I started the year with a handful of camera acquisitions that I planned to shoot in the next few months. Then a whole bunch more cameras found me.
You already know about my dad’s digital Canon PowerShot A495, which I reviewed yesterday. A longtime colleague gave me all of her father’s cameras after she wrapped up his estate. You’ve already seen a review of his Kodak Instamatic X-15 and his digital Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5. There’s also a cute little Kodak Brownie Starlet for 127 film. This is probably the simplest camera in the Brownie Star line from the late 1950s and early 1960s. I’ve already put a roll of expired Kodak Gold 200 through it and have just sent it out for processing.
I just bought a roll of expired Kodak Gold 200 in 110 so I can shoot this Ansco Flash 600. This camera is probably from the 1980s, made in Hong Kong by Haking. I’m not a huge fan of 110, but this camera is in like-new condition so I decided to give it a tumble.
There was also a Nikon EM in the box, with a roll of film still in it. A Tokina 28mm lens is attached. I’ve owned and reviewed one of these before; the photo below is of that camera. It didn’t survive Operation Thin the Herd. But I’ll certainly finish the film in this one and see what turns out.
My colleague’s dad owned a few other cameras, but they were all in some state of serious disrepair and I let them go. He also owned a very old View-Master with several slide discs, which I’ll figure out how to feature here at some point.
The people behind a used-camera shop in the UK called Film Camera Store contacted me to ask if I’d review a camera they sent me, gratis, if I’d mention them in the review. Sure, why not! Shortly this Olympus OM-10 arrived. I’ve put two rolls through it; a review will appear here soon.
A reader then contacted me to chat about a few things, and at the end he offered to sell me one of his spare Nikon FE bodies for a good price. I bit, and it arrived quickly. I’m very excited about this camera. I’ve been considering owning one of the FE/FM-series cameras for a little while now, and then this one fell into my lap. I already own a well-used Nikon FA, and it’s very good, but this minty FE might well replace it in the collection.
Finally, another reader has loaned me his Pentax 645. I’ve been interested in shooting one for years, but haven’t been willing to lay out the $500 or more to own one. I’ve shot about 1½ rolls in it so far as I get to know it. So far, so good.
All of this gear will keep me very busy in 2023!
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