Kodak Ektar H35N
Isabella Ruffatti tries out a retro half-frame 35mm film camera ● £65 ● www.kodak.com
The Kodak Ektar H35N is an update to the popular Ektar H35 half-frame reusable 35mm film camera. Externally, the new model doesn’t look too different other than a shinier exterior. But it has a few extra features, including a built-in star filter and a glass lens element for sharper photos.
The camera isn’t exactly tiny, but it’s smaller than my Google Pixel 7a phone. As a result it has gone pretty much everywhere with me, whether in a bag, jacket pocket or comfortably in-hand. It’s lightweight too, weighing only 110g. The retro styling is reminiscent of old Kodak Instamatics and the sample I was sent has a shiny, CD-like surface in the glazed blue option. Although it did not win me over at first, it does look stunning in the sunlight and has slowly but surely grown on me.
The physical controls on the camera are handy, while getting film in and out is a straightforward process. The viewfinder is smaller than the H35’s, but the newer model does come with a tripod socket and the ability to do long exposures.
Many of my photos were surprisingly sharp, even if they tended to blur around the edges of the frame. The star filter is a nice addition, and while I personally didn’t use it very much, it was a fun creative feature to use on Christmas lights put up around London and for a self-portrait in front of a mirror reflecting the light of the flash back.
While the built-in flash was reliable, I found the control located around the lens hard to rotate at times to turn the flash on and off. I lost a few fingernails in the process, and this was annoying when I was trying to take photos in the cold.
Verdict
As a relative beginner film photographer, I found the Kodak Ektar H35N to be a good entry-level option with a few tricks up its sleeve that make it a step up from disposable cameras. It’s one to consider for travel photography too, its reusability meaning you don’t have to buy a new (if cheaper) single-use camera when you go on holiday.
While it may not be as appealing to moreexperienced users, its half-frame capabilities also mean that it is a great everyday camera for practising your film photography on a budget. This is a definite plus any day, especially if you’re just starting to experiment with film.