Charman PC-606

Charman PC-606

#461

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

Plastic point and shoot camera.


Specifications

35mm film

Free focus


Model


Reference sites


Manual


Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Vivitar PS:20 (~1980)

Vivitar PS:20 (~1980)

Gentilmente oferecida pelo meu irmão João Nunes

#459

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

Vivitar was an American distributor of photographic equipment from 1938-2008. Originally founded under the name Ponder & Best, Inc., the company was established in Santa Monica, California in 1938 as a distributor of photographic products by Max Ponder and John C. Best. Later they began selling rebranded gear under the Vivitar name and eventually began designing and, in a few cases, manufacturing their own Vivitar gear. The company became better known for their very successful Vivitar brand and eventually changed the company name to Vivitar Corporation. The shift to autofocus cameras and later to digital cameras created difficult transitions, leading to a series of mergers, ownership changes, and eventual bankruptcy in 2008. The company itself is gone now but the Vivitar brand was purchased and continues to be used for marketing photographic gear.

Source: camera-wiki.org


The Vivitar PS:20 camera was a film camera.. The PS:20 was designed to take 35mm, Cartridge Roll film. The camera requires 2, AA batteries. Unloaded, the camera weighs 210.00 g (7.41 oz.), with batteries 260.00 g (9.17 oz.), and with film, 279.00 g (9.84 oz.). Features include integrated flash.

Source: camerahistoryproject.com


Specifications

The Vivitar PS20 is a simple 35mm point-and-shoot from the 1980s. It features an autofocus 35mm f5.6 lens and DX coding for automatically setting film speed (between ISO 100 and 400). The camera will allow you to take photos either with or without flash.

Source: rewindcameras.co.uk


Model

Serial number L2263874 (1987?)


Reference sites

camera-wiki.org

camerahistoryproject.com

rewindcameras.co.uk

Manual


Batteries

2 AA batteries

Film

35mm film

Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

SC-911 Camera

 

SC-911

#457

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

A cheap plastic camera sold in Portugal, with a Portuguese instruction leaflet.

Source:


Specifications

35mm film

35mm focus freen lens

Source:


Model

No serial number. 911-03-2 engraved in the interior.

Reference sites


Manual

Film

35 mm film

Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Halina 1600 (~1990)

Halina 1600 (~1990)

#453

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

W. Haking Enterprises Ltd. is a camera and binocular maker based in British Hong Kong. It was founded by Dr. Haking Wong (1906-1996) and Dr. Pauline Chan in 1956. In 2002 the company was taken over by Dr. Tony Chak-Leung Tai & Dr. Tai-Chin Lo and built a new factory in Xinhui (Guangdong).

Its camera products of the brands Halina and Ansco are distributed nowadays in the UK, Ireland, the Middle East and Africa by a company named Halina Imaging, that belongs to the British photographic distribution company SPS Logistics.

Older cameras of Haking are marked as "Empire made"

Source: camerapedia


Specifications

The Halina 1600 35mm Point and Shoot Film Camera is a simple to use and maintain. Simply load 2x AAA batteries and a roll of your favourite 35mm film to operate. This camera features a bright flash, electronic winder and manual rewind lever. This camera features a sharp lens with a choice of ISO settings, giving you shooting options when using different films. This little camera is a gem and its certainly fun to use!

This camera is great for travel, lifestyle and parties and is extremely light weight. 

Features:

Easy to use and maintain

Bright flash and sharp lens

Ideal if you are new to film photography 

Great fun to use 

Source: f16camerastore.co.uk


Model

"126B" written in the interior.


Reference sites

camerapedia

f16camerastore.co.uk


Manual


Batteries

2 AAA batteries

Film

Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Olympus XA1 (1982)

Olympus XA1 (1982)

