Jackson Laurie -- Film Camera Journal

Why the Leica M3 is Still the Best Camera Ever Made

Jackson Laurie — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000

The Leica M3 was made between 1954 and 1966. It has a 0.91x viewfinder, the best optical viewfinder ever put in a 35mm camera. The shutter is a cloth focal-plane shutter that is quiet, accurate, and reliable. The build quality is extraordinary. Nothing made since has improved on it for 50mm and longer work.

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What a Camera CLA Actually Involves

Jackson Laurie — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 09:00:00 +0000

CLA stands for clean, lubricate, and adjust. It is the standard service procedure for a mechanical camera. The technician disassembles the camera, cleans the mechanisms, replaces dried or contaminated lubricant, adjusts the shutter speeds and other calibrations, and reassembles the camera.

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Shooting Cinestill 800T in Florida at Night

Jackson Laurie — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Cinestill 800T is a tungsten-balanced film rated at ISO 800. In Florida at night, it renders neon signs and street lights with a distinctive red halation caused by the removal of the remjet backing. The grain is visible but not unpleasant. The colour shift toward blue in daylight becomes an asset after dark.

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Buying Vintage Cameras on eBay Without Getting Burned

Jackson Laurie — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

eBay is still the largest marketplace for vintage film cameras. The key is knowing how to read a listing. Cosmetic grades are unreliable. Shutter speeds are rarely tested. Light seals are almost never mentioned. Ask the seller to test the shutter and send a photo of the seals before you buy.

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Switching to Medium Format for Florida Landscapes

Jackson Laurie — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

The move from 35mm to medium format is not about resolution. It is about the way you work. The Hasselblad 500C/M forces you to slow down. Twelve frames per roll. A waist-level finder. A shutter in the lens. For Florida landscapes, where the light changes slowly and you have time to think, this is an advantage.

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