Tag: Camera Review
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Choosing a 35mm film SLR? A quick look at six (vintage?) film camera manufacturers…
Since the publication of my original book, “Nikon Film Cameras, Which one is right for you?“, I’ve acquired a number of additional cameras and lenses which I describe and evaluate from personal experience in the newly released second edition, which recently went live on Amazon. In addition to the extra hardware, I tracked the prices…
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Camera review: the Contax S2, “Simple is Best”
Two years ago at a tram stop in Antwerp, I misstepped on the pavement’s edge and fell over. It was a bit embarrassing and it wasn’t helped by my own wife and daughter doubled up with laughter at my expense. “Why didn’t you put your hands out to break your fall?”, they asked. To them,…
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Ricoh GR1s vs Ricoh R1s: Is “premium” really worth the money?
Here’s a question you’ve probably asked yourself before: “Is it really worth paying for a premium compact 35mm camera when a lesser-known, lower spec’d camera can produce a comparable result?” To answer it, I decided to see if my “premium” Ricoh GR1s and not-so-premium Ricoh R1s were really as different as the marketing and internet…
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Compact camera mega test finale: 12+ high, mid and low-end 35mm point and shoot cameras head-to-head
One day, some time ago, I hatched a plan to do the biggest comparative test of compact film cameras that had (possibly) ever been done in the history of the human race. Surely it must have been done before? Well, not quite. Not as broad as the one you’re reading this very minute. This test…
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Compact camera mega test: Yashica Zoomate 115, the poor man’s MJU Zoom
Welcome to the twelfth and final quick camera review for my upcoming 12-camera 35mm camera mega test. In this series, I’ll be comparing image quality, durability, speed and overall performance for cameras ranging from the very high end of the 35mm compact camera world to the very low – or close to it. I’ll be…
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Compact camera mega test: Samsung Vega 700, does Schneider-Kreuznach equal “better”?
Welcome to the eleventh in my series of quick compact 35mm camera reviews. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be publishing a total of 12 of these articles as part of a 35mm compact camera mega test spanning cameras made from 1990 to 2003 – arguably the golden age of these pocketable beasts. You can find…
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Camera review: Polaroid Automatic 100 Land Camera
In 1963, the Polaroid Corporation introduced the Automatic 100 Land Camera (also known as the Model 100). Named after Polaroid co-founder and genius inventor Edwin Land, the Land Cameras would go on to be a successful line of cameras for the company, produced in one form or another until the early 2000’s. The Automatic 100…
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Compact camera mega test: Ricoh GR1s, the “stealth ninja”
Welcome to the tenth in my series of quick compact 35mm camera reviews. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be publishing a total of 12 of these articles as part of an upcoming 35mm compact camera mega test spanning cameras made from 1990 to 2003 – arguably the golden age of these pocketable beasts. You can…
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Compact camera mega test: Olympus MJU Zooms, all of them
Welcome to the ninth in my series of quick compact 35mm camera reviews. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be publishing a total of 12 of these articles as part of an upcoming 35mm compact camera mega test spanning cameras made from 1990 to 2003 – arguably the golden age of these pocketable beasts. You can…
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Camera review: The Canon SURE SHOT Z135
It has come to the point in my life where I am the ‘camera guy’ to family and colleagues; I will not lie to you, I have brought this on myself, and knew it would happen. When Christmas or a birthday rolls around, I get camera-themed goods. At work I’d previously been given a camera…
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Compact camera mega test: Olympus MJU II / Olympus Stylus Epic, a meh MJU?
Welcome to the eighth in my series of quick compact 35mm camera reviews. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be publishing a total of 12 of these articles as part of an upcoming 35mm compact camera mega test spanning cameras made from 1990 to 2003 – arguably the golden age of these pocketable beasts. You can…
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Compact camera mega test: The Nikon 35Ti, the world’s most sophisticated compact camera?
Welcome to the seventh in my series of quick compact 35mm camera reviews. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be publishing a total of 12 of these articles as part of an upcoming 35mm compact camera mega test spanning cameras made from 1990 to 2003 – arguably the golden age of these pocketable beasts. You can…
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Expectations and anticipation: Shooting a Leica M3 for the first time
While my freshly shot and developed Tri-X 400 (using Kodak D76) is hanging up to dry, I would like to summarize some of my thoughts about shooting my new Leica M3 for the first time. I bought myself a double-stroke Leica M3 as a birthday present from a local seller who is also a member…
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Compact camera mega test: The annoyingly slow Leica C1
The Leica C1 was not on my list of ‘must-haves,’ but one came up cheap, so I thought I would try it. It is quite good in some ways, quite bad in others. It’s a Leica, which is obviously a big plus point for many people.
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Compact camera mega test: The Konica Big Mini’s transparent ambitions
Imagine the scene: one night in Tokyo, some Konica employees are drinking in a hostess bar. One of them looks through the bottom of his glass and has a brainwave. ‘Hey!’, he exclaims, ‘Let’s make a camera with a clear lens cover!’
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Compact camera mega test: The Fujifilm DL Super Mini (aka Fujifilm Tiara), the upmarket MJU?
Fujifilm made some nice mid-range compacts, but inexplicably, they are priced like premium compacts. I couldn’t bring myself to pay the prices being demanded for a Natura Classica or a Klasse.
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Compact camera mega test: The Contax Tvs III, hot property?
The Contax T2 is hot property, the compact de jour, if you will. The Contax Tvs III is basically a T2 with a zoom lens. It’s also much cheaper, so the Tvs III should also be hot property, right?
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The Ihagee Photorex: shooting medium format with a 100 year-old plate camera
When it comes to medium format cameras we’re spoilt for choice. This is not surprising considering that 120 film was the main format used by professionals and enthusiasts alike for a good chunk of the 20th century before 35mm film took over.
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Compact camera mega test: The Contax T3, a super-rich hipster’s dream
The Contax T3 is so cute and desirable! The problem is that the T3 is crazy-expensive. If you are not wealthy, look away now.
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Compact camera mega test: The Contax T2, the world’s most fashionable point and shoot??
The Contax T2 is the world’s most fashionable camera, apparently. Kendall Jenner uses the T2. Chris Hemsworth uses the T2. Various other celebrities I don’t know use the T2.