Receiving the ILFORD newsletter about the HARMAN REUSABLE CAMERA really threw me off guard. I thought to myself, “Why hasn’t anyone thought of this???”. I’ve run FilmFolk Philippines close to five wonderful years now and there really is a hole in an emerging market such as ours. The interest in film photography amongst the youth (and even kids!) is growing every day and knowing WHERE to start is their #1 concern.

I get it, most of us are used to browsing second-hand forums or eBay for quick access to affordable cameras… but for us, this is a problem. Not only does buying cameras online (from abroad) pose a risk of not receiving your purchase, there’s also the high chance of being slapped with taxes much higher than the total value of your camera. Buying a relatively respectable starter camera requires a bit of investment from a student as well… this is why single-use disposable cameras are gaining popularity in our market. And what’s the number one question asked in my DM regarding disposables? “IS THIS RELOADABLE?”.

So without further adieu, glamor, pomp or fancyshmancyness, here are a few of the shots I’ve taken over the past two days in my attempt to provide samples to excited customers as soon as humanly possible.

I truly had fun with it and all the more, I believe brands should try to build “bridge products” like these. While this shouldn’t take away the love for Disposable Cameras, the HARMAN REUSABLE CAMERA touches on a specific need/demand that no other brand was able to address this past 2 years.

Without any technical specs or further product information available for us as of the moment (seriously), can someone confirm what the shutter speed and aperture on this is? Anyways, for people who are curious about what it ACTUALLY looks like, here it is:

  • Lovely simple packaging with TWO Kentmere 400 BW films
  • The body is purely plastic with sticker detailing.
  • Again, all plastic. Opens with a “switch” on the side. Unlike disposables where you often have to break the seams.
  • Loading was straight forward. Film advance is a little firmer than usual but may have been my loading.

Overall, my experience with shooting HARMAN’s plastic camera is quite pleasant! While, of course, you cannot demand or expect much from it, it performed reliably and is sturdier than expected. The only time a struggled a bit was in the rewind – I had to keep the button pressed while rewinding…and if you’re careless and too forceful, you might snap it.

BE AWARE: it’s plastic.

~ Aislinn

HARMAN REUSABLE CAMERA technical specifications

Camera nameHARMAN Reusable Camera
Camera type35mm viewfinder camera
ManufacturerHARMAN technology Limited
Manufacture dates2019-
Format135 format film
Lens mountN/A
Lenses31mm, F/10, single element (no lens cover)
Focus Free, 1m – infinity
Viewfinder70% field of view
Flash ready indicator
ShutterMechanical in-lens, 1/120 second
AccessoriesWrist strap (included)
MeteringN/A
FlashPush switch, 15 second recycle time
Power1x AAA (included
Weight100g (without battery)
Dimensions
(appx)
Body only:
114mm x 63mm x 35mm (W x H X D)

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10 responses to “5 Frames… With Kentmere 400 in the HARMAN REUSABLE CAMERA (EI 400 / 35mm format)”

  1. this is probably a very stupid question but it does it do colour film aswell? i like black and white but i’d like the opportunity to do colour aswell.

    1. ff same here 😌😌

    2. Oh yes, it will do colour film as well. Any 135 type of film will come out fine 🙂

  2. I have philosophical issues with the ‘disposable camera’ thing, frankly for all they’re fun things to have at weddings and so forth in 2019 I don’t think one shot (or 36 shot) disposable plastic anythings are something which we should celebrate. Analogue photography with the cameras we have now, or non-disposable ones created today, is a remarkably low waste process; I’m always pleased for example that once I’ve loaded the developing tank all the remains of the film cartridge can go straight into the metals recycling. The most you’re going to generate is a recyclable battery now and again. To still have a plastic box with some metal parts (and mixed material products are an almost insurmoutable recycling challenge) to be used once and thrown away goes entirely against that ethos. Which brings me round to saying that a re-usable camera to get the casual user into analogue where once they might have used a disposable is a good thing…doesn’t look as though that body is made out of recycled plastics though!

  3. It’s a pain in the ass to wind but the optics are okay. It however is not the only camera in the clas… https://t.co/HYdC2zkR7Q

  4. Love those shots. What a cool camera too.

  5. Regarding your question about the spec., an aperture of f/9 and a shutter speed of 1/120th seems to be the favourite for this type of camera.

    1. An update on my original guesses – it’s got a 31mm, f/10 lens giving a focus range from 1m to 8m and the shutter speed is 1/120th. It’s described as being ‘…not as difficult as reloading Lomography’s disposable cameras…’

 

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