Introduced in 1970 and in production until 1994 the Hasselblad 500 C/M was the Volvo 240 of the camera world. Like the 240 the Hasselblad is Swedish and “boxy but good”. If a professional camera is defined by having a systems approach and options to adapt to the user’s needs, the 500 C/M may be the gold standard. The 500 C/M was the second of the V series. The design was based on maximizing customization. Start with the basics of a camera, a box. In this case they did not even try to make the body look like anything but a box. Want to modify your box? Fine how about a variety of focusing scre ..read more

Ilford HP5 disposable. Just what you would expect, good film with a crap lens packaged to go. I picked this up when I was buying film and it sat on my shelf. I don’t even remember what prompted me to purchase it. I know that the results from a disposable are not going to be as good as from just about any other camera. Still, here we are. My Take: Love the film. Don’t love the lens. Like the convenience of a self-contained disposable. Don’t feel great about single use items. There is something fun about a disposable camera. I’ve seen people hand them out at weddings or other events and ask peo ..read more

The Fujica GA was a zone focus camera sold by Fujifilm presumable in the mid 1970s. Other than a copy of the manual, I was unable to find much about this compact. The GA is reminiscent of the Olympus 35 line of cameras. Unlike many of the Olympus that were rangefinder cameras, the GA is a zone focus. ISO from 25 to 800 with 32 50 80 125 160 200 225 400 500 800 use to push pull film otherwise the speed and apreture are controled by the camera. build qulity is resonable but diffinetly consumer focused. Feels light so probably crome finish over plastic. My Take: The GA is a nice little zone focu ..read more

In 1957 Kodak AG of Stuttgart, West Germany, introduced the Retina Reflex. The Retinal Reflex was an interchangeable lens SRL system. The Reflex lens mount continued for several additional models after the Reflex. At introduction there were two lens options. This one has the Schneider Xenon C 50mm f2.0. The big selling features of the Retinal Reflex was that it gave you multiple lens options and as an SLR you saw the same image as the camera would record. The Retina was well made and innovative for the time. But it is also mechanically complex. Based on the Retina IIIc a folding camera also f ..read more

In production from 1958 to 1961, the Canon P was intended to be a camera with mass market appeal. At almost 88,000 units, it was the most popular Canon rangefinder to that point. The P was a simplified version of the prior VI-L camera. With a new viewfinder and generally simplified operation. The P was reported to be for “Populaire” and it was the last push by Canon to popularize a base model rangefinder. Like the prior version it used the L39 screw mount same as the prior Leica models. The large productions numbers make the P still findable today. But this is a 60 year old camera so conditio ..read more

The Olympus Pen FT was in production between 1966 and 1972. It was the second in a series of three Pen F, half-frame SLR cameras. The Pen F family were not just a half-frame cameras, they were premium half-frame SLR camera systems. They were supported by a range of lens and accessories. The original Pen F was introduce in 1963. In 1966 the FT improved on the model with single stroke advance and a light meter. The FV was introduced in 1967 and was an FT without a light meter. They all used the Pen F System lenses. The half-frame nature of the Pen-FT, means you are getting twice the number of e ..read more

Produced between 1966 and 1976, the Leica MDa was a Leica M body without a viewfinder. The MDa was specifically intended for the medical, scientific and industrial use with a stand, microscope or the Visoflex attachment. Like the other blind Leica (M1, Md, and MD2) the MDa was intended for uses other than general photography. There were nearly 15,000 produced over a decade. Most were the standard configuration but some were makd for even more specific purposed like use in the Post Office or space exploration. Some versions were supplied with fixed focus Summaron 3.5 cm lens. There were severa ..read more

The WOCA 120 GF was made by Holga. It was different than the standard Holga because it had a glass lens and a flash. The WOCA name was eventually dropped and this model became the Holga 120 GFN. Other than the name and glass lens, what is the difference? Not much this is a Holga. I have now shot a few Holga. The original 120 S, the 120 N improved S and the 120 CFN. Each has different features but remains true to the original Holga design and experience. My Take: I found this one at a garage sale, almost new in the box. How could I say no? At first I thought it might be a copy but a quick sear ..read more

Kodak Retina II type 011 produced from 1946 to 1949. Featuring a German made folding body and a USA made Ektar 47mm f2 lens. The Kodak Retina II was a series of 35mm cameras made in Germany during two time periods. The first models in 1936 to 1939 (pre-war) were the Type 122 and the type 142. The post-war type 011 and type 014 were made from 1946 to 1950. This one is a post-war type 011 with the USA made Extar 47mm f2.0 lens. It uses a Compur-Rapid shutter with a 1 to 1/500 of a sec. range. With a B for bulb mode. Operations are all manual and take some learning if this is you first time. Jus ..read more

In 1980, Nikon introduced the Nikonos IV-A. The Nikonos group of cameras was derived from the Calypso, a French underwater camera. With the IV-A, Nikon introduced a new design rather than a derivative interaction of the Calypso. The Calypso was a French camera starting in 1961. In 1963, Nikon licensed the Calypso and released the Nikonos. There was also a Nikonos II and a Nikonos III, all were slight variations of the original. With the IV-A, Nikon finally put out a Nikon-designed Nikonos. Major changes included a more traditional shutter release and hinged film back. Also, added was a light ..read more