The Poundland Camera Challenge : Whot I learned

Earlier this year I set out on a challenge to buy cameras for a pound or less (minus postage) from either eBay, Car boots or Charity shops.  But how has it worked out and what have been the highs and the lows as I draw together the last few cameras.

Ilford Sportsman Mark II
Ilford Sportsman Mark II. 35mm 1950’s camera that I got for 99p

Continue reading The Poundland Camera Challenge : Whot I learned

Olympus PEN EE-2 Update – Fixed for Good ?

Earlier this year I got my hands on an Olympus PEN EE-2 half frame compact. I took an instant love to the camera and rushed out a 1 roll review

Papa's got a Brand new Half Frame bag
Olympus PEN EE-2 half-frame 35mm camera

But how is it bedding in and does it still deserve the raving I gave it. Continue reading Olympus PEN EE-2 Update – Fixed for Good ?

Summer Shootout Redux 2015 – 3 Lomography Classics go head to head

It’s that time of year again and we went off to Skegness to Butlins. We also headed onto the Gem of the Yorkshire Coast, Whitby and like last year some film cameras came along for the ride.

3 Lomography Class cameras went to Whitby
Lomo LC-A, Superheadz Wide & Slim (VUWS clone) and Olympus XA2

Size and space was important so everything was pretty compact. Last year’s Olympus XA2 was joined by a Lomo LC-A and the poor man’s Lomo, a Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim (VUWS) clone. But what worked well and did the Olympus redeem itself ?

Continue reading Summer Shootout Redux 2015 – 3 Lomography Classics go head to head

Olympus Supertrip 1 Roll Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 15

The Olympus Supertrip sounds pretty ominous. Olympus continued to use the mighty Trip name on a range of P&S camera after the last Trip 35 rolled of the line and they often derided as being poor seconds. So can this fixed focus 35mm flash compact up to its super moniker ?

Olympus Supertrip
Olympus Supertrip 35mm Fixed-focus 80’s compact

Continue reading Olympus Supertrip 1 Roll Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 15

10 Fixed Focus Wonders

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.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Taken on Disposable fixed focus Kodak Fun camera (Camera in shot is a fixed focus Olympus XA1)

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

Olympus PEN EE-2 : 1st Roll Review

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

Papa's got a Brand new Half Frame bag
Olympus PEN EE-2 half-frame 35mm camera

Continue reading Olympus PEN EE-2 : 1st Roll Review

7 Alternatives to The Lomo LC-A

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+.

Rest over
A Lomo LC-A (with export marking and naff skin). But what can you buy instead ?

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

Yamato Pal Jr/Pax Jr Review : One foot in the 50’s and another the 60’s

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 ?

Yamato Pal Jr
Yamato Pal Jr 35mm Japanese camera from 1960

Continue reading Yamato Pal Jr/Pax Jr Review : One foot in the 50’s and another the 60’s

How do you define Lomo & Lomography ?

The terms Lomo and Lomography get banded around and are used interchangeably and mean different things to different people. I’ve had to think about this more recently as I’ve taken over moderating Lomography for non-snobs group on Flickr and have had to make decisions about what is a Lomography shot or not.

Live wire
Taken on a Lomo LC-A using Cross processed Lomography Xpro 200. But is it a Lomo shot ?

Continue reading How do you define Lomo & Lomography ?

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