For what it is and the price, the long weekend camera takes pretty decent photos when you use the flash. I like the ethos of a non-disposable disposable camera.
The specs on the first one looks exactly like the same dozen or so rebrands currently being sold. All made at the same factory.
These cameras are still fun to use in good light and make great gifts. Sure you can buy someone a much better, used camera for the same or less money, but it does not compare to getting something new in a nice box as a present. Plus these cameras are good intros into film, and if later the bug catches for something fancier, there you go.
I disagree with this ad copy for their motorized camera:
Say goodbye to winding! Nana's motorized film advance lets you focus on capturing the moment without having to worry about winding the film.
I think they are missing the mark here. One of the things people, especially newbies, like about film cameras are the mechanics involved. "We" enjoy winding film! Both Pentax and MINT in their focus group research found that tactile rush was a crucial consideration into developing a new film camera. People WANT to wind on a film lever.
RoamingScott wrote:
For what it is and the price, the long weekend camera takes pretty decent photos when you use the flash. I like the ethos of a non-disposable disposable camera.
That camera is from Willem Verbeek's business.
He shows it used on this road trip. Of course we cannot tell the 'quality' of the images from a youtube video, but they look really nice all things considered.
This is because while it is fixed focus/exposure, using C41 film - especially the iso 800 stuff he used - has so much exposure latitude decent results are achievable over a wide variety of conditions.
Same thing w the sharpness of the lens. Focus is fixed, small aperture, so essentially its performance is maximized.
My Kodak H35 Ektar half frame camera is basically the same chassis, and the results from the lens are surprisingly good in the middle area. Smearing out to the outside is the charm of images from cameras like this.
Desmolicious wrote:
That camera is from Willem Verbeek's business.
He shows it used on this road trip. Of course we cannot tell the 'quality' of the images from a youtube video, but they look really nice all things considered.
This is because while it is fixed focus/exposure, using C41 film - especially the iso 800 stuff he used - has so much exposure latitude decent results are achievable over a wide variety of conditions.
Same thing w the sharpness of the lens. Focus is fixed, small aperture, so essentially its performance is maximized.
My Kodak H35 Ektar half frame camera is basically the same chassis, and the results from the lens are surprisingly good in the middle area. Smearing out to the outside is the charm of images from cameras like this....Show more →
I had watched that before making my comments on what it appears to be for the price
I'd buy $40 of scratchers before I buy one of those, though.
RoamingScott wrote:
I had watched that before making my comments on what it appears to be for the price
I'd buy $40 of scratchers before I buy one of those, though.
The basically identically specced Ilford Sprite - sold on the same site! - is $28. All these cameras are the same but with slight cosmetic differences. 31mm f 9 lens, single element. 1/120 shutter
I don't get it. I can buy a EOS 1N or Elan 7S for about $100. And lesser cameras for a lot less. There is too much GOOD USED stuff available to waste money on these 'cameras'.
TomSchriefer wrote:
I don't get it. I can buy a EOS 1N or Elan 7S for about $100. And lesser cameras for a lot less. There is too much GOOD USED stuff available to waste money on these 'cameras'.
It's quite simple. It is for people who are interested in the idea of film photography but have no idea about any of the stuff, nor have any interest in a camera that is big, has buttons everywhere or frankly is used.
You can think of these simple use cameras as an intro, a taste of the possibilities. Plus if you are giving a gift, they are brand new and boxed. Vs old with wear marks and someone else's funk on them. They are tiny ans super light weight so you can slip them in any pocket and not know they are there.
Don't get me wrong - I bought two Nikon N80s for $20 each and they are awesome. But they would be a terrible gift to someone who has no idea about film, just likes the idea and wants a 'film camera' for funky images their friends are posting.
And the fact is, in daylight they plain work. Here taken with my Kodak H35 Ektar plastic reusable:
With flash (good to about 10 ft tops)
Pic on left had the flash on as fill-in, on right daylight/no flash:
Desmolicious wrote:
It's quite simple. It is for people who are interested in the idea of film photography but have no idea about any of the stuff, nor have any interest in a camera that is big, has buttons everywhere or frankly is used.
You can think of these simple use cameras as an intro, a taste of the possibilities. Plus if you are giving a gift, they are brand new and boxed. Vs old with wear marks and someone else's funk on them. They are tiny ans super light weight so you can slip them in any pocket and not know they are there.
Don't get me wrong - I bought two Nikon N80s for $20 each and they are awesome. But they would be a terrible gift to someone who has no idea about film, just likes the idea and wants a 'film camera' for funky images their friends are posting.
And the fact is, in daylight they plain work. Here taken with my Kodak H35 Ektar plastic reusable:
Point taken. I recall a few years back buying 5 or 6 Brownie Hawkeye cameras off E-Bay. One of them actually worked... for a while. Guess I'm just too stuck in my ways.
TomSchriefer wrote:
Point taken. I recall a few years back buying 5 or 6 Brownie Hawkeye cameras off E-Bay. One of them actually worked... for a while. Guess I'm just too stuck in my ways.
Dood, I don't blame you but you are looking at this from the POV of an experience photographer.
I like my N80s so much I use them much more than my F6. $20 each for those!
The thing about these plastic were disposable but now are reusable cameras, is people can buy them new. As new cameras, they are the cheapest thing out there.
Right now the new 35mm camera choices are $20 for these reusables, then it is $350 for a Lomo LC-A, then it is $5500 for a Leica.
Not going into semantics here - English is not my first language, but shouldn't it state: "Film never dies" or maybe "Films never die"? Maybe also meant as "Film [should/must] never die!"?
