Tag Archives: Plastic

Houston We Have a Problem – The New Yashica MF-1 – First Thoughts

How bad could it be ? I mean the Y35 wasn’t that awful….

When the new start up version of Yashica launched the Y35 Digi-film camera, the knives were rapidly out before it even launched and many thought it would be sayonara once more.

But they came back promising both film and film cameras and this morning a package arrived from Hong Kong containing both. I’m rapidly wishing they hadn’t come back on the basis of the camera…

Continue reading Houston We Have a Problem – The New Yashica MF-1 – First Thoughts

Americana Compacted -Le Mini By Le Clic Review

In 1987 Concord Camera Corp launched another 110 camera on an unsuspecting American Public under the Le Clic brand. Concord were not unfamiliar with 110 cameras having launched a fair number of low end run of the mill minox style numbers with and without flash under their various brands.

But Le Mini is something very different even more Lo-Fi and with Cult Appeal.

Continue reading Americana Compacted -Le Mini By Le Clic Review

The Fun From Bao’an – Le Clic FS30 Review

This Year’s Poundland Challenge has flung up some excellent high end cameras for erm… a pound (or less). This is not one of them. Any Poundland Challenge always features a few from the lower end of the market. But that does that necessarily mean awful ?

Today’s plastic lo-fi comes courtesy of Concord Camera Corp. Also known as the Vivitar IC 100. It has attracted the tag of being the Poor Guy’s LC-A but is that deserved ?

Continue reading The Fun From Bao’an – Le Clic FS30 Review

The Spy Whose Spending was Reviewed – The Halina Super-Mini 88 Review

“Hello Q. Got any special gear for this mission for me? “.
Q looked and sighed.
“After you crashing the Aston and losing the laser beam Rolex in the midst of the current austerity squeeze not so much. What happened to the rocket Launching Nikon by the way ?”

“Boom and bust Q”

“But anyway” said Q handing him a Halina Super-Mini.

Continue reading The Spy Whose Spending was Reviewed – The Halina Super-Mini 88 Review

Filthy Beast – the VUWS/Superheadz Wide and Slim Re-Appraised after 1000+ Shots

Too often I have to do a review based on just a couple of rolls. But some cameras hang a round longer and I thought it might be worth revisiting those. We begin with the my Superheadz Wide and Slim, a clone of the Vivitar Wide and Slim (VUWS). This is often seen as one of the best Lo-Fi cameras still made

But does it deserve that ? And why you should by a a Black one ?

Continue reading Filthy Beast – the VUWS/Superheadz Wide and Slim Re-Appraised after 1000+ Shots

Squaring the lomo – the lomography diana instant square review

3 packs of instax square and some rather good crisp days later I’ve got a grasp of Diana Instant. But does it live up to the Hype as being the lomographer’s instant camera. And  does it stay true to the Diana concept & style ?

Continue reading Squaring the lomo – the lomography diana instant square review

Is it Hip to be Square ? – Lomography Instant Square – first thoughts

I find myself weirdly reviewing genuinely brand new analogue film camera. It’s also an instant one (a first here !).  Lomography’s latest Diana series camera arrived yesterday. Whilst I haven’t been able to test it fully, I’m starting to get a feel for this Kickstarter shooter.

Continue reading Is it Hip to be Square ? – Lomography Instant Square – first thoughts

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

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

Perestroika shooting – LOMO Smena 35 Review

Remember the Smena 8M ? A Soviet Camera that combined a killer lens, 50’s shutter and cheap plastic body ? Well the folks at LOMO didn’t stop with the Smena 8M, refining it further finally producing a last gasp bad boy – the Smena 35 (Смена-35). But whilst there is a lot of improvements there are issues to be aware of.

Continue reading Perestroika shooting – LOMO Smena 35 Review