Shooting film photography is a character arch skateboarders everywhere will have at some point in their life. Whether by picking up a disposable, securing a hand-me-down from Mom or taking a college class, the grasp of vintage 35mm film is inevitable.

Complete with photo samples, these experienced photographers let you in on what’s inside their camera bag, and while there’s no guarantee imitating their setup will lead you towards magazine cover glory, it’s a good place to start.

What’s your current film camera setup?
My current favorite camera is the Widelux. It’s a swing lens panoramic camera.

Why is this your camera of choice right now?
It let’s me think less about trying to make a perfect photo and just let’s me push the button.

What features make it special?
The camera exposes in a swing motion, so you can slow down your shutter and get all sorts of wild movement or warp things in a super unique way. It reminds me of the stuff I like to do when I shoot fisheye but you don’t use any strobes. It also has a fixed focal length so you never focus it, which makes shooting very simple and fast.

What subject matter do you like to use this camera for?
The best thing to shoot is scenes with multiple people. You can twist some people up into a ball and let some others stay sharp. It’s pretty surreal. Also, individual portraits where you hit the same person twice in one exposure. I stole those from Jeff Bridges though. I mean I stole the camera idea from him too. He has two great photo books he shot with the Widelux.

Can we see some photos you’ve taken with the camera(s) you mentioned?

What’s your current film camera setup?
Damn, I have like 13 film cameras. When everyone was buying bitcoin I bought cameras instead. I like to rotate through them and try to give them all some love but currently I always have my Fuji GA645zi in my bag.

Why is this your camera of choice right now?
The thing is just easy to use and when it hits it hits. I have the champagne color of it and when I take it out people are usually like “I’ve never seen that before,” so they are hyped to get flicked up.

What features make it special?
It’s like a 35mm point and shoot camera but for bigger medium format film, pretty much the only of its kind. It shoots 6×4.5 and the way it’s designed all the frames get shot vertical, you see vertically thru the viewfinder window too. The LCD breaks on them very easily and sometimes you have no idea how many frames you have left which is a fun game.

What subject matter do you like to use this camera for?
Usually just life, my homies when they are not skating, portraits, chilling. I have shot skating on it but it’s not ideal. A secret fact is that if you set it to f11 or higher the max shutter speed jumps from 1/400 to 1/700. Not sure why but I know every stupid thing like that because I am a camera nerd. Shit I might just be a regular nerd. It’s fun to use on auto everything and try not to worry so much. Just try not to imagine every single time you press the shutter it’s probably costing you $2.

Can we see some photos you’ve taken with the camera(s) you mentioned?

What’s your current film camera setup?
I’ve got a bunch of film cameras in heavy rotation at the moment. My 35mm SLR is currently a Nikon F6 for which I have a set of old manual lenses – 24mm, 50mm, 80mm, 105mm (my favorite) and the 16mm fisheye. For 120 Film I have a Hasselblad 500C and 500C/M. This allows me to keep one set up with the 30mm Fisheye and then I usually have a 100mm on the other body. I’ve also got a Toyo Large format camera, the Fujica GW690 and a rotation of point and shoots that get replaced as I seem to break them all the time. I currently have an Olympus Infinity Stylus, for as long as that lasts.

Why is this your camera of choice right now?
The Nikon F6 is fast and reliable. I can also use all of my lenses with it, even the newer zoom lenses. The Hasselblads are slow and clunky but they are built to last through anything and produce the most beautiful images, even though the camera’s and lenses are all 50 + years old.

What features make it special?
I like that the F6 automatically leaves the film leader out so that you can be half way through a roll, change film stocks and return to that roll later.

The Hasselblads are known for their high speed flash syncs, with a leaf shutter that syncs at 1/500, which means that when you’re shooting with flashes you can get the sharpest images even in broad daylight as you have an extra stop to underexpose the ambient light, which you can’t do with any 35mm film cameras.

What subject matter do you like to use this camera for?
The F6 is the best camera to have on me in a run and gun situation. You have 36 exposures so you’re not changing rolls of film too often. It is great for natural light skate photos as you can shoot with a really fast shutter speed. It’s great for portraits as well and is just the best 35mm camera on the market.

The Hasselblad is unbeatable for shooting skateboarding with flashes, but these days I don’t shoot too many film skate photos. It is too slow to shoot natural light skate photos in most circumstances but its qualities for portrait photography are so unique and beautiful that nothing else looks like it.

Can we see some photos you’ve taken with the camera(s) you mentioned?

What’s your current film camera setup?
I love shooting 35mm film and typically use two cameras: a Canon Sure Shot point-and-shoot and a Canon EOS 600.

Why is this your camera of choice right now?
The EOS 600 is a great option because it allows me to use the same lenses I use on my digital setup, which gives me a lot of versatility. I can even use my fish eye with it!

What features make it special?
I like that it has autofocus and there is an aperture priority feature.

What subject matter do you like to use this camera for?
When I’m not working I like to bring my film camera out for portraits, lifestyle, traveling, street and lately I have been shooting old cars. I kinda want to make a zine about my 35mm old car photos.

Can we see some photos you’ve taken with the camera(s) you mentioned?

What’s your current film camera setup?
My current film camera is a Leica M6 for 35mm and a Hasselblad 503CW for medium format. I shoot these two cameras because of their quality and they’re cool as shit.

Why is this your camera of choice right now?
I’ve been shooting both for over 20 years, mainly for the quality of Leitz lenses on the Leica and the Zeiss lenses on the Hassy.

What features make it special?
Mainly the optics.

What subject matter do you like to use this camera for?
I use these cameras for portraits, landscapes, abstracts, street photography, and architecture.

Can we see some photos you’ve taken with the camera(s) you mentioned?

What’s your current film camera setup?
My bag usually has 3-4 film cameras in it ready to go. I have a Nikon F4S, Mamiya 6, Stereo Realist, and my Grandmother’s old Minolta Freedom Dual Point & Shoot.

Why is this your camera of choice right now?
My all-time favorite camera is my Nikon F4S.

What features make it special?
It’s built like a tank, has a built-in motor drive for 6fps, accepts all of my vintage Nikon lenses, and has the best sounding shutter of any camera I’ve ever used.

What subject matter do you like to use this camera for?
I use my Nikon F4S for everything – skateboarding, portraits, daily walks, and even BTS of films I’m working on. Because it accepts all of my lenses I use with my Nikon D800, I can shoot in pretty much any situation.

Can we see some photos you’ve taken with the camera(s) you mentioned?

What’s your current film camera setup?
My current film camera is a Leica M6, most often with a 50mm f1.4 Summilux lens. I mostly shoot Tri-X through it, and develop it at home. Tri-X has been my favorite film since I was a kid.

Why is this your camera of choice right now?
I’ve always loved the simplicity of it. Over the years I mostly used SLR’s / DSLR’s with complex features / autofocus capabilities because that’s the tool I needed for the job, shooting so much, especially with skate stuff, but now I can slow down, needing only the essentials on a camera.

What features make it special?
The glass / quality of the build is second to none. As for features, it has none – so it’s perfect for me these days!

What subject matter do you like to use this camera for?
I enjoy shooting portraits with it. I also love taking scenics with it. I feel like a kid again – always hyped to go home and develop the film I shoot through it!

Can we see some photos you’ve taken with the camera(s) you mentioned?

Interviews by: Ben Komins
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