Category: Film

Nikon F3

For a while I have been looking at which Nikon manual focus camera I should get, as I don’t own any Nikon. Turns out most filmfluencers that have one, have a Nikon F3. Here we go, I just got a Nikon F3. It feels like I got it for a good price, for what was one of the top Nikon 35mm SLR when it was released on 1979. It came with the period incorrect 2002 Nikkor AF 50mm 1.8 D which works fine with this camera. My specific camera was built in 1981.

A black Nikon F3 camera, with its lens and a brown leather strap, on a terracotta tile.
A Nikon F3 with a AF 50mm f1.8 D

The Nikkor AF 50mm f1.8 D that came with it is an autofocus lens with aperture ring and released in 2002 is an inexpensive but among the sharpest lenses. The nifty-fifty.

Now I need to understand what the various Nikon F lenses are. At least with Canon it’s simple. FL -> FD -> FDn. The latter two are interchangeable and FL is compatible with FD cameras using stopped down metering only (as FL doesn’t have aperture indexing), but not the other way around. The complexity of the Nikon lenses designation is also why that 2002 autofocus lens works great with the 1979 manual focus camera. Unlike Canons where EF lenses never were compatible with FD bodies (not even physically mounting).

I will talk more about it later after I shoot a roll of Kodak BW400CN that I pulled out of my freezer (bought in 2011 for U$5.25, it expired 03/2013) as it still is black & white July.

WideluxX pre-order

I mentioned the WideluxX a few times already. The WideluxX is a revival of the Widelux rotating lens panoramic camera, by SilverBridges, a venture between SilvergrainClassics and Jeff Bridges. Yes, that dude.

It is now available for pre-orders, and the price is CA$6020 (+ taxes) or €5200 (incl. VAT). At the time of this writing, there is only 60 left of the initial production run of 350.

For those who think it’s overpriced, I think I have to disagree. It is made in Germany. It is a complete redesign of the Japanese made Widelux with the aim of being of solid quality. A Leica M6 new cost more, without lens. It’s also a unique camera: while there were in the past a few different manufacturers of rotating lens panoramic cameras, but this is currently the only one making them.

Link: First impressions: Lomography LOMO MC-A

I mentioned the Lomography LOMO MC-A recently. Kosmo Foto has had the privilege to shoot with one for a while and now have their first impressions of the Lomography LOMO MC-A.

Lomography is know for cheap plastic cameras that define the style of what people call “Lomography”, a sort of lo-fi photography.

Lomography’s new 35mm compact camera is a world away from simpler cameras like the LomoApparat or the Fisheye No. 2.

As it stands the LOMO MC-A is already on a different trajectory of more premium, with a build quality that feel solid with metal parts, exposure system, autofocus with manual options.

The test rolls seems to show good results. At ₤450 (CA$699) it’s definitely not cheap, but the result seems to be on par. This show the commitment of Lomography to film photography in general, as they also release a new film. Kosmo Foto expects to publish a more thorough review in 2026.

Analogue aF-1

Analogue announced the pre-order for the Analogue aF-1.

The aF-1 is a compact 35mm point-and-shoot camera designed by the Amsterdam company Analogue. It has 35mm f2.8 glass lens, LiDAR autofocus and built-in flash. All the features expected from the early 21st century point-and-shoot.

The pre-order price is 449€ or CA$790 (+ shipping) for a delivery Q1 2026.

Specs are not unlike an Olympus mju-II.

More film: Lomography LomoChrome Classicolor 200

A day after Kodacolor 100 and 200 are announced, Lomography comes out with a new 200 ISO colour negative. LomoChrome Classicolor 200 is a “limited edition”. Not sure why limited edition, I suspect they might have obtained a limited stock of something no longer produced. CN100 is thought to be a Kodak stock that is not available under a different brand.

It will be sold for CA$13.90 which is higher than of the Kodacolor 200 listed at CA$16.00.

via Kosmo Foto

And the Kodacolor announcement was such a big deal that non photography outlets talked about it.

Kodacolor is back

The year is 2025 and Kodak announces Kodacolor. Like this was 1942.

Old is new again.

This news has been all around the internet, Kosmofoto has some details: Kodak launches new films called Kodacolor 100 and 200.

The short version is Kodak, not Kodak Alaris, will be selling a C-41 colour negative film, 100 and 200 ISO, in 135 rolls of 36 exposure, called Kodacolor. We see them listed at US$9.75. At the moment it is unclear which stock these two films are made of.

Kodacolor was the name for the 1942 colour negative film Kodak release to the market. It was the first colours negative for colour printing and had a speed of 25 ASA and later 32 ASA. It was discontinued in 1963 to be replaced by Kodacolor X, at 64 and later 80 ASA, and then in 1974 by Kodacolor II which used C-41 process to replace the C-22 process previously used. That latter version was 80 and then later 100 ASA. The last version of Kodacolor was Kodacolor Gold…

Update: I see the Kodacolor 100 and 200 listed for CA$15.75 and CA$16.00 respectively.

Flying with film w/ airport scanners

Lina Bessonova, a Germany based photographer did put to a test airport scanners and how they damage film. Hint: they do. You can read the details:

Flying with Film: Airport Scanners Test.

Her costly methodology involved making test rolls of various type, going through scanners a few times, and also going through the new CT scanners that are unfortunately now installed in airports like Amsterdam (AMS).

The quick result is that these CT scanners are very bad for film, and that even lead lined bags don’t prevent the damage, even though operators seem to have more difficulties seeing through. Even 50 ISO black and white is impacted. Lina has a very detailed set of samples.

If you fly in Canada, I would recommend to print the page about camera equipment from CATSA that recommend requesting a hand inspection. English and French. I think I will avoid. It’s not that I fly much anyway.

Harman Phoenix II

Harman just announced Phoenix II, the successor of Phoenix, their experimental colour negative film. Phoenix II replaces the “limited edition” Phoenix, improving on colour rendition, and offering more exposure latitude. Available in both 120 and 135.

Don’t have it, so I can not tell. But here is from around the web:

– Petapixel Harman Phoenix II is a Brand-New Color 35mm and 120 Film Stock, presenting the Harman promotional images taken by various early recipients.

– JCH Film News: Harman Phoenix II rises with a few pictures.

– Kosmofoto Harman Technology releases Phoenix II colour negative film, followed up by First rolls: Harman Phoenix II (35mm) and First rolls: Harman Phoenix II (120).

If you liked Phoenix (the red box) then stock up. It is until supplies last.

Previously: New films