Category Archives: 35mm Point & Shoot

35mm Point & Shoot camera stuff

Smarty Pants ? – The Halina Vision Smart S Review

Another year another Halina ! The smart S is one of Haking most recent recent 35mm cameras and  their site still lists the its sibling the Vision smart as an active product. But is this modern spin on cheap and cheerful any good ?
Continue reading Smarty Pants ? – The Halina Vision Smart S Review

Leica Likely ? Minolta Riva/Freedom Zoom 90c review

Most film photographers dream of owning a Leica, if even just for the Kudos. Social services got a bit upset when I tried to swap one of the weans for a mint M6 (with lens I hasten to add). But there are a few routes to owning a Leica for less financial pain. One is where this Minolta kinda comes in if you get a working ‘un Continue reading Leica Likely ? Minolta Riva/Freedom Zoom 90c review

Ferrania on Ferrania – Ciao Italia !

2017 has become one hell of a good year for film.  With various artisan launches and the imminent return of Ektachrome., much of the buzz has focused on not just one but 2 films  hailing from Ferrania’s plant. What better way to test them out than shooting on a Vintage Ferrania Camera !! Continue reading Ferrania on Ferrania – Ciao Italia !

Step Class – The compact AF camera’s hidden secret (or How the mju won the compact war)

Think your mighty compact focuses seamless ?

Well think again ! Even high end models focus in a series of zones called focusing steps, Not that most manufacturers let you know. But in 1991, Olympus were only too keen to tell us with the μ[mju:] (aka mju-1 or Stylus) a camera that changed the face of the AF compact market. Continue reading Step Class – The compact AF camera’s hidden secret (or How the mju won the compact war)

Bridging the Gap ?- Olympus iS-1000 Review

Want a step up from a zoom compact but don’t want to commit to a SLR ? Well the Olympus  IS-1000  might be for you. Costing hundreds at launch this  1990  bridge camera now can be bought for a tenner or less. But how does it compare to other compacts and modern cameras ?

Continue reading Bridging the Gap ?- Olympus iS-1000 Review

Three Takes on the Halina Panorama – (3) Dan brings it home and some conclusions

The premise was simple – offload erm.. generously give away 3 identical cameras I’d manage to get from some joblots. That camera was the  dust gathering charity shop plastic everything regular the Halina Panorama. We’ve already heard how Hamish of 35mmc fame and  Lucy Wainwright whom is much more at home with the plastic fantastic got on. But our third camera went to Dan James from 35HunterContinue reading Three Takes on the Halina Panorama – (3) Dan brings it home and some conclusions

Three Takes on the Halina Panorama – (2) Lucy’s Trip

The premise was simple – send the same camera to 3 different shooters. Not being quite able to afford 3 Leica III, 3 bargain bucket cameras headed off. My Halina Panorama challenge got off to an interesting start for our first of 3 shooters Hamish Gill, a mix of the good but mainly the bad. I wasn’t too surprised he didn’t end up being a fan. But how would the Pano fare in the hands of someone more use to the light plastastic? Continue reading Three Takes on the Halina Panorama – (2) Lucy’s Trip

Three Takes on the Halina Panorama – (1) Hamish’s Tale

The Halina Panorama (aka Ansco Pix Panorama) has a bit of weird cult status for such a plastic simple plastic camera and is something you can pick up for a fraction of the cost of some classic plastics like the VUWS. When a few turned in a job lot I decided to have a bit of fun and send them out to some willing victims for their views. First up we have Hamish Gill of 35mmc fame, an unashamed lover of compact cameras but is usually more at home discussing the merits of the likes Yashica and Contax T series.
How would he cope going Lo-fi ? Continue reading Three Takes on the Halina Panorama – (1) Hamish’s Tale