ritalee76's Full Review: Nikon Fun Touch 5 35mm Film Camera
Last Christmas, my mom and I received this camera as a gift from my husband. I was tired of using his Nikon N6006 (too complicated for me) and she had no camera at all. We have used this camera non-stop since Christmas without a hitch.
I just had my first child which means she just had her first grand-baby. Of course, we should buy stock with Kodak. I think we have been keeping them in business for the past year or so! We end up at the developers about once a week. I have to hand it to my husband for finding the elusive 'perfect gift'.
For an inexpensive point and shoot camera, this one has plenty of features. This camera is easy to load; just put the film cartridge in, pull out the 'film leader' tab until it reaches the other spool, shut the little door, and hit the shutter button until the number one shows up in the frame counter.
When a new roll of film is inserted, it automatically detects the film speed (ISO) and adjusts accordingly up to 400 speed film. It has auto focus, auto flash (can be disabled) and red-eye reduction so you don't have to think about anything. You just line up your picture, press the shutter button lightly (to activate red-eye reduction and auto focus) and then press the button all the way. Done! Another perfect picture. Literally point and shoot!
Once you have shot your entire roll of film, its easy to rewind and remove. You know that you are finished with the roll when you hear the shutter lock up. That prevents you from thinking you are taking pictures when the roll is entirely exposed.
Rewinding is easy, there is a little slide switch at the bottom of the camera you push that rewinds the roll for you. You can also rewind the film in the middle of the roll of film if you need to. The camera is not too small and not too big. It fits in my hand comfortably. It measures about 5 inches accross and 3 inches high. Its about an 1 1/2 inches thick. Its not bulky at all.
A few other things...there is an auto-shutoff that activates two minutes after the last picture taken. I personally forget to turn it off all the time. This helps prolong battery life (those suckers are expensive!). To turn it back on, you can either push the shutter button slightly or manually flip the switch from off to on again.
According to the manual, you can shoot from distances as close as 4 1/2 feet to as far as 15 1/2 feet, depending on film speed. I have not had the need to shoot from distances far away, but I have used the camera for shots closer than four feet without a problem at all. I would recommend turning off the flash for extremely close shots as it will cause a washed out picture.
We use this camera ALL OF THE TIME. Its super easy to use. Even my kid sisters (ages 8 and 10) are able to take good pictures with it. Its very light, only about a pound so its no problem to carry around in a purse or booksack. We have used it both indoors and out and have yet to have a bad picture because of the camera (although a few not so desirable ones because of the photographer).
A few things that I personally like about the camera is that it is so easy to load. When you have the perfect 'Kodak Moment' and you need to load the camera in a flash (pun intended), its done in ten seconds and you're ready to shoot away.
I also like the little loop on the case (I think its original purpose is to attach the camera to a belt). If fits a roll of film perfectly. Its great for having that next roll of film ready! This camera also looks good. Mine is chrome and black and looks pretty hip.
So far, you've only heard the good things. There are a few things I don't like. For one thing, the angle is too wide for close-ups. That's why I end up only two feet away from the subject. I have not had a problem with the photo not turning out, but no one likes a camera literally "in their face" when having their picture taken. My one year old could care less and I admit, he's the subject of about ninety percent of my shots.
Another downfall is that it has a fixed shutter speed of 1/125 of a second. This means that it does not adjust to whether your subject is moving or adjust to light conditions.
One more small thing, (I know, I'm picky) is that once the film has been rewound, there is the little tab of film sticking out just like a roll that has not been exposed. Its not a big deal, I just push it in to tell the difference from the new rolls, but it does annoy me.
In closing, I would like to say that this is a great camera. The features are great for the meager price paid. The few drawbacks are not so bad that I can't deal with it. I am very happy with this camera. My husband is a prince for finding the right one for us!
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