This article refers to a series of cheap plastic 35mm cameras, sold under a bewildering number of names and styling variations, designed to deceive the shopper. They are often seen advertised on auction sites at ridiculously high prices, sometimes as an outfit including an equally cheaply-made tripod and carrying case. They have been attributed to the Ouyama company based in Taiwan, and are manufactured in China. Most shameless is the variety of names under which the camera is sold. "Olympia" is intended to sound vaguely like Olympus; "Nikai" or "Nokina" like Nikon; and "Tashika" like Yashica. Many others simply use counterfeit Canon (or "Canomatic") labeling—right down to the stylized font used for the name. Other names that have also been observed include Ouyama, Mitsuba, Panoramic, Sonaki, Elco, Ultima, Rokinon, Akira, Cyber 2002, Nikkei, Minotar, Panasound and even Sony. There are undoubtedly others. An oddity of many of these models is the inclusion of a brilliant finder within the top housing (where a real SLR would have a pentaprism). As there is no focusing adjustment possible, this is simply a stylistic flourish; and recent models seem to omit it. The camera kit may also include a separate "potato masher"-styled electronic flash: Impressive-looking, but equally shoddy in its construction.
Elaborate styling that superficially resembles an SLR, a metal weight in the base to conceal the all-plastic construction, and (typically) a battery-driven film advance (sometimes labeled as "Full Motor Drive") - all distract the buyer from noticing that these are basically trashcams. They have fixed focus, poor-quality "optical" lenses; and while the aperture may be adjusted from (nominally) f/6.3 to f/16, there is a single, non-adjustable shutter speed. The apparently large lens diameter is mostly a dummy clear plastic cover; the actual optics are much smaller and recessed into the plastic barrel.
Holga 120 GCFN is a Glass Lens Medium Format Film Camera with built-in color flash. It produces the well known Holga style classic lo-fi photos with the shadowy vignettes, unpredictable light leaks and soft focus in your square shots. It can accommodate all 120 medium format films. The Holga 120GCFN package is provided with two different film size of frame masks, so that it can take both traditional and square format pictures. The Holga 120GCFN includes a built in flash with a spinning color wheel for your choice of red, yellow, blue or standard white flash. Two batteries are required for operating the built-in flash, but it can still take photo without batteries. Although the Holga 120GCFN is basically a fixed focus camera, it still offers four choices of object distances. Two choice of aperture are available: f/11 & f/8. The multiple exposure can be achieve by not advancing the film after a frame has been exposed. Fifteen camera body colors are available: Black, Blue, Camouflage, Gold, Pink, Purple, Red, Red&White, Silver, YRB, White, Yellow, Tri-Color A/B/C.
The Holga is a medium format camera that recently became ultra-popular, partly as a response to the digital consensus with modern photography, and in part as a low-cost, unpredictable means of using film. The Holga is quite cheaply made and consequently is relatively low in cost, making it also a more interesting entry-level type of camera. Everything in the camera is plastic, including the lens, and this leads to blown-out, wild-looking photos with plenty of light leaks.
Specifications
TYPE:120 Medium Format Film Camera
LENS:60mm Glass Lens
SHUTTER:Leaf shutter, speed 1/100s
FOCUS:Adjustable, 0.9m to infinity
APERTURE:f/8, f/11
VIEWFINDER:Eye Level Direct
FLASH:Built-in Flash with 4 Colors Filter
DIMENSIONS:140 x 102 x 76 mm
WEIGHT:200g
COLOR:Black, Blue, Camouflage, Gold, Pink, Purple, Red, Red-White, Silver, A, B, C, White, Yellow, YRB
The Kodak Star 275 camera was manufactured in China from 1993 until 1995 when production stopped 23 years ago. The Star 275 was designed to take 35mm, Cartridge Roll film. The camera requires 2, AA batteries. Unloaded, the camera weighs 155.00 g (5.47 oz.), with batteries 205.00 g (7.23 oz.), and with film, 224.00 g (7.9 oz.). Initially priced at $41.95, the Star 275 would cost $65.65 in 2011. Features include integrated flash.
Years Made1993-1995
MSRP$41.95 ($65.65 2012 Dollars)
Film35mm Film
Weight155.00 g (5.47 oz.)