#419

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 


The XA1 is often rated as the runt of the XA series litter by XA officandos. But this little overlooked  number can still deliver despite it’s limitations and can surprise.
The XA series was Olympus compact clamshell range of cameras that were sold predominately in the 80’s and carried the torch on for Olympus from the Trip 35 and 70’s compact rangefinders. The  series is probably best known for the XA  probably the most compact 35mm rangefinder in the world and the Ubiquitous XA2 (to some one of the finest P&S there was – I’ve already said it’s good but just not that good).  The XA3 & 4 build on the XA2 but in the middle sits the humble XA1.
This shares the shares the same clamshell design. This makes it compact and ideal to keep in the pocket. You slide open the clamshell to activate the camera’s metering & shutter. But open it and you’ll get a blast from the past in that it’s selenium metered (so no batteries). The spec is also suspiciously not a million miles removed from its more famous selenium ring predecessor the trip with the exception the lens is fixed focus and a fraction of a  stop slower. Like the Trip shooting in too low light causes a red flag appears in the viewfinder which locks the shutter.
The camera also lacks the red membrane touch shutter of the rest of the series. Some moan about its more traditional sticky out shutter but I for one am happier with it and certainly you don’t get any annoying sticky shutter issues. And …psst… wanna know a secret unlike the other XAs you can exposure lock by half depressing it. Sadly it isn’t cable threaded.
Now the downsides. The camera is the most basic in the series, I’ll admit. The camera’s speed range is much more limited (no 2 minute metered exposures here) and you are irritatingly limited to either 100 or 400 asa. The camera loses the self timer and backlight lever compared to its siblings. The lens is f/4 compared to the XA2 f /3.5 (a pretty minor issue – otherwise they are both 4 element set ups). The lens is fixed which does become an issue in low light whereas the XA2 has the zone options. Like the XA2 there is no manual override option for exposure as you get with the Trip.
Like all of the series the camera only uses as a proprietary XA series flash units. It was sold with the A9M as a package but will work with the better units like the A11 or A16.
So how does it shoot ? In good conditions it does fine and I’d argue little different from the XA2  (predominantly a fixed focus camera with the option of zone focus in low light). Yup it does become poorer at low light but then again the XA2 isn’t exactly spectacular there either although it’s zone focusing does help. I’m Guessing the sweet spot for the XA1 in low light is around 3-5 meters. Manual suggests 1.5m to ∞ in good conditions.

Is it better than a XA2 ? In good light it’s just as good and has a better shutter button IMHO and can exposure lock. The XA2  is more versatile however and on a recent trip away where I took the XA1, I was missing having either a LC-A or XA2 for the long shutters in low light. Still the XA1 is a fine camera with 400asa and good weather.  It knocks the spots off cheap plastic fix focus numbers. The XA1 is widely available and you should get well under a tenner as it tends to have bad press. Expect to replace the light seals.

Source: austerityphoto.co.uk

Introduction and Overview

How much do you know about the Olympus XA1? Not much, I assume. You might even be surprised to know that the model ever existed. Seems that the XA1 is the least acknowledged or known of the compact clamshell designed 35mm range/viewfinder film cameras made popular by Olympus in the 80's.
Contrary to the few adverse comments belittling the camera that you can find scattered across the Net, I find the Olympus XA1 to be exactly the opposite, and a delight to use.

Olympus Capsule Cameras
The Olympus Capsule camera series is best known for the Olympus XA which came with signature red membrane touch shutter and a semi-automatic aperture preferred shutter system. It was one of the most compact 35mm rangefinders on the market then. Success breeds success, the capsule series was expanded to incorporate the XA2, a viewfinder with zone focusing; the XA3, upgraded XA2 with DX decoding; the XA4 with macro capabilities; and then there was the XA1.

Design and Build
Olympus XA1, Side Front
The XA1, introduced in 1982, a true point-and-shoot, was the simplest in the clamshell XA range. It came with a fixed focus four elements in four groups 35mm f/4 lens, a programmed shutter range from f4/1.30 second to f22/1.250 second. Exposure is automatic by a built-in selenium meter, which is coupled to a shutter lock with a red pop-up flag mechanism that prevents underexposure (as seen previously on the Olympus Trip 35).

Basic Camera Features
The Olympus XA1 is normally sold as a kit with the Olympus A9M external flash unit. The A9M is a purely manual flash unit powered by a single AA battery.

The D.Zuiko 35mm f/4 fixed lens sits protected behind the capsule cover until it is opened, showing the lens surrounded by bubble modules with the selenium cell behind it. On the lower part of the lens is the latch lever that turns on the flash unit. The viewfinder is on the upper part of the lens assembly.

