Pentax Espio AF Zoom Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 8

This Camera has been my ‘can’t believe it’s not butter’ moment of the Poundland Challenge. It turned up with a pack of other cameras as s 99p Job lot. Whilst others have made that job lot quite a good deal this was the hidden cracker. But why has this AF zoom compact so impressed me.

Pentax Espio
Pentax Espio AF Zoom 35mm compact

Continue reading Pentax Espio AF Zoom Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 8

Kodak Brownie No 2 Review : Boxing Clever

The Kodak brownie is probably the best known and iconic camera series ever made. The Brownies in one form or another were made from 1900 to 1986 although are best known for the Iconic Box Brownies. The No 2 deserves a special place in this Iconography not just for it’s own 34 year run from 1901 but for the fact this camera gave us 120 film and is arguable the most reliable camera in the world still turning out shots almost a century later. Although this isn’t a Poundland Challenge Camera, scarily you can actually get this classic for a quid or less.

Papa's got a brand new pre war box
Kodak Brownie No 2

Continue reading Kodak Brownie No 2 Review : Boxing Clever

Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 7

1p for a modern classic P&S camera ? Well this just shows you what a good deal you can get Cameras for on eBay (and also a timely reminder never to start an auction for less than 99p). This mid 90’s AF compact is a good example of Canon’s skill of making decent P&S  camera

Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom
Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom. 35mm AF zoom compact from 1995

Continue reading Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 7

Kodak 35 EF : Poundland Challenge Camera No 6

This odd little 80’s Kodak number came amongst a ton of Cameras that I picked up for 99p. This little fixed focus and fixed shutter number however has become a firm favourite

Kodak 35 EF
Kodak 35 EF. Closed (top) and Open with flash up (bottom)

Continue reading Kodak 35 EF : Poundland Challenge Camera No 6

Ilford Sportsman Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 5

This ended up being my first truly vintage pound or less camera. This scale focus number was launched in 1959 as an  update to the Mark I launched a couple of years earlier (the mark III was in by the end of 1959 !!). But how does Ilford’s challenger to Kodak’s retina/retinette measure up ?

Ilford Sportsman Mark II
Ilford Sportsman Mark II. 35mm 1950’s camera that I got for 99p

Continue reading Ilford Sportsman Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 5

Canon Sure Shot AF-7S Review : Poundland Challenge Camera 4

The Canon’s Sure Shot AF-7s (aka Sure shot Owl PF or Prima AF-9S) was launched at the turn of the century. It is essentially like a restyled version of the 1997 Sure Shot AF-7/Sure Shot Owl and carried on the characteristic large viewfinder (hence sold under the Owl name in the US). Mines arrived with a case and batteries (thankfully not corroded)

Canon Sure Shot AF-7s
Canon Sure Shot AF-7s

Continue reading Canon Sure Shot AF-7S Review : Poundland Challenge Camera 4

Hanimex 35 DL Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 3

This wacky fixed focus number arrived early on into the Poundland challenge. This quirky 2 lens camera was also sold as Cronus 35DL and Kin Son 35 DL and is closely related to the Miranda TL-200 and its clones. Sadly mines arrive with some batteries in – possible the most corroded batteries I’ve ever had. But could I get it working and was it worth the effort ?

Hanimex 35 DL
Hanimex 35 DL

Continue reading Hanimex 35 DL Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 3

Olympus Superzoom 80S Review : Poundland Challenge Camera 2

This late Olympus camera was actually the first bought as part of the Poundland challenge but the Halina Speedy 33 arrived first. This was one of the last film cameras made by Olympus, a company with an excellent history of making P&S such as the Trip 35 and the XA2. But how does this late autofocus, zoom compact measure up ?

Olympus Superzoom 80S
Olympus Superzoom 80S closed and open with lens fully extended

Continue reading Olympus Superzoom 80S Review : Poundland Challenge Camera 2

Halina Speedy 33 : Poundland Camera No 1

This was the first camera to arrive from my Poundland challenge. For less than a quid (99p plus P&P) this was the first of the poundland challenge camera to arrive and my first red halina. But Did I end up red faced or flushed with excitement with this 99p fixed focus number.

Attack of the clones II
Halina Speedy 33 with Olympus XA2 with Flash for comparison

Continue reading Halina Speedy 33 : Poundland Camera No 1