Student Camera Showdown: Canon AE-1 Program vs Pentax K1000

Film is back!  Well, sorta.  OK, film never went anywhere, but like vinyl records did in the early 21st century, the steady decrease of film usage seems to have bottomed out and has started to increase again. According to Ilford in an article published in February 2015, 30% of people…

Keppler’s Vault 44: Why Our Astronauts Can’t Make Good Pictures

Ever since John Glenn brought up a heavily modified ANSCO Anscoset 35mm camera into space on board the Friendship 7 space craft during the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission, NASA has continued to look for ways to bring cameras into outer space. The idea of taking photos in space doesn’t really sound…

American Camera Showdown: Ektra vs Foton

Here at Mike Eckman dot com, I like to ask the tough questions.  Questions other camera review sites are unwilling or unable to answer. One day, while listening to some Kid Rock, drinking Budweiser, eating McDonalds, and shooting off fireworks, I thought to myself, “Gee, what was the best American…