Halina Vision XF – Poundland Camera Challenge No 16

Another plastic-tastic number from Haking arrived in one of the Job lots for a quid.

Halina Vision XF 35mm Camera
Halina Vision XF fixed focus basic 35mm Camera (note flash switch & lens cover switch)

But did the lump of plastic live up to Haking’s ability to make not bad cheap shooters ?

Continue reading Halina Vision XF – Poundland Camera Challenge No 16

A Braun Paxette Review : A shape of what would come

I’ve a bit of a thing for German Cameras of the late 50’s and 60’s. I still miss my Boots badged Franka 125 and the German made Ilford sportsman was one of the Joys from the Poundland Challenge. I’ve always fancied a legendary Braun Paxette series camera and a viewfinder version came my way a few weeks ago

Braun Paxette
Braun Paxette 50’s 35mm viewfinder (precise model unknown)

But was it Braw or Poxy ? Continue reading A Braun Paxette Review : A shape of what would come

The problem with second hand reviews & Apols to the XA2

If you’ve been following my blog you’ll be aware I’ve a somewhat love-hate relationship with the Olympus XA2. At times I’ve been amazed and other times underwhelmed. Well it turns out one of the two XA2 I had over the last 2 years whilst superficially working produced naff results (the other in hindsight was pretty good)

Olympus XA2
Olympus XA2 ’80s classic supercompact

And this got me thinking about me and other reviewers of film cameras. What happens if we get a wrong ‘un ?

Continue reading The problem with second hand reviews & Apols to the XA2

Yashica Samurai X4.0 – failure to launch

I don’t really like reviewing cameras that haven’t worked but I recently acquired a Yashica Samurai X4 which had a a sticky shutter. The actual other mechanics of the camera worked (bar flash) so these are my musing on this unique camera half frame SLR despite not actually successfully taking a shot on it

Yashica Samurai X4.0
Yashica Samurai X4.0 half frame AF SLR from late 1980’s

Continue reading Yashica Samurai X4.0 – failure to launch