Throwback Edit Version: I edited this in March 2026, checked the links and converted it to the new WordPress blocks format if needed.

I was wandering through Akihabara, as I am want to do on a weekend, and there, what is this I see…a new camera shop?! Brand new!! In fact, the owner was still putting cameras on the shelves as I walked by. Not only that, right at the front was a camera I had never heard of.

It is a weird-looking thing from a manufacturer I had never heard of. I walked in and asked to buy it. I was his first ever customer. He hadn’t even unwrapped his till yet. I think I made his day.

 

It had a very plastic feel, reminding me of the original Lomography camera. The Lomo camera seemed to have a little more control than this one. Plus, much more has been written about it on the net. This one is practically non-existent anywhere. The only reference I could find stated that it was also produced as Porst 135 KE. The Makinon version is the same camera for the Japanese market, and I am in Japan. And that is it, all I could find. It was released in 1981, and at that time, I can only imagine how many alternatives there were in Japan. I have no idea where in the market this toy camera would fit, and that is what it essentially is, a plastic toy camera. I did not really understand how the scale on the top worked to set the camera. It is a fixed focal length camera, so what do the people symbols mean? You are not changing the focal length, so why does it matter how far people are away from you? The clouds and sun symbols are much more understandable, and I stuck to using those.

The flash was weird, too. You swing it out to turn it on and use. It uses 2 AAA batteries (LR03), and on this example, the ready light took ages to turn on, but the flash did work. The camera is ready for use when the barn doors are open, and the shutter locks.

Honestly, I did not enjoy using it. But did it work?

 

It is a very simple point and shoot that does no more than that….I paid way too much for it and doubt I will get my money back, maybe the rarity will help there. I have no intention of keeping it. At least it is another camera to add to the list.

Keep or sell: Given to a friend due to my imminent move.