Kodak Ektar H35N Half Frame Camera - Review & Tips

[@theoldcameraguy]

Great review - Love your images, especially the long exposures! Thanks for mentioning and linking my video too! Cool hack on the aperture switch (without the battery) - I’ll have to try that

[@Eclectachrome]

Thanks Dave!! Of course, your multiple exposure hack was so cool, had to mention it plus your videos and reviews are always awesome 👌

[@sarasnyder1086]

The pigeon on the stairs? I love that!!!! Not sure I'm up for another plastic, manual wind camera but the video is fantastic, as always. Cheers!

[@Eclectachrome]

aw thanks Sara!! haha that was one of my favs :)

[@sesa2984]

I totally only wanted this camera (originally) because of the original styling (green! especially) but I can’t really pass up the glass lens and other features that make it more fun. Especially since the only thing that was holding me back was the plastic lens, because psychologically it just doesn’t feel like a “real” camera. Thanks for doing this stuff.

[@ainhoamart]

I loved the photos and your video. What film are you using in it? I love the colour of your photos. I watched other reviews about the camera, and the photos aren't like yours. Thank you for the video!

[@Eclectachrome]

Thanks!! For most of the Italy ones, I used Portra 400, in Nottingham it was Colorplus or Ultramax and at night was the Dubblefilm Cinema 800 film, hope that helps! 😀

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Thanks for the review -- but also the pictures -- the colors in Bologna came out great on the Portra!

[@Eclectachrome]

Thanks!! I usually never shoot Portra so was a treat

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

Great stuff! I'm still on the fence with half-frame (I struggle to get through a 36-Exposure Roll), but with the updates on the H35N I'm interested.

[@Eclectachrome]

Thanks! Yeah, it would take awhile if I didn't go on holiday I think haha but its a lot of fun and might be nice to play around with or travel with when you want something super light.

[@Hector_Malot]

The H35 is inspired by the old Instamatic from the 60s. Previously the Kodak Instamatic used the 126 cartridge in the 28x28mm square format which is no longer manufactured today. It's a good idea to restart the system, on the H35n the lens is glass and the image is a little better.

[@FocalMatter]

I looooouuuurrrrvvvvveeeeeeee the vibe to this video - you know any video with that European sun and those warm orange European buildings im just going to fall in love with those photos. oooooooEEEEEOOOOOOO Music got me dancing on my seat. A really interesting video - Ive been shooting my H35 a lot lately along with my main camera, like for fun BTS photos just whip it out and snap and I really like it for that - I assume this is exactly the same vibe but I really like that filter and the option for bulb mode... but I wouldn't pay that price for it. So much information, Thank you Molly

[@Eclectachrome]

THANK YOUUUU!!!! I want to go back, this rain is never ending at the moment lol and I even like rain! but yeah the colors of those buildings, sooooo pretty!!! it's such a fun camera for exactly that! Super light, super fun, but for folks that want to do more intentional (is that the right word?!) work then maybe not, but I don't think that's Reto's target market at the moment haha so it suits their target audience.

[@ayunemen4640]

Hi, Could you please share your top 3 favorite films for this Kodak H35n? Thanks in advance..

[@Eclectachrome]

Any 400 speed film really would be good, or Gold 200 :)

[@JRodPhotoArt]

Wonderful review, looks like i need to get this little camera!

[@Eclectachrome]

thanks! it's definitely worth it!

[@DaisyEye]

I like how in depth your review is. You had much better results than I did. The old camera guy mentioned that they made improvements for some of the issues that we both had; film getting stuck and too slow of a shutter speed. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing when you purchase one if you are getting the new improved one. I had no issues with camera shake with the H35. And for some reason my H35 images look sharper than the N version although its an all plastic lens.

[@Eclectachrome]

Thanks! I enjoyed the images you got but yeah like you said, it's possible it was an earlier version before they updated it? They did say it was a full production model so I feel like its more down to my shooting style (not keeping the camera still haha) when I got blurred images. The ones where I'm standing still are ok and sharp. If they were both sharp, what camera would you prefer?

