Film cameras I own and use - Part 3 - The Plastic Fantastic 35mm Box Camera
Welcome to part 3 of film cameras I own and use. Shown below are two 35mm cameras that I own from a group of camera clones with different badges, the Agfa Photo reusable and the Ilford Sprite II. This particular style of camera, as well as similar offerings from brands like Lomography, Kodak/Reto and Holga, to name a few, seemed to have been all the buzz when I rejoined the film community in 2020. The Ilford Sprite II and the many similar clones are based upon the modern era of simple one use 35mm cameras that arrived on the scene in the mid 80's. Cameras such as the Fuji Quick Snap in 1986 and the Kodak Fling which arrived one year later. Even today those type of disposable cameras from the mid 80's are still very popular and readily available but since then those simple one use cameras have gone a step further by being modified to allow the user to load, shoot, rewind and then reload a new roll of film after each use. This now allows the picture taking experience to be more economical, much more environmentally friendly with resulting images that are similar to that of a disposable version
 
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| Selling for about $30.00 each in 2021 these simple cameras were a sign of what was next to come. |
As basic as they are, the success and popularity of cameras like the Ilford Sprite II certainly validated the continuing growth of the film community, confirming the ever growing appetite for new film cameras. This popularity set the stage for a new wave of brands and versions that soon would follow. The evolution of this simple camera still continues today with half frame and full frame versions, easy to load motorized film advances, ability to accept a cable release with a B setting, a close up setting, upgraded lens specs containing two or three elements vs one single acrylic element. Even models with ultra wide angle lenses for panorama photos. There is though, a similarity that still remains with the current crop of new plastic fantastic 35mm film cameras in a $40 - $100 range, and that is, they are almost all equipped with a fixed focus lens, a fixed aperture, one set shutter speed and in most cases a built in flash. No control of exposure or focus, just point and shoot, letting the lighting conditions determine what type film speed you might choose.
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| The plastic fantastic Ilford Sprite II an all manual advance and rewind, plastic fixed focus 31mm lens, fixed F9.5 aperture, fixed 1/120 of sec. shutter. |
That being said, the success and continual evolution of the simple point and shoot camera is a reassuring sign that people want new film cameras for all levels of photography. Not only have these simple box cameras been evolving but this has also sparked the successful release and re-release of much more advanced camera models from Pentax, Leica, Mint ( Rollei ), Lomo and now WideLuxx with hopefully more to come.
But anyway, back to my topic and that is, are these very basic cameras in their various styles and iterations from brands such as Ilford, Kodak, Lomography, and Holga still part of the program for film photographers in 2026? For myself, it's a definite yes and therefore my Agfa Photo 35 and Ilford Sprite will continue to have their own special place in my black and white film photography. Agree or not, I still feel these simple types of plastic cameras are genuine tools for artistic expression. It may or may not be your cup of tea but there is a certain dreamy look and feel to images captured from this level of technology and I have to say some of my favorite black and white photographs have been taken using these two simple plastic lens cameras.
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| Agfa Photo 35 - Iflord HP5 - Mystic Seaport - CT |
Of course you can shoot either color or black and white film in these plastic fantastic cameras and there are a large number of photographers that do so, but for mine I strictly shoot black and white since I develop the film myself which gives me a bit more control of my final results. Not only can I choose a particular film or film speed for the lighting conditions at hand but I can also adjust my developing methods by using different film developers, dilutions and times to give me that extra bit of control which can help to increase my percentages of obtaining a much more favorable result.
Below is a link to a collection of some of my favorite photos that I have captured while using either the Agfa Photo and Ilford Sprite II and if you choose to take a peek, enjoy and once again thanks so much for viewing my blog (-:
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Click here to check out some of my 35mm plastic fantastic favs.