The Kodak H35 half frame camera

[wblynch]

These seem to take better pictures than half of the vintage “fancy” cameras on my shelf, that all seem to be screwed up in so many ways. Tired of wasting shots with them. I think I’ll get one of these.

 

[xkaes]

Since Kodak -- and others -- probably got the idea of a simple, "inexpensive", half-frame 35mm camera with a built-in flash from the Eastar ef-72, you should check it out.

Unfortunately, you'll never find one. Here's a shot of its full-frame brother -- who looks exactly the same.

 

[Huss]

I still would like to remove the baffles in the lens box inside the h35. So it shoots a full frame image, but would overlap on each side with the before and after frames.
Problem is it would be permanent and I don’t want to mess up mine! A donor camera would be nice..
Maybe one of those used ones on ebay that the seller is trying to pass off as new!

 

[Huss]

These seem to take better pictures than half of the vintage “fancy” cameras on my shelf, that all seem to be screwed up in so many ways. Tired of wasting shots with them. I think I’ll get one of these.

Just remember it has one exposure setting, so base its use around that!

 

[Huss]

Since Kodak -- and others -- probably got the idea of a simple, "inexpensive", half-frame 35mm camera with a built-in flash from the Eastar ef-72, you should check it out.

Unfortunately, you'll never find one. Here's a shot of its full-frame brother -- who looks exactly the same.

View attachment 317674

The thing is the Kodak is styled really nicely. While that thing is not.
And recommending to check out a camera that no-one can find is odd.

 

[xkaes]

The thing is the Kodak is styled really nicely. While that thing is not.
And recommending to check out a camera that no-one can find is odd.

There are a ton of H35 look-a-likes that are full frame -- and a lot cheaper, to boot.

But if you love the H35 so much, why not remove the baffle(s) and just take one picture in between. Just advance the film one exposure after each shot and take a picture of your hip -- then you are all set to go -- assume the lens covers full-frame.

 

[Huss]

There are a ton of H35 look-a-likes that are full frame -- and a lot cheaper, to boot.

Attach a pic of one such look a like. We can compare to the H35

 

[xkaes]

I already listed one above -- which came in about 50 varieties and several colors. In your mind, it may not look like the H35, but I much prefer the pop-out lens.

 

[Huss]

I already listed one above -- which came in about 50 varieties and several colors. In your mind, it may not look like the H35, but I much prefer the pop-out lens.

Ya that is not remotely a look-a-like and as you said impossible to find.

 

[xkaes]

Since you want something that looks like the very unattractive Kodak 126 Instamatics, check out the Ilford Sprite 35-II. Much nicer looking -- and the original Sprite even allows you to select from three f-stops. They come in lots of colors. There's also the Minolta MemoryMaker (I'm partial to the Minolta Hi-matic GF but that has too many control options for an H35 lover!), the Konica Pop, Mini & Big Mini, the Yashica Partner. Ricoh, Olympus, Pentax, Halina, and others made similar "winners" too -- I could go on all day, but these cameras are not on my radar screen -- and I'm not your camera store. All Kodak did was take other simple camera ideas and make a half-frame -- but it had already been done by others, like the Escura Snap 35 Half. You want an idiot-proof, full-frame camera, so that means a longer lens -- so a thicker, heavier body. The good news is the Sprite 35-II is much cheaper than the H35 -- just in case the idiot you lend it to drops it into a creek. Maybe you should check out the Crayola Sport 35mm -- perfect for 3-year-olds -- nice and small with a built-in flash, and unlike the H35 it's full-frame and has a sliding lens cap & lock ($10 on EBAY).

 

[wblynch]

Just remember it has one exposure setting, so base its use around that!

Yeah, like a reloadable single use camera. Not much to go wrong. I never lost a frame in a fixed focus, fixed exposure camera. No bokeh though.

 

[Roger Cole]

Comparing it to other cameras that are full frame, much less having three selectable F stops, is completely missing the point of this fun little camera.

I'm still working on the roll of XP2 in mine. I just can't shoot as many frames as most people seem to be able to. The results may change my mind, of course, but it's fun to shoot with no settings whatsoever, but using knowledge of film, light, and exposure to know what should work and what probably won't.

 

[xkaes]

I wasn't the one looking for a full-frame alternative, but some people are -- and why not? That way you can get through the roll of this in under a year:

I still would like to remove the baffles in the lens box inside the h35. So it shoots a full frame image,

This one sold under the AGFA name appears to be sold under the KODAK name, as well. They both seem to be full-frame versions of the H35. The AGFA sells for about $25, the Kodak about $40. Pick your poison:

 

[Huss]

The thing about removing the baffles from the h35 is not to make a ff camera per se, but to use the intentional frame overlaps for creative purposes. So it doesn’t matter if an Agfa or Ilford is cheaper, they can’t do that.
I’ll wait until I can find an h35 cheap, as I don’t want to mess with the one I have as it takes such nice pics.

