2024 Camera Wrap

Well, 2024 is over.  For the film photographer, there was lots of news about cameras.  New cameras, improved cameras and more.  Lets just list the cornucopia of cameras that will keep on giving into 2025.

• Intrepid Camera introduced a new electronic shutter and lens for large format cameras in a Kickstarter.
• Chroma Camera released the 2024 CubePan Advanced 35mm camera and a technical lens cone, with rise, fall and shift for the Chroma Six17 series camera. 
• MiNT introduced the Rollei 35AF 35mm camera, PetaPixel reviews this camera.
• Ricoh Imaging released the Pentax 17 half-frame camera, which Kosmo Foto reviews.
• Lomography introduced the Lomomatic 110 camera, in the subminiature 110 format.  Kosmo Foto has a review for this camera as well.  

With everything from subminiature to large format covered last year, there must be something for the film photographer to be happy about.  While the reviews may not be as glowing as one would hope, the fact is that usable cameras are being produced and if companies see a positive reaction from the market, revised and improved versions may follow.

Thank you for reading Ag+ Process.  Have a Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2025!

A prosperous and happy new year to all!

The year 2024 was good to film photographers more than it was not, lets hope that trend continues!

Seasons Greetings 2024

Happy holidays to readers of Ag+ Process blog, friends and acquaintances!  

Thank you all for reading this blog and Your Blogger's postings on social media.

Have a prosperous New Year and many more!

Black Friday 2024

Ok, this post contains things other than Black Friday deals, perhaps not even discounted.  The purpose of this blog is to share resources for film photography, not to promote sales.  That said, MiNT Camera is offering a 10% reduction on a select set of camera packages, offer expires November 29th.  This vendor does not usually offer discounts at all, except to VIPs - those whom have already purchased a MiNT camera or product.

Another camera maker, Chroma.Camera, is offering 15% off all cameras until Sunday night this weekend, the 24th at 23:30 GMT.  The discount will appear in your checkout.  Double check that it is there before buying and beware of shipping costs outside the UK.

COOPH is offering 25% off their Holiday Gift Guide items until Novermber 27th.  The discount will be applied at checkout, double check that too, to avoid disappointment.  Items include rope straps, clothing, notebooks and more.

Not a sale, but for those who want to use 126 format film, the Film Photography Project is producing single roll bulk film with 126 perforations.  Unlike film with the usual 35mm perforations, this film should not jam most 126 cameras, in theory.  A 126 cartridge or adapter is required and must be loaded by the photographer.  FPP lists the following cameras that should now work using this film:  Rollei SL26, Kodak Instamatic 100 series, Keystone and others that may have jammed with regular 35mm perforated film.

FPP has also restocked 110 format film and for the that 90's vibe, they have some expired APS film and random APS point&shoot cameras.  APS was a short-lived format that was intended to be better than 35mm film for consumers, but maybe it was not.  The best feature might have been that the cartridge served as the storage for the processed film.  The cameras were fairly compact as well. 

CineStill Film is also in the game, putting out a 2024 Holiday Gift Guide of their products.  A careful read of the Guide might show some slight discounts on some products.

Have fun and make photos!

Ilford: Split Grade Printing

Rachel from Little Vintage Photography demos split grade printing, sponsored by Ilford.  The technique is discussed and results in actual prints are shown.   Ilford offers a version in text on the web, with a rundown on split grade printing the Ilford way with the full details.  

The 35mmc blog offers an alternative method of split grade printing, by Sroyon Mukhergee, with tips on dialing in the exposure.  To quote from the article:

This means we can, for example, selectively burn certain highlights (by burning during the soft exposure) or dodge the shadows (by dodging during the hard exposure), in each case leaving the other tones relatively unaffected. 

Enjoy this video by Rachel with Ilford's take:

 

Memorex: Posts for March 2024

The Polaroid I-2 camera is on sale for $100 off at the company's online shop.  Lowest price for awhile, if you were thinking of making the plunge.  The camera has a glass lens and takes i-Type Polaroid instant film.  Limited time, see offer for details.

https://www.polaroid.com/en_us/collections/i2-polaroid-camera

Wow, the instant film market is active this month!  Fujifilm gets a great Youtube review from Petapixel for the Instax Mini 99 camera (thanks Dmitri!).  This camera is a serious photographer's unit and has the features to back it up, along with in-camera film effects.  

www.analog.cafe/comments/2eud

The YT review from PetaPixel is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XOtuxamaAU

Now that Adox Scala reversal film has arrived in the USA, along with a two-step kit to process it, I am reminded of dr5.  A lab that used to specialize in reversal processing of any B&W in any format from 110 format to 11x14.  The lab has been resurrected as a twice yearly service.

