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The unique Kodak Ektar H35 was a daring try at making movie pictures no less than considerably inexpensive. Costing simply $50 new, it allowed you to squeeze extra worth out of a roll of 35mm movie by dividing its frames in half. So, as an alternative of 36 photographs measuring 24x36mm from a regular roll, you’d get 72 photographs measuring 24x18mm. This was not a brand new idea, however it had fallen out of vogue, and the Kodak Ektar H35 proved a modest hit amongst cash-strapped analog fanatics.
An up to date model swiftly adopted: the Kodak Ektar H35N. At first look primarily an identical, the H35N however comes with a number of further options, in all probability probably the most attention-grabbing of which is the upgraded two-element lens, together with a glass ingredient and an aspherical acrylic ingredient. Elsewhere, we get a tripod socket, a bulb mode for the shutter launch, and a brand new ‘star’ filter for creating dramatic factors from robust gentle sources.
I reviewed the unique Kodak Ektar H35 in 2023, and have stored it in occasional rotation since then. My opinion hasn’t modified massively since (although I do suppose that 3.5-star ranking was maybe just a little beneficiant) – it’s a enjoyable and simple digicam to make use of, however the picture high quality is fairly common. So, I’m to see if the brand new lens means the Kodak Ektar H35N is a noticeably higher performer.
Specs
|
Kind |
Level and shoot analog digicam |
|
Movie format |
35mm (half-frame) |
|
Lens |
22mm |
|
Aperture |
f/8 (with flash), f/11 (with out flash) |
|
Shutter pace |
1/100sec |
|
Viewfinder |
Optical |
|
Flash |
Sure |
|
Measurement |
110 x 62 x 39 mm |
|
Weight |
110g |
|
Battery |
1x AAA (for flash solely; not included) |
Value & availability
The Kodak Ektar H35N can presently be picked up for round $52 / £67, making it one of many most cost-effective 35mm movie cameras round (after all, the movie itself is an ongoing value). This can be a small improve from the unique Ektar H35, which debuted at $49 / £50, although not sufficient to make a fuss about. It’s accessible in a variety of colours, together with: Striped Black, Striped Inexperienced, Striped Silver, Glazed Orange, Glazed Blue, Glazed Pink, and a pinky-blue ‘BT21 Version’, which I consider is a KPop factor.
Construct & dealing with
Have been I a lazier kind, I might mainly copy and paste my feedback on construct and dealing with from the unique Ektar H35 evaluate, for the reason that two actually do feel and appear virtually precisely the identical. The Kodak Ektar H35N is a plastic field with rounded corners and only a few controls. Movie is loaded within the again, there’s a shutter button on high, and a twisting lens ring to activate the flash. It’s not what you’d name ergonomic, and doesn’t really feel notably strong, however it’s light-weight and pocketable.
Once I used the unique Ektar H35, the elastic on the protecting pouch broke instantly and the flash stopped firing after a single shot. Neither of these issues occurred this time, so both my luck has improved, or Kodak model licensee Reto Challenge (who manufactures this digicam) has tightened up its high quality management.
By way of new options, the Ektar H35N now has a screw thread on the bottom for a tripod mount, and a socket on high for a cable launch – each included to facilitate using the newly added bulb shutter mode for long-exposure photographs. I’ll admit I’m unsure who precisely that is for – it’s exhausting to think about an individual who owns each a cable launch and a tripod, however has no higher choices for lengthy exposures than the Kodak Ektar H35N.
However, new options are all the time welcome. The opposite new management is the change for the star filter, positioned on the lens ring. Flick it as much as create a ‘four-beam flare’ when photographing robust gentle sources.
The Kodak Ektar H35N may be very simple to load and use, befitting its standing as a beginner-friendly movie digicam. The one actual annoyance I discovered was that the flash ring was bizarrely stiff, requiring a forceful, two-handed wrench to activate and deactivate.
Efficiency
Having reviewed my photographs from the Kodak Ektar H35N alongside a few of my older photographs from the unique Kodak Ektar H35, there’s actually no contest. The brand new glass ingredient hasn’t radically remodeled the digicam into an ultra-sharp SLR-beater, however I undoubtedly got here away with a a lot greater fee of keepers.
As I discussed in my evaluate, the earlier digicam was primarily incapable of capturing into the sunshine – you simply ended up with a blown-out blurry mess. This time, I shot a few backlit photographs they usually got here out fairly properly. Certainly, I felt general that the development in high quality meant the digicam higher fulfilled the value-for-money promise of a half-frame digicam. Getting 72 photographs out of a 36-shot roll might sound cool, however it doesn’t suggest a lot if half of them are muddled, soupy clunkers.
It nonetheless has most of the identical restrictions. The mounted publicity settings restrict your alternative of movie – I wouldn’t go beneath ISO 400 except you’re going to be completely capturing in very vivid daylight. You need to key your self into the concept of capturing in a vertical side ratio, and stay conscious that the view by way of the viewfinder isn’t essentially a really consultant view.
Actually, with this digicam, you have to let go and have enjoyable. It’s not one for pixel-peepers (or their analog equal), it’s not one for many who obsess over the nook sharpness of lenses – which is sweet, as a result of this lens does not have any. Certainly, Reto Challenge has leant additional into this with the addition of the star filter, which I really discovered fairly charming. Discover a robust gentle supply and the impact is certainly very pronounced.
Pattern photographs
These photographs have been all shot with the Kodak Ektar H35N, on Kodak Ultramax 400 movie, on a sunny day in December. They have been developed at field pace, and are unedited.
Verdict
Looking back, I do suppose my 3.5-star ranking for the unique Ektar H35 was just a little beneficiant – I believe I used to be simply pleased to see somebody on the market really making an attempt to make movie pictures extra inexpensive. I’m extra snug awarding the identical ranking to this newer digicam (perhaps let’s retroactively downgrade the unique to a 3).
It’s a reasonably minor overhaul, however the upgraded lens did make a tangible distinction to my hit-rate. It’s light-weight and simple to hold, with a low asking worth, and its improved high quality signifies that its means to double the photographs from a roll of movie feels extra like a real saving.
The additional options just like the star filter could also be a bit gimmicky, however sue me, I loved it – and in spite of everything, this can be a digicam that firmly places enjoyable first, pristine picture high quality second. Frankly, I’d be pleased to see extra such gimmicks on the following Ektar digicam.
Do you have to purchase the Kodak Ektar H35
✅ Purchase it if…
- You need an inexpensive movie digicam for journey and enjoyable
- You need a straightforward digicam to make use of
- You are on a finances
⛔️ Do not buy it if…
- You need super-sharp photographs
- You need to take guide management of settings