All posts by Alan D

Flickr Explore – Randomness, whoring & Likes – Discuss

Flickr Explore, what’s it all about ?

Let’s be clear from the outset, I don’t take pictures for other people (out with family snaps etc.). I’m not really intending to foist my images on the world and bask in admiration. I know I’m no Ansel Adams or David Bailey. I’m no artist, I’m a film shooting geek who likes the tech and part of that is getting a good image. And whilst I do like most folk enjoy feedback, I’m find the obsession to some around Explore a bit odd. Continue reading Flickr Explore – Randomness, whoring & Likes – Discuss

Nikon F-401 Review – the £1.50 SLR

This all singing SLR body (sold in the US as the N4004) almost made it into the Poundland Challenge. It turned out to be a bigger steal than most from that and demonstrates you can get incredible cameras for next to nought these days.

Nikon F-401 (aka N4004)
Nikon F-401 (aka N4004) AF SLR with a Nikkor AF-D 35-80mm lens

Continue reading Nikon F-401 Review – the £1.50 SLR

Konica Z-up 80 : Poundland Challenge Camera No 10

This perhaps is the oddest looking purchase of the Poundland Challenge so far. This 1988 zoom AF in RC Limited guise looks like a digital Bridge camera that were popular a few years back. But this all singing and dancing device turn out to be a golden gate or a bridge too far ?

Konica Z-up 80RC Limited
Konica Z-up 80RC Limited, 35mm Zoom AF compact from 1988

Continue reading Konica Z-up 80 : Poundland Challenge Camera No 10

Praktica SP301 Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 9

This 35mm compact with fixed focus arrived in my second lot of camera’s for 99p lot.  Of the useable camera in that lot, it was arguable is the most advanced with motorwind, DX coding sensor and fill in flash button. But is at technological triumph or let down compared to more simple cameras like the Kodak 35EF

Praktica Sport SP301
Praktica Sport SP301 Motorised 35mm fixed focus 35mm compact

Continue reading Praktica SP301 Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 9

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