Cameras don’t get much simpler than this. The Demekin Pocket Fisheye Camera has virtually no controls. Barely larger than the 110 film cartyridges it uses, the camera has a fixed shutter speed of 1/100 sec, a fixed aperture of ƒ3.5 and a fixed focal length of 8.9mm.
Because of that short and wide lens, there is no real need to focus — the depth of field will take care of that. Therefore, the only controls you have are the shutter release and the film winding wheel (remember those?). There isn’t even a viewfinder — instead you have to frame things with the flip-up frame on top. although as this is a fisheye you really only need to point it in the general direction to be sure of capturing your subject.
It looks like a lot of fun, and a great antidote to the constant fiddling you can do with the modern digicam. The only problem is the price. This is really nothing more than a dime-store design, and certainly contains no more parts than a $5 disposable 35mm camera. The $65 that the Co-Op Store wants for it, then, is quite ridiculous. Nevertheless, I’m actually quite tempted.
Product page [Co-Op Store via Retro Thing]
Post a Comment