Date AcquiredFebruary 2nd, 2013
Battery2 x AA
Country of ManufactureChina
Shutter Speeds:Fixed Shutter Speed
Shutter Type:Leaf
Aperture Settings:Fixed Aperture
Lens Mount:Fixed
Viewfinder:Plain
Focal Range:Fixed
I am probably one of the few people in the world who is happy to come across a cheap Vivitar point & shoot. Many times I have sorted through a pile of plastic cameras pulling out all the Vivitars. Maybe someday I will figure out why I am drawn to these cameras. However when I do I would guess that I will still be short of having an example of each camera, since the number of Vivitar camera names seem to be near infinity. The Vivitar TEC 45 is one of the more ambitious cameras from this group. It actually has some kind of auto focus mechanism and more than one aperture/shutter speed combination. When you push the shutter button half-way a green circle appears when the focus and exposure is set. There is a flash that pops up if there isn't enough light. All this is powered by one AA battery. Judging by the styling and the presence of DX encoding I guess this camera was sold in the early 1990's. I would like to say that I have found a hidden jewel in this camera, however I don't think that I did. Still the Vivitar TEC 45 is a competent camera. Probably very good for taking the family snapshots back in the day.
The Vivitar TEC 45 seems to be a very obscure camera. A search on Google returned no useful information. And a search on Flickr only gave one picture. That is probably the least amount of info that I have been able to find for a camera that I have written about.
It is equipped with a fixed-focus 35mm f/3.8 lens (3 elements/3 groups) and has a single shutter speed of 1/125 sec. Film advance and rewind is motorized.
As extra feature this model has a close-focus ability of 50cm, hence the "Macro" name.
A CdS cell controls a 3-step program which corrects the aperture for the fixed shutter speed according to film speed and mode (flash-off, flash-on, and macro). At ISO 100/200: f/8 at 1/125 sec. with flash off, f/3.8 at 1/125 sec. with flash on, and f/16 at 1/125 sec. in macro mode. At ISO 1400: f/16 at 1/125 sec., f/8 at 1/125 sec. with flash on, and f/16 at 1/125 sec. in macro mode. The flash will fire in macro mode.
A red LED light is fitted for low-light warning.
The camera uses 2 AA batteries for power. Size: 124 x 69 x 51 mm, weight: 265 g (with batteries).
A very basic compact camera for 35mm film. Made in China for Hanimex. Fixed focal length (described as "focus free"), built-in flash, manual wind on, manual loading and rewinding.
Manufactured: 1990-1992
Fixed focus 35mm lens with small aperture.
Fixed Shutter Speed.
Integrated flash.
Two AA batteries required for flash.
Film advance: Manual wind.
Built in lens cover.
Plastic fixed focus compact 35mm camera with built in flash from Pentax. First model in the Pentax Pino series.
This model was first produced in 1984. It has limited features. The user sets the film speed and then selects either one of 3 pictograms for light level (Sunny, Cloudy Sun or cloudy) or on the same ring the distance for flash use by 3 pictograms (bust-size, half-length or full length portrait). There is a battery powered CdS metering but this only warns the user of too low light in viewfinder and does not lock the red shutter button in low light. Viewfinder is basic with no markers.
Flash has to be manually activated by red switch on rear causing a indicator LED/button to pop up. It is turned off by depressing the indicator button.
The user can adjust the aperture to settings beyond those indicated by histogram (e.g. you can widen the aperture at 400ASA 2 settings beyond the cloudy setting)
Lens: 38mm 1:3.8 pentax lens, 3 elments, 3 lens group-composition
Focus: Fixed, range 1.5m to infinity
Aperture: f/3.8 to f/19
Shutter: Mechanical leaf
Shutter Speed: Fixed, 1/125s
Metering: CdS low light warning only
Flash: GN 12 (ISO 100, in metres)
Batteries: 2xAA alkaline (not NiCd). Good for 360 flash discharges with new manganese alkali batteries
Film advance: Manual, thumbwheel on rear
Film speed settings: 100, 200 & 400 ASA
Tripod mount
175gm without batteries
I bought this camera last year because it was very cheap and also because it looked like the ones my parents used to give me when I was a little girl, back in the 80’s! Fuji DL-10 are compact 35mm cameras, sold around 1986 and this particular one was bought in 1987 (the previous owner wrote it on the box).
