Tag Archives: Review

Halina Panorama Review : No Frills Plastic-O-Rama

Plastic Trash cam or sheer Genius ?
Both are descriptions I’ve heard about the Halina Panorama  also better known in the US as the Ansco Pix Panorama . But where does the truth lie with this no frills Shooter.

Halina Panorama
Halina Panorama a fixed focus 35mm simple camera

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Halina Super 35X Review : Superstar or Hasbeen ?

The 35X is perhaps the model that most folk remember when the word Halina is muttered. That Leica look-a-like is perhaps the best known of Haking’s creations but the Super 35X  refines the mechanics and gave rise to a more unique style.

Halina Super 35X
Halina Super 35X

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Barclaycard Visa Camera Review – I shouldn’t like this but….

The Barclaycard Visa Camera was a freebie camera that has the infamous optical color lens moniker. A true plastic trashcam which is now worryingly brittle. But there is something endearing about this lump of plastic toy camera,

Barclaycard Visa Camera
Barclaycard Visa Camera with 50mm Optical Color Lens

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BelOMO Vilia Review : Black in the USSR

The Vilia is yet another fully manual shooter from the later years of the soviet union from MMZ-BelOMO in Belarus. Unlike its obvious soviet rivals the camera styling is more akin to Japanese compacts of the era. But how does it measure up compared to its rivals like the Smena Symbol  ?

BelOMO Vilia Camera
BelOMO Vilia. 35mm Viewfinder Camera from FSU

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Olympus XA2 Review : Good yes but classic…..

I suspect this review may get me flamed, but I have to be honest whilst the XA2 is a good P&S camera IMHO it isn’t the classic it’s often described as

Olympus XA2
Olympus XA2 open & closed

That said it’s not a bad choice and can give you great shots.
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Lubitel 166 Universal Review : The Canny Man’s TLR

Soviet manufacturer Lomo is best known these days for the LC-A that arguably launched the whole Lomography movement. But they produced a range of other cameras which have some cachet including the Lubitel series of Twin Lens Reflex Cameras. Infact the Lubitel lives on in manufacture these days with the LSI produced 166+. Now this will set you back almost 300 GBP for which isn’t really an option for the Canny photographer. Luckily you can buy its 1980’s predecessor for much less in working order.

Lubitel 166 Universal
Lubitel 166 Universal (166U)

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Halina Paulette Series Review : Vorsprung Hong Kong Technique

These 60’s viewfinder point and shoot cameras drew influences from the German models of the day. But how do they fare as a retro shooter today and compared to their 70’s successors the Halina 2000 & 3000 ?

Prinz Mastermatic III
Prinz Mastermatic III (a rebadged Halina Paulette Electric)

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