[@DaisyEye]

So Reto actually reached out to me! They stated that a batch of unsalable cameras were released. They are sending me a new camera! I will do a new video update about this along with result hopefully with changed results!

[@everard104]

First, thanks for the review and always love your videos. Second, with such limited settings I've never understood these plastic half-frame cameras. I shoot mostly film on very 'vintage' cameras with amazing image quality. For the same price as this H35/H35n you can get a much better camera with better specs and built with metal and glass. I thinking of things like the Olympus Pen D3 with a 32mm f.1.7 F.Zuiko lens, speeds from B-1/500, meter, adjustable ISO, etc. or a Canon Demi EE17 with a 30mm f1.7 Canon lens, f1.7-f16 + auto, advance crank, ISO from 25-400, etc. Additionally, these vintage half-frames are often even smaller than the H35/N.

[@Eclectachrome]

great points! and thanks for watching!! I do enjoy my Fujica half frame which is similar to the ones you've mentioned, though it was more expensive. The Pen D3 sounds interesting and the EE series is usually very affordable too. Where are you based? I've had a hard time finding good working and tested ones less than 80-100 gbp here (looking mainly on ebay as in camera stores they are more). I can see the H35N being desirable for people who don't want to hunt on ebay for a working cheap half frame vintage, who want to know it works, but also it's much lighter than those cameras. That's the one thing it has over say my Fujica Half, it's incredibly light. But the vintage ones will have more control and arguably better lenses, so guess there's something for everyone!

[@AnalogueDiaries]

Always enjoying your videos from travels. Great results you got. And Italy is very photogenic 👌 I don’t think I’d get this camera for myself though, it’s too little control for me 😅

[@Eclectachrome]

haha yeah fair enough! but thank you and thanks for watching! you can't go wrong bringing a camera to italy!!

[@SA-xf7pc]

Great review - Have you tested the Kodak M35 by any chance? Is there any advantage of the H35N over that one expect for the obvious reasons, like having double the shoots and the star filter as well as the manual control? Like image-wise or stylistic?

[@Eclectachrome]

thanks! I haven't tested that one, but from what I know of it, the H35N would offer bulb shutter and 2x the frames, also the glass element to the H35N lens might add some 'sharpness', I think the M35 is a 100% plastic element one?

[@squidgame2021]

Just bought one and wanted clarification since the quick start guide wasn’t clear- am I correct in thinking that that holding the camera horizontally gives vertical shots and holding the camera vertically givers horizontal shots? Also, your shots were great! Hopefully I can achieve near the same level as this is my first ever film camera

[@Eclectachrome]

you are correct! and thank you :) good luck and enjoy the process!

[@alhOOO2O]

Thanks for the great video. I've watched this, your agfaphoto, and original Ektar 35h video. Which would you recommend?

[@Eclectachrome]

Thanks!! Actually the review on 35mmc goes into this exact question at the end!! Depends lol if you want bulb mode and star filter and tripod mount, grab the H35N, if you don't care about that and want a simple camera for half the cost, pick up the agfaphoto half frame!! That would be my perspective but it depends on what you want to do/like!

[@mrbrakelol]

Good video thanks. I'm about to get this camera. I heard another reviewer saying that its f11 with the flash and f8 without... which is the opposite of what you said.... might have to try and find an official answer somewhere

[@Eclectachrome]

thanks! that's exciting! haha it's F11 without flash (F8 with flash on) - this is from their product page on Kodak's/Reto's website :) Unless they got it wrong too lol retopro.co/collections/all/products/kodak-ektar-h35n-half-frame-film-camera-bundle-br-with-kodak-ultramax400-24-exp-roll-film

[@mrbrakelol]

@@Eclectachrome Ahhh ssweet thanks for clarifying,

[@jonnyem.8859]

I had an Autoknips self-timing cable release many years ago. Some may still be available on ebay. Good video! I was wondering about the upgrade to the H35. My H35 is still in its box. I just might leave it there and get the H35n for my shooter.

[@Eclectachrome]

Thanks! Yeah the upgrade is nicer, sell the H35 to make the N cheaper!

[@grainystories]

This bulb mode makes this camera pretty interesting 🧐

[@Eclectachrome]

absolutely!

