Why the Canon Rebel K2 will always be one of my favorite cameras | The Best 35 mm Travel Camera

January 10, 2023

Updated July 16, 2026

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I feel like I say this a lot, but I’m obsessed with the Canon Rebel K2. So much so that when my sister asked if she could borrow mine for our family trip to Italy, I had a brief freak out and then somehow convinced her to buy her own instead! It’s only $30-60 so it didn’t really make sense that I was stressing out so much about something happening to mine, except for the fact that it was my very first film camera and changed the whole trajectory of my life (no big deal). The first photographs I ever developed in the darkroom were taken with my Canon Rebel K2 and I’ve been a photographer ever since! I suppose I have quite the sentimental attachment to it that I wasn’t fully aware of until my sister’s inquiry.

I don’t typically bring my Canon Rebel K2 with me on trips because I have so many other cameras that are technically “better”, but I recently took it with me to Italy and France. On my first trip to Paris in 2010, I used my Canon Rebel K2 and Neopan Acros 100 film. I’m still in love with those photos so I decided to recreate that same camera set-up during my recent trip. I brought a few rolls of Neopan Acros 100 (version II - they don’t make the original version of this film anymore) and once again, this camera delivered. I think it’s going to be hard to leave this camera at home when I go on future trips - there’s just something special about it.

The Canon Rebel K2 has all of the features you’d want in a travel camera: a SUPER lightweight body, automatic and manual settings, a flash, a multiple exposure feature and an option for a zoom lens ( I use the Canon 28-90mm f/5.6 kit lens - you should be able to find one on eBay here!). It’s also incredibly inconspicuous and is great for street photography. I’m quite a shy person, so the idea of bothering someone or making them upset with me if I took their photo would be my nightmare, so the fact that this camera doesn’t stand out or look expensive or distracting is a positive feature in my book. I’m always surprised by how sharp the images turn out, especially using a kit lens. But I think it definitely helps to use a 100 speed film like Neopan Acros 100. I also think it’s just the combination of the camera and film that is a perfect duo. Every once in a while I stumble across a camera/film combo that just works, and this is one of those. I’d highly recommend this set up for beginners too because the Canon Rebel K2 can be used in full auto or full manual, as well as aperture priority and shutter priority. I always recommend black and white film for beginners too because it’s a great way to learn composition, light, shadows and tonal range, especially if you’re developing your own film in the darkroom. I’ll always be grateful for the foundation of photography knowledge that I gained through developing and printing my own film photos. If you have access to a darkroom class, you should definitely sign up!

I’ve included a few of my favorite photographs from 2010, followed by a few of my favorites from my recent trip. I still think that there’s something beautiful about the original version of the Neopan Acros 100 film - it seems sharper and better at capturing detail in the highlights and shadows. The new version of the film is still beautiful but just doesn’t seem to bring that same moodiness that I loved so much in the original version. I’d love to know your thoughts and if you notice a difference in the two films!

If you love this camera as much as I do, make sure to check out my YouTube video and review for the Canon Rebel K2 below, or you can purchase your own:

WHERE TO FIND A CANON REBEL K2

KEH Camera

Amazon!

Etsy!

Shop eBay!

FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:

Neopan Acros 100 35mm B&W film

Kodak Gold 200 35mm film

Lomography 100 35mm film

If you’re interested in reading about other 35 mm cameras, make sure to check out my post - the Top 10 35mm Film Cameras fo Beginners! And if you found this post helpful in any way, 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.

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 B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!

<3 Myles Katherine

BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS IN PARIS IN 2010 USING A CANON REBEL K2 & Neopan acros 100 film

BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS IN PARIS IN 2022 USING A CANON REBEL K2 & Neopan acros 100 film II

Thanks so much for stopping by! Feel free to leave any questions or comments below!

<3 Myles Katherine

Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Review with Sample Photos in Kauai, Italy and France!

