PhotoFlex MX-35 Camera

"PhotoFlex MX-35"

Thanks to my friend Gilbert and his mother Leslie,  I have this new camera called the PhotoFlex MX-35. Its a variation model of the plastic Time (magazine) camera. They were built to look like 35mm SLR cameras but do not operate as such. The camera has a 50mm plastic lens that is fixed focus. You can adjust the aperture to F6,8,11, and 16 if the lens markings are correct. The camera does have a hot shoe so you can use a flash unit if you like. For this test I loaded up some expired supermarket branded film. Very easy camera to operate and I like my first results.

Holga Micro-110 Camera

"Holga Micro-110 Camera"
Finally tested one of Holga's smallest cameras- the Micro 110. Since 110 film is gaining some popularity due to the new films by Lomography.com, now is the chance to give one a try. I picked up the 110 camera from the good people at Four Corners Store The camera literally fits in the palm of your hand. Snap a roll of 110 film onto the back, advance the thumb wheel, and trip the shutter button. That's all there is. I used some expired Walgreens film for this test. You get a lot of grain working with these small negatives, but can be nice in the right situations. Lomography has fresh 110 film in stock and I get my 110 film processed by the good people at Old School Photo Lab

New Jersey Psychic

"New Jersey Psychic"
More Holga stuff shot with expired Fuji color film. Ocean City NJ.

Juice Camera

Juice Camera

Manufacturer: Fuuvi

Date: 2011

Format: 35mm film

Price: $25.00

Summary: Plastic 35mm spy type camera

Technical Details:

 Aperture F9.5

 Shutter 1/100

 Lens 28 mm

Attributes:

 Wide angle

 Slight vignette

 Slight edge blur

Field Notes:

  Using this camera is as easy as stealing a juice box from your nephew. You can go 007 with this baby since it looks like a typical child’s juice box. It’s also as basic as you get with a toy/plastic camera. It has a simple viewfinder, thumbwheel film advance, and a secret straw type shutter button. For this test, I popped open the back door and loaded some color 35mm 400 iso film. After advancing the film with the thumbwheel, you just take a peek thru the viewfinder and push down on the straw shutter button. There is also film counter window to keep track of what frame you are on. When you trip the shutter a small lens cover slides out of the way before the picture is taken. It’s all part of the disguise! That’s about all there is to this camera. Small, easy to toss in the camera bag, and takes some fairly decent pictures. They make a bunch of different style drink labels to choose from. I bought mine from the good people at the Four Corners Store. 
http://www.fourcornerstore.com/    

Holga 120 Pan at Point Pleasant NJ

"Holga 120 Pan"
A few new shots using the hefty Holga 120 Pan camera. Check out Holga 120 Pan for my full review

Lomo Fisheye Baby 110 Part 2

"Lomo Fisheye Baby 110"
Some more samples from this new Lomo camera. Shot on Lomo Orca 110 film. See previous post for full camera review. Developed and scanned by the good people at http://www.oldschoolphotolab.com/

Lomo Fisheye Baby 110 Camera Review

Lomo Fisheye Baby 110

Manufacturer: Lomography

Date: 2012

Format: 110 film

Price: $39.00 basic version, $59.00 metal version

Summary: Plastic 110 film fisheye lens camera

Technical Details:

 Aperture F8

 Shutter 1/100 and Bulb

 Lens 13mm diameter

Attributes:

 Blurring

 Lens flare

 Distortion from fisheye

Field Notes:

  The Lomography group is at it again. They are still making new film cameras despite the totally saturated digital market. To top it off, they have brought back an old film format to boot. Their Orca film is the first black and white 110 film to be produced in years. The Fisheye Baby 110 is a fun camera to have on you at all times. It little size makes it truly pocketable. The basic camera comes with a storage back installed. It is basically for looks. It does have a frosted plastic screen, much like a ground glass, that allows you to preview your shot. This can only be done in bulb mode and with no film loaded. To take pictures, you have to take off the storage back and install the film transport back. There is a small slide switch that makes the switch fairly easy. Unless you want to use the camera as a shelf sitter for display, I see no real reason to use the storage back. Once the film transport back is on, you can now load a 110 film cartridge. First rotate the frosted plastic pressure plate clockwise. Slide the 110 film in place, and rotate the plate back to hold the film. Rotate the thumb wheel to advance your film, and its ready to take a photo. The Baby doesn’t have a shutter lock, so it is capable of taking multiple exposures. You have an N (normal) shutter speed of 1/100 of a sec. or bulb mode to select prior to taking a photo. A thumbwheel is how you advance your film and there are no focusing controls. The viewfinder is fairly decent and with most fisheye lenses, the closer you get to your subject, the more distorted they appear. Since the lens is plastic, expect some lens flair when shooting towards the sun. One unique thing about 110 films is that since it’s contained in its own cartridge, you do not have to rewind the film. For my first test of this camera, I used Lomography’s Orca b&w film. Normally 100 films have a frame counter window on the back to let you know what number photo you are on. The first batch of Orca film did not have it. I was told because there was no backing paper on this batch of film and that the open window would cause massive light leaks. If you use the Orca film, best to keep track of what frame you are on. If you don’t want double exposures, I would suggest you always advance the film after each shot so you don’t forget. When done shooting, just take the film out and have the lab develop. Don’t forget, most labs will have to mail this film out. I used the good people at Old School Photo Labs http://www.oldschoolphotolab.com/ This crew knows film and specializes in toy camera stuff. The negatives are super tiny (17mmx13mm) so don’t expect to make huge enlargements. If you want to also save some headaches, have the lab scan your negs for you. You can imagine how much fun it will be scanning these tiny things! Lomography also has another version of this camera called Fisheye Baby 110 Metal. This version offers some metal trim and a pc flash adapter and they just introduce a new 110 color film called Tiger 110.   

C. Gary Moyer

Asbury Park NJ Part 2

"Asbury Park NJ Part 2"
A few more shots from the Holga 120 TLR camera.

Asbury Park NJ

"Asbury Park NJ"
Took a day trip down to the Asbury Park NJ boardwalk. A lot has changed for the better since my last visit in 2003. The beach is great and lots of cool shops and restaurants. Shot these pics with a Holga 120 TLR loaded with expired color Fuji NPH film. Roll was a little loose when removing so some of the images are fogged on the edges.

Clowns on Bikes

"Clowns on Bikes"
Shot during last years Clownfest in Seaside Heights NJ. Holgamods camera.

T-Rex Revisited

"T-Rex Revisited"
One of my favorite statues at Seaside Heights boardwalk. SHot this time with a flipped lens Brownie Hawkeye camera. 

Flipped Lens Brownie- Seaside Heights-III

"Flipped Lens Brownie"
Another installment of the Brownie Hawkeye camera.

Flipped Lens Brownie- Seaside Heights II

"Flipped Lens Brownie"
More pics taken with the flipped lens Brownie Hawkeye camera.

Flipped Lens Brownie- Seaside Heights

"Seaside Heights"
More flipped lens Brownie Hawkeye action at Seaside Heights NJ.