Kodak EC35 - An Affordable New 35mm Film Camera

 My long time readers will know that I am not one for spending hundreds of pounds on a camera. Well, until recently, but that was a couple of special ones. I try not to spend a lot of cash, not because I'm a cheap ass ho, but because I enjoy finding bargains. My Kodak Retina 1a, Baldy the Baldax and my OM-1n were all bargains and I enjoy using them all. One thing I have steered clear of in recent years are simple use cameras. Basic plastic cameras with a plastic lens, one shutter speed, one aperture and a flash. Then a Reto camera caught my eye.

Who are Reto? 

Reto are the company that brought the old Vivitar Wide & Slim back under the Reto brand. Exactly the same camera design, different name. It quickly became a bit of a cult. The Lomography community loved it and it gave Reto enough confidence to licence the Kodak brand name and put it on the Kodak Ektar H35 half frame camera. This was a boost to the film community as it came at a time when film photographers want new film cameras, but better quality than the plastic single use throwaways that helped keep film photography alive during the onslaught of the Digital Revolution.

With the success of that range of cameras firmly in mind, Reto have made another step up in quality with their brand new 35mm simple use point & shoot, the Kodak EC35. Normally I wouldn't have bothered, not because I don't like the company. Their previous offerings have been retro styled takes on classic designs. The H35 was heavily influenced by the Kodak Instamatic from the 1970's. Their new camera, the EC35 takes a leaf from 1990's camera design and I decided to give it a try. The EC35 is available in various colours, I ordered a black one from Analogue Wonderland and it arrived a few days later. 

 First impression was it was well packaged using Kodak branding and layout on the box. In the box was an EC35 camera, a wrist strap and a card with QR codes for a quick start guide and a tutorial video. Nether of which I used for I am a stubborn, middle aged man who doesn't RTFM. I may not be in the demographic the EC35 is aimed at, but don't let age stop you having a go yourself.

I had a good look at my new camera and it looks and feels surprisingly well made for it's price point. It has a 2 element 25mm lens, a flash that is powered by a single AA battery with power switch on the rear of the camera and a sliding "clam shell" lens cover. It's not just any old sliding lens cover either. It invokes memories of the Olympus Mju ii that became the must have camera a few years ago and sent prices rocketing skywards. 

Every point and shoot in the 1990's had a lens cover of some sort, but the Mju and others with the "clam shell" stood out. It also doubles as a handgrip and is very comfortable to hold. The shutter speed is 1/100th of a second and the aperture is f/10, which is perfect for Kodak Gold on a sunny day. I loaded a roll of Kodak Gold into my new EC35 and headed for my favourite classroom, Mesnes Park, to try it out for the first time.

The EC35 has the right name, everything about it is easy. It's easy to load, easy to frame and take a photo, easy to wind the film on to the next frame. If the lens cover is closed, the shutter will not fire. Nor will it fire if you don't wind the film on. It's the most basic camera, but rather than look cheap, Reto went for classic design cues and have made a camera that looks good and makes me wonder how they priced it so cheap!

I am a self confessed "Happy Snapper" and I embraced that ethos with my EC35 whole heartedly. I was quite happy to point & shoot compositions in the park and slip the camera back in my pocket. Weighing in at 102 grams, it is not going to give me any bother at all when I'm out and about. Add to it the weight of a roll of Kodak Gold and I'm still under 200 grams. Our colonial cousins in the Americas can rest assured that 7 imperial ounces is not going to trouble them whatsoever. 

I sent my Kodak Gold to Analogue Wonderland for developing and scanning and I am very happy with the results I was able to achieve with my Kodak EC35. Here's a few of my favourite photos from my first roll of Kodak Gold shot with the brand new Kodak EC35 made by the good folks at Reto and purchased from Analogue Wonderland. I have placed them and more in an album on Flickr you can visit using the link below. There's also a link to the sales listing at Analogue Wonderland if you fancy buying one yourself. I hope you enjoy them.

Kodak EC35 - Kodak Gold 
Kodak EC35 35mm Reloadable Film Camera

Nikon F2A

 Having budgeted a certain amount of money for a camera, after buying my Rolleicord I had some left over. I couldn't help myself and went hunting for another camera I always wanted, but could never afford until now. It didn't take long, I knew exactly what I wanted having seen it when hunting for my Rolleicord Va.

