Film Camera Zen
How to hunt for film cameras in Japan? - A Conversation with Bellamy Hunt
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtLo7z3qXZ4&t=94s
As you already know, I have been enjoying the renaissance of film photography. One of the most exciting aspects of this is that so many great secondhand film cameras are available on the world market. And these film cameras come in all shapes and sizes from simple point and shoots (like the wonderful Olympus XA) to 35mm gems from Leica rangefinders to Nikon SLRs, and medium format legends like Rolleiflex (both TLR and SLR) and Hasselblad (the camera that went to the moon).
Japan is the preeminent market for secondhand cameras where it is estimated something like 300 million cameras are available. So film is not going away any time soon. The resurgence of film is such that Pentax last year launched the first new film camera (though their parent company has now stated this was a one off). The range of film stocks is getting bigger as well, with companies like Harman and Lomography introducing some new and exciting creative films. Kodak recently closed down production for a month so that they could double the size of their American production plant to meet demand.
One young photographer who has never toyed with digital photography is Englishman, Bellamy Hunt. More than a decade ago he moved to Tokyo and now heads up Japan Camera Hunter. Apart from finding some of the most interesting cameras in the world and making them available for sale, he also leads tours of camera stores throughout Japan. www.japancamerahunter.com/about/
Film Camera Zen: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Film Camera (Chronicle Chroma, 2024) is his first book. So many great vintage cameras find their way into this book. It is organised alphabetically from Bronica to Zeiss [Such a pity he couldn't have included the Swiss cameras made by ALPA to begin this collection]. Most of the world's great camera makers are represented, including some very rare (and expensive models). But there are plenty of options here for people interested in affordable film cameras as well. You'll be able to find many of your favorites in here too.
To conclude the book, Bellamy includes some short notes about his favourite film stocks, which also includes the Japan Camera Hunter's own Streetpan 400 black and white film that started life as a surveillance film. www.japancamerahunter.com/2016/11/film-review-infrared-ph...
I have a roll of this film to shoot when I get home and will be able to show you some good samples (as long as I can get it through airport security without going through the x-ray machines).
There's a note on film developing, scanning and even some thoughts on the bright future of film photography. All in all a fun guide to the best that film offers the photographer today. We are truly spoiled for choice regardless of the size of our wallets.
If you are looking at getting into film photography this is a book you must have on your bookshelf. Even if you never shoot with one of these cameras it is nice to know something about them and the legends that made photography what it is today. Remember that digital has only been around commercially for 20 years, and chemical photography (including film) has been here since 1839. And it is not going away any time soon.
Over coming weeks I will introduce you to two of my "new" vintage cameras (both of which feature prominently in this book).
Film Camera Zen
How to hunt for film cameras in Japan? - A Conversation with Bellamy Hunt
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtLo7z3qXZ4&t=94s
As you already know, I have been enjoying the renaissance of film photography. One of the most exciting aspects of this is that so many great secondhand film cameras are available on the world market. And these film cameras come in all shapes and sizes from simple point and shoots (like the wonderful Olympus XA) to 35mm gems from Leica rangefinders to Nikon SLRs, and medium format legends like Rolleiflex (both TLR and SLR) and Hasselblad (the camera that went to the moon).
Japan is the preeminent market for secondhand cameras where it is estimated something like 300 million cameras are available. So film is not going away any time soon. The resurgence of film is such that Pentax last year launched the first new film camera (though their parent company has now stated this was a one off). The range of film stocks is getting bigger as well, with companies like Harman and Lomography introducing some new and exciting creative films. Kodak recently closed down production for a month so that they could double the size of their American production plant to meet demand.
One young photographer who has never toyed with digital photography is Englishman, Bellamy Hunt. More than a decade ago he moved to Tokyo and now heads up Japan Camera Hunter. Apart from finding some of the most interesting cameras in the world and making them available for sale, he also leads tours of camera stores throughout Japan. www.japancamerahunter.com/about/
Film Camera Zen: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Film Camera (Chronicle Chroma, 2024) is his first book. So many great vintage cameras find their way into this book. It is organised alphabetically from Bronica to Zeiss [Such a pity he couldn't have included the Swiss cameras made by ALPA to begin this collection]. Most of the world's great camera makers are represented, including some very rare (and expensive models). But there are plenty of options here for people interested in affordable film cameras as well. You'll be able to find many of your favorites in here too.
To conclude the book, Bellamy includes some short notes about his favourite film stocks, which also includes the Japan Camera Hunter's own Streetpan 400 black and white film that started life as a surveillance film. www.japancamerahunter.com/2016/11/film-review-infrared-ph...
I have a roll of this film to shoot when I get home and will be able to show you some good samples (as long as I can get it through airport security without going through the x-ray machines).
There's a note on film developing, scanning and even some thoughts on the bright future of film photography. All in all a fun guide to the best that film offers the photographer today. We are truly spoiled for choice regardless of the size of our wallets.
If you are looking at getting into film photography this is a book you must have on your bookshelf. Even if you never shoot with one of these cameras it is nice to know something about them and the legends that made photography what it is today. Remember that digital has only been around commercially for 20 years, and chemical photography (including film) has been here since 1839. And it is not going away any time soon.
Over coming weeks I will introduce you to two of my "new" vintage cameras (both of which feature prominently in this book).