Cosina Flash 35E - I Break, I Fix, I Break Again

I can't believe that this is taken with a simple pocket camera. And with one that I, as the tittle says, broke, fixed but broke again while fixing another issue. Well, choosing the right film apparently makes things a lot better and I'm very pleased that Adox film isn't expensive. It's actually pretty cheap!

Weird distortion on the tree branches but I like it. It gives character to the photo.

Here it is. Bought few years back, cost only two euros and I can truly say that this camera has been worth it.

The rubber seal under the back lid, around the film, that probably mostly is there to prevent light leakage, not to prevent water go inside the camera, had transformed in to a sticky black goo so I thought it would be a good thing to replace it. It took awhile for me to get all the goo out, it just seemed to generate more and more, until it finally ran out.

A good opportunity to clean the camera from most of the dust and... is that sand? I hope it's just sand. I don't want to think about what else that could be. (Poo? Dust mite poo? Larvae poo? Cockroach poo?) Again the dust or the sand just seemed to multiply while I was cleaning it. Or it's because all cameras are also dust machines. Devices designed to take photos and generate dust. I believe this camera at least is. So hard to clean and I wanted to avoid taking it apart more because I'm quite sure I would break it for good.

New, cut rubber band in, the back lid is a little too much out but stayed shut so if it works, it works, some dusting and cleaning, film in and we're good to go.
_{Such a horrible song, horrible video and horrible clothes. But this is what started playing in my head so now you get to hear it too.}

I managed to get all the parts back after dusting so that the distance indicator is in it's correct place and everything else works too.

Or did it?

Well... the film did't roll and some mysterious spring that should have locked the winding knob in to it's place didn't do what it was supposed to do after taking the first photo and winding the film. Which did not actually wind at all. It must be that the new seal, the rubber band is too thick so that although I thought that the film did start to roll, it somehow got loose and did not co-operate with me.

So in to the dark closet I wen't, rolled the film back, saw light again as I came out of the closet and took the camera apart. (Yes, I know how that sounds, I would be disappointed in me if I wouldn't do word plays and leave you guessing if it's intentional or true. And that's not even the point. The point is that without double meanings, life would be pointless and meaningless.)

I didn't dismantle everything but so much that I could try to fix the winding knob spring issue. The rubber band obviously had to go. If it leaks light, it leaks and I'm just going to accept it.

The thing with the winding knob spring is that I had no idea how it was supposed to be and if it was supposed to be the way that was nearly impossible to do, then how would I put the spring in it's place so that the winding knob would stay put and not slid out every time I turn the camera upside down because that's what it did after the first picture and winding and hearing the quiet PLING that indicated that the spring no longer was were it is supposed to be. The internet offered no help for me.

But eventually, as you can see from the pictures above the impossible was done with the help of a big needle.

I pushed the spring to the other side with the needle and manged to put the top and the tiny loose parts back. The shutter release and the winding knob.

I think the maneuver required five hands but somehow I managed to do that with only the two that I have.

Adox film in and of to shoot!

Adox film in and of to shoot?

After cleaning and opening the camera couple of times, well, first of all almost every screw in the camera that I screwed, no longer tighten properly. The screw threads are gone. So the camera is pretty much screwed. By me. Also, as I apparently played with too much alcohol when cleaning the camera, all the oil or grease or what ever it is that is in the critical places of the camera, is gone and the oil that I added is not as good as the old grease was, the camera now squeaks every time I wind the next frame. Also, the green color that you can see from the viewfinder that indicates the distance, is slightly off. It's now between icons. Half green, half yellow. I do know how to fix that indicator but I'm really reluctant dismantling the camera, yet again, because getting it back together is shear agony.

So I broke, I fixed and broke the camera again and also put the Adox film in several times and took photos with it and wen't to the dark closet to take the film away. It was like Groundhog Day.

Thank goodness it's over.

This is what it looks like when you expose one frame multiple times.

Darker and more detail.

This picture represents my groundhog day with Cosina.

But let's see the results.

All the photos are from 2022.

As usual I've done nothing to the photos. (Except the groundhog day photo above.) Few of them might be better if post-processed but as I want to know what kind of results does this camera and this film give in different conditions, I've left them as they are and I'll show you the photos with all of mine and the cameras flaws in the pictures.

Uuu! Horseys! Cranes! Horses, cranes and primates.

I am truly amazed that I managed to get the focus on the window reflection of the lady on the bridge. I am shocked that it's sharp. Absolutely shocked.

I have to confess something to you.
Here goes.

I
Love
Adox
Film!

I can't believe that these are taken with a simple, faulty Cosina pocket camera that few years ago cost only 2 euros!

I know what you're thinking and no. The focus is not and was not supposed to be on her ass. Asses are nice but that's not what I was aiming for.

You have to believe me.

Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain
Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain

The dark days are gone, and the bright days are here
My Sunny one shines so sincere"

Sunlight and #shadows.

Benches and parks. Let's not forget those. And also underneath the bench photo, one of my favourites.

What did all this cost me?
Adox HR-50: 4,49€
Film developing: 14,90€
Film scanning to TIFF: 10€

The best photo that won the glorious place of being the thumbnail of this post.

---

_{Film cameras
Balda-Bünde Baldixette
1
Bilora Bella 66
1
Closter C63
1
Cosina Flash 35E
1, 2, 3
Felica
1, 2, 3, 4
Kodak Box 620
1, 2
Kodak Brownie Six-20 Model C
1
Halina Paulette EE II
1
Voigtländer Bessa 66
1
ZIAG Colora F
1}

_{Digital cameras
Sony A6400, 16-50mm
1
Sony A6400, Laowa 25mm f2.8
1
Comparison: Sony A6400, Canon EOS 550D, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P32, Canon PowerShot A550
1, 2}