Fixed focus cameras have lasted as long as consumer photography has existed and beyond from the Kodak Brownie launched in the 1890’s right up to date with the still in production clones of the Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim. Easy shooters often derided but popular with the public and pre-AF often the choice of the casual snapper.
Over the years we’ve had ones that have no controls right through to fully automatic exposure models. Here’s my thoughts on some Continue reading 10 Fixed Focus Wonders
I got this little gem a couple of years ago and have recently picked it up again.This scale focus 35mm relatively compact camera looks strikingly like Haking’s Halina Super 35X and one can guess who influenced who. But how does this early 60’s compact measure up ?
Continue reading Yamato Pal Jr/Pax Jr Review : One foot in the 50’s and another the 60’s
This month has seen the departure of another camera. Lucky thing, this Japanese compact rangefinder, as it’s off to Oz to enjoy the sun. But why did I sell and was it any good ?
Continue reading Olympus 35 ECR Review : The retro future simplified
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.
Continue reading Minolta AF-E II Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 14
This slightly rare FSU 35mm camera might look familiar. In fact it is a BelOMO Vilia with metering. But does this make it any better or worse than the original?
Continue reading BelOMO Siluet Elektro Review : Our Friends Electric
This camera arrived in a Poundland Camera Challenge in a joblot for 99p from eBay along with the Pentax Espio AF Zoom. At first glance you’d be forgiven for thinking that this Haking produced number was in the same Zoom AF compact class as the Pentax. But whilst it’s a modern and still made compact zoom, it is weirdly fixed focus !!
Continue reading Halina Silhouette Zoom – Poundland Challenge Camera No 13
Let’s be clear this isn’t camera from the mighty japanese manufacturer Canon. The AZ-100 is one in a long line of sound-a-likes under the Canon Mate moniker. As part of the Poundland Camera Challenge got this with a load of other cameras including a rather excellent Pentax Espio AF Zoom for 99p but was this the runt of the litter or was this fixed focus trashcam better than it sound.
Continue reading Canon Mate AZ-100 Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 12
This 110 film rarity has been my been my one successful sale to date in the Poundland camera challenge. This fixed focus rarity already in the Parisien hands of a happy buyer.
Continue reading The Brownie 110 – Poundland Challenge Camera No 11
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.
This 35mm compact with fixed focus arrived in my second lot of camera’s for 99p lot. Of the useable camera in that lot, it was arguable is the most advanced with motorwind, DX coding sensor and fill in flash button. But is at technological triumph or let down compared to more simple cameras like the Kodak 35EF
Continue reading Praktica SP301 Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 9