Retro never really goes away. The Kodak Ektar H35N half-frame camera evokes memories of high school parties and youth summer camps. But is this plastic great or missing its mark? I ran some movies through it to find out.
First impressions of the camera
There are two opposing trends in photography. The first is the pursuit of ever sharper, technically perfect images and the second is the freedom to let go of conventional expectations. The Kodak Ektar H35N is a camera that fits into the rear frame.
Although I spent the second half of my teenage years in the 1980s, it’s a period I remember with warm nostalgia. Overall, I think the music was better in the 1960s and 70s, although there were a few exceptions. The Memphis Design Movement of the 80s didn’t wow me either and those hairstyles were terrible. However, I understand that, for many people, the 1980s are a decade remembered with great fondness. Oddly, Millennials also seem to like that decade.
There’s something reminiscent of the 1980s about this camera. It was a combination of a plastic body and a shiny metal front panel that came in a variety of colors that would have suited the color palette of the time.
It’s a true point-and-click camera. Simple but is it too simple? To use it, one must have a reasonable understanding of exposure as there is no exposure control. Load the film too fast and you’ll get overexposed. I loaded ISO 200 film and needed the right conditions to use it. A new photographer may not be aware of that.
It’s a half-frame 35mm camera. That means you load a roll of 35mm film, 36 exposures, and you end up with 72 shots.
Instead of each frame being 3 x 2, they are 3 x 4, slightly taller than they are wide. Therefore, the aspect ratio is ideal for portraits; In my opinion, 3 x 2s rarely sit comfortably in portrait orientation, looking too tall and narrow. One could argue that the opposite is true for landscape photos, with a 3 x 2 width being better, but I also like the 3 x 4 height achieved by rotating the camera 90°. This is completely subjective and you can maintain your own belief if it differs, but it is something to keep in mind.
On top, there’s a shutter button, along with an accessory for attaching an old-fashioned remote trigger that will give you bulb mode. There is also a frame counter.
At the front there’s a 22mm f/8 dual-element lens; One of the elements is glass. As a half frame, it will give you the same field of view as a 44mm lens on a 35mm full frame camera. You can slide a ring around the lens to activate the flash, and a switch slides the star filter in front of the lens. There is also a viewfinder located approximately one o’clock above the lens.
At the bottom of the camera there is a tripod mounting screw and a film rewind control button.
The viewfinder is placed close to the lens, minimizing parallax error.
To load film, open the camera door through the latch on the side of the camera. You put the film in, roll it up and continue!
My first impression of this camera is that its low price is reflected in its quality. However, when I put the film in – I use one of my Kodak Gold 200 36-exposure rolls – it gives me 72 exposures, and inserting AAA batteries for the flash, it feels solid. much more certain.
Take a test shot
Shooting with a film camera is very different from taking digital photos, and using an inexpensive point-and-shoot is a far cry from a top-of-the-line mirrorless camera. I love it!
Between receiving the camera and starting to shoot, I fell from a rock and couldn’t walk for a few days. On top of that, we had the worst spring and early summer weather I can remember. So getting out of it has been a challenge. However, with my feet bandaged and a dose of Ibuprofen, I stuffed the camera in my shirt pocket and ended up capturing all 72 frames.
I’ve always found using a small point-and-shoot camera fun. It’s a far cry from taking photos with a top-of-the-line mirrorless camera, and it brings a sense of freedom.
With the viewfinder so close to the lens, you can see the edge of the lens mount when composing your shot. At first I found this disturbing, but then I realized it has its advantages. It’s a useful reminder to adjust the frame slightly so that the lens is pointed directly at the subject.
The camera is very light and fun.
Kodak multi-function camera strap
I also purchased the Kodak Universal Camera Strap with the camera. This flexible and well-designed strap has proven to be a suitable design for smaller, lighter cameras. It operates on the shoulder or around the neck and can be attached to a single anchor point, like on the H35N camera or smartphone. 
However, it can also be docked for double anchor points using the Kodak QD Clasp that comes with the strap. They are also available separately. It comes with a useful attachment for your cell phone.
I probably wouldn’t use it with my OM-1, but the strap would be fine for smaller cameras. It’s secure with a quick release mechanism that requires a deep button press to separate it from the strap so it’s unlikely to accidentally slip off.
Result
Being in England, B&H’s excellent development services I didn’t have any available so I used my favorite service, filmprocessing.co.uk.
The results are quite good for a cheap film camera. For those interested in Lomography, this camera is a great entry-level choice.
In retrospect, I probably should have bought some ISO 100 film because the 200 I had on hand was a little too fast for some of the outdoor shots, but when I used the built-in flash, the exposure was fine. ISO 100 film will also have less noise, which will benefit the half-frame size of the negative.
However, these photos are acceptable but there is a catch. There are trade-offs when you flip the star filter switch. It softens images, making them appear out of focus. There were a few photos where I forgot to turn it off.
What I like and what could be improved
What I like
Camera
- May pay.
- Giving you 72 exposures for a total of 36 exposures.
- Neat design.
- Easy to use.
- The results are of acceptable quality or point-and-shoot cameras.
- Small enough to fit in a shirt pocket.
- A good choice for Lomography.
Strap
- May pay
- Versatile design.
- Strong construction
- Look smart
- Sure.
What can be improved next time?
Camera
- A version with zoom, ISO adjustment, and no star filter would be useful.
- It would be beneficial to have an indicator in the viewfinder that the star filter is activated.
Strap
- While the latches seem secure and I can’t accidentally release them, the fail-safe double-action release would give me more confidence.
In short
This is small Kodak EKTAR H35N camera The more I use it. In terms of image quality, it doesn’t compare to a DSLR, but I wouldn’t expect that because of the smaller lens.
I’ve owned point-and-shoot cameras that gave better results. However, those cost a lot more. For example, the Olympus µ (Mju) II that I took with me while traveling around the world retailed second-hand for more than double the price. Furthermore, sometimes sharp images are no longer important. Taking photos that look like they were taken with a point-and-shoot camera in 1984 will be fascinating.
So who would want this camera? I can see it becoming popular with artists, students and children. Photography enthusiasts who want to do something different may also be attracted to it. Plus, I can imagine wedding planners handing them out to a few guests to take photos at the reception because it’s better than a disposable camera. This would be a great gift for children to get them involved in photography.
The camera is available in a variety of colors from B&H for $64.99
