UK website Photographer David Johnson says, “Vintage cameras have an irresistible appeal that transcends time.
Holding a classic camera in your hands connects you to the rich history of photography.
These cameras were crafted with precision and designed to last, embodying an era when photography was an art form pursued with passion and dedication.
Using a vintage camera adds a touch of nostalgia, allowing you to experience the craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into their creation.”
Edmonton photographer Jasmine Orr, who owns about a dozen vintage cameras writes, “In recent years, the popularity of the devices has outstripped supply — driven largely by a longing for an analog past. The film photography industry was brought to its knees about a decade ago, but it’s experiencing a rebirth.
“I feel like I can attach more emotion to a film photo,” said Jasmine Orr, who owns about a dozen cameras and enjoys taking photos of urban landscapes in Edmonton.”
I began with those two quotes because they are just two of the ever-increasing cadre of vintage film camera users that are using cameras that were once the main tools of serious photographers. (In 2006 Nikon announced that it would stop producing film cameras and Canon discontinued its last film camera in 2018)
I have mentioned the popularity of vintage film cameras several times. When writing about a past Vancouver Used camera show I said; the younger crowd showed little interest in digital and instead to look at the kind of cameras that I had used before most of them were born.
I will admit talking with young photographers excited with film is fun. And I at the time wondered “how long this craze will last, I understand there are lots of people searching for and listening to records these days and like that “retro” trend and I expect film will be popular for some time to come.”
One would think that digital photography almost has passed us by if as this past month or so the only interest patrons of my shop have shown is in film cameras.
The customers snatching up the analog devices are all people under the age of 25. I talked with one film photographer about what I thought was a hassle of using film and he said he enjoys that process of slowing things down and the lack of immediate results.
I do like his attitude. If you are involved with photography as a creative art I suppose slowing down, enjoying the process and see it as a mode of self-expression is a good thing.
In an article by a Calgary-based CBC news journalist Anam Khan, “The quality with a digital camera is going to be sharper. You’re going to have a million pixels in an inch. And with a film photo, depending on the camera you use, it’ll be blurry no matter how good the lens is, and it’ll be grainy. But I love the character it has.”
Vintage cameras are not usually expensive (there are a few like Leica that are) and one can with a little searching find a model the works well and is fun to use. Film and processing is pricey, but I save my film cameras for special occasions and use my digital for those times that I want to take lots of photos or when I am experimenting with different exposures.
Stay safe and be creative. These are my thoughts for this week. Contact me at www.enmanscamera.com or emcam@telus.net.