Links and Resources

If you know of a resource that might be useful for others that should be listed here, please feel free to suggest it!

Other blogs and forums that I read (not every day – I’m not crazy!)

  • TheEyeOfPhotography  Really great source for keeping up with historical and current photographers, events, workshops, shows worldwide.  
  • PetaPixel   I like the variety of posts on this blog, but reading it less these days.
  • Large Format Photography Forum  There are a lot of very experienced LF photographers here – I’m learning a lot from them.
  • Photrio.com – (formerly APUG.org)  Same as above – Very good source for film-centric information.
  • F-stoppers  – Some interesting stuff here, lots of analog stories
  • The Phoblograher.com  –  Lots of information about both new and older cameras (mostly digital, but some film) posted regularly.
  • Lenscratch – This is more about the art and artists than about gear
  • Ming Thien Photographer – An amazingly talented individual with excellent insight, clear writing, and most importantly fantastic photo work
  • The Online Photographer – Mike Johnston – Very cogent and unbiased information here about a broad range of photography subjects.
  • Steve Huff – I like his Film Friday section the best but lots of good stuff here
  • OpenPhotographyForums  – 
  • Luminous-Landscape – this was the go-to place for professionals and users of medium format digital backs.  I spent most of my time in these forums in the last years, but lately, it has been taken over by internet trolls so it’s not as good as it used to be.
  • Photo Aesthetics Interesting articles on gear, art, photographers and more – by Mark Dubovoy and Jim Taskett and additional high profile guest writers.
  • Image Sensors World –  This blog is a great resource of information about image sensor tech
  • http://blog.kasson.com/   Jim Kasson is a wonderful photographer with very deep technical insight
  • Photo.net –  This is one of the first forums I started to read years ago.  Don’t let its outdated format fool you – this is a good resource with many talented and knowledgeable posters and decades of searchable information in it.   I don’t visit that often anymore but its a great resource.
  • TheCreatersproject – Creativity, Arts, and Technology
  • Emulsive –  A comprehensive photography but obviously film centric blog – lots of great articles
  • Lensculture  This is a online magazine featuring very good photowork from contemporary and historical photographers. 

General Camera and technical information

  • Film Holder Specifications This page has all you need to know if you are calibrating focus on your LF camera, building one, or film holders.
  • Olympus OM system close-up and macro equipment resources
  • 120Folder.com – A useful resource site specific to folding cameras with or without rangefinders that use 120 film
  • Schneider-Kreuznach – Vintage Large Format Lens data
  • MFlenses – I recently discovered this forum – lots of good information on lenses and sample galleries with images taken with many old cameras and lenses that are useful.
  • Foto Node – Photo Equipment Resource – Great source of information
  • Antique Cameras  –  Good resource for serial number lists and valuation for older cameras
  • Das Lippische Kameramuseum – older small format cameras mostly Adox, Agfa, Altissa, Balda, Braun …
  • Articles on LF lenses by Arne Cröll – He has written some incredibly detailed articles on LF lenses by Carl Zeiss (Jena and Oberkochen), Voigtländer,  and others which he made available in pdf. Very useful.
  • Edmund Optics Application notes – Edmunds has quite a collection of very technically in depth articles for view on their site – very valuable!  
  • Pacific Rim Camera Reference Library – Pacific Rim has a fantastic reference library organized by camera make, then model. They do buy and sell cameras as well. 
  • HistoricCamera.com – Quite a lot of useful information on this site about older cameras and brands, with some information on lenses and also some information on early photographers as well.  (note: I didn’t know about this site when I created mine – no relation or connection)
  • Antique and classic cameras –  I’ve referred to this site primarily for the valuation of older Rolleiflex TLR’s for my customers at Rolleiflex USA but there is a lot of useful information here. 
  • MIR – Malaysian Internet Resources – a great resource for older Nikon, Olympus cameras and lenses in particular but also some Canon and Pentax as well. 
  • Only Images – some great in depth articles on older cameras and lenses, film and chemistry.  Very good! 
  • https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/    Great resource on macro and micro lenses, set-ups, and technology related to Photomacrography.

