We leap forward by over a century and half. Our subject is a lowly simple viewfinder from Japan. But this is one of a new wave of innovative cameras in the late 1950’s offering automatic exposure. It also represents an early hint of the shifting dominance of the camera market in the coming decade. Continue reading A BRIEF HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY BY OBJECTS – 4 – Fujica Camera ~1958
Tag Archives: Camera
Retro Medium Format Lo-Fi- The Samtoy – an original Diana Clone
Lomography’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
THE READING ROOM – NEWS & THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED (WEEK 9: 21ST – 27TH SEPT)
Eight very different news and blog stories this week. We’ve a new camera, new films and new DIY periscopes !! We also look back at some vintage film and cameras too spanning from the USSR to NY and Europe. Continue reading THE READING ROOM – NEWS & THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED (WEEK 9: 21ST – 27TH SEPT)
THE READING ROOM – NEWS & THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED (WEEK 8: 14TH – 20TH SEPT)
We’ve some worthy reviews of gear some familiar and some not so as well as a trip into the mountains of Colombia and the day a wee band went global. Continue reading THE READING ROOM – NEWS & THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED (WEEK 8: 14TH – 20TH SEPT)
Nikon Budget Face off – Does the F75 make the F55 pointless ?
So I’d discussed the weakness of the F55 in the comparison review with the D50 dSLR. The F55 is arguably the cheapest Nikon film bodies you can buy but does spending a bit more snag you a better camera in the guise of the F75. The reality is it a bit more nuanced. Continue reading Nikon Budget Face off – Does the F75 make the F55 pointless ?
THE READING ROOM – NEWS & THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED (WEEK 7: 7th – 13TH SEPT)
A quieter week takes us for a look at the world’s biggest camera, a music festival and some classic vintage gear. We laster wind up marvelling the coast and I pose the question of fairness in kit comparison reviews. Continue reading THE READING ROOM – NEWS & THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED (WEEK 7: 7th – 13TH SEPT)
1 roll good one roll bad -Tentative Ricoh Myport 330 Super Review
This was a chance finding on eBay earlier this year and on paper what’s not to like. Also known as the RZ-3000, the Shotmaster 130Z, or the Q-130Z, this is a Ricoh compact but in zoom format. it’s as cheap as chips and feature laden including Passive AF. But did it live up to the promise of being a bargain for those of us who can’t afford a GR1 ? Sadly on the 2 rolls I shot, it’s a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde number. And that’s not just down to the optics.
Continue reading 1 roll good one roll bad -Tentative Ricoh Myport 330 Super Review
THE READING ROOM – NEWS & THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED (WEEK 6: 31st AUG – 6th Sept)

There’s been quite a lot of good articles over the last 7 days so picking is hard. But here’s my ten best film photography reads for the week. Continue reading THE READING ROOM – NEWS & THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED (WEEK 6: 31st AUG – 6th Sept)
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
Le Clic est Freak ! – The Le Clic 170/C170 Review
At first glance things don’t look promising. We’ve a basic all plastic camera with its basic design and no features. It also come with that badge of dubious quality ‘Japan Lens’. So if you’re a fan of plastic cameras is it worth your time to click this le Clic ? Continue reading Le Clic est Freak ! – The Le Clic 170/C170 Review