Canon AE-1 Program Sample Photos in Hallstatt, Austria | The Perfect 35 mm Travel Camera

April 6, 2025

(By using the links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

Hello everyone!

I am Myles Katherine's sister, Natalie Anne, and I'm excited to share a bit about my journey with film cameras with you! Myles has inspired me, as she has my entire life, to be more creative, thoughtful, and curious about the world. Photography is her passion and is the instrument she uses to embrace everything in life. I have always admired her skills and thus have been remarkably intimidated to pick up film photography on my own. When I told her I wanted to bring a film camera with me for my work deployment to Europe for four months, she knew just the one and by golly it's now one of my favorite possessions!

The Canon AE-1 Program is timeless, durable, and takes impressively sharp shots. While it is a bit weighty, this adds to its charm. There is something so satisfying about snapping a photo and pulling its winding arm. It can take some getting used to focusing, especially for close-ups and portraits, as it does not have autofocus. But, once you get the hang of it, the photographs are so sharp and beautiful. And even the ones that turn out a little soft are dreamy and special in their own right. Plus, isn’t that the fun of film photography?

Myles also thought this camera would be a good idea for me because it has a full auto mode. The original version of this camera, the Canon AE-1, does not have this feature. So if you’re looking for a camera that is a bit more user-friendly for beginners, the Canon AE-1 Program is the way to go. And if you’d like to delve into more advanced modes, like shutter priority or full manual, you have that option with this camera as well. The best part about it is that you get that professional film camera vibe without the complication, so it’s the perfect 35 mm travel camera! Not to mention, it has that classic black and silver vintage 35 mm camera look, so it looks cute even sitting on a shelf when it’s not being used.

For the lens, I use the standard Canon FD 50 mm f/1.8 lens. This seems to be the one most people gravitate towards for this camera. It’s affordable, small, and sharp!

One of my first tests with this camera was bringing it for a weekend trip to Vienna and Hallstatt, Austria. Hallstatt has been on my bucket list for quite some time. It was actually the inspiration for Arendelle (Frozen fans, anyone?!) and it feels so magical.

I took this H allstatt Day Tour from Vienna, via Viator, and it was the perfect introduction to this beautiful corner of the world. I couldn't recommend this tour enough! If you want to read my full review of this tour, you can find it on our travel blog, C’est Le Brie, here!

I went on this bus tour solo and felt comfortable the entire time. It was a longer bus ride, with beautiful scenery throughout the Salzkammergut region. We had time to explore Hallstatt on our own where I grabbed a Frankfurter and fries for lunch, wandered the town, went up the tram to the Hallstatt Viewing Platform, and took a short boat ride. Most importantly, my Canon AE-1 Program was loaded with film and ready to go. I took some of my favorite shots on this excursion, and was so happy my sister had recommended this camera to me. She had heard great things about it, but I think we have both been so impressed with the results. I even think she's a little jealous she doesn't have one yet!

Below are all the photos I took in Hallstatt using Kodak Gold 200 and Kodak Ultra Max 400 35mm film. If you're interested in purchasing a Canon AE-1 Program, you won't regret it! I know without a doubt that I’m going to treasure these images forever.

-Natalie Anne

P.S. Make sure to check out our travel blog, C’est Le Brie, here! We share all of our travel adventures, tour reviews, hotel and restaurant recommendations, photos, and even recipes! And don’t forget to watch our YouTube video about the Canon AE-1 Program here!

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON AE-1 PROGRAM

Review of Lomography's Lomomatic 110 Zebra Crossing Camera & Flash Using LomoChrome Color ’92 Film and B&W Orca 110 Film | My First Two Rolls of Film

March 5, 2025

(By using the links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

I’m so excited to team up with Lomography for this blog post featuring the Lomomatic 110 Zebra Crossing Camera. I’ve been wanting to try out a 110 camera for years and it was honestly as fun as I’d hoped. There are a lot of things I love about this camera, but there are also a few snags I ran into that I’m hoping to sort out while shooting my next roll of film. As with any film camera, it takes some time and patience to learn a new camera, and especially a new film format. 110 film has been around since the 1970s and is known for it’s retro vibes and easy-to-load film cartridges. You can find vintage 110 film cameras on Etsy and eBay, but Lomography went above and beyond and created their own version of the 110 camera. They have tons of different styles and colors, but I wanted to share the pros and cons I discovered through my first two rolls of film with the Lomomatic 110 Zebra Crossing, so that your experience using 110 film goes smoothly and you end up with beautiful photos!

