Just when you say you haven’t tried a good Samsung camera, two come along at once. I tried the AF Slim Zoom recently and now I have the model designed by FA Porsche! Well, that is what it says on the tin.
Look at it, big ears and all. To be fair, I really wanted an Aiborg, but finding a cheap one has been tricky. This, on the other hand, can be found quite cheaply. So, I chose an elephant over a Vader.
It was released in 1994 and the design won awards. It has so many settings and features that Hamish called it a ‘Dad’ camera in this wonderful post. I can say I upped Hamish by ONE, I used one of the fancy features while testing the camera, the double exposure.
I loaded mine with a roll of Ilford FP4, fully intent on using lots of the features, especially the panorama one, but then promptly forgot when I was out and about with it. AND, I was out and about with it a lot as I carried it all over England, from London to Nottingham to Runcorn to Lancaster. I even used it for some of the Wakefield project, but it took me so long to finish the film that the photos didn’t make that post.
Every time I took the camera out of my bag, I became a little overwhelmed by all the choices and ended up not choosing anything. I am like that in restaurants too. If the menu is too long, I go for an old favourite like carbonara. Anyway, it took me ages to finish the film and I finally did so at Analogue Spotlight. I forced myself to finish the roll in order to develop it in caffenol at one of the stands. I will write more about that adventure in another post.
Here are the results…
I don’t know if it is the film, the caffenol or the camera, but I love the results. They are very contrasty, just as I like. The double exposure of Glasson Dock is my favourite, I swear the sky didn’t seem quite so dramatic. Most of the photos look like I used a yellow filter or something, but they are all straight out of the camera with no adjustments. I think I might have to use the camera again, just to check if I really do like it…so I did.
The next roll I tried was my favourite, XP2. I took the camera to Blackpool and then on a walk in the Peak District.
Again, I love the results, what a great combination. I especially like the panoramic shots of the sand. I might even get those printed properly and framed. This might be the camera I use for my panoramic project next year.
Despite all the bells and whistles this camera has, I preferred it as a regular point-and-shoot. I only used the double exposure feature. I am not sure what the reputation of this camera is, maybe not good given what I have read, but I am an outlier. I love it.
Well, those FP4 shots are certainly the last word in contrasty snap, eh?
XP2 was no slouch either – where these known for lively, sharpish lenses?
But I am speechless, dumbstruck over the magnificence of that last shot, the, ah, ram?, sheep? grazing on the hill with the quiet village in the dell below; the razorish contrast, the brilliant and clear separation of the whole range of tones makes this lovely, lovely photograph. It’s a masterful composition as well. Hope you print it big.
You picked out my favourite shot. I am hoping to print some in a darkroom soon, plus I have just set myself up with a cyanotype lab, so at least that. I really need to get my print page sorted. It was a goal for this year, oops.
Cracking shots on both sets, the 2nd one more for me as The shots are more keeping with the style I like, great informative review (as always tbh) cheers Peggy, you’re a star and I don’t mean the type that just come out at night.
I don’t come out at night much…I haven’t the film for it.
Fine images all, sez this fan of high contrast and stark landscapes. The grazing ram in the last set: You’d be hard-pressed to get a sharper image with multi-hundred euro Nikkor or Leitz glass. This camera is a keeper.
Right place, right time 😀
What a storming set of photos!! When I first saw the one of the rippled sand I thought it was digital till I focussed closer. Love these photos
Thank you. Both sets are by far my favourites for a while.
Be interesting to see if it handles colour film as good. Really fancy it with one of those cine still rolls that almost looks like old transparency film.
Well, I do have some. So maybe I will try that. 😀
I’m new to the film world and the Samsung ECX1 is my first camera. I’ve shot quite a few rolls already and have never had a problem as it is automatic but I made the mistake of opening the back to check if the roll was done (as it only had 36 exposures and normally it will automatically rewind) but I seem to have confused it and now the film is stuck in the camera. When I closed it back up the display shows E. Any tips or should I just take it to the shop to have them look at it?
I am at work right now, when I get home. I will dig the camera out, load a test roll, open the back, ans see what happens. Then get back to you 😀
OK, I replicated what you said and mine didn’t do that. Mine still kept the count and then rewound at the right point. I opened it mid rewind and I could pull the film out. I would suggest putting it in a dark bag and opening the back. Or take it to the lab in the camera. It might be a battery issue also.