Dec 18, 2024

Nana Camera - The Journey So Far

"Opportunities lie in the gaps others overlook. Seeing what’s missing and creating the solution that fits the market."

— Quote not attributed to anyone

Having been in the film photography game for more than a decade, we’ve relied heavily on second-hand, refurbished cameras as our lifeline. And while this approach has served us well, there’s an undeniable downside: you're buying into a ticking time bomb. These cameras can stop working at any moment. Even though we offer a 6-month warranty, it’s often a straightforward replacement with a like-for-like model.

Take, for example, the time we planned to shoot a Contax T2 vs Nana Camera comparison video. Halfway through—at frame 12—the Contax T2 choked and stopped shooting. I commented, “The sensei has thrown in the towel.”

Additionally, we’ve had countless customers who purchase cameras online—through platforms like eBay—only to bring them to our shop and discover they’re non-operational. The heartache and time wasted dealing with these issues could be avoided, I thought.

Starting Our Camera-Making Journey

In 2022, we embarked on a new journey: creating our own camera. Fast forward to the end of 2024, and the film camera market now has some exciting new entrants:

The Rollei 35 AF by Gary Ho and the team at Mint (retailing for around AUD $1,699)
The Pentax 17, a half-frame film camera from the legendary Pentax brand (retailing for around AUD $850)

At the lower end of the price spectrum, there’s the Kodak Ektar H35N and similar half-frame cameras, priced at approximately AUD $150.

But what about the gap between $150 and $850? That’s where the Nana Camera fits in, priced at $349.

Addressing Criticism

We’ve faced our share of criticism. Many detractors claim that the Nana Camera is merely a re-shell of existing cameras. In fact, Petapixel recently published an article delving into the complaints and controversies surrounding the Nana Camera:
Petapixel Article

But I dare say that many of these negative comments come from people who have never actually made a camera.

Working closely with our manufacturing partners, we’ve brought something truly unique to the market. Even our manufacturer admitted this was their most challenging project to date. In fact, they’ve vowed not to make another metal-body camera anytime soon.

Key Innovations

Not only did we introduce a premium metal body, but we also developed an entirely new aspherical single-element lens—something not seen before.

This achievement is thanks to the incredible support we’ve received through pre-orders, Kickstarter campaigns, and our loyal customers and resellers.

During the Kickstarter, we promised a trifecta:

A motorized camera
A premium metal body
Improved optics

With the $50,000 raised, we delivered on that promise.

The metal mold for the camera cost us USD $15,000.
Developing the aspherical lens required approximately AUD $40,000.

Lens Performance

Initially, I was eager to further improve the lens. However, our current aspherical lens has exceeded expectations, achieving sharper results than the lens on the Niji Camera. Through additional R&D, we also confirmed that moving the focal plane or film plane does not improve sharpness further, as the coated aspherical lens already delivers superior performance.

The above photos show how on the left hand side is the new aspherical lens and on the right is the propose push in focus on the aspherical which actually makes the image blurry .

What’s Next?

For our limited edition bundle, I’m considering introducing a series of accessories. Perhaps a small case with a neck strap? Or maybe a more powerful flash?

What are your thoughts?

see some of the BW shots from the Nana camera in our recent Nana Photo walk