I came across my Mamiya U by chance back in 2020 while browsing eBay. Its unusual design — a square window cut out within a plastic semi-sphere for a round lens with a stark blue ring — screamed ‘80s Terminator chic. Unfortunately, every single copy sold had a disintegrated shutter button, amongst other issues. These cameras didn’t last, yet I still wanted one badly enough to stalk the market for over two years. Finally, in late 2022, I got an opportunity to purchase a mint-condition ...| Analog.Cafe
This article examines a wealth of data to reveal what people want and surfaces the one camera that we use and enjoy the most. The info here is based on hundreds of thousands of reader visits to this blog (currently, it’s 142K/mo), as well as anonymized stats from interactive tools like the Best Film Camera Finder and the Film Log . Read in full on Analog.Cafe.| Analog.Cafe
Ricoh GR1s is a premium film point-and-shoot camera that features a sharp 28mm 𝒇2.8 lens, encased in a light, pocketable magnesium alloy body, and filled with some of the best mid-’90s technological advancements. In this review, I’ll take a deep dive into Ricoh GR1s’ features, build quality, lens quality, and the realities of buying, using, and owning one. I’ll also quickly compare the GR1s to the original GR1 and pin both against the world’s smallest full-frame camera, the Minol...| Analog.Cafe
Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super B is an unusual but well-built camera that features a sharp, expressive lens. It uses relic technology, like a non-returning mirror box, but also features interchangeable film backs, a leaf shutter mount, and a 100% DOF viewfinder. It’s also very affordable.| Analog.Cafe
The 200mm Micro-Nikkor AI-S 1:4 IF is a telephoto lens that can focus as close as 2⅓ feet (61cm) while reproducing a 1:2 image on film or a full-frame sensor. In this review, I’ll explain what this lens is for, how it came to be, and what its modern analog is. Expect lots of samples, a full recollection of what it’s like to shoot, and whether you should get one, too.| Analog.Cafe
RETO Pano is a new, affordable, reusable compact camera with an ultra-wide 22mm lens and an optional panoramic mask. Having put several rolls of film through the see-through plastic model, I am genuinely impressed with the value it delivers. In this review, I’m sharing all that is good, a few issues, and a shooting guide for better photos.| Analog.Cafe
