All posts by Alan D

Olympus Supertrip 1 Roll Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 15

The Olympus Supertrip sounds pretty ominous. Olympus continued to use the mighty Trip name on a range of P&S camera after the last Trip 35 rolled of the line and they often derided as being poor seconds. So can this fixed focus 35mm flash compact up to its super moniker ?

Olympus Supertrip
Olympus Supertrip 35mm Fixed-focus 80’s compact

Continue reading Olympus Supertrip 1 Roll Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 15

10 Fixed Focus Wonders

Fixed focus cameras have lasted as long as consumer photography has existed and beyond from the Kodak Brownie launched in the 1890’s right up to date with the still in production clones of the Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim. Easy shooters often derided but popular with the public and pre-AF often the choice of the casual snapper.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Taken on Disposable fixed focus Kodak Fun camera (Camera in shot is a fixed focus Olympus XA1)

Over the years we’ve had ones that have no controls right through to fully automatic exposure models. Here’s my thoughts on some Continue reading 10 Fixed Focus Wonders

Olympus PEN EE-2 : 1st Roll Review

You’ve probably gathered I’ve a bit of a soft spot for Olympus compacts and when I stumbled across this on eBay I took a punt on this Half-frame, fixed focus wonder. This is a quick review based on just one roll

Papa's got a Brand new Half Frame bag
Olympus PEN EE-2 half-frame 35mm camera

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7 Alternatives to The Lomo LC-A

The LC-A and LC-A+ have certainly carved a niche out for themselves in no small part due to the Lomography movement. The LC-A has become somewhat a marmite camera either loved or hated but has also become quite expensive to buy either as a vintage camera or in its new guise as the LC-A+.

Rest over
A Lomo LC-A (with export marking and naff skin). But what can you buy instead ?

But what alternatives are there that won’t break the balance for a 35mm  zone focus, quirky compact ? Continue reading 7 Alternatives to The Lomo LC-A

Yamato Pal Jr/Pax Jr Review : One foot in the 50’s and another the 60’s

I got this little gem a couple of years ago and have recently picked it up again.This scale focus 35mm relatively compact camera looks strikingly like Haking’s  Halina Super 35X and one can guess who influenced who. But how does this early 60’s compact measure up ?

Yamato Pal Jr
Yamato Pal Jr 35mm Japanese camera from 1960

Continue reading Yamato Pal Jr/Pax Jr Review : One foot in the 50’s and another the 60’s

How do you define Lomo & Lomography ?

The terms Lomo and Lomography get banded around and are used interchangeably and mean different things to different people. I’ve had to think about this more recently as I’ve taken over moderating Lomography for non-snobs group on Flickr and have had to make decisions about what is a Lomography shot or not.

Live wire
Taken on a Lomo LC-A using Cross processed Lomography Xpro 200. But is it a Lomo shot ?

Continue reading How do you define Lomo & Lomography ?

5 Alternatives to a Box Brownie

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

If you’ve read my review you’ll understand that I’m a big fan of the Kodak’s Box Brownie No 2.

This design classic not only is one of the series of simple cheap cameras that helped launch the idea of taking photos to everyone but also gave us 120 roll film.

Millions were made from its launch in 1901 and you can buy a working one for just £1 with luck on eBay. But what alternatives exist for fun basic shooting with a simple box ? Continue reading 5 Alternatives to a Box Brownie

Canon Canonet Review : The Birth of the Prosumer Camera

The Canon Canonet (aka Bell & Howell Canonet 19) was groundbreaking when it arrived in 1961, delivering a high spec rangefinder from a high-end manufacturer for only modest prices. It was an instant success with stock selling out in 2 days and the camera going to sell over a million units. But how does it stack up against cameras of its day ?

Canon Canonet
Canon Canonet 35mm Rangefinder from 1960’s

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