Analog photography revisited in the digital age
Sometimes you come across a small and simple camera that can easily compete with larger and more expensive models. The underrated Perkeo series from Voigtländer belongs to this category. Anyone looking to get into medium format is in the perfect place with the Perkeo E, the last of the illustrious trio.
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The little and cute Samoca Super 35 is a real vintage rangefinder camera produced around 1956 by the Japanese company Samoca. It was designed to be a cheap, straightforward and compact 35mm film camera, featuring a rangefinder focusing system that helped photographers achieve accurate focus by aligning two superimposed images. It was a playful response to the strong competition with European cameras. And to be honest, it’s precisely that playful and busy design that stands out in a positive way.
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Anyone who wanted a cheap SLR camera in the 1960s or 1970s quickly came across the Japanese brand of Pentax. They offered affordable cameras with high quality, in a way comparable to Minolta. These brands were considered inferior to the big names such as Nikon and Canon, but nothing turned out to be further from the truth. The Pentax Spotmatic became one of the best-selling workhorses of all time. The Spotmatic was introduced by Asahi in 1964 and was the first camera with a TTL metering system, powered by a battery. The body took common lenses with the famous and widespread M42 screw mount. The camera was produced until 1976, so there are still plenty of second-hand copies available. This SLR is also recommended by many professionals as the most appropriate vintage camera to learn photography with.
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We review the OM-2 that includes an innovative aperture-priority automatic exposure mode. The Olympus OM system is a line of 35 mm single reflex film and modern, mirrorless digital (MFT) cameras and lenses. The successtory of this popular series dates back to 1972 as chief designer Yoshihisa Maitani invented ‘his’ Olympus Maitani. It was meant as a feasible answer to the German Leica’s M series; small, compact and yet advanced enough to label the series pro-consumer. Technology driven cameras that emerged in a fast evolving series, known for their portability and high-quality optics.
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The Voigtländer VSL-1 is a 35mm film single-lens reflex (SLR) camera produced by the German manufacturer Rollei. Yes, Voigtländer was already in possession of Zeiss and sold again in the demise of the great camera company. The new VSL-1 was actually the Zeiss (Ikon) SL706 and rebranded as a Voigtländer. Only a few hundred bodies were built in Germany, and most of them in Singapore. Despite this complicated intro the Voigtländer VSL-1 was very popular amongst amateur photographers and students.
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You are looking for a sturdy vintage SLR with a sexy look, then with the Edixa Prismaflex you have a hit. The 1968 German quality camera combines stylish design with useful features. Edixa is the camera brand with the most models in German history. The LTL was their final camera before the Japanese brands took over the business on the market.
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In 1935, the Berlin cameramaker C.F. Foth & Co. introduced its third instalment of the popular Derby camera, intended as a counterpart to the expensive Leica and Contax cameras. Main plus, although unintentional, was that it could hold 127 medium size rolls. Although 35mm film had already made its appearance, the quality of the medium format proved significantly better. Despite strong ambitions and good quality camera and lenses, it failed to gain a meaningful position in the consumer market. Consequently, you rarely come across a second-hand one. If you succeed, buy one because they look particularly good in the display case. Let’s review this old camera from an interesting era.
In the 1980s, Canon introduced the first SLR camera that had all automatic and manual modes. This laid the foundation for the definitive design of the still camera as we know it today. A tool for everyone and with an incredible range of accessories. Still sought after today but above all affordable.
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It seems that stereo photography is (on its way) out. Even in cinema, the popularity of wearing 3D glasses for hours on end is declining. A pity, considering the special experience of stereography. Many also do not know that 3D photography had a real existence in analog photography. Still, there is always hope, especially if you want to experiment with top-of-the-line stereo cameras from the past. Like the legendary 35mm Belplasca, the Holy Grail of stereocameras.
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German cameramaker Ihagee is mostly known for the Exakta cameras. Johan Steenbergen, a Dutch merchant, established the company (Industrie- und Handelsgesellschaft) in 1912. Steenbergen had previously been trained at Ernemann in Dresden. The German camera manufacturer gained much fame for its 35 mm SLR cameras. But before that their medium format cameras were succesfull as well. The most curious camera is the little Parvola.
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