The Best Film Cameras For Travel | My 8 Favorite Travel Cameras | Film Photography in Portugal

August 12, 2024

I can’t help it. I fill my camera bag to the brim every chance I get! I love to have a combination of digital, 35 mm, medium format, and polaroid cameras for every shoot or travel adventure. They each have a different purpose in my mind and have their own advantages. I typically have around 8 cameras with me at any given time and I’ve learned it’s just a part of who I am! I recently went to Portugal for 10 days and it took me forever to decide which cameras to bring along with me. At this point, my camera collection is nearing 100 and is always growing. There are so many cameras I want to try out and review for my YouTube channel!

I wanted to share the 8 cameras I took with me to Portugal and share a few of my favorite features of each one. And of course, I’ll share a few photographs I took during my trip with each camera! I also posted a YouTube video about these cameras if you’d prefer to watch rather than read!

1. CANON G7X MARK II

The Canon G7X Mark II is the only digital camera I brought with me to Portugal. It’s a tiny powershot point-and-shoot camera with a 24-100 mm zoom lens. I was dreading lugging around my giant 5D Mark IV DSLR with my massive 24-70 mm zoom lens, so I decided to take a risk and only bring along this little point-and-shoot for my digital images. While I love my 5D Mark IV, it just doesn’t make sense to carry it around all day when I’m walking 10 miles a day up and down hills in Portugal! I was pretty nervous about leaving my best camera at home, but I had seen images my mom had taken on a trip to Africa with the G7X Mark II and I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. I’d say the G7X pretty much fulfilled my needs throughout the trip and my body was extremely grateful for my decision not to carry around a DSLR. The G7X Mark II does great with landscapes and touristy snapshots. It’s not the greatest for super low-light environments but nonetheless, it surprised me with its capabilities. With an f/1.8 lens it can take some pretty remarkable photos for such a small camera. I’ve always had an affinity for Canon Powershot cameras. My very first digital camera was one of Canon’s Powershot point-and-shoot in the early 2000s. Sadly, it was stolen, but if I still had it today, I’d probably still use it! Canon never ceases to amaze me. You can read my full review of the Canon G7X Mark II here!

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON G7X MARK II:

Amazon

Adorama

eBay (used)

#ad #sponsored #affiliate

Sample photos:

2. HOLGA GCFN

You all know I’m obsessed with the Holga. Particularly the Holga GCFN. It’s a toy camera made of plastic and it’s extremely limited with it’s features. But there’s something incredibly magical about the vignetted images, light leaks and multiple exposures. This is the one camera I never leave home without. I’ve racked up quite a collection of these little guys over the years and my goal is to eventually own every single color! They weigh absolutely nothing which is perfect for traveling and they’re surprisingly resilient. I dropped mine in a river in Japan once and it still worked! These cameras take some patience and experimentation, but once you get the hang of it, it’s kind of hard to hate on it. It’s my favorite camera in the world, truly. You can check out my full blog post about the Holga here, or watch my YouTube video here!

WHERE TO BUY THE HOLGA GCFN:

Amazon

eBay

FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:

Lomography 400 120 film

Kodak Portra 160 120 film

Kodak Portra 400 120 film

#CommissionsEarned

3. DIANA F+

I’ve had my Diana F+ for years but I’ve only recently been using it more consistently. It falls into a similar category as the Holga and is basically a plastic toy camera. It’s super cute to look at and there are a ton of different lenses you can experiment with. While I find the Diana F+ to be a bit more difficult and fickle to use than the Holga, I’ve been learning it’s quirks and have been getting better results. I actually like the fisheye lens of the Diana F+ better than the Holga fisheye so I’ve pretty much been using the Diana F+ as my fisheye camera on my trips. Plus, it’s nice to have a backup toy camera in case something happens to my Holga! I recently posted a full review of this camera too, or you can see it in action on my YouTube channel.

WHERE TO BUY:

Diana F+ 120 camera on Amazon

Diana Mini 35 mm camera with flash on Amazon

Diana F+ Instant Square Deluxe Kit on Amazon

Diana Baby 110 on eBay

#ad #sponsored #affiliate

4. POLAROID IMPULSE 600

Polaroid 600 cameras are probably the easiest of the polaroid cameras to use. They are essentially point-and-shoot instant film cameras. I have probably 7 or 8 different polaroid 600 cameras and I’ll try out different ones from time to time, but end up getting pretty much the same results. For this trip, I decided to bring the Polaroid Impulse 600. It’s a vintage camera that actually belonged to my dad back in the day. I particularly love using the round-frame 600 film, which you can find on Polaroid.com! There’s just something so magical about instant photography and that immediate gratification of seeing a film photo form in front of your eyes! It’s like carrying a little darkroom around with you everywhere you go. Except way less messy and time-consuming and without all of the hassle of figuring out film development yourself! I have a full blog post about the Polaroid One-Step, a very similar camera, if you’re interested in reading more about 600 cameras!

