Lomography Pop 9

Ok, I was sold on the gold. I saw the shiny rectangle in the junk cabinet and thought, “I’ll have that!”

I had no idea what it was or how weird it was, it was just shiny and I wanted it.

The shiny surface did make it difficult to take photos of the camera, I kept seeing my own reflection. Researching the camera was even more tricky. There really isn’t anything on the net apart from a few people selling it. I did find a site dedicated the camera, you can read all about it here and maybe order one for yourself. Looking at that site you can see this camera has nine lenses with a set f11 aperture. The focal length of each is 24mm and they fire at the same time with a shutter speed of 1/100th. On this example, the flash powered up, the light came on but it never fired. I am sure there is just a short in the circuit somewhere, but I don’t feel like taking the camera apart to find out.

So what is special about this camera? It takes 9 photos at once, simple as. I had a look online and the best photos seem to be ones with bold colours. It just so happened that Tokyo Pride was happening when I found this camera. There were bound to be some bold colours at an event like that. I loaded some Fuji 100asa and set off. These are the photos I got.

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The index print looked perfect, but I wasn’t sure the shop could scan the negatives or if the camera worked so I didn’t pay for the cd. Scanning the negatives at home was tricky and all the photos were blue and pale.

As with all the Lomography or toy cameras I have tried, the winding mechanism was really weak and stiff. In fact, the whole camera felt like it would break at any moment. But it didn’t, toy cameras are sometimes sturdier than they seem.

I was surprised by the results and I kind of liked the photos, but will I used it again? Maybe not. As for Tokyo Pride, well that was interesting. If we ever meet I have an interesting story to tell about that.

Keep or Sell: Sell, I have no idea if I will ever use it again.

Lomography Pop 9

The price includes this camera and postage to anywhere in the world. I have looked online and have only seen a couple of these cameras for sale in gold, both were around $100. So it is a bit rare. The flash on this one does not work as I said in the post, but everything else does.

£30.00

 

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More Stuff – Amazon Associates

I just this minute applied for and learnt how to link products for Amazon on my site. As my stats show I have more viewers in America than anywhere else, I have linked both the Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk sites.

So, on the “Stuff” page you can find links to 35mm and 120mm film searches on Amazon…like these.

If you want to buy some film, then buy it through these Amazon links and I will get a little money too. It’s a win-win (mainly for me) 🙂

UK Amazon – 35mm film

UK Amazon – 120mm film

US Amazon 35mm film

US Amazon 120mm film

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Fujicolor Simple Ace Disposable Camera

A couple of years ago there was a bit of a “thing” about this single use camera after a 30th-anniversary edition was released. I bought one and shoved it in my fridge and basically forgot about it.

As you can see it came with a cover, which I didn’t use. Recently I have seen a rubbery cover on sale too. Anyway, as for his style of camera – it seems ridiculous to me, given all the issues with plastic consumption. Plus there are literally thousands upon thousands of great film cameras around that cost the same as one of these. I tried another one I found in a junk bin, but this is the first time I have ever bought one and I felt guilty every time I used it. Lomography have released a semi-single use camera which is slightly better, but even they say reloading it is tricky.

While researching this camera I found this video of someone disassembling one. I was surprised by how much was really inside. I used to just take the batteries and throw them away when I worked in a developing lab.

If you want to know the history of disposable cameras, check this link. I love the quote, “disposable cameras for lasting memories”.

I kept mine in my bag for a week and used it as and when, then used the one hour developing service at Kitamura.

Here are my shots.

I don’t think it did so bad. The weather was up and down while I shot during various times of the day, but the results were as good as some other point and shoots I have tried.

Still, I feel there is no real reason to produce these types of cameras anymore.


Ok, lecture over.

 

Try buying film instead, use this link and I get some money too.
buy 35mm film here

buy 120mm film here

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First Camera Video :-)

I was asked a couple of questions recently. Firstly, someone just asked me how to load a film into a specific camera. As I still have the camera in my possession I made a video. I updated the post accordingly.

Konica MR.640

It was easier than I thought, but I am sleepy and it is late. Therefore I improvised lighting and didn’t plan what I was going to say. I might make a few more or start adding some to new posts. I am not sure yet.

The second question or suggestion was about the word “wombling” and what it means. I have updated the “about” page too, with a lovely song from my childhood.

 

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Yashica Diary

I found this 1978 camera in a junk bin for $5. I looked pretty clean, and the battery compartment was free of any residue.

The seals were totally shot and fell apart on touch. I cleaned them off and put in some new foam. I think I used foam that was too thick, especially by the door latch. After I changed it, the door became harder to close and didn’t quite fit. I thought it would still be light-tight though.

The previous link I gave says quite rightly that the date dials stop at 1999, but starts at 1978 and she would use the date function again in 2078…in my dreams.

The flash on this example worked very well, it popped up when you push down on it. It is powered by two AA batteries, which also worked the meter. Inside the camera is a scale with a needle. If the needle is in a red zone then a red light comes on and the shutter will not fire. The ASA dial on the front moved very easily for a change and gives choices between 25-500 ASA. The Diary seemed a lot like the ME1, but with the addition of the date function and a flash. There were three cameras released at the same time, I have yet to find the third …the flasher.

Like the ME1 it is a zoned focusing camera. I put in a roll of fuji acros 100 and took some test shots. It is a shame this film is soon to be discontinued.

Well, apparently the foam was too thick and did cause light leaks. It will be an easy fix. A harder fix will be the film advance issue. This camera’s film advance did cock the shutter, but it will keep on winding if you so wish. I noticed this when I first loaded the film and remembered not to advance until I took a photo.

Keep or Sell: Already promised to a friend if they still want it.

