Tag Archives: Zoom

Lo-Fi Goes Fiscal – The Protax Z 855 Review

The Protax Z 855 sounds like a claim form for the HMRC/IRS that you supplement this year’s tax return with. But in reality it’s one of the weirdest named and designed toy class cameras I’ve ever used with a fixed focus zoom lens and fisher price digital looks. But just how bad is it? You might be surprised.

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The Flaming CrossHair of Low EV – Olympus View Zoom 80 Review

Canny de Camera strode across the land wielding his His Holy Olympus with the its cross hair of holy fire shooting Demons and Family portraits with easy. Welcome to the surreal experience of the View Zoom 80 (the Accura View Zoom 80 in the US) a 35mm zoom compact camera with a flaming red cross in the viewfinder. You’ll feel at home if you’re a fan of 70’s Italian Horror movies, 90’s FPS or religious things. But is it any good ?

Continue reading The Flaming CrossHair of Low EV – Olympus View Zoom 80 Review

A Quick Dirty Booty Call – The Olympus Mju Zoom 105 Review

Car boots are often is bit hit and miss for the cheap camera hunter. I’ve scored some great wee finds over the years from my £3 XA, a K1000 for a £5 that I sold on to my mint £2 Espio 120SW. But at times you find nothing but the odd instamatic and true tat. The bank holiday weekend on in Dumfries however flung up a grubby mju zoom 105(aka ∞ Stylus Zoom 105) for two quid that literally worked for one roll and then died.

Was it £2 quid well spent despite this ?

Continue reading A Quick Dirty Booty Call – The Olympus Mju Zoom 105 Review

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away The Olympus AZ-300 Superzoom

Once there was a legendary Japanese Camera maker famed for its detailed very compact cameras. But in 1988 they went very large with a camera with a passing resemblance to a star cruiser.

That camera was the Olympus AZ-300 Superzoom (aka Infinity Zoom 300 (US) and IZM-300). It would become one of the cameras that defined the term bridge.

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Budget Zoom-Off – Vivitar Mega 200 Versus Ricoh RZ-728

As the Poundland Challenge 2019 has proved again you can actually buy a lot for a quid. So why don’t we take 2 AF compacts for a walk that cost around a quid and see what you get for your buck.

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1 roll good one roll bad -Tentative Ricoh Myport 330 Super Review

This was a chance finding on eBay earlier this year and on paper what’s not to like. Also known as the RZ-3000, the Shotmaster 130Z, or the Q-130Z, this is a Ricoh compact but in zoom format.   it’s as cheap as chips and feature laden including Passive AF.  But did it live up to the promise of being a bargain for those of us who can’t afford a GR1 ?  Sadly on the 2 rolls I shot, it’s a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde number.  And that’s not just down to the optics.

Continue reading 1 roll good one roll bad -Tentative Ricoh Myport 330 Super Review

Yashica Microtec Zoom 70 – Sizzling shooter ?

Yet another mid 90’s compact from Japan (aka Kyocera Lynx 70) but oddly the first I’ve come across with a professional period review. Popular Photography thought this and its Zoom 90 sibling sizzled and favourably made comparisons to the still legendary and elite Yashica T4. But 2 decades on how does it measure up ? Continue reading Yashica Microtec Zoom 70 – Sizzling shooter ?

Canon Sure Shot Megazoom 105 Review – Zoomba Class ?

Like the name everything is big about this camera (aka Prima Zoom 105 or Autoboy zoom 105). But this bulky early 90s zoom compact has acquired a bit of reputation as a sharp shooter. But does it live up to the hype ? Continue reading Canon Sure Shot Megazoom 105 Review – Zoomba Class ?

Zooming into the 90’s ?- Pentax Zoom 90 Review

Pentax arguably gave the world the first AF Zoom compact with their IQZoom series. But how do cameras like the Zoom 90 bear up in the 21st century and even against their own 90’s successors the Espio  series  ? Continue reading Zooming into the 90’s ?- Pentax Zoom 90 Review

Konica Z-up 80 : Poundland Challenge Camera No 10

This perhaps is the oddest looking purchase of the Poundland Challenge so far. This 1988 zoom AF in RC Limited guise looks like a digital Bridge camera that were popular a few years back. But this all singing and dancing device turn out to be a golden gate or a bridge too far ?

Konica Z-up 80RC Limited
Konica Z-up 80RC Limited, 35mm Zoom AF compact from 1988

Continue reading Konica Z-up 80 : Poundland Challenge Camera No 10