The Micronta 35X is an unusual camera made by Haking of Hong Kong British Colony in 1959. It is tiny, but heavy; generously and lustrously chromed, like an old Buick. Lens is Halina Anastigmat f:3.5 / 45mm, in a triplet (three glass element) design. Shutter offers B and speeds 1/25 through 1/200. It must be manually cocked before release. Focus is 3 feet through infinity, the entire lens portion of the barrel turns to focus. Simple viewfinder, so focus distance must be estimated, along with exposure settings. A camera with adjustable settings, but rather primitive. The camera is essentially identical to the Halina 35X of the same year.
Actual measurements of body (not including lens barrel) are: 4.5 inches wide, 2.75 inches tall, and 1.25 inches front to back.
These cameras LOOK like toys, almost like a joke, they are so tiny and shiny. However, the optics are surprisingly real, and so they are not to be dismissed out of hand.
I have three examples of Halina 35X / Micronta 35X.
Yesterday, July 8, I took the Micronta 35X that I most recently repaired / restored, loaded it with a roll of Konica Minolta VX 200 print film, and headed for the St.Louis Zoo.
The Zoo was crowded, but that was okay. Perfect weather for the Zoo.
Here are some results.
The camera performed basically "OK."
All images are ©2006 E.J.Kowalski.
Click on thumbnails to make bigger.