I’ve always been fascinated by tiny cameras. In days of yore, when I was working as a travel copywriter for British Airways, I had a state-of-the-art Pentax SLR.
Oh, but that camera was heavy!
I took to lingering by the windows of photographic shops, ogling the exquisite miniature SLR that Pentax brought out shortly after I had invested in my monster. Alas in those days I couldn’t afford such a little gem.
One day in a poky shop somewhere in darkest Scotland, I found a cheap plastic point-and-shoot no bigger than a matchbox. Ah, bliss!
That tiny camera had only one problem. It took terrible pictures.
Tiny Camera
To my mind, so much the more exciting. I rarely get a buzz from a picture that leaves nothing to my imagination. Admittedly this camera did have a tendency to leave everything to the imagination. Still, I thrived on the challenge.
Not that I came, saw and conquered. Instant feedback being the prime secret of speedy and easy learning, I was out of luck until the advent of digital cameras.
You don’t have to be a centenarian to remember the time when you had to wait hours, days or even weeks for your photo prints. By the time I’d discovered I had landed just two decent shots in a reel of duds, I’d forgotten what buttons I pressed. Not to mention that it was a bit too late to redo the disasters.
Eight years later, digital cameras landed me finally in my seventh heaven. No, make that the sixth heaven. Full blown bliss arrived with my first camera phone. I got a Sony Ericsson T68 in 2002. Well, the camera was an add-on. Nevertheless the ensemble was still seriously tiny.
Of course the T68 still took ho-hum pictures. But at least it showed you instantly (well, almost instantly) the picture you had taken. The camera might not offer vast scope for improvement, but at least you were still on the spot to remember what you did and try something different.
Six years and twelve camera phones later, I’m now on an iPhone. Some people get sniffy about the iPhone’s 2 megapixel camera. Personally I think it’s pretty good compared with what has gone before.
Tags: camera phones, iPad & iPhone Painting, photography, photos
COME ALONG NOW, PUT YOUR WORST FACE FORWARD!
PAINTER 12 BRUSHES
Valerie, here’s the link: http://www.merrillphoto.com/MiniSpyCam.htm
I don’t know much at all about the spy cameras, but they tend to be expensive on eBay so haven’t gotten one yet. (I was oridinally looking for a tiny camera for my Blythe doll.
) I promised myself to play with the Holga and Lubitel before deciding to get another alternative camera. Lomo LCA is also very interesting, but quite expensive.
Wow, thanks Elli. I thought the camera that dropped to bits the minute you touched it sounded really useful!! No wonder the mail order people sent two of them.
I followed another link from that page to yet more goodies:
http://www.subclub.org
I notice it was first written in 1995, when film was still king. All you could possibly want to know about undersized cameras, and more besides.
Hope you eventually found a suitable camera for your dollies! Thanks again for your leads.
I’m fascinated that you have a Holga, Ellen – and you must know a bit about spy cameras too. I only learnt about Holgas when I started to search the internet for unusual cameras. i’ve never seen one, but I gather they have quite a following of fans!
Intrigued about cutting down the film, as I suppose you would have to do it in the pitch dark. …Though I suppose a few light flashes might add interest to the pictures!
I have to agree with Barb! Your posts are so fun to read.
I love alternative and miniature cameras, too. Love reading about your adventures and experiments with the cameras. I have a Holga and a Lubitel, but have been intimated to use them. I’ve been watching eBay for Russian spy cameras, but don’t think there is film available. I found somewhere where someone cut down a larger film and I think got it to work in her spy camera. A friend has an Iphone, and I’m jealous.
Sometimes I like bad photos.
It’s funny about photography. Taking good pictures doesn’t seem to be connected only with artistic talent – of which you have plenty, Barb!
A delightful read! Your writing is so colorful, it almost doesn’t matter what the topic is.
I would LOVE to have a tiny camera — my phone does have a rather nice one, but nothing to really brag about. My husband has the same brand, and he takes much better pics. Hmmm… maybe it’s me.
What is it about miniatures do you think, that inspires such intrigue and mystery. I am very much drawn to them myself.
I have to say that my camera phone has much to be desired, but part of that is my most common subject is my black service dog Ebony and there is NO white balance on that thing! Aside from pictures of her, I do appreciate being able to take snaps on the fly w/o dragging out the camera, removing the lens cap, etc
I wonder why it is that miniature things have such an appeal.
Maybe your next camera phone will be better, Bean, as they are improving so fast. I do find my iphone can take some delightful pictures, for all it’s so simple. No fiddling about getting the right settings – it hasn’t any. You just press the shutter button and that’s it.