cameras that shoot it, and whether or not shooting them is worth the trouble today.

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Women at War – Three Pioneering Female Combat Photographers
1544 925 Josh Solomon

James was tired of hearing about Robert Capa, so he asked me to write an article profiling female combat photographers. Writing it seemed like a straightforward task, until it wasn’t. I picked three photojournalists, and…

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