L² photography: 05.2010

5.14.2010

FDC01 Toy Camera

this little pocket digital camera is really handy besides your phone camera. the best thing is that it can record both images and videos but of course no sound. this is much like a cheaper version of digital harinezumi except this has no monitor. this only costs $350 HKD. and this camera is sold out in hk because of the price and the effects it can do. it is like a digital lomo camera where it has 4 different modes including normal, monochrome, vivid, and noise. there is no viewfinder so basically you have to guess along your way. it eats micro sd cards and up to max of 2GB. each picture is around 300kb. there is also a switch where you can choose macro or infinity. Unfreeze is the official distributor in hk and you can check out their website for more info. this model is exactly the same as pocket digital camera sq28m. the only difference is that they are from different distributor so the price and packaging is different, but the camera itself is the same. I noticed the keychain part is different, the one i have is crappy, made out of plastic. but of course you can change it anytime.

5.11.2010

Films

got a bunch of new films last month. also got a pretty good condition SX-70 so got film for it from the impossible project site.

- very rare kodak infrared film. its been discontinued and ive been hunting it for a while but it has always been bidded up at a high price. these 2 i got for a pretty good price from ebay and they have been tested as well.

- the konicas and polaroids have been discontinued already as well. the others are common film in the states but i believe some are only for sale in the states.

- these have been discontinued as well. these kodak ultra color are not expired yet so im looking forward to trying them. i got these polaroid for a pretty good deal but i have no idea how theyre gona turn our.

- film from impossible project. on the left are the newly produced PX 100 and on the right are the old TZ Artistic. very expensive but instant film has always been an expensive toy

overall: really happy that i won the bid to the rare and discontinued films. i ordered the common films from adorama. ended up they sent the wrong film for one. i ordered 1600 superia but they gave me a velvia 50 120 film. it was too much of a hassle to get an exchange so i left it but the 1600 was more expensive and i really wanted to try it. maybe next time. another thing is that some of the films came without exterior packaging, i believe they came from a bulk, so i have no idea when they expire and when i ordered they didnt mention that it was from bulk. guess i should keep them in the fridge/freezer.

5.09.2010

DIY TLR - Gakkenflex

first time i saw this was in someone else's blog. when i saw it i knew i had to get one and build it. i order mine from the local japanese bookstore. around $5x CAD. this kit is from a japanese magazine and every issue is a different diy toy. people got so crazy about it that it was sold out everywhere and then they had to make a 2nd batch. they also made 2 different other kinds cameras in previous issues; pinhole camera, stereo pinhole camera. i have also seen some awesome mods of this camera so i guess this plastic toy does have some potential.

my first 2 rolls ended up pretty bad. i thought the focus was pretty hard to get because it was pretty hard to see; the film was jammed at some point, when i thought i finished rewinding the film, ended up that half was stuck and some were exposed; theres no counter so you don't know when you finish, 2nd roll i pulled too much out and it got stuck. guess i need to practice more.

heres a link to the contest the magazine held, some interesting pictures:

http://otonanokagaku.net/magazine/vol25/photo_cont/index.html

5.07.2010

Canon AE-1 Program Digital

Crossover of film camera with digital. Reminds me of the recent micro 4/3 cameras. I don't think it acts exactly like a dslr, more like a little dc stuffed in an old film slr.