There it was saying "buy me, go on, you know you want to." A black Nikon F2A with DP-11 Photomic Finder for a very reasonable price. I read the specs and condition notes, liked what I saw and I bought it. A few days later my Nikon F2A arrived, I unboxed it and held it in my hands for the first time. Soper Photographic are always pretty much bang on when they describe the cameras they have for sale, but this looked better in person than on the photos. 

They also sent 2 LR44 batteries so I could get straight into using it. Of course it would be rude not too. I fitted my Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 Ai-S longnose lens to my F2A, put the batteries in and checked everything worked, which it does. I had no doubt about it but you never know if something gets bumped in transit until you check. Satisfied with my camera I loaded a roll of Kentmere 400 and went for a wander to pop my Nikon F2A cherry.

It's occasionally said that your heroes sometimes disappoint when you get to meet them, but my Nikon F2A did not disappoint me and will never be in that category. You will have to pry this from my cold, dead hands. This does of course mean I have to amend my list of "cameras you will have to pry from my cold, dead hands". Either it just got longer, or I'm making a very tough decision in the not too distant future. 

Everything about the Nikon F2A oozes professional quality. The film advance is smooth like butter. The shutter is reassuringly precise when released. The viewfinder in the DP-11 Photomic is bright, gives you a great field of view and a light meter powered by those 2 LR44 batteries. The meter reading is displayed with a simple match needle with + / - at the bottom of your field of view. Next to that is a small window showing what you aperture is set to. The film speed is set on a wheel at the top of the finder and has a range of 6 - 6400 asa/iso. Features you would expect on a high end camera that pro photographers swore by and enthusiasts cherished. 

This one has been cared for by previous owners, yet has the tell tale brass showing through the black paint in places that instantly tells me it was used by someone who loved it. It's not a heavy camera either. Yes, it's got a bit of heft to it, but nothing I can't handle with a neck strap to carry it on my walks. It's a solid, dependable camera and I am deliriously happy with it. I have used my 50mm f/1.8 on my Nikon DSLR's and Nikon F801s for years and this was the first time I was using it on a camera it was meant for.

I decided to retrace my steps from the previous walk with my Rolleicord TLR and get some different angles and unique shots. As I have become enamoured with Kentmere 400 shot with a yellow filter, so I fitted one to my 50mm lens and a lens hood, to help reduce the the effects of the harsh sunlight. I took no time at all getting the hang of my first Pro grade Nikon 35mm film camera, just a few shots and I was off to the races. Well, the Horses actually, including a young colt named Frank. (yeah, it's a great name for a horse.)

I visited the old spoil heap again and my favourite tree on there before making my way along the woodland path. This was a welcome respite from the hot sunshine. At the time of writing, the UK and Europe are experiencing another heat wave in 2026. It used to be a once in thirty years kind of heat wave, but it seems we get more hot summers than average compared to when I was growing up in the 70's. I am grateful for the woodland shade and also the breeze that cooled the temperature down a bit. 

I took my time on this walk as the one the previous day had tired me out. I was also shooting another roll of 127 film in my Brownie 127 camera for #127Day. Yeah, a day late, but a necessary endeavour. By the time I had walked full circle and arrived back at the farm I was down to my final frame and could put my remaining energy into the walk home. I definitely needed a drink after my adventure. 

I enjoyed the experience so much that a week or so later I loaded another roll of Kentmere 400 and went for another wander in my local countryside. I ran out of 36 shot rolls and had to pinch a 24 shot roll from my Frugal Film Project stash. I tried to find compositions I had missed or hadn't seen on my previous walk with my Nikon F2A. I took my time again and really got to grips with the camera, which is always a good thing for me. Thankfully I remembered how to use the light meter etc. and made the most of a sunny afternoon. Again it didn't take long to shoot my roll of film and I headed home for another well earned cuppa.

I developed my 2 rolls of Kentmere 400 shot with my Nikon F2A using Bellini Euro HC 1+31 dilution B for 6 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had them hanging to dry. I digitised them with my Nikon D700, Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f/2.5 macro lens, Valoi 35mm film holder mounted on my Pixl-Latr and A5 sized led light pad. I processed my RAW files with Affinity Studio.

