Japan Camera Hunter Explores the Zen World of Film Photography

Can you handle a Leica MP-6, or is the classic Canonet a better fit?

Sure, it’s easy enough to take photos with your smartphone or a digital camera these days.

But, as many of us know, it’s also incredibly satisfying and rewarding to shoot a roll of film. This process of capturing photos is methodical, ritualistic even. You’re not constantly snapping and instantly seeing the results. You’re being more intentional about what you photograph and mindful of composition.

Personally, I love picking up a freshly-developed roll of film and being surprised to see which photos are the best. Often, the shot that isn’t so perfect—the one with unexpected blur or a surprising photo bomb—is my favorite.

And, as good as digital filters are—nothing can match the texture of film grain.

All this to say, If you are in the market for a film camera, I have a helpful new book to recommend—Film Camera Zen: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Film Camera, authored by Bellamy Hunt. A photographer and self-described camera geek, Hunt is best known as Japan Camera Hunter or JCH, and he has made it his business to put film cameras in the hands of photographers as the proprietor of Tokyo-based Japan Camera Hunter.

Now, he shares his extensive knowledge of everything Leica, Nikon, Mamiya and more in Film Camera Zen, published by Chronicle Chroma and available for pre-order.

“I wrote this book for anyone who has an interest in film cameras—from the absolute beginner to the salty old collector,” Hunt tells Muse.

Here, Hunt discusses his book and the future of photography. He also talks about one of his mentors and reminisces about the trusty Minolta that belonged to his dad and ignited his passion for photography when he was a teenager.

MUSE: How did this book come to be? 

Bellamy Hunt: When the publisher got in touch with me, I had an idea in mind for a book about my favorite cameras, and it just went from there. It is not a comprehensive guide to all film cameras—that would take many volumes. It is more a compendium of the cameras that I love and that have had an impact on me. And hopefully, they will resonate with people to help them find their camera zen.

 

There are red tabs at the top of each page noting the level of user experience—low, intermediate or high—someone purchasing a particular camera should have. Can you talk about why you wanted to make sure to share that information? It’s a great idea. I have had friends who have purchased expensive film cameras only to give up on them because a) the camera operation is too complex for their skill level and/or b) they aren’t interested in learning what they need to know.

The publisher and I thought it would be helpful for people to have some kind of idea what they are getting in to. Over the years, I have sold a lot of cameras, and sometimes clients have needed guidance on how to get the most from a camera that they are perhaps not familiar with. This guide gives the reader an idea of if the device is suitable for their experience level and will encourage people to level up and try something new.

I have seen a lot of excitement from camera buffs around Mint Camera’s recent release of the Rollei 35AF. Why are people so excited about a new incarnation of this iconic little camera? And what does this successful release say about the future of film cameras? 

The Rollei 35AF is a camera that is close to my heart. I have been speaking to Gary [Ho] at Mint since the beginning of the project and offering feedback. I was very fortunate to be able to beta test the camera, and I have found it to be very enjoyable to use.

The Rollei 35AF is a really important step in bringing film back to a mainstream market. It is a camera that—while looking retro—has some very modern functions, with the lidar AF and aperture priority.

It is very easy to use and gives great results, which I hope will bring a new generation to film photography. This is also important because without new cameras, we have no new infrastructure and development in the film photography industry. The Rollei 35AF is a huge step in the right direction. 

You have a full page of acknowledgements at the end of your book, and I love that you shared appreciation for so many people, including Antoni Kowal, your mentor. You have been a mentor to so many photographers. Tell us about your mentor and how he impacted your career.

I met Antoni many years ago when I was working for minimum wage at a photography supply company in Tokyo. A very well-dressed and well-spoken gentleman came into the shop and seemed to know everyone there. His Japanese was impeccable, as were his manners.

It turned out that Antoni was an old friend of the founder of the company and had been coming to Japan since the 1960s to buy and sell cameras. We immediately hit it off and became friends despite a large age gap. He needed assistance with his work in Japan, and my boss let me help.

Antoni took me under his wing and taught me everything about the used camera industry in Japan and told me a great many fantastic stories.

He knows everyone, and I was introduced as his apprentice, which opened doors I would have never had the chance to be near. He is a Nikon specialist, but also has an encyclopedic knowledge of camera and lenses in particular. Antoni taught me not just about cameras, he taught me about the business and how to work with integrity and honesty. He also taught me about A5 Wagyu, Madeira wine and how to enjoy doing what you love. We had many great times in Tokyo.

Sadly, Antoni became sick a few years ago and is no longer able to travel. We still communicate by mail, and I can truly say I would not be here without his guidance. He was the catalyst for Japan Camera Hunter.

You write about finding your father’s film camera—a Minolta XG-1 SLR—when you were a teenager growing up in the U.K. and basically taking it over. What was it about this camera that sparked your interest in photography, and do you still use it?

I found that camera under the stairs during one long and boring summer holiday in sleepy England. Yes, this was the camera that started my long and winding road. And I still have it. I don’t use it often, as it is fragile and the meter isn’t working any longer. But it can still shoot, and I have taken pictures of my family with the camera. It’s funny how an inanimate object can change the path of your life. But this camera did, and it is more valuable to me than any other camera I own.