Film Advance

Point-and-shoot cameras are a dime a dozen. And for a long time I simply wrote them off, believing the balance between convenience and control was tipped too far the wrong way. But a couple of cameras gave me pause to reconsider. My Pentax Espio Mini (UC-1) proved to be a splendid picture taker, as did the mighty Olympus Stylus Epic. These days I quite often use a compact point-and-shoot as a second camera to supplement the capabilities of a medium-format rig. That’s where the Nikon AF600 (Lite Touch AF) really shines. Continue reading →

Some cameras become cult items. Others are much sought after for certain characteristics. But the more cameras I use, the more convinced I’ve become that much of this is simply random. Take the Konica Big Mini. Unless oxymorons have an unusually strong appeal to you, it’s hard to reckon this camera’s near-legendary status. It’s not that it’s not a good camera — it certainly is — but just that it’s no better than lots of others I’ve already reviewed and that have similar features. Continue reading →