The Goko UF was one of my better finds from this little known Japanese company. But they even gloss over it in their history in favour of this model. But why is that and is the UF2 any better ?
Continue reading Universal Constant – Goko UF2 ReviewTag Archives: 1980’s
The Scam that came in from the cold – Tamashi FMD QP8000 Review
Tamawhati ? Possibly the weirdest named camera I own is yet another Optical lens camera. But there is something beguiling about the Tamashi from a Lo-fi perspective.
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Jumpin’ Jack No-Flash – Hanimex 35 hs Review
Yet another 1980’s plastic bodied lo-fi shooter which was likely made by Haking for Hanimex. Launched in 1986 it is not exactly top flight stuff. But is there enough to appeal to lo-fi shooters ?
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The Poor Man’s F3 ? – The Overlooked Nikon F-301 or N2000
I’ve come across a few more basic cameras that pick up a mythic tag comparing them to a more esteemed classic. But the Nikon F-301 (or in my case weirdly the Americanised N2000) is perhaps the most bizarre of the bunch. That’s because some folks do compare it to the legend that is the F3
Whilst it’s no F3, if you’re on a budget this might be good compromise.
Continue reading The Poor Man’s F3 ? – The Overlooked Nikon F-301 or N2000
Resurrection Blues- The Yashica MF-2 Super Review
As I sit and type this the first Film Camera to bear the Yashica name in over a decade is winging its way to me from Hong Kong. Whether the New MF-1 is any good or more likely not remains to be seen. But the new Yashica are also hinting at 2 new cameras. In the long term a 35mm version of the Yashica-44 TLR but perhaps more imminent is the MF-2. Turns out the MF-2 is based on the 1980’s MF-2 Super a fixed focus flash cam.
So you know, I decided to test the original.
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Americana Compacted -Le Mini By Le Clic Review
In 1987 Concord Camera Corp launched another 110 camera on an unsuspecting American Public under the Le Clic brand. Concord were not unfamiliar with 110 cameras having launched a fair number of low end run of the mill minox style numbers with and without flash under their various brands.
But Le Mini is something very different even more Lo-Fi and with Cult Appeal.
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Prelude to the Bling Boys – Yashica T AF One roll Review
I’m not accustomed to legendary elite high end compacts. But sometimes the precursor to them fall my way such as this early Yashica T* series. Whilst it still has a cache it’s a fraction of the cost of the later models. This means it can be bought for the price of a couple of non discounted domino’s Pizzas
But was it a slice of heaven or destined to leave a bad taste in my mouth.
Continue reading Prelude to the Bling Boys – Yashica T AF One roll Review
It’s All About The Lens Baby – Kiev 19 Review Part 1
Usually when I review an SLR I tend to caveat my reviews by pointing out optical performance depends on the Lens glass and don’t focus on that side of things. But with this Ukrainian beast it really is all about the glass in the form of the Helios-81N ( гелиос-81н )50mm 1:2 lens.
But let’s not ignore the camera and we’ll begin there.
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In a Galaxy Far, Far Away The Olympus AZ-300 Superzoom
Once there was a legendary Japanese Camera maker famed for its detailed very compact cameras. But in 1988 they went very large with a camera with a passing resemblance to a star cruiser.
That camera was the Olympus AZ-300 Superzoom (aka Infinity Zoom 300 (US) and IZM-300). It would become one of the cameras that defined the term bridge.
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The Aussie Lomo ? – Hanimex 35 Micro Flash
When Cosina launched the the CX-1 & CX-2, little did they know they would become more famous as the cameras that inspired the Lomo LC-A. But that spark was not limited to the (in)famous Russian copy. Several other makes produced similar designs and here’s Hanimex’s take.
We’ve trod this ground before with the Halina 35 Micro (aka the Hong Kong Lomo) which was disappointing due to lack of focus, exposure control and any over-riding of an overly sensitive auto flash. The Hanimex instantly won me over as it resolves all 3 of those. But is it any good and is it a lomo rival ?
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