My Chroma Click - impressions and review

[auntiemaryscanary]

Note: I purchased this camera at full price.

Background - I purchased a Lomo MC-A and returned it as faulty for a full refund after shooting the first roll. I then wanted another brand new 35mm camera and ruminated on something like a H35N or Snapic A1.

I saw on the Chroma thread that they had released their new 24mm lens and that there were a limited number of the 35mm Click model cameras with this lens fitted.

Order and delivery - I ordered on 4th March, was dispatched on the 6th and it arrived on the 9th. Securely packaged.

Opening and first impressions - inside the postal packaging was a nice little square box with my production number.


Out the box I was "wow!" at the look, finish and feel quality o the camera.





The 3d printing is exceptional and I initially thought the top and base plate were machined metal it was that good.



Base: L-R - magnet release for rewind, manually set shot reminder, rewinder and film inserter.



The simple shutter mechanism. Flick up, shot taken. Flick down, shot taken. Shutter (1/100 and apparently moved with magnets) not linked to winding mechanism. For me that means a good chance of double (or more!) exposures.



Nice little secure back locking/opening mechanism.



Back open with half frame insert shown but not fitted - going to have to be careful not to loose that.

Quality of the outside continues on the inside especially my first view of the transport mechanism (look and learn Lomo). Curve film plane visible too..



Close up of the take up spool. Again great quality.

Overall - very, very impressed on first viewing.

More to follow...

 

[lindsay]

I have a couple of Steve's camera's the Cube (35mm pinhole camera) and Snapshot (handheld 4x5), both of which are of similar excellent quality and finish. Thanks for the review of the Click. I'm seriously pondering the 6x9 he's working on.

 

[woof woof]

It really is a work of art and a credit to Steve.

I hope you enjoy it

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

I have a couple of Steve's camera's the Cube (35mm pinhole camera) and Snapshot (handheld 4x5), both of which are of similar excellent quality and finish. Thanks for the review of the Click. I'm seriously pondering the 6x9 he's working on.

From what I've seen of the Click (more than I've posted currently) I'm considering one of his 120 cameras that can accept my Mamiya Press lens & shutter. Quality is stunning on the Click and that seems to be across anything that Steve/Chroma make.

 

[stevelmx5]

Thanks a lot for your thoughts and post, I really appreciate it and am glad you like your Click. It's been a passion project of mine to design and manufacture a complete camera from end to end so it's really great to see that the considerable amount of time I've put in to finalising the design and finish has been worth it.

I'm down to the last 2 Clicks now from the limited run of 50 that I've built and am starting to see example work being shared, including this blog that I was sent earlier today;

Click

Is gemaakt door Chroma.Camera Bijzonder en mooi: Je kan fijn kiezen tussen half frame en full frame bij het plaatsten van een rol. Dat maakt dit eenechte bring along camera Half frame! Fixed focus!…

lichtschilder-nl.translate.goog

I'm looking forward to seeing what you get from yours too. I'm currently in the process of building 5 of my new "Six7" cameras, which offer 6x7, 6x6, 6x3 and 24x68mm pano in a compact system so that I can get them photographed, and put together some short videos, for my website ahead of launching them in the next few weeks.

Cheers
Steve

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

Review - part 2

After arrival I had two or three weeks of generally admiring the Click, practicing loading film and familiarising myself with the shutter mechanism.

Film loading & rewinding
I practiced loading with a scrap film (chewed up by a faulty point and shoot)


I made a bit of a mess on the first go and ripped a couple of perforations - entirely my fault, nothing wrong with the camera - so crudely recut a film leader and then read the instructions!

I practiced a number of times including rewinding and realised it was very easy.



Get the first sprocket of the leader on the take up spool..


... check the sprocket holes are aligned on the central winding mechanism and wind on slightly so the film is secure on the take up spool before closing the film door. Note the above 2 pics are with a "good" film.

Familiarisation
The main issue for me was getting my head around the shutter mechanism. I found the upward push of the shutter easy but the downward more troublesome for me and a risk of camera shake.

I read the manual multiple times but still wasn't sure about the upward shutter movement. Note: the shutter mechanism opens the shutter on both the up and down strokes and isn't coupled to the winding mechanism.

Other design details, a case and camera size
Handy film reminder


I had to get creative with the scissors as I had a triple pack without all the film on the top flap. A single film box top flap will fit perfectly.

Case
Whilst the camera appears very robust I wanted to give it some pocket/bag protection.


An old cheap generic Instax 90 case I have works perfectly.

Size
Someone was asking about it's size


Not as long or deep as a 90's P&S but taller. Smaller all round than a Instax 90.

Trial use
I took a few trial shots in the garden and of my mint green 90's Corsa.

Then I got myself in a slight quandary about relying on 1/100 shutter speed in all lighting conditions but had a range of 52mm ND filters and a Y2 for my Canon EOS so bought a cheap 49 to 52mm filter adapter so I could have more control in bright conditions if I wanted too.

Part 3 to follow...

 

[auntiemaryscanary]

Part 3

Use
Right then, let get this lovely looking camera used...


Easter Monday, Lathkill Dale.

Family and I did an approx a 9 mile walk above and through the dale. Youngest daughter was expedition leader and had the OS map as practice for her June Duke of Edinburgh hikes and camping. Her first time using a map but after the first hour had it all sorted.

I decided against any ND filters and to just use and enjoy the camera. I took around 25 shots. The only issue I found that as soon as I very slightly overwound past the winding mark I had to slightly over wind each subsequent time to avoid any risk of overlap on a single exposure. Not a big issue in anyway.

Very happy with the first shooting experience "in the wild". I'll rattle off the remaining shots and get the film sent off for dev & printing.

Edit: I nipped to use the car park loo's. On returning eldest was looking sheepish. Father: "Have you flicked the shutter on my new camera?!" Daughter: "Yes". F: "More than once?" D: "Yeah, lots". Well there goes that exposure then!!