Ricoh developed a bit of a reputation for good SLR bodies and lenses using the M42 & Pentax K Mount. The company still makes K mount dSLR under the Pentax brand. But weirdly their first SLR the Singlex wasn’t developed by them. In fact it is basically a rebranded Nikon. But a Nikon that wasn’t even made by Nikon.
Curious ? Read on.
Continue reading The Ricoh that’s a Nikon made by Mamiya – Welcome to the Ricoh Singlex
Weirdly this camera sums up a lot of the UK’s current political & economic situation. A rehashed plastic version of a 1950’s British number pushed out by a global corporation that misses the zeitgeist and lags behind it’s European counterparts. But hey it’s British made and we might be able to sell it to the Yanks.,,,
Continue reading A Very British Mistake – The Kodak Brownie Cresta 3 ReviewAlthough Olympus dominated the Half Frame market, they didn’t have a free run. Many a Japanese rival producing their take on the format. But only one is arguably one of the most beautiful cameras ever made. And that camera was the only half frame compact of that era to be copied by the soviets
But what made the Soviets copy her ? And why has it partially usurped my PEN EE-2 from being my favourite half frame ?
Continue reading A Petite Love Affair – Konica EYE ReviewRecently I got my grubby hands on the American Windsor and took her to the our local music Festival. Before you get worried that I’ve a Summer run in the Tower coming up, I am of course talking about a Diana Clone called the Windsor Camera.
I loaded it up with the new Kosmo Foto Mono 120. But all did not go to plan thanks to the camera,
Continue reading Dirty Diana Goes To the FairWhen I decided to relaunch the Poundland Camera Challenge, I was pleasantly surprised when 2 Voigtländer turned including this quite stylish but basic viewfinder. But sadly this wasn’t going to be a camera that even got to the test bed. The lens was Fungus central
Continue reading Voigtländer Vitoret – 99p for FungusLomography’s launch of the Diana F+ in 2007 wasn’t a step forward in lo-fi photography. It represented a hommage to the medium format camera that would lead to the development of that movement – the original Diana camera and its numerous clones. So how does one of these stack up to the 21st century. Continue reading Retro Medium Format Lo-Fi- The Samtoy – an original Diana Clone
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 !
From the more basic end of Agfa’s long running Silette series of 35mm compacts, the F is notable for its now redundant flash bulb system. But step beyond that to see if this is any good or just a flash in the pan ? Continue reading Flash in the Pan – Agfa Silette F Review
This quirky retro looking Haking number actually dates from 1962 not the 1950’s. I’ve no idea what PET stands for either but this Haking oozes more individualistic retro style than its more infamous sibling the Leica lookalike the 35x. Continue reading A Retro too Far -Halina PET Review
I’d been after a Baldessa for a while. Balda was another legendary German camera maker decimated by the rise of Japanese compacts in the 1960’s and its Baldessa series take on a 35mm compact.
Sadly my shutter went at some point in my first 2 rolls but did this camera tempt me back for another or was it auf wiedersehen ? Continue reading Balda Baldessa LF 2 Roll Review – The Clockwork Camera
