The Cameras of my Photobook

Holga 120N

I see the world differently when I have this camera around my neck. I’m different. Over the years when I’ve taken this camera out on photograph hunting excursions, it’s generally just the two of us. I do not bring a phone. I do not bring another person. In this situation, It’s just me, my focus and attention and the world around me: the one I see and the one the camera will record.

Holga 135BC

There are many merits to the Holga 135. I don’t really know what they are. 35MM film is easier to procure and easier to develop than the 120 film my other Holga uses. It’s cheaper film too. For me, that’s where the good times end with this Holga 135BC.

I have lost a few rolls of film in this camera over the years. It can barely take a 24 exposure roll. A 36 exposure roll will almost without fail get torn in the sprockets. And no matter the length of the film, if it sits in the camera for too long it will tear. This is probably just a problem with this particular Holga. Needless to say, this camera is not one of my favorites.

I’ve had a few great exposures with this camera, and it does really well with double exposures.

Vivitar PN2011

Vivitar’s PN2011 is by far, the worst camera I’ve every used. Superficially speaking, this one really should be my favorite: it’s small, focus free and very light weight. I also think the “panoramic” feature is very cool. It isn’t a true panoramic camera, all it does is remove a little from the top and bottom of the exposed frame. What I really like about it, of course, is that I bought it on a half price for blue tags day at my local thrift store. It was originally marked to be sold for a buck and I got it for fifty cents.

I know, however, many of my issues with this camera could have been solved if I had been more diligent about the film I put into it. I don’t remember what film I used. I would think that a very slow speed film and the bright sunny day would have fixed many of the exposures. However, that way not have been the case because there are incidents of my having taken two pictures of the same subject back to back and one came out and the other didn’t.

I took this camera with me on a little bikepacking tour I took with my buddy Chris. The camera was a secondary element to the trip and not a bad complement. The real focus (partial pun) was spending time with Chris and riding bikes.

Pentax K1000

Of all the cameras I've ever had, this one is by far the best. This is possibly because this is the only real camera I own. Despite my preference to toy cameras, this camera is an entirely different experience. No matter what I point this camera at, it records the exact thing that I see, I image and it makes the world appear as it should be.

The only real drawback is the weight.

There is no digital camera that can give me the same feeling this camera gives.