On the left of the top plate of the XA1 is the film rewind crank, which will be half covered when the capsule cover is opened. The shutter release button, the only protrusion out of the body when the capsule is closed,  and film frame window are located to the right of the top plate.

On the bottom plate are the film ISO selector dial and the rewind release button. The XA1 does not have a tripod socket.

The back of the XA1 is plain except for the viewfinder eyepiece, which is again covered when the capsule cover is closed. The film forward wind is on the right shoulder of the camera body, and the film back is a fixed hinge type. Film loading is standard easy load with film chamber, shutter frame, forward sprocket, a multislot take-up spool, and the standard two blank shots to load the film to frame 1.

Film ASA Speed

The only film speed settings are ASA 100 and ASA 400. Like the rest of the series, the camera only uses a proprietary XA series flash units. The XA1 was sold with the A9M flash unit as a package but will also work with the A11 or A16. By itself, the XA1 does not need any batteries to run or operate it.

Very Affordable
The Olympus XA1 is very affordable, getting one from online sellers and auction sites are usually dirt cheap.

Using The Camera

Olympus XA1, Handling the camera
The compact clamshell design is ideal sliding in and out of your pocket and is just as handy to hold snug in the palm of your hand. Slide the clamshell open to uncover the lens, which also activates the camera’s selenium metering, and you are ready to go.
While some moans at the lack of the red membrane touch shutter, as the rest of the series has them, the shutter of the XA1 is mechanical, does not get stuck, and you know what, the XA1 is the only model in the series that you can do exposure lock with.

The camera does not have a self-timer and the back-light lever which the others have. The fixed f/4 lens does not need any focusing effort on your part, everything in between 1.5 meters to infinity will be in focus. There is no manual override option for exposure, as what you can do on the Olympus Trip 35, either.

All these the XA1 sound like an ideal street shooter actually, where you can shoot from the hip, held up above your head, or while groveling on the ground, and such. Wouldn't that be great?


Exposure Lock Trick
Reminiscence of the Olympus Trip 35 and the Pen EF, the XA1 uses the red pop-up flag system which will activate and lock the shutter in insufficient light condition. If you into some creative shooting, you can overcome this by first pointing the camera to a brighter light source, one which will not trigger the red pop-up flag, half-press the shutter, bring the camera back to the scene you want to capture, and press the shutter release home.

So how was your session with the camera? I thoroughly enjoyed mine, in good lighting condition the renowned Zuiko glass is all glam and glamor, as you can see from the photos posted here, grain and all.

I will continue using it as a fun street shooter, getting yourself lost in the crowd, with a good 35mm lens to boot. Images might not be as clear and sharp in lower light condition, but I suppose you can overcome that too with the tricks that you have up your sleeve.

Source: imagingpixel.com

Specifications

Lens:  D. Zuiko 35mm
Focus: Fixed (1.5m to ∞)
Metering: Selenium Cell
Aperture: f/4-f/22
Shutter: 1/30-1/250
EV 100asa: 9-17
Film speed: 100 or 400asa
Filter-Thread: None

Source: austerityphoto.co.uk

Model


Reference sites

austerityphoto.co.uk

imagingpixel.com


Manual

English manual 


Film

Kodak ColorPlus 200/24

Pictures taken with this machine

Olympus XA1 sample 1

Olympus XA1 sample 2

Olympus XA1 sample 3

Videos

Kodak Star 275 (1993-1995)

Kodak Star 275 (1993-1995)

#381

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

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.

Source: camerahistoryproject.com


Specifications

Years Made 1993-1995
MSRP $41.95 ($65.65 2012 Dollars)
Film 35mm Film
Weight 155.00 g (5.47 oz.)
Date Acquired February 2nd, 2013
Battery 2 x AA
Country of Manufacture China
Shutter Speeds: Fixed Shutter Speed
Shutter Type: Leaf
Aperture Settings: Fixed Aperture
Lens Mount: Fixed
Viewfinder: Plain
Focal Range: Fixed

Source: camerahistoryproject.com


Model


Reference sites

camerahistoryproject.com


Manual


Batteries

2 AAA batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Sinpo AF Mini

Sinpo AF Mini

#380

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

Plastic motorized  point and shoot camera, made in Taiwan.