December 19, 2022

Updated July 7, 2026

MY FAVORITE FEATURES OF THE KODAK BROWNIE HAWKEYE

SHOOTING 620 FILM IN 2026

Over the years, I’ve somehow acquired quite a few Brownie and box cameras. One of my favorite things about being a photographer is that people just (literally) drop old cameras off at my doorstep because they don’t know what to do with them. My camera collection is so large now that I’m contemplating building shelves in every room in my house just to display them! Last time I checked I had over 100!
Specifically, the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash Model has always stood out to me because the one I received is in great condition (you should be able to find one on eBay or Etsy if you’re on the hunt for one)! It almost looked like a new camera, even though it’s from the 1950s! The inside of the camera didn’t even have a single speck of dust! So for years, it was calling my name to try it out. I’m not going to lie though, it was intimidating. I thought there was no way I’d be able to figure out how to use it. It turns out, it’s one of the EASIEST cameras to use EVER. It’s essentially a pinhole camera mixed with a Holga. There aren’t any crazy settings or knobs and buttons to deal with. You just look down into the viewfinder, compose your shot, hold as still as possible and click the shutter. It’s that easy. However, there is a lever that you can pull up if you’d like to use the “bulb” setting. Personally, I don’t feel there is a reason to use the bulb setting because the shutter is already quite slow, around 1/30th to 1/60th of a second. That’s why it’s so important to hold the camera as still as possible when taking your photo to avoid motion blur. If you’re interested in shooting in lower light situations, you could always add the flash, which I haven’t tried yet but plan to!
The first time I used my Kodak Brownie Hawkeye, I was headed to Kauai for vacation and decided to just toss it in my bag and try it out when I got there. I purchased two rolls of 620 film on our 2-day stopover in Portland, Oregon from Blue Moon Camera. I watched a quick YouTube video on how to load the film and then just went for it. The film was actually surprisingly easy to load because the inside of the camera has guide-marks for loading. I nervously shot my first roll of film, feeling like there was NO way the images were turning out because of how easy it seemed to just point and shoot. After I returned home, I mailed my film off to my film lab, Citizens Photo, and was SO EXCITED when my film came back, perfectly exposed and beautiful. There is truly no better feeling than getting my film back in the mail.

Recently, I purchased a few more rolls of 620 film from The Film Photography Project and Film For Classics (it’s not cheap, just FYI) and took the film with me to Italy and France! I even used it to capture a few photos on the Amalfi Coast, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I actually have a full blog post about our day at the Amalfi Coast here or you can watch a video about it on my YouTube channel! I’m obsessed with the vintage, foggy style of the images from the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye and I can’t wait to take it with me on my next trip. Lately, I’ve been craving images that are less than perfect and the Hawkeye helps to quench that thirst. If you have a Hawkeye lying around, try it out! It’s so fun. I definitely plan on trying it out with the flash next. :)

MY FAVORITE FEATURES OF THE KODAK BROWNIE HAWKEYE

There are so many things I loved about using the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. I have a handful of stipulations that I’m always looking for in a camera and this one surprisingly covered most of them! I love cameras that can do multiple exposures, and it’s incredibly easy to do with the Brownie Hawkeye. You can read more about multiple exposures and double exposures on my blog here, but essentially it’s just two or more images taken over top of each other. The result is usually a dreamy, surreal photograph with beautiful layers. With the Hawkeye, you just simply take two (or more) images before advancing the film to the next frame. It couldn’t be easier, honestly!

I also love how small and lightweight the camera is because I typically travel with at least 5 or 6 cameras. My camera bag gets incredibly heavy very quickly but the Hawkeye hardly weighs a thing! It’s basically just a hollow plastic shell. It’s also not bulky or oddly shaped, it’s just a simple square and slides right in between my other cameras easily.

While it’s not the sharpest camera out there, I just find it so fun to test out those old vintage cameras and create images that look like they’re from another time period. I like keeping vintage cameras alive and seeing what kind of magic they can create. I also recently tested out a similar camera, the Kodak Duaflex 620, and that one is quite a bit sharper if you’re looking for something with more detail in the images. However, I kind of love the fogginess to the images, it makes them truly feel like they were taken in the 1950s!

I also personally love cameras that take square photos, so the Kodak Brownie Hawkeye just hits so many marks for me! If you’ve been following my work, you know I love the Holga GCFN camera, which also takes square photographs. You’ll only get 12 images per roll, which doesn’t seem like much, but you’d be surprised how much more thoughtful you are about the photos you’re taking. It forces you to slow down and really pay attention to the moment in front of you.

