Category Archives: Cameras

Broad Category for camera reviews or discussion

Halina Micro 110 redux – Processed and reappraised

If you read my original Micro 110 review you’ll know I sounded a bit disappointed. One factor I’d wandered about was the processing. I persevered and shot another cartridge and got it processed by the good folk at Digital Photo Express in Carlisle. The results really made me reappraise the camera as well as processing and  Lomography Tiger CN200. Continue reading Halina Micro 110 redux – Processed and reappraised

Hidden bargains of the second hand camera market – Guest Post by Hamish Gill

I recently found a Samsung ECX1 in a pawnbrokers in town for £2.99. I do a little circuit of a few of these shops as well as the charity shops if I’m ever in town with a little while to spare. Once in a while something I’ve been watching out for on eBay appears and I’m forced to snap it up. The Samsung ECX1 is just one of those cameras. It’s also the type of camera I think of as a bit of hidden bargain. Continue reading Hidden bargains of the second hand camera market – Guest Post by Hamish Gill

Ansco 35 Review – Guest Review by Al Mullen

Ansco 35
Ansco 35

The Ansco 35 is a plastic camera made by Haking of Hong Kong, and is also branded as the Halina 35. It was manufactured around 1980 and mine says made in Macau on it. It is obviously a toy camera in that it has designs that are just for show and is all plastic. Continue reading Ansco 35 Review – Guest Review by Al Mullen

Halina Micro 110 Review – Is it the 110 VUWS ?

This ultra compact plastic camera has grabbed by attention for a while. It is for a toy camera a wonderful piece of design and possibly the smallest mass produced camera for a common film format. Haking have made some corking fixed focus numbers IMHO and some howlers  but where does this sit and is it the 110 world’s VUWS ? (NOTE now updated here) Continue reading Halina Micro 110 Review – Is it the 110 VUWS ?

110 film – A miniature resurrection ?

One of the oddities of film in recent years has been the re-birth of the 110 film format.

Halina Micro 110
A loaded Halina Micro 110. Probably the smallest mass produced standard film format camera. with a decimal UK 2p for comparison

This quirky easy load camera system has new cameras from the likes of Lomography and Superheadz as well as a massive amount of second hand stuff out there. But should you bother ? Continue reading 110 film – A miniature resurrection ?

Balda Baldessa LF 2 Roll Review – The Clockwork Camera

I’d been after a Baldessa for a while. Balda was another legendary German camera maker decimated by the rise of Japanese compacts in the 1960’s and its Baldessa series take on a 35mm compact.

Balda Baldessa LF
Balda Baldessa LF a 1960’s 35mm German Viewfinder

Sadly my shutter went at some point in my first 2 rolls but did this camera tempt me back for another or was it auf wiedersehen ? Continue reading Balda Baldessa LF 2 Roll Review – The Clockwork Camera

Plastic Shoot out – Holga 135BC Versus Roniflex X3000

I’d recently mused about the alternatives to a Holga 135 series camera given the high cost. Just after that a newer color optical lens camera arrived and I managed to get a working 135BC.

Roniflex X3000 camera
Roniflex X3000 camera a Fixed focus plastic lensed 35mm camera


But which camera rode high if any and which one ended sadly up in the Bin ? Continue reading Plastic Shoot out – Holga 135BC Versus Roniflex X3000

10 total Point and Shoot Cameras of all Time

My recent fling with The Konica C35 AF got me thinking about what true point and shoots (P&S) there out there. By that I mean a P&S where all the user does is hit the shutter button and possibly wind on – there is no need or ability to set any other controls once the camera was loaded.

Goko UF
Goko UF – not in the running per se but a good example of cheap P&S from 1980’s

Here is my thought on 10 examples. Continue reading 10 total Point and Shoot Cameras of all Time

Konica C35 AF – 1st Roll Impression

If you’ve followed my blog you’ll have seen me mention this Ground breaking but now relatively obscure 70’s compact.

Konica C35 AF
Konica C35 AF. The world’s first commercially produced AF camera

The reason why this compact is so important is obvious by the name. This was the world’s first commercially produced Auto focus camera. Continue reading Konica C35 AF – 1st Roll Impression

Holga 135 TIM : Nice But Dim

I was quite entranced by the Holga 120N and with prices rising I thought I’d try this little plastic Half frame 35mm  camera that also offers 3D stereo shooting

Holga 135 TIM. Half frame #35mm #film camera. Cute or Creepy ? You decide
Holga 135 TIM. Half frame 35mm film camera. Cute or Creepy ? You decide

That said it isn’t a camera without issues. Continue reading Holga 135 TIM : Nice But Dim