Tag Archives: 1970’s

Pocket Dynamite or Dud ? -Minolta pocket Autopak 470 Review

So I must admit i’m a bit of a fan of Minolta’s 110 cameras. If you’ve followed this blog you’ll know I highly rate some of the models in the Pocket Autopak 400 series pretty highly for this class.

So when I got my hands on the top dog of the class I was pretty excited. But it didn’t quite live up to the hype.

Continue reading Pocket Dynamite or Dud ? -Minolta pocket Autopak 470 Review

Stuck in the MIddle ? -Halina Super-Mini Flash

The eagle eyed amongst you will have remember as well as the Halina Super-Mini I recently reviewed, I’d also picked up the flash version. But this offers exposure control as well as the built in flash. And Hey it actually is a museum piece !

Does that make things any better ?

Continue reading Stuck in the MIddle ? -Halina Super-Mini Flash

The Spy Whose Spending was Reviewed – The Halina Super-Mini 88 Review

“Hello Q. Got any special gear for this mission for me? “.
Q looked and sighed.
“After you crashing the Aston and losing the laser beam Rolex in the midst of the current austerity squeeze not so much. What happened to the rocket Launching Nikon by the way ?”

“Boom and bust Q”

“But anyway” said Q handing him a Halina Super-Mini.

Continue reading The Spy Whose Spending was Reviewed – The Halina Super-Mini 88 Review

Small Is The New Sexy ? – The Voigtländer Vitoret 110 Review

You’ve got to give Voigtländer the credit for some very gorgeous cameras. But then again as the longest serving camera make in the world that’s not a surprise. But how does this mid 70’s simple 110 camera that I got for a quid match up to the expectations ?

Continue reading Small Is The New Sexy ? – The Voigtländer Vitoret 110 Review

Over The Limit, Sir ? – Minolta zoom 110 SLR 1 Roll review

This is probably the weirdest camera I own. I wasn’t too sure if I if I should provide a breath sample with it or take photos. Welcome to the Minolta Zoom 110 SLR. Not only is it one of the weirdest looking in the world. But it’s also a fully functioning SLR that takes 110 film and arguably if not a bridge camera then sets the path for them.

Continue reading Over The Limit, Sir ? – Minolta zoom 110 SLR 1 Roll review

The Cosmic Comrade – A 1 roll Review of the Lomo Smena (Cosmic) Symbol

This is nostalgia for me. Th Smena was first proper camera I got given to me as a child although in its UK Export guise as the Cosmic Symbol. But enough nostalgia for the mo….. If you fancy a vintage styled fully manual P&S with FSU character then this could be for you. Continue reading The Cosmic Comrade – A 1 roll Review of the Lomo Smena (Cosmic) Symbol

The Car Boot £3 Classic – The Olympus XA Review

I’d never been convinced that Car boots are always work outs great for camera hunters. Sure you’ll find late AF zoom compact for the same price as you’d pay on eBay  less postage  but IMHO til then true bargains are rare and balanced by someone trying to sell a Knackered Praktica for 50 quid. All that changed when I spotted this grubby number.

How much ? Three Quid  – I didn’t stop to haggle.

Continue reading The Car Boot £3 Classic – The Olympus XA Review

One Hand in My Pocket – Minolta Pocket Autopak 430Ex review

In the last year or 2,  I’ve shot a lot of 110 cameras. They have tended though to fall into 3 camps – modern toy shooters with plastic lenses for the lomo crowd, simple 70’s cameras with that classic minox 110 shape or the bonkers high end SLR & rangefinders. The 430E & 430Ex sit in that middle group but with some high end features that raise them above the average. Continue reading One Hand in My Pocket – Minolta Pocket Autopak 430Ex review

Konica C35 AF – 1st Roll Impression

If you’ve followed my blog you’ll have seen me mention this Ground breaking but now relatively obscure 70’s compact.

Konica C35 AF
Konica C35 AF. The world’s first commercially produced AF camera

The reason why this compact is so important is obvious by the name. This was the world’s first commercially produced Auto focus camera. Continue reading Konica C35 AF – 1st Roll Impression

The spy who blurred me – Beier Beirette K100 Review

This is my second dalliance with this East German camera. This series of basic viewfinders have a sound a like name to Bond’s original firearm before Fleming gave him the  Walther PKK and like its namesakes compact and stylish. But is this camera worth taking on her majesty’s secret service or has been a Quantum of Solace ?

Beirette K100 35mm Soviet era DDR zone focus simple camera. #film
Beirette K100 35mm simple compact from 70’s East Germany

Continue reading The spy who blurred me – Beier Beirette K100 Review