What made you want to try half-frame, and what was your first half-frame camera?

My journey with half-frame photography started a few years ago when my father handed me his old Olympus Pen EES-2. I had just learned about half-frame cameras and was surprised to find one right in my family. The camera wasn’t perfect. The aperture was stuck at f/22 and the shutter speed seemed locked around 1/60. But I loaded it with a roll of ISO 400 black and white film and took it out anyway. I loved how portable it was and how good the images turned out. In 2024, I finally decided to invest in my own half-frame camera, the Pentax 17.

What is it you like most about Half-frame?

I love the economical side of half-frame. It gives me the freedom to experiment without feeling too precious about each shot or worrying about the cost. This is especially true with color negative film, since I usually send that out to a lab for processing and scanning.

Favourite subject and/or Half-frame photo?

These days, my favorite half-frame subject is simply whatever memory I want to hold onto. Including family events, travels, or even the beauty in everyday scenery. My half-frame camera has become my go-to tool for photo journaling.

Your top tip/s for shooting half frame photos?

Unless you’re intentionally shooting multiples, my advice is to forget about the format and just use it like any other camera. And if it’s small or light enough for you, take it everywhere. Embrace the extra frames. Use them to experiment, to learn, or simply for the pure joy of taking photos.