jupiter 12

the canon L3 with the Jupiter lens attached pictured on a window sill in window light

5 frames with the Canon L3, Jupiter 12 lens, and Shanghai Light 400 in London

I didn’t intend to buy another camera. Yet, in a way, this camera found me, like a wand to the witch in certain famous fantasy novels by a certain famous fantasy author.

The camera is the Canon L3. An underrated rangefinder with no light meter and possibly the best shutter sound in existence. The story of how this camera found me actually begins with a different camera, a FED 2 rangefinder, another underrated mechanical wonder. This time, instead of Japanese design (Canon), it was from the former Soviet Union.

Jupiter-12 35mm f2.8

Fake Soviet Impressionism – By Ben Garcia

There comes a time, in every rangefinder fanboy’s/fangirl’s life, when they must contemplate the inevitable: should I buy this cheap Soviet rangefinder? “Look, the Seller says everything works… and it’s such a solid, reassuring brick of metal… I’m pretty sure this is what a Leica feels like. I mean, even if it doesn’t work great, it’s a really interesting part of history… I’m getting it for the history.”

Kiev 4AM Review – Perseverance is Key – by James Szylobryt

The Kiev 4am is a great camera. I haven’t always had this opinion, but it unexpectedly grew on me. First of all, I never keep a camera for very long. I’m not a sentimental person, meaning that the intrigue of trying a new camera, has always been more important than starting a collection or keeping …

Kiev 4AM Review – Perseverance is Key – by James Szylobryt Read More

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