This camera has been on my bucket list for a while and it didn't let me down. I really enjoyed using this fabled beast that was a favourite of professional photographers back in the 1970's and I can see why. It's a solid performer and definitely forgave me for a couple of mistakes I made during these first two rolls of Kentmere 400 that I have shot with a manual Nikon camera, never mind a pro grade one. Kentmere 400 and a yellow filter has been my go to combo with Donkey for the Frugal Film Project and I knew what to expect. 

I also made the right choice fitting my Nikkor Ai-S 50mm f/1.8 longnose lens to my F2A. I have used it on my DSLR's and my F801s in the past, but never on a manual Nikon camera. I wont be taking it off my F2A anytime soon as it is a formidable combination that gave me precise metering and decent photographs that I am happy with. It's not going to be a shelf queen, I am going to be using my Nikon F2A a lot in the years ahead. 

Here's a few favourites from my first two rolls of Kentmere 400 shot with my Nikon F2A and as always I have placed them and more in an album on Flickr that you can visit using the link below. I had an absolute blast taking these photos and I hope you enjoy them.

Nikon F2A - Kentmere 400 

Frugal Film Project 2026 - SLR - September

 The very next weekend after Bullstock saw another popular event take place in Wigan, the Wigan Digger's festival and it was special for one very good reason. Last week I said Bullstock was the final event on Believe Square. During the funeral service of Sir Billy Boston KBE, it was announced that Believe Square was to be renamed Sir Billy Boston Square in his honour. It was fitting that the first event on the newly named square was the Wigan Diggers Festival. I loaded Donkey, my Minolta Dynax 4 with my September roll of Kentmere 400 for the SLR part of the Frugal Film Project 2026 and headed into town.  

The Wigan Diggers festival celebrates another of Wigan's favourite sons, Gerrard Winstanley. He was instrumental in the 17th century campaign to use common land to cultivate crops and graze livestock to feed the people who toiled the land working for the wealthy landowners who controlled the farming. I will put a link below where you can discover more about Gerald Winstanley and The Diggers (True Levellers) movement in the mid 17th century. 

The Festival was already in full swing when I arrived and I caught the end of a fine performance from Captain Of The Lost Waves on the acoustic stage. I snapped a couple of photos before making my way around the event, trying to capture happy faces and cool T-Shirts. My favourite was the Barry Chuckle/Che Guevara mash up and the chap graciously posed for a photo. 

Next band on the main stage up was Mora and The Fabulous Wonderfuls who played their own music to a very appreciative audience. There were several familiar faces in that audience, including Busi who was dancing away and really enjoying herself. How she manages to keep it up I have no idea. I was still feeling the effects of Bullstock the previous week and was beginning to think I might not make it to the end of the afternoon. 

One chap put a smile on my face and gave me the impetus to carry on, my old mate Stu who was also at Bullstock the previous week. I haven't seen him for ages and then we bump into each other twice in the space of a few days. I also bumped into a fellow photographer who recognised me and follows me on social media. Yep, I've got a fan! We met a couple of winters back on a snowy day in Mesnes Park, Wigan. It was good to see him again.

An hour into the Wigan Digger's Festival my body started to raise the white flag and I knew it was time to head for home after finishing my roll of Kentmere 400. It's not too long ago that I could do two weekends on the run, but not anymore. Age and my illnesses and injuries are catching up with me, so I shot my final frame during the performance from the Wigan Samba Band and bid farewell to a marvellous event. It's a great day out, as are all the events that take place in Wigan town centre through the year and I would love to see them continue and grow more popular in the years ahead. 

I developed my film after spending a few days recovering from an epic fortnight of photography in Wigan town centre. I used Bellini Euro HC, 1+31 dilution B, for 6 minutes at 20 celcius and soon had it hanging to dry. I digitised it with my Nikon D700, Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f/2.5 macro lens, Valoi 35mm film holder, Pixl-latr and A5 sized led light pad. I processed the RAW files with Affinity Studio.

I am happy with my photos of the Diggers Festival. I wasn't there long, but I captured the spirit of the event and happy folk enjoying their day. I am not a portrait photographer by any means, it was a challenge to get out of my comfort zone not once but twice and ask people for photo opportunities that came my way. I might even get the hang of it one day.

Here's a few favourites from my swift visit to the Wigan Diggers Festival in Wigan. If you fancy attending in 2027, there's a link to their website below. As always I have placed these photos and a few more in my Frugal Film Project 2026 - SLR album you can visit using the link below. I hope you enjoy them.

Frugal Film Project 2026 - SLR
Wigan Diggers Festival