The S500 was a budget digicam launched in 2006. Whilst it core spec offered little over rivals, Samsung did pack in some quirky features. But whilst there’s a lot to like here for a 5MP budget digicam, there are some issues that may be a deal breaker. Samsung and cameras Today Samsung doesn’t really do … The post Go Go Budget Digitals No 8 – Samsung Digimax S500 Review appeared first on Canny Cameras ..read more

For years Kodak have kept it simple when it came to disposables with your choice of either disposable legend that is the FunSaver and the much lesser waterproof model. But in recent years there’s been a burst of disposables. So lets meet their B&W film version the Kodak Tri-X disposable which is confusingly also known as the Kodak Professional Tri-X or the 400TX Kodak and Single Use Kodak have been one of the key makers of single use alongside Fujifilm. Fujifilm got there first in 1986 but Kodak quickly followed (ironically both models were 110). By the end of the 80’s 35mm film had become ..read more

10 years ago when I started this site, I never though we’d see half frame camera generate much buzz, excitement and discussion. But in 2024 as exciting as the arrival of the Pentax 17 is, it joins a growing market of new half frame cameras. So buckle up to my guide to the 14 (and their clones) new on the markets half frame. From cheap single use half frames to high end £500 numbers. Half Frame is really the oldest roll film format in use Most of you will know that movie film led to 35mm still film format. As I discussed here, larger roll film was cut into the width that Edison’s team used when ..read more

So Pentax gave us their first film camera in around 2 decades. Whilst there has been much rejoicing. There has also been quite a lot of moaning – much of which has to do with the price of the Pentax 17. And one suspects the same comment will come with the Rollei 35AF But is that a fair comment or wishful thinking ? This is not a camera review. I’ve just got my 17 and it will be a little while untilI can shoot my way through a few rolls. If that’s what you’re looking for can I suggest you visit the reviews or first looks on 35mmc, Kosmo Foto and Casual Photophile. Nor have I a Rollei pre-releas ..read more

Samsung launched this P&S in 2007 alongside it’s near identical but lower MP brother the S760. At the time Samsung was the world’s 4th largest camera maker behind just behind Kodak and ahead of Sony. The Samsung S860 was one of their more budget options but worthy of a sniff today. B&W setting. Samsung S860 6.3mm f/2.8 1/90 100ISO. Carlisle 2023 Samsung no longer make cameras except for those in their phones and a few smart home monitor cams. It is now the world’s largest smartphone maker but for many years until 2017 it had been a serious player in standalone digitals. Likely the com ..read more

I was pleasantly surprised by Ilford Imaging’s half frame single use. But when I reviewed it I hadn’t finish a roll I shot in the reloaded Ilfocolor. But I have now, Ironically using Ilford Photo (aka Harman) B&W film. Here’s the results. Reloaded with XP2 Ilfocolor Rapid Half Frame. Dumfries 2024. Click on image for full size A quick reminder of the Camera I’ll shortly in corporate most of this into an updated version of my review of the camera. If you haven’t read that, I’d recommend do so and come back. But this is for those of you whom have already read my review and wondered how I got ..read more

Pentax’s imminent film compact has caused a buzz. Offering a camera that has automatic metering, zone focus shooting and comes from an established name. Oh and it shoots frugal half frame too. But hang on another camera ticks those boxes and offers more. Meet the Lomography LC-A Wide. Although the lens isn’t perfect by any stretch it does an incredible job of delivering on the 0.9m to infinity zone even is relatively low light. Lomography LC-A Wide +XP2. Edinburgh Feb 2024. Click on image for full size on Flickr Most people were seeing either MiNT’s imminent Rollei AF or Reto’s Kodak Ektar H35 ..read more

You’re probably wondering why a photograph of a minor member of the Victorian British royal family features here. Prince Arthur was captured using by then well established photography techniques. Nor was Arthur a photographic innovator. But it is what the image was then used for. A revolution in print & news coverage. Prince Arthur was the seventh child of Queen Victoria and her 3rd Son. He’s notable for 3 points. He was the longest lived of Victoria’s 4 sons dying in 1942 and lived during the reigns of 5 of his relatives. It is likely he also knew the future Queen Elizabeth the II. The se ..read more

In 2023, lo-fi analogue cameras were pretty much everywhere offering a disposable like experience but in a reusable more ECO package. But Ilford Imaging launched 2 disposables in the last 2 years. And the latest one of those was a half frame. Welcome to the Ilford Ilfocolor Rapid Half Frame. Diptych image taken in December 2023. Click on image for full size So is this from folks who make Ilford film then ? You’d think so but No. This is sold by a Swiss company called Ilford Imaging not the makers of the film products who are called Harman Technology. The two companies arose separately from the ..read more

I was altered by a fellow blogger that my posts were being scalped and posted as original content by a website called Photography Newspaper. This happens for time to time and pretty quickly these sites disappear but it’s annoying to see your content used without permission. So how did I fight back ? So If you’re reading this on Photography Newspaper site, they didn’t write this. My names Alan and I posted this on my blog at austerityphoto.co.uk. What you’re looking at is my page being copied completely by these cowboys. I’d suggest you might wanna get your photo news from sites that can actual ..read more