Tag Archives: Fixed-Focus

Halina Viceroy Review – Diplomatic Fixed Focus Fun

This gorgeously styled 120 shooter hails from  around 1960 with pretty impressive retro styling this camera looks like a classsic TLR (Twin Lens Reflex) camera

Halina Viceroy Pseudo TLR
Halina Viceroy Pseudo TLR for 120 film. Ironically shot via instagram

Infact it is little more than a fixed focus box camera with a large brilliant viewfinder. Continue reading Halina Viceroy Review – Diplomatic Fixed Focus Fun

Conway Popular Model – Poundland Camera Challenge No 19

And finally we get to a true British camera the Conway Popular. Made from around 1931 it was produced until the 1950’s but despite some innovations this box camera was actually less flexible than the Kodak Brownie No 2. It is however the oldest camera for a quid or less I own

Conway Camera Popular model
Conway Popular Model . British made 1930’s box camera for 120 film

Continue reading Conway Popular Model – Poundland Camera Challenge No 19

Panorama Wide Pic Camera : Poundland Camera Challenge No 18

This lump of plastic arrived in 2 of the Poundland job lots. It’s providence is unknown  but eBay seems awash with them. However there is a reason – they’re Rubbish.

Panorama Wide Pic 35mm Plastic Camera
Panorama Wide Pic 35mm Plastic Camera. Fixed focus shutter and aperture.

Continue reading Panorama Wide Pic Camera : Poundland Camera Challenge No 18

Kodak Star 735 : The Brazilian Job

This fixed focus shooter came to me as BNIB in eBay parlance. The camera was still sealed in its retail pack with film and batteries and was in pristine conditions.

Kodak Star 735
Kodak Star 735 fixed focus 35mm 1990’s compact

Kodak had a knack of making a good basic cameras but how did this 90’s time traveller fare ? Continue reading Kodak Star 735 : The Brazilian Job

Halina Vision XF – Poundland Camera Challenge No 16

Another plastic-tastic number from Haking arrived in one of the Job lots for a quid.

Halina Vision XF 35mm Camera
Halina Vision XF fixed focus basic 35mm Camera (note flash switch & lens cover switch)

But did the lump of plastic live up to Haking’s ability to make not bad cheap shooters ?

Continue reading Halina Vision XF – Poundland Camera Challenge No 16

Olympus PEN EE-2 Update – Fixed for Good ?

Earlier this year I got my hands on an Olympus PEN EE-2 half frame compact. I took an instant love to the camera and rushed out a 1 roll review

Papa's got a Brand new Half Frame bag
Olympus PEN EE-2 half-frame 35mm camera

But how is it bedding in and does it still deserve the raving I gave it. Continue reading Olympus PEN EE-2 Update – Fixed for Good ?

Olympus Supertrip 1 Roll Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 15

The Olympus Supertrip sounds pretty ominous. Olympus continued to use the mighty Trip name on a range of P&S camera after the last Trip 35 rolled of the line and they often derided as being poor seconds. So can this fixed focus 35mm flash compact up to its super moniker ?

Olympus Supertrip
Olympus Supertrip 35mm Fixed-focus 80’s compact

Continue reading Olympus Supertrip 1 Roll Review – Poundland Challenge Camera No 15

10 Fixed Focus Wonders

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.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Taken on Disposable fixed focus Kodak Fun camera (Camera in shot is a fixed focus Olympus XA1)

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