When I got the camera back to my friend whom I loaned it, I tried to shoot and enjoy the camera. I thought I could produce images I’d be happy with while enjoying the camera itself. I was happy with some of the images, but using the camera is an exercise in annoyance.

You have to hold the camera on the top and bottom to prevent your fingers from being in the images. Winding the camera forward wasn’t easy (I mean, it isn’t hard, either) and the knurl on the knob is really irritating. There is no stop on the film when it is done, so I ripped a ton of sprocket holes and double exposed film. Rewinding the film was, without a doubt, the most annoying part of the camera. The knurl on the knob hurts; the knurl rubbed my fingers raw while rewinding. You have to hold down the rewind button the whole time you’re rewinding.

I started writing this review in March 2017, as I had been loaned this camera. I ran a few rolls through it, thought it was unique (that’s more factual than opinion) and gave it back. A friend was selling one, so I bought it. Between him telling me he didn’t want it anymore and me actually buying, I decided I wanted nothing to do with the camera, but I was a man of my word so I bought it.

Now, having owned the camera for a time, loaning it out to a friend for some time and getting it back and using, I can confidently say that I hate this camera. I hate how it loads. I hate how it winds. You have to hold it weird, yup, hate that, too.

If you’re prepared to shoot a quirky camera, this fits the bill. I just prefer my cameras to have a full range of shutter speeds and apertures. I thought I would be able to get past these and enjoy this camera for what it is, but I was not able to. I’m not saying the camera is bad, it is actually really well built and sturdy, I just did not enjoy using it