It is the model which first adopts drop-in loading system, making film loading easy! It has a fixed focus system and a built-in flash, which I wasn’t able to test. For the flash to work, the camera needs a power source of 2 batteries (manganese penlight batteries).
It has a built-on lens cover and the shutter automatically locks when lens cover is closed, so you don’t have to worry about that.
Overall it’s a nice camera, and because it is so simple and small, it’s a good camera for all the Lomographers out there who like to travel light or for the ones who are just starting to get into photography.
During the mid-to-late '80s Olympus lost ground to its competitors in the SLR field as autofocus took off. Research and development spending was focussed on high-selling compact point and shoots. Although the company did eventually release an autofocus SLR system it was not a serious challenge to Minolta, Nikon or Canon. Olympus changed its orientation and pioneered the concept of the "bridge" camera (an auto-everything SLR with fixed zoom lens) with the IS series. In the early '90s, Olympus had significant success with the compact autofocus Stylus (or µ[mju:] ) line. It carried on this success at the turn of the century into the digital field, as film camera production was ended in 2005. When the digital market took off with the launch of reasonably affordable, compact 2.3 megapixel cameras for consumers, there were only two real options for photographers — the Nikon Coolpix or the Olympus Camedia ranges. Before the availability of affordable (sub-$5k) digital SLRs, Olympus' E series of fixed-lens SLRs, evolved from the earlier analogue bridge cameras, was very popular among serious photographers.
The launch of cheaper digital SLRs saw Olympus lose ground again among serious photographers, but in 2003 the E series was developed into an innovative interchangeable-lens SLR system. Without the huge autofocus lens catalogue of Nikon and Canon, Olympus was free to build its system without concessions to an older 35mm-based system. Olympus is the champion of the Four-Thirds lens mount system with smaller sensor rather than the APS-sized sensors Konica Minolta, Canon and Nikon put into their DSLR bodies, which are derived from 35mm film cameras. This allowed Olympus to design its bodies and lenses specifically for digital use. The first model of its Four-Thirds E-series of DSLRs was the Olympus E-1. It was the first professional model of the modern type compact DSLRs for interchangeable lenses. Olympus is slow in evolving its professional DSLR line but fast in delivery of new consumer DSLRs of its E-line.
Along with Panasonic, Olympus has also launched a compact camera system based on the Micro Four-Thirds standard. This has half the flange focal distance of the orignal Four-Thirds, 6mm smaller throat size, and enables compact cameras with DSLR image quality. For this it revived its famous Olympus Pen brand. The new Pens are finderless compact digicams for Micro-Four-Thirds lenses, but including an accessory shoe where an electronic eye-level finder can be attached instead of a flash.
The company took its present name of Olympus Corporation (オリンパス株式会社) in 2003, and it continues to innovate and to challenge other manufacturers to do so by the incorporation of features such as 'Live-View', tilt/swivel LCDs and full user control over the noise filter on its 'E-System' range of DLSRs.
Revelations about the top management of Olympus made world headlines in late 2011, regarding accounting practices designed to disguise earlier losses.[42] As of February 2012, investigation continues into what is commonly referred to as a scandal, and has led to resignations and arrests of Olympus officials. These events cast doubt over the future of the corporation's camera division (whose earnings had not matched those of the medical-products arm); yet new Olympus camera and lens introductions continue.
The Canon T50, introduced in March 1983 and discontinued in December 1989, was the first in Canon's new T series of 35mm single-lens reflex cameras compatible with Canon's FD lens mount. SLR sales were falling in 1983 from the market's 1981 peak, and Canon chose to try greater automation to revive sales and remain competitive. This approach had found favor in compact cameras such as the AF35M "Autoboy" (Japan) or "Sure Shot" (US). The T50 had a power winder built in giving a continuous shooting rate of 1.4 frames per second, as well as an advanced auto-exposure mode, although it was still a manual focus camera. Unlike those compact cameras and the higher-end models in the T series, the T50 did not have power rewind, relying on a manual crank. The camera's electric systems were powered by two AA batteries in the grip, which gave enough power to shoot 75 24-exposure rolls, or 50 36-exposure rolls.
The T50 used a new shutter design. Canon's previous A series cameras used a horizontally travelling cloth shutter, while the T50 (and subsequent T series models) used a vertically travelling metal blade shutter which allowed for faster shutter speeds and higher flash X-sync speeds. Only a modest increase was seen in the T50; more would be available in subsequent cameras.
