I’d been after a Baldessa for a while. Balda was another legendary German camera maker decimated by the rise of Japanese compacts in the 1960’s and its Baldessa series take on a 35mm compact.
My recent fling with The Konica C35 AF got me thinking about what true point and shoots (P&S) there out there. By that I mean a P&S where all the user does is hit the shutter button and possibly wind on – there is no need or ability to set any other controls once the camera was loaded.
Goko UF – not in the running per se but a good example of cheap P&S from 1980’s
I was quite entranced by the Holga 120N and with prices rising I thought I’d try this little plastic Half frame 35mm camera that also offers 3D stereo shooting
If you like lo-fi photography or want to give it a go at some point you’ll end up with the desire for a plastic lensed beauty. Here’s a list of ten of the best both available new or widely available second hand.
Glasgow Botanics, 2015. Superheadz Wide and Slim (aka VUWS) with Agfaphoto Vista Plus 400
Late in 2015 Holga production ceased. A sad fate for an iconic plastic camera that helped drive the Lo-Fi photography movement and remains much beloved today. Luckily you can still buy ’em brand new.
Holga120N, a film camera captured ironically by instagram
But how does the 120N (the closest to the original 80’s Holga) fare today and compared to the obvious rival product from Lomography, the Diana F+.
So it is that time of the year again where I have a quick look back at what has been happening in the analogue world whilst eating the last mince pie and putting the Xmas tree oot for the bin men.
Carlisle Jan 2015 . Fujica 35 Automagic with Fuji Superia X-tra 800 (expired ’02) at 200asa
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 simple compact from 70’s East Germany
The last Century saw the rise of the average man as a photographer. We now think that we’re in era with mobile phone cameras of being ever-ready shooters but we forget that by 2000 most of us would carry some form of film camera to almost every leisure event we did. Point and shoot cameras (P&S) have little in the ways of user controls and just either fixed, basic scale/zone focus or later AF.