Specific Make Camera information and resources

Exakta

Ihagee and Exakta Products and History  – Very complete website with manuals and product lists, history, service and pricing info

Exakta Varex iia (VXIIa) mini review – Rogerandfrances – I thought it was useful

Exakta Lenses – Very good information on the lenses for the small format Exakta’s

Rolleiflex

Rolleigraphy – great resource of Rolleiflex cameras (best on 6000 series I’ve seen) by Ferdi Stutterheim

Rolleiflex Pages – another great resource for Rolleiflex SLR cameras by Pascal Heyman

Rolleiclub – Fantastic resource on Rolleiflex TLR’s

Pentacon / Praktisix

Pentacon Six   A very thorough introduction to the Pentacon Six system starting with Praktisix. Some good info on other 6×6 SLR cameras like the Ihagee 6×6.

Zenit

Zenit Camera   The historical website archives for the fabled Russian optics manufacturer Zenit KMZ (Krasnogorsky Zavod) this link leading to a list of the lenses they made (use Google translate). Many of the lenses will have active links that lead to pages with some history and MTF data as well.  If you go back to the home page you can also get some history and list of cameras they produced etc. 

Specific Lens  information and resources

Photographer’s Resources

Collectors Resources

Film / Analog specific sources of information

  • Digital Truth –  known mostly for the “Massive film development” chart, there are actually quite a lot of other resources here – the chart, apps, forums, files and service guides. 
  • Ilford  – the film and paper manufacturer has some good information on their website
  • List of Photographic Films – Wikipedia

Film recording

  • GammaTech  This service was recommended by Fstoppers.  Located in New Mexico

Image Galleries with sample images from different lenses

  • Manual Focus Lenses   Photo enthusiast from Norway has built a very good collection of sample images of different (mostly small 35mm format) lenses.
  • Manuellfokus   Mostly small format but some unusual ones

Scanning

Service Shops

  • Key Camera Service – Longmont Colorado –  Dave Feeley Phone (303) 772-7690    Dave is a true camera technician with real skills. He’s not just a parts replacer like lots of the younger techs.  He can read and understand a schematic and troubleshoot a faulty circuit board.  I don’t think he does it often but he knows how to machine his own parts too.  I use Dave for a lot or repairs – he’s simply awesome!
  • http://www.precisioncameraworks.com/ –    I recently sent my Sinar P2 to Bob and he did a very nice job getting all the movements smooth and easily adjustable.
  • SK Grimes – Definitely much more than just a service shop as they are a specialty machine shop for photographic gear. 

Stores and places to get film, paper, chemicals and supplies and cameras too

  • Glass Key Photo  My favorite local camera and film store.  Film, paper, chemicals, used cameras etc.
  • Photographer’s Formulary  Here you can order many different types of bulk chemicals to make your own developers and other film processing agents.  Also premade developers of many kinds, paper, etc.
  • Fotoimpex  Great German film and chemistry store – also ships to the US and elsewhere and sometimes has film stock that isn’t available here or can be a lot less money like the ADOX RMS 20 4×5 sheet film. Be advised that shipping costs from Germany to the US can be prohibitive unless you make larger purchases.
  • Freestylephoto.biz  They have quite a lot of film stock and chemistry as well as a great many other photographic items and seem to add more all the time.  They are in Southern California – you can pick up from two locations if you are nearby but they ship quickly.
  • The Surplus Shed  – Actually some really interesting optical surplus items here for the DIY’s
  • J. Lane – Dry glass photographic plates – he keeps standard sizes in stock, but can make them custom to any size for your needs.

Darkrooms and film processing – places you can go if you don’t have your own

San Francisco

  • Rayco Photo Center – Comprehensive private fee based facility with classes and a gallery (2019 note – Rayco has been closed to the public

Suppliers/Vendors

Tripods

  • Berlebach  –  Wooden tripods, tripod heads and accessories.  Wood is supposedly the best vibration dampener
  • Sorbothane – Vibration dampening feet, pads, and other materials

Sensor manufacturers

Forza Silicon  –  digital sensors and cameras for cinema, science and industry