Camera Electronic Endorse New Camera From Flapoflex

The biggest news this season is the industry-shaking announcement of the team-up of Camera Electronic with Flapoflex Corporation...and the introduction of the Flapoflex Mini camera.

Here are the first images of the camera after it was handed out by Howard Frank. Let us walk you through the features:

1. Pure non-digital operation. Sharp eyes will spot the film rapid rewind crank and fast-wind lever. No more worries about charging batteries and corrupting memory cards with the Flapoflex.

2. Solid-state viewfinder system. We have not seen a viewfinder window this solid in years.

3. Compact dimensions. Micro 4/3, eat your heart out...

4. Helpful permanent branding on the lens cap and body.

5. Permanent lens cap. never lose it again.

6. Flash-free pentaprism.

7. Patented DeepSqueeze padding on all grippable surfaces. No finger strain.

8. Fashionable white/black/grey colours.

When people ask you what the Flapoflex Mini can do, we respond with " What can't it do? " While they are answering this we make a run for it.

Flapoflex did...

Being Left Out By The Designers

I must preface this column with the statement that I am right-handed when writing and using power tools. I am also right-eyed while shooting a rifle or shotgun. Shooting a revolver involves closing both eyes and waving it about until the noise stops. This is really only effective if if am inside a barn and the doors are shut - I can then hit the barn at least once out of six shots.

I wear my wristwatch on the right arm because no-one ever told me not to. It does not seem to affect the passage of time. Round here at 4:30 it drags slower and slower...

But I am aware that there are many people who are left-handed and who are disadvantaged when it comes to operating things designed for the right-handers. The dear old Exakta film cameras are long gone - at least they gave Lefty a button to push to fire the thing, even though they still made him wind on with the right thumb. No-one since has been kind to them at all.

There are particular perils for the left hander who has a weak right eye - if the camera has a viewfinder window on the left of the body his whole face will be across the camera and if it has a central viewfinder window his nose will be so far over that his thumb will be in it. No wonder that people who try to do photography under these conditions might well consider moving back to the older SLR or TLR that has a waist-level finder and a hood to shade it.

If you wish to introduce the question of large stomachs or chests at this point I will withdraw to the back of the monorail 4 x 5 camera and look at the ground glass screen. You may join me under the black cloth. If you are claustrophobic I suggest you give up landscape photography and purchase postcards. I can do no more.

Uncle Dick

The Plastic Model Kit That Doesn't Result In A Spitfire

If you, like a number of our customers, like to build plastic model kits we have a couple of special things for you. Those jolly jokers in the old Soviet Union ( aka Russia ) have commissioned the Chinese to make a plastic model kit of something that is not a tank or a rocket.

The Lomography people have produced the Konstructor kit to make a 35mm film camera - and not just some old toy, either. This one turns out a film SLR with a 50mm f:10 lens. The shutter is capable of operating at 1/80 of a second so you can use it in most normal daylight conditions.

It is complex enough - moulded on two sprues with a myriad of  other parts in separate boxes. There's a screwdriver to help with assembly and they quote 1-2 hours to build it.
Fortunately the complex mirror box and shutter is a completed sub-assembly that you bolt in - that part would have been hard.

It's black, and square, but has a fair bit of tech-looking trim to reward you. It would make a fine present for a teenager, along with a supply of film.

In-store now at $ 99.

Do A Friend A Favour - Promaster 2500 PK

If you are a regular reader*of this blog, it is unlikely that you will need this product. But you most likely are a source of inspiration and advice about photography for many other people. Nieces, nephews, sons and daughters, workmates etc. - they all depend upon you to steer them right when it comes to image making.

They are fortunate in that you are a real person, rather than just an electronic name on a screen. They can get rumours and rants all day in the photography forums and come away as confused as when they started. Much of what they read will be nonsense pushed at them anonymously - with no way to check up on it. In many cases, you - the real photo enthusiast or professional - are the Snopes for them - you can sort out fact from fiction.

So - you've got a student who needs a 35mm SLR to start a Uni or TAFE course. You can send them to the photo markets in Leederville to pick up what they might find - or to Cash Converters to pick up what others have found...Or you can send them in to us to poke disconsolately at the secondhand shelf in the window...

Or you can tell them about the Promaster 2500 PK. They are brand new and carry a full year's warranty. They are a standard-issue copy of what probably started as a Minolta design but has taken on some aspects of the old film Pentax cameras. It certainly has a Pentax K mount, thought I am willing to bet the f:1.7 lens is closer to a Rokkor than a Takumar.

No matter - the camera is well-built, has an accurate TTL meter, and the full complement of late-model manual features. Perfect to learn the trade on.

And there is - wonder of wonders - a retro 1980's fitted leatherette case included in the kit.

This is one of the best things a student can use, save mature judgement, and that generally doesn't arrive until they are about 30 and sorry for it. In any case, do your little friend a favour and send them into us to get one of these for their course.

Uncle Dick

* Not regular? All Bran.