While we could do an entire episode on one of the world’s most under-rated, hidden gem cameras out there, the Nikon F90(x). It’s a camera we’ve talked about so much before we just had to take out several other cameras that need a little more limelight. Zenit E When it comes to iconic Soviet SLRs, the Zenit E comes to the top of most people’s list. And it’s one of the ‘good’ cameras that came out of the Zenit line of SLR, a heavy metal camera that is built like a Russian hammer. And honestly, most people buy the Zenit E and its un-metered cousinRead More →

We all need that little bit extra, that extra stop, that extra degree. For that, we pick up the heavy hitters, the big glass in our camera kits. If you’re someone who is an ultra-wide junky (Lens 24mm or wider) or wants only a sliver of your frame in focus (Lenses with apertures at f/1.4 or faster), this episode is for you! Konica-Minolta Maxxum AF 17-35mm 1:2.8-4 D When it comes to wide-angle lenses, Alex is a bit of a junkie, so when he found this beautiful lens for his Maxxum system he didn’t think twice. Now there are two versions of this lens, there’sRead More →

When you’re in a situation and your reputation is on the line you need something that works. But if the customer, client, or even your own personal project is on the line and you have to use film, then you want something that will work. Like work always, in any situation! Ilford FP4+ If you miss the ASA-125 rating of Kodak Plus-X, then look no further than Ilford FP4+. A film that dates back to the 1930s and has changed and grown as technology improved. FP4+ is Alex’s choice for outdoor shooting when the light is nice, even if cloudly. It responds well to beingRead More →

Connect to your inner self and welcome the power of the Olympus OM-System. A true gamechanger when it released the Olympus OM system turned the professional market upside down when it was released in the 1970s showing the world that a professional camera system didn’t need to be bulky. Join Bill and John along with special guest co-host Lori Brooks in our season six premiere as they discuss the magical single digit OM cameras, along with 3D printed cameras, and homebrew ECN-2 chemistry. The OM Factor Olympus already had an established name within the camera industry in Japan but had not ventured into the SLRRead More →

Roxanne! You don’t have to put out a red light…but in the case of the darkroom, it might be a good idea. Yes, the gang spends an afternoon in the darkroom pumping out prints. Including for Bryan his first darkroom print ever! Darkroom Printing While we have talked about darkroom work in the past, we’ve never actually done an episode where we’ve printed then sat down around the table to talk about the successes, failures, papers, techniques. And more importantly, introducing Bryan to the wonderful albeit sometimes frustrating joy of seeing your print come up on paper for the first time. After this recording, BryanRead More →

We here at the CCR have discussed the iconic Hasselblad camera system before and were to be rather honest rather critical on the system. But we didn’t dig too deeply into the camera’s history from it’s beginnings to where it has gone to date. That system is the V-System (formerly 500-Series), and today to help us dig into the camera’s history is two guests from Photoklassic International, Marwan Mozayen and Charys Schuler. As a company, Hasselblad was not always in the photographic industry. Started in 1841 the F.W. Hasselblad & Co. began as a trading company importing household goods into Sweeden which included sewing materialRead More →

These days you can pick up a ‘pro’ film body pretty cheap, but that doesn’t make you a professional photographer. The gang sits down to discuss not only the pro cameras in their collections and the finer points of being a pro photographer. Professional Cameras While many pro cameras can still command a high price on the used market, some of the older systems are relatively inexpensive for those who want to go with something a little older. And just because it isn’t an SLR doesn’t make it a professional camera. Nikon F6 While certainly not aimed at the professional market, the Nikon F6, however,Read More →

They aren’t flashy, pretty, but they do a good job. Like a Reliant K, they get you from point A to B without trouble or style. But they at least do a good job in the field. Public Service Announcement – New Hand Luggage Scanners Before we get into the main body of the episode, we here at CCR would like to bring attention to new scanners being employed by the American TSA. These new scanners are designed to better see inside your carry on and use a CT Scanner rather than traditional X-Ray scanners. And while they will allow the security officials to betterRead More →

If there is a single camera that you can point to in the history of photography that changed the way that professionals worked then the Nikon F would be that camera. While it did build on previous advancements (which we will get into), the Nikon F brought it all together like never before and began the idea of a camera system. That is a group of lenses and accessories that allowed a photographer to control and customise their camera to their tastes completely. On today’s episode, Bill and Alex Smith tackle this complex and revolutionary camera system. You have to understand one thing; the NikonRead More →

It’s been a long time coming, but here we are with our first episode on Instant Photography! And joining us today is our good friend and the latest addition to the team, Chrissie! Chrissie is a prolific instant shooter from Polaroid to Instax. In an Instant! Instant photography is nothing new and has, since the rise of the Impossible Project, now Polaroid Originals, and Fuji Instax has seen a resurgence since the death of Polaroid. And while many of the original cameras are starting to age, there’s still plenty to have out there! Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 If you think you’ve seen this camera before,Read More →