5 Reasons to Grab Yourself a Long Weekend 35mm Camera
We took our new manual Long Weekend 35mm camera off for adventures in the city of Amsterdam, the mountains of Sölden in Austria, and the beaches of Brazil. Read more about what we discovered below!
Things we loved about the Long Weekend 35mm Camera
1. Retro style
This camera matched up well to my love of all things retro, yet practical. It has a very tactile design that reminds me of one of my first film cameras. Blocky in shape, with a softer rubber grip on one side that makes it easy to hold in one hand. And a great colorway, in off-white, red and faded blue.
2. Point and shoot at its best
There is something very romantic about going back to a point and shoot camera that has no focus, and no fuss. You look through the viewfinder to frame your shot, and at the tap of a button you have a memory frozen in time. Finding the right light becomes more important for a camera like this, but when you find it - the photos really sing.
3. Playful, light and portable
This camera got a lot of attention from onlookers. Where was it from? “It’s so cute!”. How does it work? It might not be high-tech, but this camera makes taking photos fun for everyone - no matter your skill set in the dark room.
4. Artistic light seepage
Some of the photos had areas of light seepage, which to me only adds to the charm. Dare I say, I actually preferred some of the shots to those taken on my trusty 50mm Nikon… The colors were warm and well-rounded, and I can’t wait to test out the flash properly (on these trips, it just wasn’t needed).
5. Great value for money
Retailing at $50 USD, this little camera is an absolute steal. It comes in three fantastic colors: Moss Green, Creme-Multi (the one we tested), and Black.
What film did you use?
Kodak Color Plus. An entry level color film you can pick up at any good camera shop (or online at the likes of Amazon.. ).
Do they sell bags & cases as well?
They absolutely do. I tested out a Monterey Sling bum bag in Cosmic Purple. (Pair this with a 70s neon ski one-piece and you’ll standout on the slopes, no problem). It’s the perfect size for storing your camera, spare film, spare batteries, cards and petty cash, and your most trusted 21st century mobile phone. I wouldn’t say it’s waterproof, but well-lined to protect your valuables from damp, cold, and wayward sand.
A Few Unexpected Mishaps
We encountered a few flaws with this camera - which for a perfectionist would be frustrating, but in light of the fact we saw this as a fun test-run for a hobbyist camera - we weren’t all that fussed.
First off the shutter release button fell out a couple of times. It’s held in by two flexible pins, making it vulnerable to falling out if knocked at the wrong angle. It would be an annoying item to lose, but is equally easy to pop back in.
Secondly, half way through the first film, the counter stopped working. I reluctantly put it down to some interior malfunction and scrolled the remaining film back into the canister to take to the printer. If I hadn’t loved the photos that did come out so much, I may never have used it again... as it is, I put another film back in to much more success.
In summary
It ate half my first film, but I still loved it, and am keen to keep using it on my next adventures. (Perhaps it wasn’t the camera’s fault, maybe it was my memory on how to properly load a camera after all these years of whimsy digital photography.)