So I’ve been playing around with the new Yashica MF-1 “art” camera for a few days and have started to get a grasp of this plastic 35mm fixed everything camera. But is it indeed a tweaked single use camera as many speculate and more importantly is it any good ?
Continue reading Reloading in the Disposable World – The New Yashica MF-1 ReviewTag Archives: Hong Kong
Stuck in the MIddle ? -Halina Super-Mini Flash
The eagle eyed amongst you will have remember as well as the Halina Super-Mini I recently reviewed, I’d also picked up the flash version. But this offers exposure control as well as the built in flash. And Hey it actually is a museum piece !
Does that make things any better ?
Continue reading Stuck in the MIddle ? -Halina Super-Mini Flash
The Lada of The Camera World OR NOT ?- The Halina 35X Review
“The nice thing about the Halina 35x is you’re not likely to get mugged for it and if you do you can use it as a deadly weapon.” The poor Hong Kong made 35x is the butt of many a joke and scorn in the camera world.
But this 1959 “Empire Made” viewfinder did sell rather well and has cult following amongst some. So is it really all that bad?
Continue reading The Lada of The Camera World OR NOT ?- The Halina 35X Review
Smarty Pants ? – The Halina Vision Smart S Review
Another year another Halina ! The smart S is one of Haking most recent recent 35mm cameras and their site still lists the its sibling the Vision smart as an active product. But is this modern spin on cheap and cheerful any good ?
Continue reading Smarty Pants ? – The Halina Vision Smart S Review
Rehash Trash or Class ? – Hanimex 35SE Review
This simple fixed focus flash number was actually made by Haking and is based on the Halina Flash 350. But is this rebrand a contender in the toy cam class or just reheated left overs ? I took one for a stroll at dawn one morning to find out. Continue reading Rehash Trash or Class ? – Hanimex 35SE Review
Yuletide trashcam shoot-off – Fuji FZ-5 v Halina 160
‘Twas Christmas Eve in Canny Cameraville and a small package arrived with a Fuji FZ-5 and a few days later a Halina 160 turned up. But how do these 2 basic 1980’s plastic-tastic cameras fare ? Continue reading Yuletide trashcam shoot-off – Fuji FZ-5 v Halina 160
A Retro too Far -Halina PET Review
This quirky retro looking Haking number actually dates from 1962 not the 1950’s. I’ve no idea what PET stands for either but this Haking oozes more individualistic retro style than its more infamous sibling the Leica lookalike the 35x. Continue reading A Retro too Far -Halina PET Review
Halina Micro 110 Review – Is it the 110 VUWS ?
This ultra compact plastic camera has grabbed by attention for a while. It is for a toy camera a wonderful piece of design and possibly the smallest mass produced camera for a common film format. Haking have made some corking fixed focus numbers IMHO and some howlers but where does this sit and is it the 110 world’s VUWS ? (NOTE now updated here) Continue reading Halina Micro 110 Review – Is it the 110 VUWS ?
Halina Micro 35 Redux – The Hong Kong Lomo Reappraised
I reviewed the so called Hong Kong Lomo last year. This nicely styled fixed focus shooter obviously draws its design cues from the Cosina CX series that also inspired the Lomo LC-A.
But there has been a lot of discussion online about this camera and setting. And it perhaps gives rise to a wider discussion about later fixed focus basic cameras Continue reading Halina Micro 35 Redux – The Hong Kong Lomo Reappraised
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
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