WHERE TO BUY THE POLAROID IMPULSE:

Amazon

eBay

KEH Camera

POLAROID 600 FILM:

Square Frame 600 Film on Amazon.com

Square Frame 600 Film on Polaroid.com

Round Frame 600 Film on Amazon.com

Round Frame 600 Film on Polaroid.com

#ad #sponsored #affiliate

5. KODAK DUAFLEX 620 CAMERA

This was one of those “mystery cameras” I brought with me to Portugal. I’d never used it before and was taking a bit of a risk bringing it. But I tested the shutter before I left home and everything seemed to be in working condition. The Kodak Duaflex is a 620 film camera from the 1940s & 50s. While they don’t make 620 film anymore, you can buy any 120 film and roll it onto a 620 film spool yourself, or you can buy 620 film from the Film Photography Project or other company that pre-spools 620 film. I’m in love with the photos I got with it and I recently posted a YouTube video from our trip about this camera too! I just wish I’d shot more rolls! I just love super vintage/retro images, especially when they’re produced with a camera that’s so old and somehow still functions! Read more about the Kodak Duaflex here!

WHERE TO BUY THE KODAK DUAFLEX CAMERA:

Amazon

eBay

KEH Camera

FILM I USED:

Kodak TMAX 100 by the Film Photography Project

#ad #sponsored #affiliate

6. MINOLTA MAXXUM STSI

The Minolta Maxxum STsi is becoming one of those cameras I can’t leave home without. It has so many functions and features, including a super fun panorama mode. I have an AF 28-85mm 3.5-4.5 zoom lens but you can buy other lenses for it if you prefer a fixed focal length or something else. While it’s not the sharpest camera that I own, it’s sharp enough for me in most situations. But what I really love about it is the fact that it has that panorama mode, a flash, a zoom lens option, autofocus, aperture priority and a multiple exposure function. It has almost everything I’d ever want in a travel camera. It’s becoming harder and harder for me to leave it behind so it might just become as special to me as the Holga one of these days! Watch my YouTube video if you want to know more about it!

WHERE TO BUY THE MINOLTA MAXXUM STSI:

KEH Camera

Amazon

eBay

AF 28-85MM 3.5-4.5 ZOOM LENS:

eBay

#ad #sponsored #affiliate

7. NIKON FE2

The Nikon FE2 is the fanciest 35mm camera I own. I still remember the day I bought it! I visited Blue Moon Camera in Portland, Oregon with a Pentax K1000 on my mind. But after discussing my style of shooting with the store associate, they convinced me to go with the Nikon FE2 and I’m so glad I did! I LOVE this camera. The images are stunning, the lens is super sharp, and it has a multiple exposure function. It has the classic retro film camera look to it and feels super sturdy and reliable in your hand. It’s just perfect. I use a 50mm f/1.4 lens and I find it to be the perfect lens for the Nikon FE2. A zoom lens would be a bit too much to handle with this camera because it is a manual focus camera. I considered leaving this one at home, but looking at my images from Portugal, I’m thrilled with the images and need to remember that this camera never deserves to be left at home. It’s just too incredible!

WHERE TO BUY:

Purchase a Nikon FE2 on Amazon!

Purchase a Nikon FE2 on eBay!

Purchase a Nikon FE2 on KEH Camera!

LENS:

50mm f/1.4 AF Nikkor

35-70mm f/3.3 AF Nikkor (more affordable zoom lens)

#ad #sponsored #affiliate

8. MINOLTA HI-MATIC AF2

The Minolta Hi-Matic AF2 was my second “mystery camera” of the trip. And it was really a mystery because it wasn’t even working when I first pulled it out of a box in my house. The shutter was stuck, the battery compartment was corroded and it wasn’t making any sort of sounds at all! But I spent a day cleaning the battery compartment with rubbing alcohol and q-tips, and I messed with the shutter clasp and eventually, by some miracle, I got it working! The shutter was intermittent at first, but the more I warmed it up, the more reliable it became. I was so surprised that I was able to get through two rolls of film on my trip without a hiccup at all. While it’s not the sharpest camera in the land, it has a special sort of grainy, retro film vibe that is unique and fun. It’s a very simple point-and-shoot camera with an f/2.8 lens. I’m excited to try it out again sometime soon because I want to see more from it! And yes, I have a full blog post and YouTube video about this one too!

WHERE TO BUY THE MINOLTA HI-MATIC AF2:

Amazon

KEH Camera

#ad #sponsored #affiliate

FINAL THOUGHTS

It’s hard for me to hate on any cameras really, but this combination of digital and film cameras really covered all my bases throughout my trip. Plus, none of them are crazy heavy or bulky. The only camera I missed having was my Polaroid Land Camera. But it’s quite heavy and I only have a few boxes of film left to use with it, sadly. I’m patiently waiting for Polaroid to start producing film for it again, but I’m trying not to get my hopes up in case it doesn’t happen! :( You can still buy old boxes of film for land cameras on eBay but they are so pricey now. It’s such a beautiful camera to use though and the images are irreplaceable. Ugh, maybe one day they’ll have a much-deserved resurgence!