Only Program AE (Auto Exposure) mode was available on the T50, in line with its role as a simple beginner's camera. A couple of years earlier, Konica had tried a similar approach with their FP-1.
Canon released a new flash unit for the T50, the Speedlite 244T. This simple-to-use flash used an infrared preflash to judge the distance to the subject, and only had two buttons; a power switch and a film speed setting which toggled between 100 and 400 ISO film speed.
The Canon T series models were a new breed of SLR cameras introduced by Canon to replaced the A Series model. The Canon T-50 featured here was the first model within the T Series. It was built with the concept of everything convenient and easy to use, packed in a light weight body with a built-in integral winder to handle loading, remote control capability ready, offering automatic film advancing except for automatic rewinding and DX coding features from the high-end T-90 model - all sound too luxurious for a bare-bone A series model which may require the attachment of accessories like motor drive or power winder to perform similar tasks. And on its own, the T-50 stands between simplicity and sophistication. It is a simple to operate, inviting and user friendly SLR camera. It shares with most of the system accessories in the huge Canon FD lenses photographic system. It also patches some of the key weaknesses found in the A series model. The silk fabric shutter curtain was replaced with a newly developed vertically travelled metal curtain, which result in a higher achievable sync speed (varies with individual models) as compared with the standard 1/60 sec among all the A series models. The T50 featured here, was almost designed to handle like a P&S camera - other than the film rewind knob, other confusing knobs and switches have been replaced with simple control knob.
The conventional film advance lever is also missing from the top of the camera. It may look a bit bulkier physically but this wondeful SLR can accept more than 50 top rated interchangeable FD lenses and most of all, with some dedicated accessories attached, you can still tailor the camera to your individual needs and requirement.
In short, it can enhance with extended photographic capabilities - which are not possible even with the top of the line P&S models.
Automated Operation From the moment you insert a film cartridge until you release the shutter, everything, apart from focusing, is performed automatically. A built-in winder loads the film ready for your first shot. The T50 computes the light and sets the correct programmed combination of lens aperture and shutter speed. It's the same story with flash: full automation of exposure with little calculations or guesswork involved.
The A series SLR models offer powered film advance as an optional feature, where you purchase and attach a separate power winder or motor drive to the camera and even then, none of the models within the A series use less AA-size batteries than the T50.
And since none of the A series models have power film rewind with power winder or motor drive, the high-end T-Series cameras like the T70 and T90, offered powered rewind with only four AA-size batteries. The T50 has these advantages built in without having to cough out more to purchase them as optional accessories. The integrated micromotor advances the film automatically each time you take a picture, doing away with the need for a conventional winding lever. Press the shutter button once and the film advances one frame, ready for the next frame. Keep the button depressed and the T50 will fire at a maximum of a pretty low speed rate of around 1.4 frames per second - although not much, it was still better than winding the film manually. When you reach the end of the film, an audible warning is given and the motor switches off. Press the film release button underneath and rewind the film the usual way. Remote controlled photography is also possible, using the Remote Switch 60 T3.
Despite its many automatic functions, the T50 consumes surprisingly little power. Two slim AA-size alkaline batteries will take over 75 rolls of 24-exposure film (or 50 rolls of 36-exposure) under normal conditions. Contributing to energy efficiency is the Electromagnetic Attraction Shutter (EMAS).
The vertical-travel, focal plane shutter is activated by two attraction magnets to provide stepless, electronically controlled speeds from 1/1000 to 2 sec. for Programmed AE photography. The metal EMAS shutter was a clear departure from the traditional cloth shutter used in the A-Series models.
Warning: The Canon A and T series models use the previous FD mount and thus are not compatible with the many current autofocus EOS mount optics or accessories. If you have already owned a SLR system, I don't actually recommend a buy - unless for some specific personal reasons or may be if you have already built-up a FD system over the years and you don't want to abandon them (Because it doesn't make sense, an entry EOS model will be more logical if the price is the same). I don't like to mis-led anyone who comes into my site, please make note of that before any decision is made.
