Samoca Winderflash EE

The Samoca Winderflash EE is a handy viewfinder camera that was developed for 35mm film. It was produced in Hong Kong by the company Haking and aimed mainly at amateur photographers and sporadic users. The Haking model was also offered under various brand names with an identical range of functions.

You cannot change the lens on this camera. It has a “SOE EE Samoca Lens” with a focal length of 38 mm and a maximum aperture of f/4.

The focus has to be adjusted manually, as there is no autofocus function built in. The nearest object should be at least 100 cm away. It also has a zone autofocus with four settings: 1 metre, 1.5 metres, 3 metres and infinity.

An integrated light meter is part of the Samoca Winderflash EE. The camera can handle ISO values from 64 to 400. Its automatic exposure adjusts shutter speed and aperture, making manual adjustments unfeasible. Here, the shutter speed remains constant and only the aperture varies.

An integrated flash helps in low-light conditions and can be activated via a button on the front.

The cable release connection, the tripod thread and the possibility of attaching a camera strap are practical. For operation, the camera needs two AA batteries (eBay / Amazon*), which provide power for all functions. Such batteries are readily available, and rechargeable versions are also available.

Film selection for the Samoca Winderflash EE

The Samoca Winderflash EE works exclusively with 35mm film. Such films are still on the market and can be developed in many photo labs.

Recommended 35mm films for colour or black and white photography are the Kodak Ultramax 400* and the Ilford Delta 100*. Both films offer reliable quality according to tests. However, there are other options from manufacturers such as Lomography, Rollei, Fujifilm and Adox.

The exposure format is 24 mm x 36 mm. Typically, 36 pictures fit on a standard film (135-36). The camera’s automatic film advance ensures that the film advances after each exposure. Rewinding is also automated.

On the top of the camera there is a display to check the film transport and a counter that shows the number of shots taken.