In the month of March my Analog Project 2012 featured the Mamiya U. This camera released by Mamiya in 1981 is an automatic exposure 35mm point-n-shoot that features a sharp 35mm Mamiya / Sekor f/2.8 lens, shutter speeds that range from 1/8sec to 1/500sec, a built-in pop-up flash, 12sec self timer, and an underexposure warning alert. With zone focusing, this camera is easy to use and serves as a great all-around pocket shooter. I think this camera is best suited for simple daylight shooting with 200 speed film and not too dark indoor shots with 400 speed film as long as you use the built-in flash. My little DIY thumb-tack shutter release button has held up very well over the past year - it saved this camera from a life of never being used as it would have sat on the back shelf. It's another in a series of big bulky PnS from the 80's that I've added to my collection - I seem to have a soft spot for this style of 80's retro cameras. In my opinion these types of cameras (80's point-n-shoots) sits squarely in first place as an alternative to over priced boutique cameras that are all the rage in the Lomography scene.

Check out my YouTube Ch. for a quick video about this camera.

When looking through the viewfinder of most medium format cameras of this type - up moves down, down moves up, right moves left, and left moves right.....plus the reversing of any additional movement. All of this can cause one to loose their sense of balance within the viewfinders frame. After using my Bronica ETRSi over the past few years I've learned to recover quickly but I've always longed for a built-in level for days when I'm just not feeling it. This is a Hasselblad Spirit Level which attaches to the side of the Hasselblad 500 C/M accessory rail. When the bubble inside the liquid filled chamber settles within the center circle, the camera is level.

The first 2 parts of my Hasselblad build arrived today. The once-over revealed that both are in perfect shape. They are currently wrapped up and re-boxed for safety until the A12 backs arrive in 2 days. A lens (the final part) is about 2 weeks out mainly due to my indecision on which one to get.....I simply can't decide.

Here's my latest vintage camera - the Olympus Pen EF. It's yet another half frame camera added to my small collection of half frame cameras. It's so simple to use offering the operator a full range of ISO settings (25-400), and the use of an internal pop-up flash....thats it.

The Pen EF has a fixed focus 28mm f/3.5 D.Zuiko lens - so you just point-&-shoot! The automatic exposure sports shutter speeds of 1/30sec. (at f/3.5) or 1/250sec. (at f/22). The exposure calculation is done via the selenium light meter and the chosen ISO. If you plan on using the flash as fill light during outdoor daytime shots or indoors with low light simply slide the front mounted switch on the front of the camera down and the flash will charge in less than 5 seconds. The flash requires a single AA battery - and I love the little flash ready lamp that glows orange on the back of the camera when the flash is fully charged....it's so old school.

The Pen EF was sold by Olympus between 1981-1983 and I think most sales were in Japan. Once again half frame cameras give you twice the exposures on a roll of film. Half frame images are 18x24mm each vs. 35mm images at 24x36mm each. I really do love the simplicity of these fixed focus (sometimes zone focus) Olympus cameras with their worry-free exposure system - they truly are great cameras. This Pen EF is now my newest and 5th half frame camera behind my Olympus Pen EE2, Pen FT, Trip 35SP, and the Diana Mini Petite Noir.

Extra Note:
I mentioned in a post on Instagram that I've limited myself to only shooting 24exp rolls of film in half frame cameras - a 36exp roll of film produces 72 shots and thats just too many. Due to the unique frame size I try to take several extra shots of a subject from a few different angles - then choose the best one in post. I end up with about 25 keepers out of 48 captures.