The resurrected dr5 lab now does processing twice a year. The last time was in November, 2023, so the next run will likely be in May of this year.  While any film is possible, one would prefer a film with a clear base, though any will work.

The lab is now at: https://dr5.us/

Hey, Dimtri at the Analog Cafe blog has a comment on the tiny Polaroid Go 2 released a couple of weeks ago.  New and improved, the camera is worth a look as the smallest instant camera available.

https://www.analog.cafe/comments/bptx

Andrea Monti on 35mmc ponders whether photographs are authentic or not.  Does a photograph on film have more authenticity than one generated by AI?  Or is it up to the photographer?  Read on at: 

https://www.35mmc.com/21/03/2024/ai-or-not-ai-or-on-authenticity-and-photography

CineStill has partnered with Adox and will be bringing Adox products to the USA.

From film to chemistry, all things analog:  HR-50, CHS 100 II and Scala 50 reversal film.

For the darkroom, the legendary Rodinal developer, that lasts forever, stop bath and fixer.

Adox Scala reversal film, only $7 a roll on CineStill's site, now in the USA.  The processing kit is a bit pricier, $44 for a two step kit.  Adox looking to revive more products with this new deal with CS.

https://cinestillfilm.com/collections/adox

The Film Photography Project has announced fresh 127 format film is in stock!  From the Shanghai Jian Cheng Technology Col, LTD are Shanghai GP3 ISO 100 B&W film and respooled Kodak Gold 200 film.

https://filmphotographystore.com/collections/127-film

"Oppenheimer cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema urged aspiring filmmakers to shoot with old-school film formats in his Oscars acceptance speech."

PetaPixel writes about the challenges and advantages of celluloid; Kodak stepping up to make 65mm film for the first time.

https://petapixel.com/2024/03/11/oppenheimer-cinematographer-urges-filmmakers-to-shoot-on-analog-in-oscars-speech/

Intrepid Camera, the UK builder of large format cameras, has introduced their first 4x5 holder.  Available in limited quantities, the holder features the word Exposed on one side of the dark slide.  Production is expected to ramp up in April.  

https://intrepidcamera.co.uk/collections/accessories/products/intrepid-4x5-film-holder

The Cooperative of Photography, COOPH, has released a new camera strap, should you like pricey accessories.  It looks cool, that is for sure, check it out.

https://store.cooph.com/en-int/products/cooph-adjustable-rope-camera-strap

COOPH also has a youtube channel with all sorts of tips and tricks: 

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCooph

ThePhoblographer interviews artist Nastya Gornaya, a photographer who does multiple exposures in camera on film.  Check out her work: 

https://www.thephoblographer.com/2024/03/13/anastasia-markeeva/

The US Postal Service is offering, amongst others, stamps with Ansel Adams work on them:

https://www.stampinformation.com/2024/stamps/ansel-adams

Are people thinking about the eclipse on Apr. 8 yet?  Anyone have ideas to share on how to photograph it with film?  The WireCutter has some general tips that apply to film or not:

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/guides/photograph-a-total-solar-eclipse/

Steve Chroma, of http://chroma.camera/, is readying to debut a crowdfunding campaign for the 'Click' camera.  This camera features a glass 24mm f/11 lens, a fixed magnetic shutter and two frame setups.  A half frame option and a full frame option.  No electronics, no batteries - just the analog experience.

https://lomography.com/ has introduced the Lomomatic 110, a 110 format compact camera.  Available now, it has an optional, removable flash unit, automatic exposure, zone focus and a glass lens.  There are half a dozen different film emulsions available for this camera (and other 110 cameras) from Lomo.

Want to get your hands on some Harman Phoenix 200 colour film?  The https://filmphotographyproject.com/ says they have some in stock now!

In Canada, the Camera Traders have some Phoenix 200 at:

https://www.camera-traders.com/products/harman-phoenix

Ya got choices!

https://filmferrania.com/  wants to get the word out, that the new P33 film is available again in 35mm format on their shop.  This film is 160 ISO.  P30 is available in 35mm, also.

The 30m bulk roll of P30 remains unavailable.  Humph.

CBC: Gingerbread Camera 2

Dmitri of Analog Cafe built a camera out of gingerbread this year, and even ate it afterwards!  A Canadian media outlet did an interview with Dmitri, who demonstrated the camera in operation and described how to operate it.  The camera used a piece of paper tape for the shutter and a pre-made mechanism to eject the film with a crank handle.

Check out the awesome video!