Sunday, 07 September 2008
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Epic Edit’s $50 Film Camera Project : PhotoFlex MX-35
If resources on the net are anything to go by, the cults of plastic cameras are dominated by the 120mm Holga and Diana. I attribute this to their longer history, traced back to the 60’s. Like music and fashion of the 60’s – they came, made an impression, but never really left. They’ve just been waiting patiently in their own spheres, for that time in every decade where the icons of the 60’s would be mode du jour once again.
For someone keen to explore plastic photography, I have uncharacteristically and resolutely shied away from the Holga and Diana because of the 120 format. Getting my 35mm standard format film developed these days is already rather problematic so I’m not ready to spend energy and more resources seeking out reliable developers that can develop 120 format and, more importantly, developers who will not make me feel that I’ve to explain myself or my blurry pictures when they hand me back my prints.
So once again, when trawling Ebay during my recent camera spree, I looked out for what might be considered the equivalent of the Holga and Diana in 35mm format. I found the Photoflex MX35 to be a possible contender for US$9.90. I believe it was manufactured as a generic camera which different companies could stamp over their own brands to retail it. I’ve certainly come across similar looking ones going by the names of Vega and Silver. This one is Made in Thailand, although I believe similar models were manufactured in Taiwan and maybe even Indonesia. I wonder if there was an original camera that the Photoflex (and the Vega, and the Silver) was meant to be a clone of ?
While the Photoflex MX35 lacks the brand allure of the Holga or Diana, it shares some of the same features as the other 2 more glamourous models – a simple 4-aperture selection based on weather diagrams (from “very sunny” to “very cloudy”) and a hotshoe for an external flash to be attached.
I’ve run 2 rolls through this camera since I got it and it was only on the 2nd roll that I’ve had a chance to test it outdoors. Like most plastic “autofocus” or “point & shoots” I’ve reviewed for this project, the Photoflex MX35 is best used outdoors, with great sunlight as the attached album demonstrates. However, I’m including in the album a couple of indoors shots from the first roll which seemed to indicate the Photflexs’ potential for indoor shots if I had got the distance right. The indoor shots were all paired with my lomo colorsplash flash. Most of the album listed was shot on expired Ferrania 200 but the first roll was shot on Kodak Max 800.
So, can this camera do the job the way the Holga or Diana can? I’d say certainly – given the right lighting and right subject and right film….in the hands of the right person.
What I’ve learnt so far by starting from the basics is that the simpler the equipment gets, that prized shot can be a matter of chance, or an understanding of how light and reflection works. It helps if you have the “Eye” but it’s only truly great when the “Eye” is coupled with a doggedness to pursue the image it sees, even if it means getting into the most awkward positions, or against better public sensibilities. Unfortunately for me, I’m much too lazy to perch on walls or get onto my belly in the mud for the shot that my “Eye” sees.
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the complete album for this review can be viewed here :
http://photo.xanga.com/toycamper/albums/f11ea65d241f3c
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