Specifications

F/4.5

28mm lens

35mm film

Flash

Motorized

point and shoot

2 AA batteries


Model


Reference sites


Manual


Batteries

2 AAA batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Vivitar Tec 45 (~1985)

Vivitar Tec 45 (~1985)

#379

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

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.

Source: beacon225.blogspot.com

Announce in Popular Photography

Specifications

Source:


Model

Serial number L1110965


Reference sites

beacon225.blogspot.com

Popular Photography


Manual


Batteries

1 AA battery

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Kalimar Spirit F

Kalimar Spirit F

#376

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

Plastic point and shoot camera


Specifications

Made in China

35mm film

1 AA battery

Manual Wind and rewind

Flash

"Focus free"


Model


Reference sites


Manual


Batteries

1 AA battery

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Sakar 880S

Sakar 880S

#375

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

Plastic point and shoot camera with autoflash.


Specifications

Manual wind

Flash

2 AA batteries

Made in China


Model


Reference sites


Manual


Batteries

2 AA batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Canon Prima Junior S Macro (1992)

Canon Prima Junior S Macro (1992)

#374

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

The Prima Junior S Macro (or Snappy EL Macro or CB35M in various countries) is a compact plastic point-and-shoot camera made by Canon.

Source: camera-wiki.org


Specifications

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).

Source: camera-wiki.org


Model


Reference sites

camera-wiki.org


Manual


Batteries

2 AA batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Camex 35 FMD

Camex 35 FMD

#373

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

Plastic point and shoot camera with flash.


Specifications

35mm film

f/3.5

35mm lens

"Made in Japan"

Flash

2 AA batteries

Motor drive

ISO 100, 200, 400, 1000


Model

Number inside: 7371


Reference sites


Manual


Batteries

2 AA batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Hanimex 35 HF Carmine Edition (1990-1992)

Hanimex 35 HF Carmine Edition (1990-1992)

#371

Esta fotografia é do exemplar que possuo

Características

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.

Source: camerapedia


Especificações

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.

Source: camerapedia


Modelo

A minha tem o n.º 2100 no interior.


Sítios de referência

camerapedia

cnet.com


Manual


Baterias

2 AA batteries

Filme


Fotografias tiradas com esta máquina


Vídeos

Franka KX-20

Franka KX-20

#369

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

Plastic point and shoot camera.


Specifications

Flash on / off button

Manual wind and rewind

38mm lens "made in Japan"

"Free focus"

f/5.6

2 AA batteries

Tripod mount


Model

Serial number 652804


Reference sites


Manual


Batteries

2 AA batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Premier PC-440 Yellow Version

Premier PC-440 Yellow Version

#368

Esta fotografia é do exemplar que possuo

Características

Plastic point and shoot camera. Yellow version.


Especificações

Flash

AA battery

Point and Shoot


Modelo


Sítios de referência


Manual


Baterias

1 AA battery

Filme


Fotografias tiradas com esta máquina


Vídeos

Kodak KE30

Kodak KE30

#363

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 


Source:

Specifications

f/5.6

29mm Ektanar lens

EasyLoad 35 system

35mm film

Flash

2 AAA batteries


Model

Serial number 0050437


Reference sites


Manual

English manual


Batteries

2 AAA batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Camex Focus Free

Camex Focus Free

#361

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 


Source:

Specifications

Plastic point and shoot camera

35mm film

35mm lens

Flash

2 AA batteries


Model


Reference sites


Manual


Batteries

2 AA batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Vivitar PS7

Vivitar PS7

#359

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

Plastic point and shoot camera.


Specifications


35mm film

Point and shoot

Electronic flash, with flash ready indicator

200 ou 400 ISO film

Focus free

Easy film loading

2 AA batteries


Model

Serial number Z0292603


Reference sites


Manual


Batteries

2 AA batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Unknown

Unknown

#357

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 


Source:


Specifications

Unknown brand camera.

"35mm free focus"

Cold flash


Model


Reference sites


Manual


Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Unknown (1990)

Unknown (1990)

#355

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 


Source:

Specifications

35mm lens



Model


Reference sites


Manual


Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos