Tag Archives: Scale Focus

Scale Focus is a common type of guess focus for camera. The camera user sets the focus by adjusting focus ring to the guessed distance

A Very British Affair – Kodak Colorsnap 35 Review

Kodak’s British arm was more than a mere sales outlet for George Eastman’s company. The company made its own cameras, not just British versions of the parent company. The Colorsnap cameras are to my knowledge, the only 35mm cameras the UK branch solely made. But are they worth your time ?

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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.

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Voigtländer Vito B Review – I’m sexy and I know it

If the Olympus Trip 35  became the classic P&S during the 60’s-70’s, that title was likely held by Voigtländer in the 50’s with this all time classic of German Engineering

Voigtländer Vito B (late model). Possibly the sexiest 35mm P&S Ever
Voigtländer Vito B (late model). Possibly the sexiest 35mm P&S Ever

Still a thing of beauty to hold and use today. This wonderfully engineered has picked up a classic tag. And for once it deserves but you need to pick your version wisely young Jedi. Continue reading Voigtländer Vito B Review – I’m sexy and I know it

A Braun Paxette Review : A shape of what would come

I’ve a bit of a thing for German Cameras of the late 50’s and 60’s. I still miss my Boots badged Franka 125 and the German made Ilford sportsman was one of the Joys from the Poundland Challenge. I’ve always fancied a legendary Braun Paxette series camera and a viewfinder version came my way a few weeks ago

Braun Paxette
Braun Paxette 50’s 35mm viewfinder (precise model unknown)

But was it Braw or Poxy ? Continue reading A Braun Paxette Review : A shape of what would come

Yamato Pal Jr/Pax Jr Review : One foot in the 50’s and another the 60’s

I got this little gem a couple of years ago and have recently picked it up again.This scale focus 35mm relatively compact camera looks strikingly like Haking’s  Halina Super 35X and one can guess who influenced who. But how does this early 60’s compact measure up ?

Yamato Pal Jr
Yamato Pal Jr 35mm Japanese camera from 1960

Continue reading Yamato Pal Jr/Pax Jr Review : One foot in the 50’s and another the 60’s

Ilford Sportsman Review : Poundland Challenge Camera No 5

This ended up being my first truly vintage pound or less camera. This scale focus number was launched in 1959 as an  update to the Mark I launched a couple of years earlier (the mark III was in by the end of 1959 !!). But how does Ilford’s challenger to Kodak’s retina/retinette measure up ?

Ilford Sportsman Mark II
Ilford Sportsman Mark II. 35mm 1950’s camera that I got for 99p

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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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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)

Continue reading Halina Paulette Series Review : Vorsprung Hong Kong Technique