The New Jacks: After Three Net New Film Camera Releases… I Would Recommend An Old SLR First.
I was excited when three new cameras were released. Presented in order with high level overviews and sample photos.
Pentax 17.
Pros.
- Accurate metering.
- Easy zone focusing.
- Solid lens.
- Close focus distance measured by strap is genius.
- Double the exposures courtesy of being half frame.
- Diptychs are fun.
Cons.
- Remembering that I am not looking through the lens and keeping my beef mitts out of the frame.
- Could feel a bit more substantial.
Rollei 35AF.
Pros.
- Accurate metering and AF.
- Solid lens.
- A good looking thing.
Cons.
- Could feel a bit more substantial.
Sidebar: This camera has been unnecessarily maligned in my opinion. It was even named worst camera of the year by a source I typically trust. Of these three this is my favorite.
Lomography MC-A.
Pros.
- Accurate metering and AF.
- Solid lens.
- A good looking thing.
- Feels substantial.
Cons.
- Started strong, but I have some serious reliability and support issues that have yet to be sorted out by Lomography.
- Dropped a screw.
- Was replaced by Lomography.
- Strap string unraveled.
- Was replaced by Lomography.
- Started shutting off requiring the battery to removed/replaced to bring it back to life.
- Lomography thinks it is the battery. New batteries (2) were provided. First used exhibited the same blackout behavior. Second battery seemed fine, but a second issue persisted.
- Along with the blackout issue the camera started dropping frames.
- My guess is that the shutter is stuck or hanging.
- Two rolls dropped seven frames and the last dropped thirteen. This after a near 100% hit rate up until now.
- Dropped a screw.
Sidebar: I thought this was the one. The champion of the new jacks. But until these reliability/support issues are sorted I cannot have confidence in it and would not recommend it to others. To add to it a friend also purchased one and is having reliability/support issues of his own. Not a good look. Hopefully Lomography comes through.
So… All fine cameras and everything. If you have or plan to purchase any of them you will do just fine. But…
Having had my fun testing them I do have issues… ok maybe that is strong. But I do have second thoughts.
Pentax 17.
For the price I might recommend another less expensive new to market half frame camera.
Nowhere near the automation or complexity of the Pentax 17, but the Ektar costs peanuts, I got on with it just fine, and it creates a solid image… and diptychs.
Rollei 35AF.
I really like this camera. Like really like it. Issues like stiff rewind were resolved with use. But it is a little light in the pants weight wise and costs a significant sum. Worth it for a new to market product, especially when you have film cameras no more capable that are going for much more. But nearly $800 is a big ask admittedly. If I had to choose one this would be the one.
Lomography MC-A.
This is the camera I expected to take the new camera prize, but with the issues that I have had recently the shine has dimmed a bit. I hope this story ends better than it is going right now.
My recommendation? An SLR. Which one?
Yes.
As in nearly any one of them.. by nearly any brand. I say SLRs because point and shoots can get pricey quickly and are not as reliable in my experience. Not a good combination. If you are set on getting a fixed lens camera you may be better off with one of the new cameras above.
For lenses I personally recommend a nifty fifty f/1.8 or faster. They are inexpensive and I have yet to come across a bad nifty fifty lens.
While I remind you that any brand will do I will use a recent SLR camera and lens purchase as a proxy.
I paid $33 for a Pentax MZ-5 in Excellent condition.
I paired it with a Pentax 50mm f/1.7 I have had for a long time and can be had for around $100.
Less than $140 all in.
To be clear, this is not the only camera and lens. For example two SLRs were recently gifted to me.
But these two cameras show how prices can escalate quickly if you are not careful. Even though they share the same lens mount, a clean AE1 Program will set you back considerably more than a T70. The T70 has more features, but an AE1 Program has the look and provenance that will cost you more. Set that nonsense aside and real bargains can be found. There are tiers to this thing.
The expensive darlings.
For example the gorgeous Nikon F3.
Great looking and wonderful to use, but they will set you back quite a bit. More than the new cameras above when lenses are factored in.
Mid tier, less expensive, lesser known cameras.
For example the same mount Nikon FE.
Prices come down quite a bit and you can use the same fantastic lenses as the more expensive cameras. And this is a significant point. The lens and film do not care what light proof box with a shutter you put between them.
Then you have the true bargain class.
The plastic fantastics.
Not as loved, but as capable if not more so. The example for this day.
Again, let us not get fixated on a single brand or model. Any camera in this class would do.
With a simple, old school example like this one can create images as good as any of the significantly more expensive vintage film darlings and new cameras above.
To further my point here are some recent pics taken with the manual focus Canon T70 mentioned above.
Back to the task at hand.
Why choose these type of SLR cameras over the new cameras to market?
Let’s look at the advantages of the newer cameras.
- Warranty.
Owning these cameras has made me realize that this is not as big of an advantage as one would think.
This depends on the companies being responsive. And right now I have real issues with the MC-A and I cannot get a response from Lomography.
And then there is this. I have owned a bunch of SLRs. None have ever failed me. Could they? Certainly. But if one did break, at these prices just replace it. And I will still be far less out of pocket than the camera listed above.
- Compact.
By their all in one nature they are more compact. Like it’s namesake the Rollei 35AF…
(Also a capable alternative.)
…it is positively tiny.
But there are advantages to these old SLRs when comparing them to the new jacks.
- Less expensive.
- Already covered but worth mentioning again. Ask around and you may even find folks who will give them away.
- Faster glass available.
- f/2.8 is the fastest lens available with the three new cameras and faster, inexpensive nifty fifty lenses are available all day for SLRs.
- Proven.
- These old cameras have stood the test of time, proving themselves to be consistent, reliable performers. Things are still in the air for the new bunch. The Pentax has been the most solid so far with no issues to report, but I have needed a replacement screw for the Rollei 35AF and the Lomography MC-A has proven a bit more problematic than that.
- Readily available.
- Go to KEH, other stores, thrift/antique store, or if you are lucky like me you have a local camera shop with a strong supply of older cameras.
- It is an SLR.
- WYSIWYG. What you see is what you get. None of the new breed are SLRs so an errant thumb can get into the frame and the framing may not be accurate. I tend to frame wider so I can crop later if need be.
I will stop myself here.
This is not the outcome I expected.
I fully expected to be enamored with these new offerings.
I do like them. They do suit my odd duck proclivities quite well.
All are fine image capturing rings, but of the three my personal favorite is the Rollei 35AF.
But overall I would recommend the SLR path instead if asked.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 