dourbalistar
Buy more film
Last year, RETO revived the Ultra Wide & Slim, another clone in the long line of ultra wide & slim plastic cameras. It's practically identical to the Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim, which as I found out is itself a clone. However, you can buy the RETO version brand new for $29.99 and it comes in a variety of colors. So there is that, I suppose. I have the Pastel Pink color, because this is a toy camera after all. I just finished processing a roll and yes, there's vignetting, soft corners, and all the rest. But the results are surprisingly good for a 22mm plastic lens with a fixed f/11 aperture and fixed 1/125 shutter speed.
More photos to come, stay tuned. Is anyone else using this newest incarnation?
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07534-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07534-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
Harry the K
Well-known
neal3k
Well-known
I've been enjoying mine for quite some time.
$30 New Camera - Griffin Colors by Neal Wellons, on Flickr
New $30 Reto Camera - Strange Colors by Neal Wellons, on Flickr
Outhouse and Mill with Tiny Plastic Camera by Neal Wellons, on Flickr



pvdhaar
Peter
Not bad at all for a 30 dollar plastic camera.. But of course, in your (fine!) image, composition and subject matter probably draw attention away from the camera's deficiencies..Last year, RETO revived the Ultra Wide & Slim, another clone in the long line of ultra wide & slim plastic cameras. It's practically identical to the Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim, which as I found out is itself a clone. However, you can buy the RETO version brand new for $29.99 and it comes in a variety of colors. So there is that, I suppose. I have the Pastel Pink color, because this is a toy camera after all. I just finished processing a roll and yes, there's vignetting, soft corners, and all the rest. But the results are surprisingly good for a 22mm plastic lens with a fixed f/11 aperture and fixed 1/125 shutter speed.More photos to come, stay tuned. Is anyone else using this newest incarnation?
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.
2022.07.12 Roll #312-07534-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
Retro-Grouch
Mentor
Hmm, the results are almost too good to make it worthwhile. If I were to use a toy camera, I'd want bad results. Holga bad. But if this thing comes in Pastel Pink, I could be tempted!
dourbalistar
Buy more film
Brilliant, @Harry the K! I'd seen similar modifications, but the others seemed to obstruct the viewfinder. What size filter adapter did you use? I used 400 speed B&W film in my test roll, and some frames came out overexposed. Bright sun up in the mountains was probably not the best conditions for Arista Premium 400 (aka Kodak Tri-X?) and yellow or red filter would definitely have helped.I also find the look of the Reto- pics quite interesting. I glued a filter adaptor around the lens, so I can use the little cam with a ISO 400 film from shadow to bright sunshine. Soooo light and easy in the bag...!
Great stuff, @neal3k! I have a few color rolls that I need to send off to the lab, including at least one roll of Kodak Ultramax 400.I've been enjoying mine for quite some time.
$30 New Camera - Griffin Colors by Neal Wellons, on Flickr
New $30 Reto Camera - Strange Colors by Neal Wellons, on Flickr
Outhouse and Mill with Tiny Plastic Camera by Neal Wellons, on Flickr
Thank you, @pvdhaar, much appreciated! Of course, I cherry picked one of the better photos from the roll. Some came out overexposed, some slightly underexposed, some tilted horizons. All part of the fun I guess!Not bad at all for a 30 dollar plastic camera.. But of course, in your (fine!) image, composition and subject matter probably draw attention away from the camera's deficiencies..
Haha, if Pastel Pink isn't tempting enough, at some point RETO added Teal and Olive colors.Hmm, the results are almost too good to make it worthwhile. If I were to use a toy camera, I'd want bad results. Holga bad. But if this thing comes in Pastel Pink, I could be tempted!
Harry the K
Well-known
The adapter is 39 to 37 mm. The glueside is the 37, so I can use my 39mm filters from the Summicrons, reversed. However, I had to make a little cutout on the adapter due to the elevated frame around the vf- window. But the adapter is 99,8% invisible in the vf.Brilliant, @Harry the K! I'd seen similar modifications, but the others seemed to obstruct the viewfinder. What size filter adapter did you use? I used 400 speed B&W film in my test roll, and some frames came out overexposed. Bright sun up in the mountains was probably not the best conditions for Arista Premium 400 (aka Kodak Tri-X?) and yellow or red filter would definitely have helped.
dourbalistar
Buy more film
Thank you, @Harry the K! I did notice a little notch cut out in your adapter. Good to know there's not too much blockage, though I'm not sure how accurate the viewfinder is anyway.The adapter is 39 to 37 mm. The glueside is the 37, so I can use my 39mm filters from the Summicrons, reversed. However, I had to make a little cutout on the adapter due to the elevated frame around the vf- window. But the adapter is 99,8% invisible in the vf.
dourbalistar
Buy more film
Another from the field test of the RETO Ultra Wide & Slim. Passing Feeley Lake in Tahoe National Forest, with Fall Creek Mountain in the background.
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07521-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07521-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
Harry the K
Well-known
Amazing how sharp the plastic lens (just two elements, do I remember that correctly?) delivers in the middle region of the frame.
mconnealy
Well-known
The little Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim (vuws) has accounted for a disproportionate share of the photographs I have made in the last ten years. Partly that is because the camera's diminutive size and light weight make it so easy to stuff in a pocket on the way out the door. Beyond that, however, the radical wide angle lens also encourages more boldness in subject selection. There is also the satisfaction of getting dramatic results from such a simple-seeming instrument.
I have always preferred color film for the vuws, but that has become problematic due to current film prices.

I have always preferred color film for the vuws, but that has become problematic due to current film prices.

Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
I know that if I buy even one of these cameras, I am then going to want one in each color. I would have to eat bugs to survive.
This is why I didn’t get one of these Pentax Q-S1 cameras:
This is why I didn’t get one of these Pentax Q-S1 cameras:
dourbalistar
Buy more film
With the sun in frame, albeit slightly filtered through the trees...
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07523-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07523-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
dourbalistar
Buy more film
At the current rate of Kodak's film price increases, pretty soon it'll be cheaper to buy a 5-pack of RETO cameras in different colors than a 5-pack Portra 400... 🤑I know that if I buy even one of these cameras, I am then going to want one in each color. I would have to eat bugs to survive.
This is why I didn’t get one of these Pentax Q-S1 cameras:
mconnealy
Well-known
dourbalistar
Buy more film
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07538-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07538-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
neal3k
Well-known
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim with Kodak Pro Image 100 film. Henry County, Georgia
Roof Additions by Neal Wellons, on Flickr

dourbalistar
Buy more film
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07524-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07524-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
dourbalistar
Buy more film
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07528-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07528-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
dourbalistar
Buy more film
RETO Ultra Wide & Slim, Arista Premium 400, expired 2014, developed in LegacyPro L110 for 6.5 minutes.

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07530-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

2022.07.12 Roll #312-07530-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
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