Lastly, I tend to prefer a camera with a flash, and while I haven’t tested a flash out with the Hawkeye yet, I do plan to do that soon! It would definitely help a bit with motion blur and might work a little better on cloudy days.

I’ve included some of my favorite images below that I’ve taken with the Hawkeye so far. You can also check out my full YouTube video about the camera here! It’s hard to say how much longer you’ll be able to readily find 620 film, so make sure to try it out while you can! I feel lucky to live in a time period where I can still try out these old vintage cameras.

If you’re interested in reading more about vintage film cameras, make sure to check out my blog post, 10 Best Film Cameras for Beginner Photographers. :)

WHERE TO BUY A KODAK BROWNIE HAWKEYE CAMERA

SHOP Etsy

SHOP eBay

SHOP Amazon

WHERE TO BUY 620 FILM

SHOP B&H Photo

SHOP Etsy (for vintage 620 film & cameras)

SHOP eBay (for vintage 620 film & cameras)

If you found this post helpful in any way, 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.

<3 Myles Katherine

3 Best 120 Films to use with a Holga Toy Camera - Film Photography Tips

July 18, 2022

Updated June 28. 2026

BEST BLACK & WHITE AND COLOR FILMS TO USE WITH A HOLGA

If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know that the Holga (particularly the Holga 120 GCFN) is my favorite camera of all time. It’s a cheap, plastic toy camera but is capable of taking some truly unique photographs. It’s the one camera I never leave home without! I’ve been shooting with the Holga for almost 15 years now and I’ve tried quite a few different film brands with it at this point. I wanted to share my 3 favorite films I’ve used over the years and why I keep going back to them. Make sure to check out my full blog post and YouTube video about the Holga too! If you prefer shooting 35 mm film, you can read more about the Holga 135BC on my blog here. :)

1. Lomography Color Negative 120 ISO 400

My absolute favorite film to use with the Holga is Lomography Color Negative 400. Lomography‘s color 120 films are actually some of the more affordable ones out there, especially if you buy in bulk to save on shipping costs. The best part about this film is the bright, vibrant colors. I’ve noticed that films like Kodak Portra 400 (which is an incredible film - I have a full blog post about it here!) just tend to turn out a little more flat when using the Holga, so I often end up adding saturation into the photo during post-processing. Because the images taken with the Holga aren’t the sharpest or most detailed, having a vibrant and bold color film REALLY makes a difference. Plus, the 400 film speed works in both bright light and lower light situations. It’s the most versatile film speed for the Holga, in my opinion. The Color Negative 800 by Lomography is also great if the 400 isn’t in stock!

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

Lomography Color Negative 120 ISO 400

Shop B&H Photo

Shop Amazon

Shop eBay

2. FUJIFILM Neopan 100 Acros II Black & White Negative Film

While I’ll forever miss the original Neopan Acros 100 film (you can still find it on eBay!), the new version is still amazing. The first film I ever used with a Holga was Neopan Acros 100 and I’m still obsessed with the fine grain and moodiness of the film. It’s super sharp, has beautiful tones and creates interesting images when used in low light BECAUSE of the slow film speed. I used to use black and white film a lot more than I do now, but I’ll always cherish the magic and nostalgia of black and white film. I prefer to shoot in color now to allow myself the option of converting to black and white. I actually have a full blog post and YouTube video (filmed at Versailles in France) if you want to learn more about this film!

WHERE TO PURCHASE:

FUJIFILM Neopan 100 Acros II Black & White Negative Film

Shop Adorama

Shop B&H Photo

Shop eBay

3. Lomography LomoChrome Purple XR 100-400 Color Negative Film

I know this isn’t a popular opinion, but I LOVE Lomochrome Purple. It’s unique, dreamy and interesting. I think the combination of the Holga and Purple Lomochrome film works really well together. I know I’m a weird person anyway, so if people want to think I’m weird for liking this film, that’s just another day for me. Photographers have a LOT of opinions on this film, but personally, I think if someone hates this film, it's because they’ve never taken a good photo with it. ;) It can be difficult to find these days but I recommend checking Amazon, eBay or B&H Photo! If you’d like to see even more sample photos using this film, check out my post - Lomochrome Purple Sample Photos with a Holga GCFN.