PROS OF THE LOMOMATIC 110

Perfect for Travel
I think my favorite thing about this camera is the portability. It’s so small and convenient. It was super easy to take with me wherever I went. I used the wrist strap most of the time, which made it simple to use quickly when I stumbled across something I wanted to photograph. It’s definitely one of the smallest cameras I own, and it’s nice that I don’t have to worry about a detachable lens or anything like that that might get damaged easily. You guys know I like to travel with at least 5-8 cameras and the fact that I can squeeze this camera in any camera bag is a huge pro for me, and means I can take it with me on more adventures!
The Photos are Grainy & Vibe-y
I wasn’t expecting super sharp photos going into this process, but the photos are even more old school that I thought they’d be. I absolutely love vintage-looking photographs with lots of grain that look like they’re from hundreds of years ago. There is something so addicting about creating photographs that are strange and unusual (because I, myself, am strange and unusual). I know that not everyone feels the same way, but I encourage you to step outside your comfort zone! This camera will definitely make you do that. :) I did learn that this camera requires a lot of light to function properly, so I’d recommend only shooting in very bright conditions, or using the flash if you’re inside or in the shade. You’ll notice some of my images have motion blur or aren’t fully in focus, and that’s because the images were taken close to sunset and the shutter was too slow. Next time, I’ll be sure to shoot in full daylight with this camera. It’s also important to make sure you have the correct distance setting for each image before you take it.
Lots of Creative Features for Such a Small, Affordable Camera
I was surprised by how many different options and features this camera is capable of. If you follow my work, you know I’m obsessed with multiple exposures. The fact that this camera has a dedicated multiple exposure button is a huge plus for me. I’m actually going to be ordering more 110 film today because now that I’m sitting here writing this blog post, I feel antsy to test out another roll! I’ve learned so much with my first two rolls and can’t wait to learn from my mistakes and go into it with a little more user knowledge. It also has various distance settings, a flash, flash filters, a bulb setting, and two aperture settings - day (f/5.6) & night (f/2.8). For such a tiny camera, the creative control is really nice.

CONS OF THE LOMOMATIC 110

The Film Doesn’t Advance Occasionally
The main issue I have with this camera is that sometimes the film doesn’t advance when you close it and pull it back open. The film counter will sometimes stay on the same number. I’ve watched a few videos from other photographers and they seem to run into the same issue. However, on my second roll of film, I think I figured out what was happening. You have to make sure you push the shutter button down all the way when taking your photo. I believe what happens is that you think you’ve captured your image, but really, the shutter wasn’t decompressed and you actually didn’t even take your photo! If you just make sure to fully push the button all the way, you should be totally fine.
The Frames Become Misaligned
By the end of both of my first two rolls of film, I noticed the frames became misaligned. This is probably because I began to close the camera and then changed my mind and opened it back up. So, essentially, the film began to advance a little but then was stopped. So, whatever you do, make sure to fully open and close the camera in between shots and you shouldn’t run into this problem. I’ll be testing this theory out again with my next roll of film, but it makes sense that halfway closing the camera would cause the frames to get out of line.
Film Development is Expensive
It’s difficult to find labs that will process 110 film. Personally, I used Blue Moon Camera in Portland, Oregon. I also had to buy a 110 film holder for my Epson Perfection V750 Pro Scanner so that I could save some money by scanning the film myself. It was a bit of an investment just to experiment with this camera. However, I do think that I’ll feel a bit better about the whole thing if I follow the tips mentioned above for my next roll of film. It’s definitely more of a hobby camera and not something I would use at a client photo shoot, mostly because I don’t have the functionality fully down yet. I’m hoping in the future I will feel differently.

(example of the frames being misaligned)

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m so glad that Lomography has created their own 110 camera. It’s incredibly important as photographers and hobbyists to support these dying film formats. I love that 110 film hasn’t disappeared from the world yet and that Lomography is working to keep it alive. While I do think that the camera has a few glitches and requires a bit of a learning curve, it was still an absolute blast to use. It might even be the most fun I’ve had in years trying out a new camera. I plan to test out more of the fun features with my next roll of film.

The Lomomatic 110 is something special though. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another company that values film photography as much as Lomography. The fact that they’ve put time into developing a 110 camera, along with a handful of different film options to choose from, is truly a miracle in today’s world. I always love checking out what Lomography is up to and the new cameras that they release.

I’m honestly so excited to try this camera out again and see what I end up with. I recommend shooting only one roll for your first time so that you can learn from any mistakes you might have made. Make sure to check the aperture, ISO, and distance settings before taking each shot too. I had the wrong distance setting for a few of my images and it definitely makes a difference if you want your images as sharp as possible with a camera like this.

While it is a pricey venture to get into shooting 110 film, it’s always fun for me to try out new cameras and learn something about photography along the way. As my first 110 film experience, it was exciting and different for me. I get bored easily and this camera kept me on my toes. I’ll be sure to share my next roll of film with you!

WHERE TO BUY

Lomomatic 110 Camera & Flash

Lomography.com

eBay.com (used)

Etsy (vintage 110 cameras)

110 Film Cartridges

B&H Photo Video

Lomography.com

Amazon

Etsy (vintage 110 film)

If you found this post helpful or inspiring, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing.

Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

Shooting Kodak Ektar 100 with a Holga GCFN in Portugal!

December 30, 2024

(By using the links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

I’ve been forcing myself to step outside my box and try out some new film stocks lately. I tend to stick with Lomography film or Kodak Portra 400 and Kodak Gold 200, but Kodak Ektar 100 is one of those films I always hear about but just never got around to trying. I decided to take a roll with me to Portugal and test it with my Holga GCFN. After getting my film back and scanning it, I’ve definitely learned a few things about it. It has an overall blue undertone, that particularly shows up if you’re shooting in lower light (like a cloudy day or shadowed setting). It definitely favors bright lighting and sunshine. The next time I shoot with it, I’ll be sure to take it with me to the beach on a sunny day. However, the blue undertones add a nice moodiness that is unlike any other film I’ve shot with. It has a dreary graininess that is endearing and calming in a way. In general though, it’s a good rule of thumb to shoot in bright light with any film under 200 ISO. Sometimes, I forget what kind of film I put in my Holga so I end up being surprised by the results. Next time I load my Holga, I’m planning to tape a piece of paper on the back of my camera with the film stock I put inside just so I don’t forget!

I also posted a YouTube video about shooting with Ektar 100 with the Holga in Portugal, so if you’d like to see the making behind these photos, make sure to give my video a watch here!

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine