arhphotographic

This is the first half frame SLR that I have come across in my film wanderings, and so as a result my interest was piqued.

The manual for this camera states in it’s introduction:

“This camera is a near-futuristic type of auto-focus SLR which has introduced a new image by greatly innovating the camera design.”

Hyperbole for just another 1988 point and shoot? Let’s have a look.

There is really only one program mode, where the camera decides on both shutter speed and aperture value depending on the focal length of the lens and available light. The camera houses a zoom which extends from 25mm f3.5 to 75mm f4.5. In this program mode automatic flash is always turned on. Strangely the only way to turn the flash off is to go to night scene mode, another variation of program mode. If on the other hand you want flash, you can extend this to slow shutter synchro flash mode.

Also included are a self timer, continuous shooting , continuous three frame shooting by self timer, date/time imprinting and that’s about it. The film is automatically rewound when the film is finished, although you can manually rewind if you so desire. The camera also has a diopter adjustment, very useful as a spectacles wearer. DX coding only with not even a hint of exposure compensation to allow me to use out of date film.☹️

Power on switch

Are you sufficiently underwhelmed? I don’t blame you I almost passed by this camera. However when I picked it up it sat very snugly in my had like a 1990’s camcorder, and it was then that I saw the one feature that could redeem it and cause me to part with my money. The lens has a 49mm thread that would allow me to add a closeup filter. Not only that, but it can focus and meter with the filter in place! So the world of macro photography was potentially available with this camera. Also being half frame my precious roll of 24 exposure colour film could be turned into 48 frames. I was sold, as was the camera and off I went in search of images.

As the three images above show, the camera, fitted with a closeup filter, has selected a small aperture resulting in a nice shallow depth of focus. I don’t think I could have done better if I had manual control of aperture! Mightly impressed😯

I tried a couple of shots with the flash as the light started to fade.

I wasn’t sure what my Epson V370 would make of the negatives coming out of this half frame camera, would it see the images as individuals or stick to 35mm and scan two images as one, rather like a Diptych……😮

It was then that it dawned on me that I have a camera that can do in camera Diptchs. What an interesting project it would be, to go out and look for pairs of images. All functions on the camera are automatic so I can literally concentrates on creating these Diptchs. Cool!

So just when I thought I had a camera that I was pleased to try but wasn’t going to keep, I’m going to have to keep it . At least untill I’ve tried my Diptych project.🤨