The User’s Review: The Only Film Camera Powered Fully By Solar Cell: Sure Shot DEL Sol, Prima Sol and Autoboy SE, Resealed in 1995

Canon defined these models as ‘Fully automatic 35mm Lens-Shutter autofocus camera’. It’s a camera about solar power, not much for film shooting because of the programed aperture (f3.5 - 22) and speed (2 – 1/250 sec).  With a 3-point Smart Autofocus system (AF range: 0.45 m – infinity; prefocus enabled; and close-up warning), its users can’t control any of the three most important parameters in shooting.

What you can control are: flash modes (off, auto, or slow-speed sync, with red-eye reduction), AE lock, and mid-roll rewind.

I am interested in this camera because of its solar power. The LCD by the Canon sign displays both the battery charge level and the sunlight strength (how many hrs needed to charge in a given light condition). A cool feather is that, when the temperature is high, the solar panel as the front cover will tilt up to release the heat accumulated in the body. The frame counter on the top, near the viewfinder, is mechanic (a turning plate marked with letter and number under the window), not digital as I expected.

About this camera or model, I do not like two things. First, charging takes at least several hours even under strong sunshine. And there is no other way to charge or change the battery in my Del Sol. Second, Again, Canon launched a JDM model, Autoboy SE, for Japan only. I do not know what is behind the business strategy of  JDM. Autoboy SE has some extra functions such as panorama, probably date/time imprint and secondary power with lithium ion battery as indicated in the Canon Camera Museum (CCM) online. In my Del Sol's viewfinder, there is only a cross sign for AF in the center, instead of a '[ ]' as AF frame and two short lines as the parallax correction for the shooting distance between 0.45 - 1 m as showed in the manual coming with my Del Sol. I doubt that Del Sol marked in America might be a simplified version. AiAF (Artificial Intelligence as Canon called) is marked on a Autoboy SE I saw in an online image, but my Del Sol carried a sign of SAF. I don't know that there is any difference between the Ai and S AF.

This date back is on a Canon Prima Sol

While writing this review, I checked the availability and price of this camera online, and find it’s still available as new at USD 99.95 – 268.20 plus shipping online. Its CCM original price was 39000 yen (~USD 390 in 1995).

41.94

The User's Review: Three Versions of Petri Shoe Mount Light Meter

These meters are also called as 'Petri Torpedo Light Meter' by some users because of their cool shape. They use light instead of  battery to power themselves, and are easy to operate. I believe that they were made in 1960s - 1970s. Their dimension/shape did not changed over the years, but they do have some differences as my three Perti meters tell me. I describe them in an order based on their feature's age I believe.

V1 (left in the images): Has both DIN (11 - 30) and ASA (10 - 800) scales; Shutter speed marked as 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250, 500; Has a black Petri logo; No zero screw on the back; Marked as 'Petri Camera Company, Inc. Japan' behind the needle window.

V2 (middle in the images): The same as V1 except no DIN marks on the front ring.

V3 (right in the images): No DIN marks; Has an extra speed scale as 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500; A different red logo instead of the black one; The black marks between the needle window and f/speed ring are different from the previous two visions; Has a zero screw on the back, Marked as 'Kuribayashi Camera Industry, inc. Japan'.

 

The User's Review: Kine Click Stop Bounce Flash, made in 1950s (?)

It looks cool when its reflect panels are opened. It uses bulb and battery of 9 volt, I believe. Are the bulb and battery still available nowadays?

The User's Review: Test Shots at f1.7 with Three 50mm Lens from Pentax, Promaster and Vivitar

I happen to have these three lenses all with Pentac K mount, which can be used on Pentax DSLR.

The SMC Pentax-M 1.7 50mm is more different from the other two. It 's smaller and takes 49mm filter. The Promater and Vivitar, using 52mm filter, are very similar. I believe that they were made by the same manufacture. Looking through the front elements, I see that the lens coating colors are obviously various among them. The Pentax has more blue, and the Vivitar shows less colored. 

With each lens at f1.7, I shot three images below. The top 3 came through the Pentax, the middle 3 generated by the Promaster, and the bottom 3 were the Vivitar's. With the enlarged image in a picture viewer program, I rank them in the order Pentax, Promaster and Vivitar from the best to 3nd.

What is your ranking?

More details on the Promaster and Vivitar 1.7 can be found in my another post.

The User's Review: Pentax 80 - 320 mm zoom lens in either black or silver

I have not seen any other zoom with the focus range of 80-320. Manufactured in the era of AF film camera, these zooms, especially the black ones that look more professional, are highly sought by Pentax users because they are fully compatible with both digital and film AF Pentax bodies.  

I have used them in both colors. Although the black looks cool, it was heated up quicker than the silver one under strong sunlight. If you will use it mostly outdoor in summer, I recommend you to get a silver one. Your fingers will confirm what I said here.