NEWS: Film Photography News Round-Up – February 18, 2024

Today we are bringing you a new format for the news! For the near future, rather than individual articles for each story, we are going to test out a one summary piece with all the various news stories and announcements, aiming for a biweekly basis.

The past couple of weeks have seen quite a few announcements in the realm of film photography, so let’s dive in!

MIA Pinhole Camera Launches Pinhole Plates Made in the UK

MIA Pinhole Camera has launched an offering of proprietary pinhole plates that are manufactured in the UK. Andrea, who heads up the 3D-printed pinhole camera business, wanted to find and support a local UK pinhole plate manufacturer to bring his supply chain closer to home. The new partnership also allows MIA Pinhole Camera to experiment with various pinhole shapes and creative ideas such as cutting four holes instead of just one on a plate. The result is unique!

“The results of the trials were quite unexpected (as it often happens) and very nice, in my opinion…What I find interesting is how the 4 hole plate is rendered. I don’t think it can be something to use regularly, but it does give a very unique effect, which almost looks like a pixellated image.” – MIA Pinhole Blog Announcement

The plates are made from 316 stainless steel with a thickness of 0.04mm. Additionally, Andrea is inviting other pinhole businesses based in the UK to get in touch if they are interested in exploring a supply chain relationship with a local manufacturer.

Find more information about the pinhole plates from MIA Pinhole Camera here.

Flic Film Releases Aurora 800, Aquires Street Candy, and Teases 400ISO Psychedelic Street C41 Film

Flic Film is always busy but they have launched a few exciting products recently. Their latest colour film to hit the market is Aurora 800, a film intended for C41 chemistry with an ISO of 800. The high-speed film spooled into plastic canisters will be available at Flic Film’s usual retailers soon, if not already. To find a list of distributors and retailers, head over to their website here. Aurora 800 is retailing in the US starting at USD 14.99 (at Freestyle). It’s also available from Popho Camera Co at $16.31.

More news from Flic Film, the Alberta-based company has officially acquired Street Candy, a business founded in 2017 by Vincent Moschetti that sells ATM 400 and MTN 100 films as well as other merch and collectable items. In addition to this news, a colour film will be released soon under the Street Candy brand name called Psychedelic Street. This will be a 400 ISO colour negative film with a 70s-inspired story.

For more information on Flic Film and Street Candy, head over to their respective websites here and here.

Lomography Creates New Sprocket Rocket Editions

Lomography has released two new editions of the sprocket rocket in Baja Blue and Bittersweet Red that are retailing for $79 (USD). Initially released in 2011, the 35mm 1:3 panoramic camera shoots right over the film roll’s sprockets to create a unique image. The Sprocket Rocket is capable of multiple exposures, but it can also rewind frames and reverse the roll for reshooting.

The lens has a 30mm focal length, aperture options include F10.8 and F16, and the shutter speed is fixed at 1/100. However, there is a bulb mode and tripod mount for more creative options, but no cable release socket. No batteries are required to operate the camera. At the moment, Lomography is including a light painter tool in every order in addition to the optional frame insert if users don’t want to shoot over the sprockets.

To check out the new Sprocket Rocket editions, head over to Lomography’s site here.

VALOI Releases New Holders for Easy35 System

Valoi has released four new holders (frames) for scanning film negatives with the Easy35 system, APS, 126, 110, and Minox. The Easy35 system is a compact 35mm film scanning setup that attaches to the end of a DSLR or mirrorless digital camera lens. It does not require the use of a copy stand and takes very little adjusting to start operating.

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Find more information about Valoi’s Easy35 and the new holders on their website here.

Retrograde Engineer Releases New Optics for 37mm Filter Thread

Retrograde Engineer has released a new lineup of lenses compatible with cameras or adapters that use the 37mm filter thread (including the SX-37, 637, Wide-37, R/SF-37, Bay 1, and more). The optics designer creates products for vintage items but especially for instant cameras like Instax and Polaroid.

The new line-up includes the following lenses: a 0.42x Fisheye Lens with a 12.5x Macro Lens, a Linear Prism, a Diamond Prism, a Split Prism, a Kaleidoscope Prism, a Vortex Prism, a 0.45x Wide Angle Lens with a 12.5x Macro Lens, and a 2X Telephoto Lens.

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To find more information about the lenses, head over to Retrograde Engineer’s Etsy shop linked here or find the Instagram here! Youtuber, Just Another Chris has also published a video showing the lenses in use. To check out that video, head over via the link here.

Chroma Camera Upgrades the Cube 66 Medium Format Pinhole Camera

Steve Lloyd from Chroma Camera has announced an upgraded version of the popular Cube 66 medium format pinhole camera. Improvements include a new curved film plane for better edge-to-edge performance, an easier-to-use rear door latch with an internal spring, and a front-mounted shutter with a magnetic latch to open and close. The Cube 66 will still have the same 0.2mm pinhole with a focal length of 30mm, an aperture of F150, with a 49mm magnetic filter holder.

Chroma Tower also said an updated TriChroma adapter is in the works which will allow photographers to shoot 3-color images using black and white film. Stay tuned for more updates from Chroma Camera by following them on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Uwj63IjTv/?img_index=1

Latest Crown + Flint Moble App Update ‘R3 Cold Storage’ Is Available

Crown + Flint mobile app for film photographers has an exciting roadmap for updates. The latest available update (on the Apple AppStore or Google Play) to the metadata tracking and film organization app includes features to stay on top of your film while it sits in ‘cold storage’.

R3 “❄️Cold Storage” adds features to make it easier for photographers to track their film inventories in various locations including how much is left and when the film is set to expire. Additional updates in R3 include the addition of filters and sorting capabilities to the archive making it easier to search for items as the archive builds up over time. Improvements have also been made to the archive export ExifTool and support has been added for cameras with interchangeable backs or holders.

Find more information about Crown + Flint on its website here or find it on the AppStore or Google Play. There is a free trial for the first five rolls of film (access to all features), after which the premium lifetime version runs at $19.99 (USD).

Polacon Coming to San Francisco Bay Area This March

The Instant Film Society is hosting another Polacon weekend event in the San Francisco Bay Area on March 14-17, 2024. Tickets are $60 for the weekend which does not include additional excursions such as an Alcatraz visit on Day Zero. Founded in 2012, the Instant Film Society works to bring more awareness and understanding to the world of instant film while making it more accessible as well.

Weekend activities are set to include multiple photo walks, a street fair, a ‘Zines & Things’ swap meet, product demos, workshops, artist talks, pizza, parties, and more. To check out more information about the event including a tentative timeline and ticket information, then head over to Instant Film Society’s site here.

Silver & Light Analogue Exhibition at Canwood Gallery: April 4 – 28, 2024

A new analogue photography exhibition is set to hit Canwood Gallery in Herefordshire from April 4th to the 28th. The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm.

Not only will the exhibition titled ‘Silver & Light’ feature the work of 30 artists, but there will be interactive talks and workshops hosted by several of the photographers taking part in the show.

“Silver & Light” aims to spotlight the incredible range of artistic expressions that analogue photography offers. From classic black and white prints to experimental processes, the exhibition will feature an array of techniques, including cyanotype, daguerreotype, and alternative printing methods. The participating photographers, hailing from different backgrounds and experiences, will provide visitors with a rich tapestry of visual stories.” – Exhibition Announcement from Organizers

Stay updated on the exhibition news via Instagram here or check out the Canwood Gallery website here.

That’s it for our news today! If you have any news to share or any tip-offs then you can either let us know in the comments below or send an email to [email protected].

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