Category Archives: Film

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim/Superheadz Wide & Slim Review : wide out fun

I’ve heard folk rave about modern film cameras  before. There are some serious devotees to the cult of Lomography and all that LSI makes for example.  But Sunpet’s tiny wide angled camera originally sold as the Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim (VUWS) and today is sold as the Superheadz Wide and Slim or the Eximus has developed a similar cachet. But does it live up to it’s tag as  “The Poor man’s Lomo”

Superheadz Wide & Slim
Superheadz Wide & Slim,  a current clone of the Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim

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Agfa Isoly III Review : 4×4 classic

The Isoly series is probably best known for the humble Isoly I, the camera that launched a 1000 Diana clones. But the series also feature a range of other models including the top of the range Isoly III which makes for a rather good 120 P&S

Agfa Isoly III - 120 film camera
Agfa Isoly III – 120 film camera from the 1960’s

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