I’d effectively stopped looking for Poundland cameras (any that I could buy a quid or less) some time ago but this camera body came up as a you might like too when browsing eBay.
Nikon F55 Film SLR with AF-D 35-80mm 1:4-5.6 lens. Our Festive & 20th Poundland Camera
In 1998 Samsung weren’t exactly the obvious name for a camera. Whereas these days Samsung and Japanese competitors Panasonic & Sony are often top dogs at photoshows, back in ’98 they were better known for non camera stuff. Samsung’s modest range of compact point and shoots including this one were hardly stars of 1998 Photokina show in an era still dominated by Japanese marquees.
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
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 for 120 film. Ironically shot via instagram
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 Popular Model . British made 1930’s box camera for 120 film
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.
Since I got my Olympus PEN EE-2, I’ve been seeking out a more focusable Half frame camera. As well as the obvious EES-2, one camera caught my attention from the Old USSR, the ФЭД Микро or in English the FED Mikron/micron sometime dubbed the Soviet PEN.
FED Mikron (ФЭД Микро) half frame 35mm soviet camera
So when I finally got a working one I headed out with a roll of trusty Kodak BW400CN.
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.
Lomography’s Mythology¹ describes this quirky zone focus shooter as the progenitor of the camera that started Lomography, the LC-A. But how does this camera that the Russians so slavishly copied, stand up on its own ?
Cosina CX-2 35mm film Camera. The alleged inspiration for the LC-A