Tag Archives: Autofocus

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

Samsung AF 105 XL – Shape of things to come

In 1998 Samsung weren’t exactly the obvious name for a camera.  Whereas these days Samsung and Japanese competitors Panasonic & Sony are often top dogs at photoshows, back in ’98 they were better known for non camera stuff.  Samsung’s modest range of compact point and shoots including this one were hardly stars of 1998 Photokina show in an era still dominated by Japanese marquees.

Samsung AF 105XL
Samsung AF 105XL late 90’s AF 35mm compact

But the AF 105 XL (aka Fino 105 AF) perhaps illustrate why the sands were shifting Continue reading Samsung AF 105 XL – Shape of things to come

Minolta AF-E II Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 14

Minolta made some of the most iconic cameras of the 20th Century including the fantastic Hi-matic series that even made it into space. But is this fixed focal length AF compact from the 80’s (aka as the Freedom 200 in the US) launch ready or space junk.

Minolta AF-EII 35mm AF fixed focal length camera
Minolta AF-EII 35mm AF fixed focal length camera

Continue reading Minolta AF-E II Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 14

Nikon F-401 Review – the £1.50 SLR

This all singing SLR body (sold in the US as the N4004) almost made it into the Poundland Challenge. It turned out to be a bigger steal than most from that and demonstrates you can get incredible cameras for next to nought these days.

Nikon F-401 (aka N4004)
Nikon F-401 (aka N4004) AF SLR with a Nikkor AF-D 35-80mm lens

Continue reading Nikon F-401 Review – the £1.50 SLR

Konica Z-up 80 : Poundland Challenge Camera No 10

This perhaps is the oddest looking purchase of the Poundland Challenge so far. This 1988 zoom AF in RC Limited guise looks like a digital Bridge camera that were popular a few years back. But this all singing and dancing device turn out to be a golden gate or a bridge too far ?

Konica Z-up 80RC Limited
Konica Z-up 80RC Limited, 35mm Zoom AF compact from 1988

Continue reading Konica Z-up 80 : Poundland Challenge Camera No 10

Pentax Espio AF Zoom Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 8

This Camera has been my ‘can’t believe it’s not butter’ moment of the Poundland Challenge. It turned up with a pack of other cameras as s 99p Job lot. Whilst others have made that job lot quite a good deal this was the hidden cracker. But why has this AF zoom compact so impressed me.

Pentax Espio
Pentax Espio AF Zoom 35mm compact

Continue reading Pentax Espio AF Zoom Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 8

Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 7

1p for a modern classic P&S camera ? Well this just shows you what a good deal you can get Cameras for on eBay (and also a timely reminder never to start an auction for less than 99p). This mid 90’s AF compact is a good example of Canon’s skill of making decent P&S  camera

Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom
Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom. 35mm AF zoom compact from 1995

Continue reading Canon Sure Shot 60 Zoom Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 7

Canon Sure Shot AF-7S Review : Poundland Challenge Camera 4

The Canon’s Sure Shot AF-7s (aka Sure shot Owl PF or Prima AF-9S) was launched at the turn of the century. It is essentially like a restyled version of the 1997 Sure Shot AF-7/Sure Shot Owl and carried on the characteristic large viewfinder (hence sold under the Owl name in the US). Mines arrived with a case and batteries (thankfully not corroded)

Canon Sure Shot AF-7s
Canon Sure Shot AF-7s

Continue reading Canon Sure Shot AF-7S Review : Poundland Challenge Camera 4

Olympus Superzoom 80S Review : Poundland Challenge Camera 2

This late Olympus camera was actually the first bought as part of the Poundland challenge but the Halina Speedy 33 arrived first. This was one of the last film cameras made by Olympus, a company with an excellent history of making P&S such as the Trip 35 and the XA2. But how does this late autofocus, zoom compact measure up ?

Olympus Superzoom 80S
Olympus Superzoom 80S closed and open with lens fully extended

Continue reading Olympus Superzoom 80S Review : Poundland Challenge Camera 2