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Canon EOS Kiss (or EOS 500 or EOS Rebel X/XS)

Gosh, this camera has a lot of names, but in Japan, it is a Kiss. I find a million of these in junk bins, I just had to try one while I had the chance. They are as cheap as chips, plus I already had a lens.

You can read all the technical details you might ever need here. As you can see it is from 1993 and is cheap and plasticky. This one has a panoramic switch, but when I used it the mask got stuck and didn’t retract unless I pushed it, so I just didn’t bother using it after that. The flash also didn’t work. The last thing that bothered me was the super slow focusing. I can find millions and I pick up a faulty one, perfect!

The thing I did like was the super silent shutter, honestly the quietest I have ever heard. Hardly even a whoosh or a pfttth. Perfect for ninja stealth photography…not so perfect when you are shouting, “focus, damn it.” Though the bodies are easy and cheap to get, the lenses are a bit trickier as they fit modern digital cameras. I lucked into this 35-70mm zoom which was as clean as a whistle, but not wide enough or long enough. I much prefer a 28mm.

Here are my test shots which I took at Mashiko Pottery Fair and a few at the Hitachi Nemophilia Festival.

I really didn’t like this camera. While using it I barely thought about what I was doing, I just didn’t like the feel of it. It just didn’t click with me. Isn’t that funny? How one camera you love and another you hate, but there really is no reason why. I was also a bit late for the nemophilia which didn’t add to my feelings about the camera.

Keep or sell: These cameras are a dime a dozen and with this one having issues I think it will just go in the bin.

 

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Nikon F90x (N90s)

I have written about this camera before, but the example I tried didn’t work. Well, now I have an example that does work. So I deleted the original post as it didn’t really say anything other than…well, now that’s disappointing. And here we have a new post.

 

Holy moly this camera is heavy. I honestly think it might be the heaviest SLR I have ever tried. I didn’t even put on a big lens, just a Sigma 35-70mm, which I have to say is not wide enough or zoomy enough.

As you can see by the photo of the film door, there are a number of program settings. You can find all the technical details you might ever need here. There are some other reviews here and one reviewer compared the camera to a boat anchor. Basically, if you are in the middle of a forest taking nature shots and a bear decides to have a go…you have a perfect weapon of defense.

Introduced in 1994, it uses 4 AA batteries which is very handy…if you are in the middle of nowhere, you might not see a bear, but you might see a small shop and it might just have some of those. This reviewer also agrees with the excessive weight and the handiness of the batteries.

I took this camera and one film to Shibamata in Tokyo. You can read all about that place here. I finished off the film with a few shots of Koinobori near my house and an old wisteria tree at Ashikaga that had just finished blooming.

 

Wow, I think I might forgive this camera for the heaviness. The exposure choices are awesome. Plus the cheap, junk lens is super sharp. I love this setup. I will definitely use it again, once I get a back brace that is. The result of this coupling makes me remember why I love film. The colours are so vibrant, perfect for the koinobori of Children’s Day.

Keep or Sell: I want to keep it, but it is very heavy. Still, it is super.

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Lomography Diana F+ Instant Back (instax)

Having tried the Lomography Diana F+ with 120mm film and loved it, I decided to visit the shop in Tokyo and see what was there. It was a small shop inside a gallery. There were a few exhibits on display so I stayed a while and wandered around. Most of the exhibits were free, but I paid for one – The Museum of Broken Relationships as it was the last day it was on. Oh, it was sad, the feels came hard and strong. I had to leave as I am prone to crying at the drop of a hat.

To make myself feel better I decided on some consumer therapy. I bought a couple of books from the museum shop, Tokyo Totem, and the Lomography Book on Seoul as I used to live there. I would recommend both books. The Tokyo book has things you sometimes overlook, like street furniture and convenience stores. The Seoul book gives a different view or way of looking at a well-known place. Why isn’t there a Tokyo book? I will help 🙂

Anyway, the Lomography shop also had the Instax back for the Diana F+. As I already had the camera, I just needed the back…oh and a flash, seeing as I am here. BUT, the very honest cashier said it would be cheaper to buy the kit. So I did and sent my other Diana and a 38mm lens to a friend.

The back was already attached to the camera so I put in a cassette and got to testing it.

You can see the back overhangs the bottom of the camera, there are two “feet” to keep it steady if you want to do a blub shot. There was also a couple of adapters to attach the flash to a regular hot shoe or to attach a regular flash to the Diana. I am not sure why you would do that as it is a very basic flash, no TTL. But it does have a few coloured gels that you can slide into the front, so that might be fun.

Using the back is easy. You turn it on and press the blue button to eject the film cover. Then you take photos and when you are done press the blue button to eject the picture. The back does not have to be turned on to take a photo, only to eject it. That means you can do multiple exposures before you eject it.

The kit had the 55mm lens, I already had the 75mm. So the first thing I did was tried all the lenses to see the difference.

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55mmIMG_20180423_0002 copy

75mmIMG_20180423_0002

After that, I took the same photo with the same cartridge with the Diana F+ and the Fuji Instax 8 camera. I used a light-tight bag to transfer it between the cameras.

Diana F+ and Instax back with flash. The aperture was set to partial cloud.

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Fuji Instax 8 CameraIMG_20180423_0001

You can see the Diana’s flash is more powerful, plus a little wider. There is an obstruction on the left side, that appeared on a few photos.

Then I tried the camera in various conditions.

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If you like playing with cameras this is a fun set-up to try. I prefer the regular Fuji Instax camera for picture quality. The price of the Diana F+ kit is more expensive than a regular Instax camera, but not as expensive as the more advanced versions. It is also cheaper than the Lomography Instant cameras. So it is a good option…if you really want one. If you don’t want to do multi-exposures then I think the Instax 8, or whatever is the cheapest version you can get, is the best option.

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