Fisher Price Creative Effects FAX Camera

As I have mentioned a few times in previous posts, one of the most interesting cameras from the actual toy world was the Fisher Price Creative Effects Fun Photomaker, a funny little, brightly colored camera that uses a paper similar to fax paper (or heat sensitive cash register tape really). It also used cartridges you could plug into it to create other "frames" over your photos, much like this Barbie themed one on eBay right now.

They didn't make very many, and even back then (1997 ish) it was not widely known how cool the pictures were to the lo-fi camera crowd. Those were the early days of the internet, keep in mind. I luckily got one at Toys'r'us off the shelf back then, bought WAAAY more 'film' for it than I will ever use, though luckily i kept many of the cartiridges and you can easily reload it, see instructions from bentstruments.com here

Benstruments.com also has LOTS more info on this camera. They are a good source for lots of these weirder and still usable toy cameras, and their hacked versions as well. Definitely check them out and bookmark them.

Here is what the Creative Effects pictures look like via Flicker...

It is a really fun camera if you can find one and some of the "film" or at least a cartridge to refill. The only draw back to it, like many of these older cameras, is it takes a bit for the photo to print, roughly a minute, and it also plays an annoying song while it is "processing" the image before it prints, sure the song is fun and meant to entertain kids, but it gets old quick (reminds me to look into disconnecting the speaker on mine).

All in all though, a definite Essential Camera to own.

game changer - the digital harinezumi

Over 10 years ago, when Lomo first started to make it's push into the USA. Digital photography was still in its infancy. Digital cameras were still only around 1-2 megapixels at the consumer level, if that. Cell phones lacked cameras. Previous to that the 'fun' cameras the toy cameras of the 90's were really the Pop Cam, and those disposable cameras that shot '3d' that required a special form of processing that created lenticular coated prints. Then you had the actual toys that happened to be cameras, the Fisher Price 'fax' camera, the PXL2000 video camera, etc.

Pop Cam at the Four Corners Dark store. 

It is very interesting then, roughly 10 years into the toy camera game, a Japanese company, Powershovel would introduce the incredible Digital Harinezumi in 2009. Mainly because, most people aren't even checking for vintage digital cameras these days. Not to mention, they are slow, hard to export pictures out of (or impossible) and most of the card readers are way out of date by now. It isn't impossible though, more on that another time.

However, Harinezumi not only  took care of many of those issues, like the media card, and speed. It also brought it to you in a fun, familiar package. The body is basically a roll of 110 film, highly pocket-able. It has an incredible color saturation, video (v1 no sound, v2 with sound) the second version also has a black and white option, even more fun. The sensor also does weird things when pointed at strong light, creating even weirder other worldly effects. Not to mention -and I think they changed this on v2- when taking photos, you cant actually see the framing in the photo, all the more to heighten the 'magic' of the film like experience.

If you don't have a Digital Harinezumi, and they ARE pricey, I would suggest you consider it at some point, it is a fun little camera, and a great addition to any collection. Factor in the cost of film and development these days and it will easily pay for itself over time.

Side note, the Four Corner's Dark store is fantastic, and they are great people, check out their great selection.