Kodak Snapic A1 Review & Experiences: A Hopeful Contender or the Next Plastic Toy?

Kodak Snapic A1: Hopeful Newcomer or the Next Plastic Brick?

As a manufacturer of accessories for the analogue photography community, we are naturally interested in seeing analogue cameras continue to exist in the future. Of course, little can match the mechanical quality of the SLRs and rangefinders from the golden age of analogue photography, but newcomers in particular need new cameras that are readily available and, above all, reliable.

Here are the facts at last: Following the release of the Lomo MC-A, the Kodak Snapic A1 (from licensee RETO) has now arrived as well. In principle, this is a positive signal for all of us, because new hardware secures long-term demand for film. We took a closer look at the specs and the first reviews.

What the Specs Offer and Where the Limits Lie

The teaser had already revealed the most important specification: It has a 25mm glass lens (triplet), and the camera exposes a full-frame image (36x24mm). This is the key difference from the usual “reusable” cameras, which often have only a simple plastic lens. According to the first tests, sharpness is actually quite good and clearly above the “Lomo look.”

But here is my personal criticism:

The camera uses 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 straightforward point-and-shoot or compact camera (with a glass lens and reloadable film).

At a price of just under €100 (or $99), you need to think carefully about this. On the used market, you can get cameras such as an Olympus AF-10, Minolta AF-E, Canon Sure Shot Max, or various point-and-shoots for considerably less money, with apertures of f/2.8 or f/3.5. These let in much more light and often have variable shutter speeds. With the Snapic’s f/9.5 aperture, you are extremely dependent on sunlight, or you will have to use the flash constantly. However, the lack of light can also easily be compensated for by choosing a high-speed film (e.g. ISO 800).

Zone Focusing & OLED: Gimmick or Useful Feature?

Focusing is handled via zone focusing (0.5m to 1.5m for portraits, and 1.5m to infinity for landscapes). Physically speaking, this is not a critical limitation with a 25mm wide-angle lens and such a small aperture. The depth of field is so enormous that it is almost impossible to produce blurry images.

The OLED display on the top is interesting. In practice, it proves more useful than expected:

• It shows the frame counter and flash modes.
• Feature highlight: The camera remembers the flash setting when switched off (no annoying flash resets).
• It displays the double-exposure mode (controlled via a dedicated switch), which is a nice creative feature.

Warning: Reviews show very strong flash falloff when the flash is used. You have to like that.

Lomo MC-A vs. Kodak Snapic A1

Alongside the Snapic, the new Lomo MC-A is also making waves. Here we see two completely different approaches:

Although the Lomo MC-A costs around €550—five times as much—it is a “proper” camera:

• Fast 32mm f/2.8 Minitar-II lens.
• True autofocus (LiDAR).
• Manual control of aperture and focus is possible.
• Solid metal body instead of plastic.
• Completely manual film transport (advance lever/crank) and power supplied by a rechargeable CR2 battery via USB-C.

If you want to take photography seriously and need control, you will end up with the Lomo (or vintage cameras). The Snapic A1, by contrast, is clearly positioned as a straightforward “fun camera”: It is fully motorized (auto-load, advance, rewind) and runs on the standard 2x AAA batteries.

Our Wish for the Industry

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

What is really missing—and what we keep hearing from you—is the courage to build mid-range mechanical cameras. A modern interpretation of a classic SLR, such as a Pentax Spotmatic with an M42 mount, would be a dream.

• Fully mechanical (repairable in 50 years).
• Fully mechanical shutter (which continues to work even if the electronics or battery fail).
• Compatible with millions of existing vintage lenses.

Of course, this is expensive and complex to manufacture. But until a manufacturer dares to take this on again, we will keep the old treasures alive. At least the Lomo MC-A already partially fulfills this mechanical dream with its completely manual film transport.

Prefer the Kodak Ektar H35 over the Snapic? Its shutter button is very easy to press, so it often takes a few pictures by itself in your bag. Our lens cap also covers the shutter button, and the filter adapter accepts standard 30.5mm filters. Neither fits the Snapic A1, which has a different design. See Ektar accessories.

Conclusion

The Snapic A1 could be a fun “daily driver” for a beach holiday, where there is enough light for the f/9.5 aperture and you would rather leave the expensive Contax T2 in the safe.

But if you also want to take photos without flash in poorer light and have only a €100 budget, you are often better served by a tested used camera (although there is, of course, always the risk that it will eventually stop working and that you will have no warranty).

If you are considering the half-frame siblings instead of the Snapic: The guide to the Kodak Ektar H35 and H35N explains the differences between the two models, the right choice of film, and the special considerations of developing and scanning half-frame photos.

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

Yours, Vladi

Image credit: The images were taken from the teaser video on Instagram.