35mm Point & Shoot camera stuff
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.
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
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
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+.
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
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 ?
Continue reading Yamato Pal Jr/Pax Jr Review : One foot in the 50’s and another the 60’s
This slightly rare FSU 35mm camera might look familiar. In fact it is a BelOMO Vilia with metering. But does this make it any better or worse than the original?
Continue reading BelOMO Siluet Elektro Review : Our Friends Electric
This camera arrived in a Poundland Camera Challenge in a joblot for 99p from eBay along with the Pentax Espio AF Zoom. At first glance you’d be forgiven for thinking that this Haking produced number was in the same Zoom AF compact class as the Pentax. But whilst it’s a modern and still made compact zoom, it is weirdly fixed focus !!
Continue reading Halina Silhouette Zoom – Poundland Challenge Camera No 13
Let’s be clear this isn’t camera from the mighty japanese manufacturer Canon. The AZ-100 is one in a long line of sound-a-likes under the Canon Mate moniker. As part of the Poundland Camera Challenge got this with a load of other cameras including a rather excellent Pentax Espio AF Zoom for 99p but was this the runt of the litter or was this fixed focus trashcam better than it sound.
Continue reading Canon Mate AZ-100 Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 12
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
Continue reading Praktica SP301 Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 9
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
Continue reading Kodak 35 EF : Poundland Challenge Camera No 6
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 ?
Continue reading Ilford Sportsman Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 5