[@paolabrown]

Hi, thanks for the great video! I have got the original h35. Being a half-frame camera, do I need to turn the film advance wheel per each shot, or every two? Thank you ❤

[@Eclectachrome]

Nice! It’s everytime you wind on or turn the advance wheel for each shot 😁👍

[@hunkofplastic]

Hey Eclectachrome, how are you?🤩Omg, I loved the video! I have videos on my channel with the Kodak H35 and I'm considering upgrading to the Kodak H35N, your video helped a lot in understanding the main differences! 📷Your photos in Bologna turned out fantastic (even the ones from that experiment that came out blurry)! Congratulations on the video! I've already subscribed to your channel!🎞

[@Eclectachrome]

hey hey!! doing good :) :) aww thanks so much!! I also enjoy your channel and videos :) glad it was helpful, what do you think about upgrading? the more i think about it since this video, the more I adore the H35N! haha thanks, sometimes the blurriness looks cool! cheers!!

[@sahamation]

I still have my first film roll bc I used half of it as I wasn’t aware it’s a half frame camera! Anyway to roll up?

[@Eclectachrome]

hmmm, only thing i can think of, if you want to save the rest of the roll is putting the camera is a darkbag, opening the back, cutting out what you already shot, loading that into a lighttight tank and developing it. Other than that, if you reroll it back up, you might not use the rest of the roll...how many shots you have left?

[@sahamation]

@@Eclectachrome First of all thank you so much for replying back that quickly, it means a lot:) so that's my problem, I have rolled it back! I was able to pull an inch of the roll out of the frame for re-loading. how ever I don't know how roll the number up to 40 on the camera

[@Eclectachrome]

@@sahamation ohhhh gotcha haha only thing i can think of is trying to put some kind of lens cap on it, or put it in a dark bag or something and press the shutter and wind on about 40 times to get to where you left off? that camera doesn't have a lens cap from what i remember, so maybe if you can find a dark bag or totally dark space to do that in?

[@sahamation]

@@Eclectachrome hmmm, covering the lens and hit shutter in the dark, it wont cause a double exposure? Or ruin a shot?

[@Eclectachrome]

@@sahamation if no light is getting into the camera, say if it’s in a dark bag, then it won’t add anything into those shots

[@MemeinAndDreamin]

Hi, thanks a lot for the video. Very informative and I found it immensely helpful. I went out an got one for myself as well as a basic package of Kodak 100 film. I have two questions for you. 1. It looked like in a few of the clips you were using the shutter cable in areas without much or any light (like inside.) Is that you just trying to stay still for the shot or are you holding the button down for something like richer color instead of a long exposure? Sorry I'm pretty new to this. 2. For a beginner like me, what brand and iso of film do you think would be a good all-purpose till I get my feet wet and some experience? Thanks again for the video. I was getting so frustrated with the modern film quality of Polaroid that I was desperately looking for a good entry level proper film camera to mostly replace my Polaroid Now. Cheers.

[@Eclectachrome]

awesome!! love the questions :) For 1. - Yes, trying to stay still for the shot. The photo would come out too dark if I used the normal shutter because there wasn't enough light available, the fixed settings like the shutter speed and aperture don't let enough light in for indoor or nighttime situations so I had to use the bulb mode and measure how many seconds I needed to keep the shutter open for! For 2. Depends on what you like to shoot! I usually would say iso 400 is a good middle for getting some experience! For those, there's a few options in color and bw :) Also depends on your budget, BW will be cheaper! But there's Kodak Ultramax, the Fuji 400 color film, that will typically be cheaper. Kodak Gold is always a good choice too! For BW, Kentmere 400 is a great one to start with, one of the cheapest or Fomapan 400 :) Aw sorry to hear about your Polaroid experience! I've heard that about their quality control and actually just got into shooting the film lol Hope you have a better experience with film! Let me know any more questions :)

[@DenisGuitarist-21]

Cool camera. I want one for myself! What kind of guitar?)