I hope these cameras and photos inspire you in some way to try out a new camera! It’s always intimidating shooting with a new camera for the first time, but it’s also so exciting!

If you found this post helpful or if you’d like to see more of my work, 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. Find out more 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

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

Kodak Duaflex 620 Camera Review with Sample Photos in Portugal | How to Use a 620 Film Camera and Where to Buy Film

August 4, 2024

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

The Kodak Duaflex is so CUTE. It’s one of those cameras that deserves to be displayed on a shelf and is a definite conversation-starter. It is a 620 medium format camera, originally produced in 1947 with continued production into the early 1960s. It’s a Twin-Lens Reflex camera, meaning it works off of two lenses — one for the viewfinder and one for taking the photograph. One of the key features of the Kodak Duaflex is the waist-level viewfinder, so you look down into the top of the camera to take a photograph. This type of camera takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it’s such a fun and unique experience. Plus, it just feels good to reconnect with the old-school style of photography.

To be honest, I have no idea where my Kodak Duaflex came from. As a photographer for over a decade, I’ve become the friend and family member that everyone donates their cameras to, but I’m more than okay with that! My collection is constantly growing and it allows me to bring different cameras with me on every trip I take!

For my recent trip to Portugal, I grabbed the Kodak Duaflex off my shelf, tested the shutter, made sure I could open it up to put film in, and then tossed it in my suitcase! I had never used this camera before, so it was a bit of a risk hauling it all the way to Portugal. But at this point, I’ve realized these old, vintage cameras are surprisingly resilient. The more simple the camera, the longer they seem to last without issues. As long as the shutter works, you’re pretty much golden!

I’m so excited that my first roll of film actually turned out! I wanted to share a few of the pros and cons that I’ve experienced so far with this camera, and if you’d like to see how my photographs turned out, you can check out my YouTube video about the Kodak Duaflex, or you can scroll down to the bottom of this post!

PROS

I know how intimidating these cameras can be because of their age. They almost seem foreign to us because of how used to the digital age we are. But what’s hilarious about that is that these cameras are SO BASIC. They are about as simple as you can get. They are essentially a box with a hole in it. There are absolutely no settings other than the “I” or the “B” mode, which stands for “instantaneous” and “bulb”. The Instantaneous mode is about 1/30th of a second shutter speed, and the Bulb mode is for as long as you hold the shutter open. The Bulb mode is typically used for low-light situations or for capturing light trails and things of that nature. For this type of camera, I mostly stick to the “I” mode because the 1/30th of a second is slow enough for me! Personally, the simplicity of this camera is definitely a pro for me. There are no complicated settings or confusing buttons.

Another pro of this camera is the affordability. You can find them for about $15-35 on eBay or KEH Camera, or you might just happen to stumble across one in a thrift store if you’re lucky! They also tend to be in relatively good condition for their age because there is no battery compartment or anything for corrosion to occur.

I’m also pleasantly surprised by the sharpness of this camera! Not too long ago, I reviewed the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. While I loved the images, they weren’t as sharp as I’d hoped they’d be. But I think my lens was also a little foggy. My images from the Kodak Duaflex though, were crisp and stunning! I truly couldn’t believe it. Especially with such a slow shutter speed. I was expecting them to be blurry and show some motion. It is definitely important to stand as still as possible when shooting with this camera though to avoid shaking the camera!

CONS

One of the main disadvantages of this camera is that 620 film isn’t produced anymore. However, you can purchase any 120 film, a few old 620 film spools and roll it onto the 620 film spool yourself! The film is the same size but the spools are different. If you don’t want to take the risk though, you can also purchase pre-spooled 620 film from the Film Photography Project. They have a really fun starter pack that I purchased, which contained the Kodak 100 TMAX black and white film that I used for my first roll of film with the Duaflex.

The slow shutter speed (1/30th of a second) can be a bit of a pain to work with. It’s nearly impossible to stand still enough for a crystal clear photo, but I literally just hold my breath as I take the photo to avoid motion blur! I will also set the camera on a hard surface and push the shutter gently, which also helps with steadiness. There’s also a tripod socket on the bottom of the camera if you just don’t trust yourself!

Another thing I noticed from this first roll of film is that the focusing distance is quite large. Apparently it is about 3 feet to infinity, which is much further than the majority of my cameras. So I was a little surprised by the portraits we took. In the moment. I felt that it was far enough away that it would be in focus, but when I got the images back, you’ll see that your subject has to be pretty far away for them to be in focus. This isn’t a huge deal and I don’t really mind it, but it will take some time to get used to that!

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m so incredibly happy that I took this camera with me to Portugal. I know I’ll treasure these photos forever. The first roll of film with each of my cameras is very special to me because I’m truly just having fun trying to figure out if the camera even works. It’s an experiment that keeps me interested in photography. And getting my film back from the lab is always such an exciting day! I’ll definitely be taking this camera with me on future trips, especially if we’re comparing it to the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. This camera is much sharper and I’m just thrilled with the images. I want to try out more multiple exposures and portraits with it in the future, too. Now that I’m aware of the focusing distance, I’ll be able to get a bit more creative.

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