Toy cameras? More then Holga, Diana or Debonair?

[Theo Sulphate]

To me, a toy camera is one that was originally manufactured either for children or for non-serious use. So, I wouldn't include the Brownie Hawkeye in that category; many families in the 1960's used that as their only camera.

In the back of comic books, there was advertised a miniature film camera, Star, I believe. Very poorly made. It took rolls of film similar to Minox film.

Polaroid and Fuji made/make fun cameras for children which use a very small format instant film.

 

[ciniframe]

For the cameras advertised on the back of comic books, how long ago are we talking about? I remember seeing the ads for a 'spy camera' that used paper backed roll film 17.5mm wide and produced 13X13mm negatives. there was a very wide variety, labeled with many names. These were also often found as a carnival game prize. The cheapest were pressed sheet metal with 1 speed shutters and fixed apature 1 or 2 element lenses. Some came with little leather ever-ready cases. Google 'hit camera'.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Yes that's it - variants of these were advertised in the back of comic books in the 1960's. As a kid I bought one back then, shot a roll, but they never sent me any prints back. My first and last mail-order experience.

 

[blockend]

In the 1960s ('65 IIRC) Topper Toys brought out the Secret Sam case. This was a spy themed brief case with hidden gun, periscope and other accessories including a camera that took film. I never put film in mine and used it for play value only, and none of the retro sources show what size film it took - my guess would be 828. I still recall waking up Christmas morning as a young kid and unwrapping my Secret Sam!

Not strictly a toy, but since contributing to a thread on reusing disposable cameras I dug out my Olympus Shoot and Go, which is perhaps the closest thing to a throwaway with a film door. Fixed focus plastic 3-element lens, fixed aperture around f10, 100/200 or 400 ASA with the only difference between them being when the flash fires. It gives remarkably toy like photographs, with good-but-soft centre "sharpness" and rapid vortex-like fall off towards the edges. With 100 ASA B&W film and flash on permanently, it gives consistent exposures in winter UK weather with a particular look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DkYTRYB6tU

 

[OptiKen]

.....These cameras were made in the late 50's/early 60's I believe. Suffice it to say the camera is older than I am and it is still capable of taking pictures with its single aperture and shutter speed.

I'M older than you and am still capable of taking pictures, too!

 

[ME Super]