[@Eclectachrome]

it's great! and which one? haha

[@DenisGuitarist-21]

@@Eclectachrome The one in the case)

[@Eclectachrome]

oh a Taylor :) @@DenisGuitarist-21

[@MeredithSims]

Is there a film you prefer to get that classic vintage look from the H53N?

[@Eclectachrome]

I usually go for whatever is most affordable with some treats here and there, Kodak Gold and Colorplus are good! So is any Vision3 250D film :)

[@haroldsmith1213]

thanks so much,you made it fun to watch✌💙🖤best always✌

[@Eclectachrome]

You are so welcome!

[@AnalogueHolly]

I'm about to embark on some ultra hikes and I need a very light, very small camera to add to my bag. I also won't have time to stop and check settings so I want a point and shoot... it'll mostly be landscapes - which of these smaller cameras that you've tried and reviewed would you recommend to me? 😊

[@Eclectachrome]

Ooooo sounds fun! Out of the three (H35, H35N, or Agfa half frame) my favorite would be the AgfaPhoto half frame if you don't need bulb mode or tripod mount or star filter. It's cheaper if you can find it for around 30 gbp. The lens has better sharpness than the H35, but if you want the extra features and don't mind the extra budget, then the lens on the H35N is nicer than the H35 😊 hope that helps! I think the H35 series might be slightly smaller than the Agfa but need to dig mine out of my moving boxes to check!

[@AnalogueHolly]

@@Eclectachrome thanks Molly! ☺️ Had a good binge of your videos and may also be considering whether I can take my folding 120 aswell hahaaa x

[@Eclectachrome]

@@AnalogueHolly yessss!! I love those cameras so much!

[@sunshineinthesky2532]

I bought this camera for just hobby and personal daily use, I took it during my trip and haven’t finished a roll (only half of it) but suddenly yesterday the counter restarts to 0. The camera is still closed and from the outside I didn’t find anything wrong. But I’m not a photographer so I don’t know much about it, can someone tell me what happened? I haven’t touched the camera since because I don’t want to ruin anything 😢

[@Eclectachrome]

strange! can you take a test shot and see if you can keep shooting it?

[@TartanMystic]

Did you use portra 400 for the whole bologna trip?

[@Eclectachrome]

I also used Colorplus but not sure if any of that is in this video!

[@Didi-ih2be]

Would you recommend this one over the F9? Thank you!

[@Eclectachrome]

The Kodak Ultra F9? I've never tried it but it looks similar to the Agfa, but it seems like a regular 35mm camera not a half frame so I guess if you want a half frame, the H35N is a good choice :)

[@SteveMorton]

What is the light meter app that you use? Thanks

[@Eclectachrome]

Recently I've been using the one in Crown + Flint app, but I also have the Android app called "Light Meter" app!

[@SteveMorton]

@@Eclectachrome Excellent thanks for the prompt reply. A great review. I still have my first camera a Kodak Instamatic 25 which looks very similar to the H35 in styling! But it uses/used 126 cartridge film.

[@Zarcoil]

thank you, love your videos

[@Eclectachrome]

thank you!!

[@thebitterfig9903]

I’d love to see a lot of these features make it into an update of Reto’s Ultra-Wide Slim. Improved lenses, bulb mode long exposure, two apertures, the star filter (or replacing it with an ND filter). If they could keep the camera small and add those to a sturdier body, I think that’d be special. I don’t really love half frame. I get it and respect it, but it’s not really for me. I think it would be great to use socially, a camera to snap a lot with while having fun with others doing something other than just photography. I wouldn’t care as much about IQ if I’m just taking pictures of friends. If I’m going out alone to just take pictures, I’d rather use something nicer. I put one roll through my non-N H35, and don’t feel a need to upgrade it. But I feel like the full frame version of the UWS offers something unique with that wide lens. No film camera that wide is that cheap or small. While an old SLR with a 28mm lens can be great, getting wider than a 28mm is usually really expensive. Likewise nicer compacts like a Fujifilm Natura. The Reto UWS has its flaws, but it packs a lot into that tiny package. Getting a few more features and options would be amazing.

