![\"Olympus](\"http:\/\/www.arransalerno.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/pandaec.jpg\" "\\"Olympus")
<\/a><\/p>\nI’ve been to the last few camera markets in Sydney and have had a lot of fun. A great range of cameras, most at pretty good prices. I never actually “need” anything when I go, so normally set myself a very low budget (about $20) and try to have a bit of fun searching around for something a little different.
\nThe market this time didn’t seem to have the selection compared to previous times I’ve been. I also noticed quite a lot of the same cameras doing the rounds – they must not of sold last time. The instant vibe I got wasn’t that great, so thought that I’d have my work cut out for me this time. The place was crowded as ever (which is a positive thing), but the number of rangefinders and “cheapies” had fallen considerably.
\nDid the circuit a few times but didn’t notice anything, so started to get a little concerned. I’ve never left this place empty handed before!
\nAs the time on the parking meter grew closer to running out, things weren’t looking good.
\nDesperately searching a table for something that will make my time spent worthwhile I lift up the strap of an overpriced SLR and notice the unmistakable shape of a Konica Big Mini BM-201.. I test it and buy it. Well under budget, so there’s still hope \ud83d\ude00
\nI then get to a table I’ve been to a few times before, but now have a bit of room to look around (did I mention it was crowded?). I think my eyes have trained themselves to spot out anything with black paint and the name Olympus on it. That’s how I found this little guy.
\nWhen I picked the EC up I wasn’t expecting to the silver bottom plate, and was actually a little disappointed when i noticed it. But, the added “quirkiness” of the silver bottom plate started to grow on me, and now I quite like it. I doubt there’d be too many other Panda EC’s around also.
\nThere was a label on it saying “needs service” so I asked the vendor what was wrong, he said the shutter was stuck, but I knew these little guys were battery dependant so thought it may only need new batteries and decided to take a gamble on it. All up I was still under budget, but decided to call it quits. People were still rolling in, and I noticed an increasing number of people with an aversion to deodorant, so took that as my queue to leave.
\nGetting home I searched the net for battery adapters and found an easy solution involving aluminium foil – it’s pretty handy stuff.
\nPut some old batteries in it and hey presto, the shutter works.
\nAnyway, that’s that. I’ve attached a leather wrist strap to the EC and will putting a roll through it next week hopefully. It’s a neat little camera. Very compact and well built. Will try the Big Mini out eventually also. I wonder how well it performs with flash photography.<\/p>\n