Topic: Hanimex 35es film waster ?

[Alan]

A work colleague gave me this today, she was going to throw it out
but knew I was a bit of a freak for old cameras and still using film
so she kindly donated it to me!

Ok its worth about €1.00 and looks very exotic  but is it worth
running a roll of film through?

Has anybody used one before?

The flash is not working so no batteries needed! it has a single shutter
speed but 3 different "rectangular" apertures set by the speed of film used,
100, 200 or 400, and the lens looks to be a simple plastic affair like the holga
ones, how simple it is!

[Francois]

I've never used one of these before so all I can say is it's at least worth a try.
Either you'll fall in love with the chunk of plastic (which has happened to me before) or just shelf it.

Still, the angular look is somewhat nice.

As for the flash, it's usually the battery terminals that are corroded. If that's the case, a bit of contact cleaner from the electronics shop usually does the job (if you don't have any, WD-40 will also help a lot)

[Alan]

Thanks Francois!

Yea I'll run a roll of Konica VX200 through at the weekend
and dev. it meself.

The battery contacts look perfect so it could be something
internal, ill run the film and then if I like the results ill open it
up and have a look inside.

Alan

[Francois]

if I like the results ill open it
up and have a look inside.

If you do so, be extra careful. Sometimes the big capacitor will charge up but the flash won't go off. Even days after being charged-up, it will give you a very nasty shock that could even drive someone to the hospital... not fun. These things pump out 330 volts of DC power in a single jolt. It's strong enough to melt a crater off a screwdriver.

If you don't know much about electronics, it may be better to leave it as is.

[al]

Even days after being charged-up, it will give you a very nasty shock that could even drive someone to the hospital... not fun. These things pump out 330 volts of DC power in a single jolt. It's strong enough to melt a crater off a screwdriver.

I'll vouch for that, a lesson I never seem to learn.  Many times I have been caught out by flash capacitors.  I always wait til I've got delicate glass, springs and electronics balanced precariously across my hands before being reminded by touching the contacts. No hospital visits but the event is recognisable by the simultaneous emission of very colourful language and violent arm twitching which sends all the delicate camera components crashing across the room       

[Alan]

well I wont be opening it . . . i never use flash!

I ran a roll of expired VX200 through at the weekend
and I had to doo some major recovery on the negs
I think the shutter mechanism is slower than it
should be, the images were all over exposed.
so I could shoot say ISO100 or 200 film at the 400
setting in future, I will have to investigate more though.

The lens as I expected produces soft results like the Holga
with a small bit of vignetting.