Rehash Trash or Class ? – Hanimex 35SE Review

This simple fixed focus flash number was actually made by Haking and is based on the Halina Flash 350. But is this rebrand a contender in the toy cam class or just reheated left overs ? I took one for  a stroll at dawn one morning to find out. Continue reading Rehash Trash or Class ? – Hanimex 35SE Review

Prestige and the Duds – The Olympus mju-I nearly reviewed

Oh dear ! I had a lot of hope when I started out to test this camera but 3 dud ones later I’m not sure.  The mju-I (aka mju,  µ[mju] or ∞stylus) was the camera that launched the mju series and would lead to the much sought after mju II (aka Stylus Epic) -one of those  prestige fixed focal length compacts that change hands for lots of Dosh. Some feel the much cheaper mju-I is just as good but as we’ll see things didn’t work out for me… Continue reading Prestige and the Duds – The Olympus mju-I nearly reviewed

Rehash Flash – Ricoh FF-9S Review

The Ricoh FF series has a bit of a cache especially around the fixed focus models released in the late 80’s and early 90’s. But how does this (aka Shotmaster AF Super or One Take AF Super) 90’s restyling of the FF-9 work out against the rivals of its day ? Continue reading Rehash Flash – Ricoh FF-9S Review

Yuletide trashcam shoot-off – Fuji FZ-5 v Halina 160

‘Twas Christmas Eve in Canny Cameraville and a small package arrived with a Fuji FZ-5 and a few days later a Halina 160 turned up. But how do these 2 basic 1980’s  plastic-tastic cameras fare ? Continue reading Yuletide trashcam shoot-off – Fuji FZ-5 v Halina 160

K-mount Lens carnage with the infamous Ricoh Pin

I almost goofed badly when selling a lens. I’d picked up a Ricoh KR-5 Super with a few lens for relative peanuts but decided to sell on a Tokina 25-70mm lens as I already had a Pentax SMC KA zoom of similar length. It was only at the last minute I twigged the lens had the infamous Ricoh Pin issue. If you shoot with Pentax  K mount cameras then it’s one you’ll want to know about. Continue reading K-mount Lens carnage with the infamous Ricoh Pin

7 Cult Classics To watch out for in January Auctions

With the festive period upon us, it is easy to forget that the Canny Photographer’s auction season is about to begin. Once the mince pies foils and empty port bottles head off for recycling, many folk decide now is the time to clear out stuff and the period up to Easter tends to feature a surplus of thing appearing in auctions or second hand sites while many buyers are actually of the game trying to pay off the festive overdraft Continue reading 7 Cult Classics To watch out for in January Auctions

Yashica Microtec Zoom 70 – Sizzling shooter ?

Yet another mid 90’s compact from Japan (aka Kyocera Lynx 70) but oddly the first I’ve come across with a professional period review. Popular Photography thought this and its Zoom 90 sibling sizzled and favourably made comparisons to the still legendary and elite Yashica T4. But 2 decades on how does it measure up ? Continue reading Yashica Microtec Zoom 70 – Sizzling shooter ?

Canon Sure Shot Megazoom 105 Review – Zoomba Class ?

Like the name everything is big about this camera (aka Prima Zoom 105 or Autoboy zoom 105). But this bulky early 90s zoom compact has acquired a bit of reputation as a sharp shooter. But does it live up to the hype ? Continue reading Canon Sure Shot Megazoom 105 Review – Zoomba Class ?

Zooming into the 90’s ?- Pentax Zoom 90 Review

Pentax arguably gave the world the first AF Zoom compact with their IQZoom series. But how do cameras like the Zoom 90 bear up in the 21st century and even against their own 90’s successors the Espio  series  ? Continue reading Zooming into the 90’s ?- Pentax Zoom 90 Review

Shooting Film on the cheap on the Border in Credit Crunch Britain