 

[xkaes]

I misunderstood, but removing the baffles -- even if you were to try my earlier suggestion would not work because you would end up with 1/2 double-exposures.

 

[Roger Cole]

I just can't see the appeal of deliberately overlapping frames. It just sounds like a way to intentional screw up the camera to me. Even if there are rare cases where it works creatively - and I'd think they'd be exceedingly rare - it's easily done after the fact either digitally or in the darkroom. Why mess up the camera for 99% of shots to get 1% that you could get other ways anyway? But to each their own, of course. They are cheap enough to get two and modify one, and small and light enough to tuck both into another camera bag if you want. (I carry my unmodified one in my TLR bag with my Yashicamat when I'm out mainly shooting with the Yashicamat, and use it when I see something I think it would work for.)

 

[Huss]

I misunderstood, but removing the baffles -- even if you were to try my earlier suggestion would not work because you would end up with 1/2 double-exposures.

That would be the intention.

 

[Huss]

I just can't see the appeal of deliberately overlapping frames. It just sounds like a way to intentional screw up the camera to me. Even if there are rare cases where it works creatively - and I'd think they'd be exceedingly rare - it's easily done after the fact either digitally or in the darkroom. Why mess up the camera for 99% of shots to get 1% that you could get other ways anyway? But to each their own, of course. They are cheap enough to get two and modify one, and small and light enough to tuck both into another camera bag if you want. (I carry my unmodified one in my TLR bag with my Yashicamat when I'm out mainly shooting with the Yashicamat, and use it when I see something I think it would work for.)

done digitally? HOW DARE YOU SIR!

I use a Zeiss Ikonta to deliberately create images like this:



and would try the same w the h35

 

[ciniframe]

I believe the H35 lens will cover full frame As it appears to be the same 2 element lens that originally was on the Vivitar Wide and Slim (now available again from the same supplier offering the H35).
It was probably the same lens on the Golden Half also.
I’ll stick with my Olympus Pen collection since I already have them and they still work. Got to admit though, the H35 has great looks.

 

[xkaes]

Got to admit though, the H35 has great looks.

The GOOD news is that anyone who loves the look of the H35 does not have to pay $50 to "enjoy the experience." Just pick up any Kodak 126 Instamatic -- 0.99¢ TOPS -- and reload it with 35mm film. You'll be good to go -- PLUS the ladies will be all over you!!!

 

[Huss]

The GOOD news is that anyone who loves the look of the H35 does not have to pay $50 to "enjoy the experience." Just pick up any Kodak 126 Instamatic -- 0.99¢ TOPS -- and reload it with 35mm film. You'll be good to go -- PLUS the ladies will be all over you!!!

View attachment 318162

It’s really quite strange how you spend your entire time in this thread devoted to the H35 camera trying to convince people to buy anything else.

You feeling ok?

 

[Huss]

Kodak Ektar H35, Fuji C200

 

[xkaes]

It’s really quite strange how you spend your entire time in this thread devoted to the H35 camera trying to convince people to buy anything else.

You feeling ok?

I love half-frames. Here's proof -- http://www.subclub.org/shop/halframe.htm. I'm not looking for alternatives to the many that I have -- such as my ultra simple TELEPATHY -- but other people are:

I love half-frames but $50 for a reusable disposable camera with a really slow lens? Dunno. Good for them for putting something interesting out but I'll stick with the used market for now.

That's what it is though. My Univex was cheaper.

I see no reason not to help them out. That's what we are here for.

I personally find the Telepathy much more attractive, plus it's simple to use AS IS, or add an auto-exposure flash to the hot shoe, and you have an auto-exposure camera for any situation. That's what I call simple.

 

[wblynch]

I see no reason not to help them out. That's what we are here for.

Why not start your own new thread, “Half Frame Alternatives to the Kodak H35”? That thing above is ugly AF. Leave this thread for those of us interested in the H35. Thanks

 

[xkaes]

Why not start your own new thread, “Half Frame Alternatives to the Kodak H35”? That thing above is ugly AF. Leave this thread for those of us interested in the H35. Thanks

Because I'm not interested in “Half Frame Alternatives to the Kodak H35” -- but apparently other people are, if you read the responses.

The OP likes the "retro 126 looks" of the H35 -- if you read the OP. I'm mentioning that he can have the real MccOY.