Fact remains, the T-50 is a very user friendly camera. In fact, you don't have to be an expert to take perfect pictures - even the very first time you handle it. Advanced electronics make it simple. Just set the lens on "A" and the selector dial at "PROGRAM", gently press the shutter button. That is all. The camera will measure the light, concentrating on the center where the subject is usually positioned. Using this and other data, it selects the most appropriate combination of shutter speed and lens opening for the lighting conditions. That is how "Program" automation works in camera. Of cause, the T50 is not an autofocus camera yet, you still need to turn the focusing ring on the lens to make sure the subject snaps into focus.
Clear Symbols Tell the Story
The T50 with its built-in winder is designed to respond instantly to a photographer's needs - without the hassle of manually wind the film forward. The Programmed AE mode was designed and written to lessen the risk of blurred pictures in low light, the T50 will choose the fastest shutter speed the conditions will allow. (Referred to the EV chart above if you can read and understand). In order to gather as much light as possible, the lens' widest aperture is maintained at all speeds up to 1/60 sec. From that point, the shutter speeds and f/numbers increase sharply.
Type: 35 mm SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) camera with electronically-controlled programmed AE (Automatic Exposure)
Exposure Modes: Programmed AE and programmed AE flash with Canon Speedlite 244T, 255T, 277T or any dedicated flash units Format: 24 x 36 mm.
Usable Lenses: Canon FD series lenses only.
Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level Pentaprism.
Field of View: 92% vertical and 93% horizontal coverage of the actual picture area.
Magnification: 0.83X at infinity with a standard lens.
Viewfinder Information: Information is displayed by way of LED digital display positioned to the right of viewing area.
( P ): Programmed AE indicator. 2 Hz flashing indicates camera shake warning; 8 Hz flashing indicates underexposure warning
( M ): Manual aperture setting. 4 Hz flashing indicates exposure may be incorrect.
( ): Flash charge-completion display
Light Metering System: TTL (Through The-Lens), Center-weighted average by SPC (Silicon Photocell). Stopped-down metering is impossible and Non-FD lenses and close-up system accessories without AE signal pins cannot be used.
Meter Coupling Range: EV I to EV 18 with ISO 100/21°, ASA100 film.
Film Speed Scale: ISO 25/15°, ASA 25 - ISO 1600/33°, ASA
Shutter: Vertical travel focal-plane, electromagnetic attraction shutter. Electronically controlled.
Shutter Speed: Automatically controlled ffom 2 sec to 1/1000 sec at "A" 1/60sec when disengaged from "A"
Mirror: Instant-return, with shock and noise absorber.
Self-timer: Electronically controlled. Ten-second time lag activated by pressing shutter button. Beep sounds to indicate operation sound frequency increases two sees before shutter release Selector Dial: Four positions: "SELF," "PROGRAM," "L," and "B.C.". At "L" all active circuits are cut offas a safety feature.
Shutter Button: Two-step, electromagnetic shutter button Pressing it halfway activates the indicators. Pressing it all the way sets shutter m operation.
Flash Synchronization: X-sync at 1/60 sec. Direct contact at accessory shoe for hot-shoe type flash. When used with Canon "A" series Speedlites, 533G, or 577G, shutter speed is automatically set and aperture is also automatically set to the aperture value of the flash when the pilot lamp glows.
Automatic Flash: Programmed with the Canon Speedlite 244T. Afler infrared light is radiated, shutter speed and aperture (f/2.8 f/4, f/5.6) are automatically set according to the shooting distance and the reflectivity of subject.
Remote Control: Possible. With three-terminal contact for remote control. Remote Switch 60 T3 exclusive is required.
Power Source: Two size-AA alkaline-manganese or carbon-zinc batteries. Ni-Cd batteries cannot be used
Battery Check: Beep sounds when rotating selector dial to "B.C." Absence of sounds indicates insufficient power.
Back Cover: Opened by pullmg up rewind knob. non-removable type.
Film Loading: Loaded automatically. Automatically advances to "1" at 1/1000sec by keeping the shutter button pressed
Film Advance: Advanced automatically by a built-in power winder. Approximate 0.7 sec for film advance. Continuous shooting is possible by keeping the shutter button pressed.
Film End Warning: Warned by beep sounds.
Film Rewind: By pressing rewind button and cranking rewind knob.
Frame Counter: Additive type. Automatically resets to "S" upon opening back cover.
Dimensions: 150.2mm x 87mm x 48.4mm (5-15/16" x 3-7/16" x 1-15/16") body only
Weight: 490 g (17-5/16 oz.) body only
