Three cameras that delivered for me in 2022

Since shrinking my camera collection a few years ago to the 50 or so that I like best, I’ve been much more able to use and enjoy the cameras I own. I still enjoy trying out a new-to-me old camera, but I make a point of using the cameras in my collection regularly. I keep returning to the same half dozen or so cameras in particular when I want to be sure to get the shot.

Not long ago, Stephen Dowling of Kosmo Foto reached out to a number of film-photography bloggers and asked us all to write a post about three cameras of note that we used in 2022, to run in December. I’ve used a lot of cameras this year — how to narrow it to three? I realized that a good filter is to choose cameras that I took with me when I traveled. I always travel with cameras I can count on, reliable old friends. That made it easy to choose my three! Here they are.

Pentax IQZoom 170SL

I took a flyer when I bought this small 35mm point-and-shoot with a long zoom. Pentax’s IQZoom line is such a mixed bag of cameras ranging from meh to wow, and you never know what you’re going to get until you try it. The IQZoom 170SL is wow for sure! I shot black-and-white film in this camera a lot this year. I took it with me to Denmark in August and put a couple rolls through it there. I’m sharing one image from Denmark here, but I promised Stephen that I’d write an article for his site about these images because I shot them on his Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow film. I’ll let you know when I’ve done that!

Pentax IQZoom 170SL
Roach Bail Bonding
Indianapolis. Kentmere 400, HC-110 B.
Cobblestone street in Aalborg
Aalborg, Denmark. Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow, HC-110 B.

Yashica-12

The Yashica-12 is turning into one of my all-time favorite cameras, and I reach for it again and again. It’s got a terrific lens, and is a pleasure to use. I took it and a whole bunch of film on a long weekend trip to Madison, a historic city on the Ohio River here in Indiana.

Yashica-12
Old house in Madison, IN
Madison, IN. Kodak Vericolor III, expired 7-1986, at EI 64.
Lanier Mansion, Madison, Indiana
Madison, IN. Fujifilm Velvia 50.

Olympus OM-2n

I got to go to San Diego for a few days this year on business. The company put me up in a hotel on a resort island and we had some fun one evening at a karaoke bar. I wanted a small and light, but highly capable, camera, so I reached for my Olympus OM-2n and my near-pancake 40mm f/2 Zuiko lens.

Olympus OM-2n
Paradise Point Resort
San Diego, CA. 40mm f/2 Olympus Zuiko Auto-S. Kodak Ektar.
Singing at the Lamplighter
San Diego, CA. 40mm f/2 Olympus Zuiko Auto-S. Ilford HP5 Plus at EI 1600. HC-110 B.

You might also enjoy reading about the cameras other film-photo bloggers chose as their three this year. If you click one of these links and it leads to a “page not found” message, it means the post hasn’t gone live yet, but it will within the next week or two. I will add links to this post as I learn of other posts!

Peggy Marsh: https://cameragocamera.com/2022/12/07/new-for-2022-my-favourite-film-camera-experiences-this-year/

Alex Luyckx: http://www.alexluyckx.com/blog/index.php/2022/12/16/new-for-2022/

Alyssa Chiarello: https://alysvintagecameraalley.com/2022/12/13/3-cameras-from-2022/

Mike Eckman: https://mikeeckman.com/2022/12/3-outstanding-cameras-from-2022/

Alan D: https://austerityphoto.co.uk/the-three-that-went-3-very-different-travel-film-cameras/

Theo Panagopoulous: https://photothinking.com/2022-12-16-three-cameras-of-2022-for-2023/

Eric Enrico Jason: https://www.aperturepreview.com/three-other-cameras-of-2022

Johnny Martyr: https://johnnymartyr.wordpress.com/2022/12/22/trois-cameras-de-2022/

Jim Graves: https://jimgravesphoto.blogspot.com/2022/12/my-top-three-cameras-of-2022.html

Keith Devereux: https://keithdevereux.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/three-cameras-from-2022-my-favourite-experiences-this-year/

Dan: http://www.goinglomo.com/2022/12/my-top-3-film-cameras-of-2022/

Stephen Dowling: https://kosmofoto.com/2022/12/three-cameras-for-2022/


Comments

22 responses to “Three cameras that delivered for me in 2022”

  1. brandib1977 Avatar

    I am in love with the results of the Pentax. Very nice!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      That little Pentax is a surprising performer. It’s coming along with me to Chicago this weekend.

      1. brandib1977 Avatar

        I can’t wait to see what you come home with!

  2. Andy Umbo Avatar
    Andy Umbo

    Gotta say, plus one for the TLR! As I’ve said for years, if you gotta own one, you can’t go wrong….

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Yes! These Yashica TLRs are relative bargains, too.

      1. Kodachromeguy Avatar

        TLRs are great. Next step for you: a Rolleiflex 3.5 E or F or a 2.8 E or F. Shoot your remaining Verichrome Pan with it.

        1. Jim Grey Avatar

          I’ve thought about buying one of those for years.

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  8. Khürt Williams Avatar

    I have three film cameras only so my options for this blog post would be limited. :)

    I like the images you made with the Pentax.

    I’m in the Chicago are this weekend driving from Ohio. The weather is terrible.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      You would have been better off taking a more southerly route – the snow is only now starting to fall here. Good luck, and happy Christmas!

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