my toy

[connealy]

I scoured Las Cruces today for toy cameras.  Lots of one-time use cameras in the big chains, but no standard plastic 35mm, and not a lot of film either. Had better luck in the junk stores; the most immediately interesting was a Vivatar PN2011 with  a  28mm f/8 lens and a 1/125 shutter.  Couldn't get quite the quality from it that Mark B. was able to show in his Sunpet pictures, but still a nice little $5 camera.


Also found a new-in-the-bubble-pack Polaroid 35mm that had the fabulous 2-element aspherical lens.  I was a bit put off by the motorized advance, but still not a bad deal at ten bucks.  May have to go back Monday and pick that one up.

[connealy]

Here's the camera.



It weighs a couple ounces.  I like the simplicity of these things; like the box cameras, it really frees you up to be able to shoot without thinking about anything but the subject.  This one has a switch on the back for changing to panoramic mode.  The frame is adjusted by two little doors that swing into position, and the same thing happens in the viewfinder.
    The instructions with the camera advise that it can be used with 100, 200 and 400 film.  That seems a bit optimistic with fixed aperture of f/8 and speed at 1/125.  For this first round, I used some Walgreen's-branded 100-speed Agfa color negative film.  I got the film processed at Target.  Probably should have let them scan the pictures to a CD as they managed to add quite a few spots and scratches in spite of having brand new equipment and new operators.

[David Bedell]

Great pictures!  You're totally correct that a simple camera = better pictures sometimes.

[Mark B.]

Excellent pictures! That was the exact same film I used for all the
pictures I posted as well. It seems to be a good match for these kinds of cameras.
Part of the problem I have with some classic cameras is that they are
not just  beautifully made picture taking machines, but are also
in some cases expensive hard to replace antiques so you have to
worry about them getting damaged or stolen etc..
You don't have to worry about anything with a toy camera.

[Graham Serretta]

they managed to add quite a few spots and scratches in spite of having brand new equipment and new operators.

Self explanatory.

The quality that some of these simple cameras are capable of can be amazing.  They can be as collectable as postage stamps, there are so many.  Nice shots, Mike.

[connealy]

I surveyed several more junk stores yesterday and turned up another half dozen of the same model Vivitar, all at a buck a piece.  They seem to have been very popular.  Although they are made of very thin plastic, the camera seems very well designed compared to many in the same price range.
Here are a couple more shots from the same roll:

[nelsonfoto]

Nice work.

I picked up a Vivitar 550PZ DataBack for $1 at a yardsale about a month back or so... oughta run some film through it, I reckon. Figured it would be a good camera to take to the river or the beach.

[argusmaniac]

I have one of those with the panoramic mask.  I have only shoy b&w in it, I guess I should try some color film and see what happens.  I liked your resulys, Mike!
here is one of mine:

[nelsonfoto]

Good one. Nice to see you here, Mark.

[connealy]

Neat, Mark!  I bet not one in a hundred ever thinks about turning the thing vertical.

[Graham Serretta]

I'll bet that Mike's Vivitar PN2011 is made by Sunpet - see the thread below this one:

http://nelsonfoto.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=614

[NancyB]

Martial Farts??  Is this some kind of new self-defense technique?

Nancy

[Glenn Thoreson]

Ha! Yes, around here it is.

[OleTj]

Martial Farts??  Is this some kind of new self-defense technique?

Nancy

I read it as "Martial Tarts", and immediately thought of tactical custard pies....

[sandeha]

Down this way, Martial Tarts would be heavy-handed women.