[@Eclectachrome]

Absolutely!! Would love to see that, I really liked using the UWS but because it doesn't have a flash, it's not that versatile so I ended up selling it. It would be so cool if that same form factor had all of what you were saying, plus flash. I love a 28mm lens and definitely they are more expensive and larger, so I'm with you on this one!!

[@RD-nd3nh]

All your picture in this video use roll filem 400 potra?

[@Eclectachrome]

Most of them! I think there’s some color plus in there!

[@antjefaltis4724]

can you tell me what you mean with the bulb mode???

[@Eclectachrome]

hey :) are you asking what is bulb mode or something else?

[@BerndtOtto]

Here in Japan, this camera is about $80USD. To be honest, I don’t understand its popularity as you can buy excellent „real“ film cameras for this price ( or actually much cheaper ). Just one shutter speed and one aperture ( or two as you showed us ) is simply not enough to cover all light situations. For 80 bucks, you get a really excellent normal film camera of any type. A good SLR, some simple compact point&shoot or a nice rangefinder. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Eclectachrome]

that's a lot more expensive than here for sure, and I agree with you that you can definitely get vintage gear for the same price. I think the target market is a little different for this one though, for folks that don't want all the settings and such, just something easy to go out with and not think too much, just have fun but also save money with the half frame nature :)

[@Drownedinblood]

It's cuz it is half frame and the look of it. 72 shots vs 36 even if they aren't portrait mode shots

[@Martinroadsguy]

There are literally millions of cheap, simple point and shoot cameras sitting around in thrift shops and garage sales to be had for like $3. Just ask any old person you know if they have one and they'll likely give it to you. They used to give cameras like this away when you opened a bank account or bought a subscription to a magazine.

[@theaussiewhinger]

I'm not even a fan of this but I have never seen a vintage/old film camera for $3 anywhere. ​@@Martinroadsguy

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Is it me, or do most of the fixed-setting point-and-shoot cameras not adhere to Sunny 16? So the shots in sunny Bologna were on Portra 400 -- right? The shutter is 1/100 and the aperture is f11. Hmm ISO 400 at 1/100 (1/125), sunny, should be f32 -- not f11. Or ISO 400 at f11, sunny, should be shutter of 1/1000 -- so it looks like the shots should be coming out rather over-exposed -- right? Even ISO 100 isn't quite a match -- sunny 16 for ISO 100, with f11 should be a shutter speed of 1/250 -- or with a fixed shutter of 1/100 (1/125) then the aperture should be f16 -- in this case the camera should be shooting a 1-stop overexposure, which in most cases wouldn't be very noticeable. But it goes to a 3-stop overexposure for ISO 400 in full sun.

[@Eclectachrome]

I hear ya, intruiging! The film is probably very overexposed in full sun and I'm wondering if the lab managed this during scanning? Only cuz when I used the light meter to do the long exposures, it worked with the light meter timing...my best guess is that it is overexposed but has good latitude. Or maybe the reverse, maybe the settings aren't accurate and because of the latitude, the lab was able to pull out nice exposures on the long exposure ones...who knows haha

[@oversharingturtle4462]

It sorta makes sense that they don’t. Kodak 400 film (using noviscoat film would be insane) has decent exposure lattitude and holds details in the highlights. Since people will be shooting overcast and in daytime shadows, 1/100 at f11 is equiv to 5.6 at 1/400, so perfect sunny 16 exposure. And the 3 stops to f16 are recoverable. Also if the aperture was any slower, they’d need a more powerful flash. Think 1/100 at f22, you’d need something beefier to get the 3m flash

[@corporalcabbage]

you can over expose color negative film by about 3-4 stops before you even notice its been over exposed at all. disposable cameras are optimized for an exposure in the shade in daytime.

[@Kwright304]

@@corporalcabbagepretty sure disposable cameras are also fixed around f16 so it’s a similar concept

[@Kwright304]

@@corporalcabbageeverything is in focus at that focal length and aperture so light is all that matters. The flash is for dark, the film can handle the light.

[@RoodeMenon]

How fantastic it will be if a camera body is made cheap like this BUT slr capable for multiple aftermarket mount adapters for lenses ...daym!

[@Eclectachrome]

that would be a dream! and one that I'm sure is possible :)