Kodak Snapic A1 Review: Worth It or Another Plastic Toy?

As a manufacturer of accessories for the analog photography community, we have an interest in new analog cameras continuing to be built in the future. Little comes close to the mechanical quality of the SLRs and rangefinders of the golden age of analog, but newcomers in particular need new cameras that are easy to get and reliable.

Now, finally, some facts: after the Lomo MC-A, the Kodak Snapic A1 (from licensee RETO) is now here too. In principle, this is a positive signal for all of us, because new cameras secure the demand for film in the long run. We took a closer look at the technical data and the first reviews.

What the technical data deliver

The teaser video on Instagram already revealed the most important thing: a 25 mm glass lens (a triplet made of three lenses) is built in, and the camera exposes in full frame (36x24mm). That is the decisive difference from the usual “reusable” cameras, which often only have a simple plastic lens. According to the first tests, the sharpness is indeed decent, clearly better than the typical “Lomo look”.

But here comes our point of criticism:

The camera works with a fixed aperture of f/9.5 and a fixed shutter speed of 1/100 second. There is no ISO setting. This means: the camera is a simple snapshot camera without exposure settings, with a glass lens and reloadable.

At a price of just under €100 (or 99 $), you should think this through carefully. On the used market, you can get cameras like an Olympus AF-10, Minolta AF-E, Canon Sure Shot Max or various point-and-shoots with an aperture of f/2.8 or f/3.5 for significantly less money. These let in considerably more light and often have variable shutter speeds. With the Snapic's f/9.5 aperture, you are extremely dependent on sunlight, or you have to use the flash constantly. A high-speed film (e.g. ISO 800) makes up for part of this, but the leeway remains small at f/9.5 and 1/100 s.

What do zone focus and the OLED display actually offer?

Focusing is done by zones (0,5 m to 1,5 m for portraits, 1,5 m to infinity for landscapes). Physically speaking, however, this is not critical with a 25mm wide angle and the tiny aperture. The depth of field is so large that hardly any picture turns out blurry.

The OLED display on the top is interesting. According to the first reviews, it is more useful than expected:

• It shows the frame counter and flash modes.
• Practical: The camera remembers the flash setting when switched off, so you don't have to set the flash again every time.
• It shows the double exposure mode, which is operated via its own switch, a nice little extra.

Caution: reviews show a very strong light falloff with the flash (flash falloff: whatever is close to the camera turns out bright, everything behind it stays dark). You have to like that.

Lomo MC-A vs. Kodak Snapic A1

Alongside the Snapic, the new Lomo MC-A is causing a stir. Here we see two completely different approaches. At just under €500, the Lomo MC-A costs five times as much, but in return it is a “real” camera:

• Fast 32mm f/2.8 Minitar-II lens.
• True autofocus (LiDAR).
• Manual control over aperture and focus possible.
• Solid metal body instead of plastic.
• Fully manual film advance (advance lever/crank).
• Rechargeable CR2 battery, charging via USB-C.

If you want to take photography seriously and need control, you end up with the Lomo (or with vintage cameras). The Snapic A1, on the other hand, is clearly an uncomplicated “fun camera”: loading, advance and rewind are motorised, and power comes from two AAA batteries.

Our wish to the industry

We welcome the Snapic A1 as an entry point for new analogue photographers. However, the market is currently being flooded either with extremely simple plastic cameras or with very expensive premium reissues.

What is really missing, and we hear this from customers again and again, is the courage to build mid-range mechanics. A modern interpretation of a classic SLR, like a Pentax Spotmatic with M42 mount, would be the dream.

• Fully mechanical: still repairable in 50 years, and the shutter keeps working even when the battery is flat.
• Compatible with millions of existing vintage lenses.

Of course, this is expensive and complex to manufacture. But until a manufacturer dares to take it on again, we will keep the old treasures alive. After all, with its fully manual film advance, the Lomo MC-A takes a step in this direction.

The Snapic A1 could be a fun camera for a beach holiday: there is enough light for f/9.5, and the expensive Contax T2 is better left in the safe.

But if you also want to shoot without flash in poorer light and only have 100 euros, you're often better served by a tested used camera. The risk: the camera may give up the ghost at some point, and there is no warranty.

If you're thinking about Kodak's half-frame cameras instead of the Snapic: the guide to the Kodak Ektar H35 and H35N covers the differences between the two models, the right choice of film and the special case of half-frame when developing and scanning.

Disclaimer: We sell some of the products that appear here. Even so, the article is meant first and foremost as help and not as a sales pitch.

The shutter button of the Ektar H35 is very light, so in your bag it likes to fire off a few shots on its own. Our lens cap covers the shutter button too, and the filter adapter takes standard 30.5 mm filters. Neither fits the Snapic A1, which is shaped differently. See the Ektar accessories.

What do you think? Is f/9.5 enough for your snapshots, or is it a dealbreaker for you?

Be the first to hear about new accessories: Whenever a new analogue camera comes out, sooner or later we build the matching accessories for it, such as caps, adapters or battery replacements. The newsletter has it first: ausgeknipst.de/pages/newsletter

Yours, Vladi

Image credits: The images are taken from the teaser video on Instagram.