Boots 35 MF

The Boots 35 MF Compact, manufactured by Haking, presents itself as a compact viewfinder camera from the British retail chain, especially for 35mm film. It originated in Hong Kong and was mainly designed for beginners and sporadic photographers.

Unfortunately, this model does not allow a lens change. It is equipped with a lens whose focal length is 38 mm and which has a maximum aperture of f/3.8.

Manual work is required when it comes to focus adjustment, as there is no autofocus. The minimum focus distance is 1 metre, but it offers zone focusing with distances of 1m, 1.5m, 3m and infinity.

A light meter is embedded in the Boots 35 MF. The camera accepts ISO values between 50 and 400, and while it handles automatic exposure, regulating both time and aperture, the shutter speed remains constant and only the aperture is adjusted.

An integrated flash is available for shooting in sub-optimal light conditions.

The equipment also includes a cable release connection, a tripod thread and the possibility of attaching a camera strap.

The camera draws its power from two AA batteries (eBay / Amazon*). These are widely available and rechargeable versions are also available. One battery charge lasts a surprisingly long time.

Film options for the Boots 35 MF

The Boots 35 MF is useless without 35mm film. According to the manual, it specifically needs 35mm film. These films are still commercially available and can be easily developed in most professional labs.

Recommended 35mm films include the Kodak Portra 400* and the Ilford Delta 400*. Both films have proven reliable in tests. Other renowned brands such as Lomography, Rollei, Fujifilm and Adox also offer suitable products.

The exposure area of the camera measures 24 mm x 36 mm. Typically, 36 exposures fit on a standard film (135-36). With a motorised mechanism, the camera advances and also rewinds the film after each exposure.

An indicator on the top informs about the correct film transport and next to it there is also a counter that shows the number of shots taken.