Category Archives: Cameras

Broad Category for camera reviews or discussion

Agfa Click Review – Retro Curveball

This Vintage number looks positively Art Deco but actually hails from the late 50’s and had a run into the 70’s

Agfa Click I
Agfa Click I a German Fixed focus 120 camera from the 1950’s

Widely available this makes an interesting alternative to the Holga or Diana F+. Continue reading Agfa Click Review – Retro Curveball

Top 10 Plastic-fantastic Cameras

If you like lo-fi photography or want to give it a go at some point you’ll end up with the desire for a plastic lensed beauty. Here’s a list of ten of the best both available new or widely available second hand.

Unimpressed
Glasgow Botanics, 2015. Superheadz Wide and Slim (aka VUWS) with Agfaphoto Vista Plus 400

Continue reading Top 10 Plastic-fantastic Cameras

Holga 120N Review : End of a (Plastic) Era

Late in 2015 Holga production ceased. A sad fate for an iconic plastic camera that helped drive the Lo-Fi photography movement and remains much beloved today. Luckily you can still buy ’em brand new.

Holga 120N
Holga120N, a film camera captured ironically by instagram

But how does the 120N (the closest to the original 80’s Holga) fare today and compared to the obvious rival product from Lomography,  the Diana F+.

Continue reading Holga 120N Review : End of a (Plastic) Era

The Bluffer’s 8 Steps Guide for shooting 35mm in 120 Cameras

I love shooting on 120 cameras and sneakily you can also shoot 35mm on many of them. This allows you to get neat effects like a sprocket shot.

Medium Format Cone
Bencini Koroll 24s 120 Camera (shoots half frame 3x6cm normally) with Agfaphoto Vista Plus 200. Dumfries 2014

Modern Lo-fi cameras like the Diana F+ and the Holga 120 series have cottoned on to this and actually make 35mm film backs but even with them you can use 35mm film without them Continue reading The Bluffer’s 8 Steps Guide for shooting 35mm in 120 Cameras

Voigtländer Vito B Review – I’m sexy and I know it

If the Olympus Trip 35  became the classic P&S during the 60’s-70’s, that title was likely held by Voigtländer in the 50’s with this all time classic of German Engineering

Voigtländer Vito B (late model). Possibly the sexiest 35mm P&S Ever
Voigtländer Vito B (late model). Possibly the sexiest 35mm P&S Ever

Still a thing of beauty to hold and use today. This wonderfully engineered has picked up a classic tag. And for once it deserves but you need to pick your version wisely young Jedi. Continue reading Voigtländer Vito B Review – I’m sexy and I know it

Halina Micro 35 Redux – The Hong Kong Lomo Reappraised

I reviewed the so called Hong Kong Lomo last year. This nicely styled fixed focus shooter obviously draws its design cues from the Cosina CX series that also inspired the Lomo LC-A.

Halina Micro 35 in Revue 35FC guise
Halina Micro 35 in Revue 35FC guise

But there has been a lot of discussion online about this camera and setting. And it perhaps gives rise to a wider discussion about later fixed focus basic cameras Continue reading Halina Micro 35 Redux – The Hong Kong Lomo Reappraised

Poundland Camera Challenge Xmas Special – The 99p Nikon SLR

I’d effectively stopped looking for Poundland cameras (any that I could buy a quid or less) some time ago but this camera body came up as a you might like too when browsing eBay.

Yuletide F55
Nikon F55 Film SLR with AF-D 35-80mm 1:4-5.6 lens. Our Festive & 20th Poundland Camera

So welcome to Our 20th Poundland Camera and the last for 2015 – a Nikon F55 SLR body. Continue reading Poundland Camera Challenge Xmas Special – The 99p Nikon SLR

Samsung AF 105 XL – Shape of things to come

In 1998 Samsung weren’t exactly the obvious name for a camera.  Whereas these days Samsung and Japanese competitors Panasonic & Sony are often top dogs at photoshows, back in ’98 they were better known for non camera stuff.  Samsung’s modest range of compact point and shoots including this one were hardly stars of 1998 Photokina show in an era still dominated by Japanese marquees.

Samsung AF 105XL
Samsung AF 105XL late 90’s AF 35mm compact

But the AF 105 XL (aka Fino 105 AF) perhaps illustrate why the sands were shifting Continue reading Samsung AF 105 XL – Shape of things to come