How exciting is this? A brand new, independent, mid-range 35mm film camera, that isn’t a plastic point and shoot, it’s a semi automated film camera, a fresh new design, new ideas and new concepts…
I bumped into Dave Faulkner, the designer of this camera, way back at the Analogue Spotlight event in 2022. He was just starting his journey, and now here we are with a physical camera in hand, taking some great photos!
This is a half frame camera… it takes standard 35mm film, but you get double the frames from each film. So a 24 frame film will give you 48 shots, a 36 exposure film will give you 72.
Now, something important to know about film… no matter your frame size, the emulsion is the same… kodak gold is the same film whether it’s half frame, full frame, medium format… Ilford HP5 is the same film in 110, 35mm, 120, 4x5 or 8x10. Same film, same emulsion, just cut to different sizes, and that means… that grain is going to be more noticeable and resolution is going to be poorer, the smaller you go. So, pictures from this camera are not going to be as sharp or a low grain, as you get from medium format… that’s just physics.
But that is offset by the fact that you’re getting 72 images from a film, and it costs exactly the same to get it developed. So it’s two for one on pics. Bargain.
Half frame is not a new concept, there’s a long history of half frame cameras, the canon demi, the Olympus pen E, almost every camera manufacturer made a half frame camera at some point, there was even a half frame Leica model, the Leica 72.
I had a blast with this camera, it’s genuinely fun to shoot with. The meniscus lens is absolutely fine for snapping away with the family, and I reckon could also produce some very acceptable results if you were to light a scene properly.
The pinhole is pretty low res, but then so is the camera, and it’s good fun to messs about with, especially if don’t take it out in heavy rain!!
The zone plate… well, you may be able to tell from this video, but I’m fascinated by this zone plate. I will definitely be doing some more research into these things, they are so weird!
I didn’t get a proper chance to give the zone plate a good run, but hopefully will soon.
Don’t forget to stick around for the interview with Dave Faulkner at the end, there’s some great stuff in there about the future of Alfie Cameras!
Check out Dave here: alfiecameras.com
And on Instagram: / alfiecameras
And here on RU-vid: / @alfiecameras9480 - @alfiecameras9480
And check out my channels on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook - @the120ist for all of them!
11 ноя 2023
