Bilora Bonita 66 test roll

<p>Hello everyone, here's another controversial classic for your viewing pleasure. Made in 50's in Germany by Bilora, this tin box camera has two interesting features. First, it is covered with fake skin leatherette. Second, unlike the rest of it's class, it has small focusing lever on top, which I honestly tried not to forget to use. It also allows you to chose any of 3 appertures -- f9, f12 and f16, and 2 shutter speed -- B and I. It is equipped with a simple meniscus lens and takes 6x6cm exposures onto 120 film.<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/2439542235_9160c78f0c_o.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="500" /><br>

Let's take it to the city and see what it is capable of!<br>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/2439542243_6f17f5093c_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /><br>

"The Future is Here"<br>

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<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2439542241_f1d30524eb_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /><br>

"Holding Hands Under The Yellow Light"<br>

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<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2440374718_cf9a2a7afe_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /><br>

"Studying Botanics In The Botanical Garden"<br>

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<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2439542253_005fe6a680_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /><br>

"In A Cafe"<br>

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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/2440374716_bcfec15e08_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /><br>

"In A Coffee Shop"<br>

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<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2439542249_2974a1bf0c_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /><br>

"Pirate Car"<br>

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You see -- heavy vignetting, spherical distortions, sharpness falling toward the edges... Everything's in place! Hello, vintage look made easily!<br>

Who needs the Hipstamatic when you can buy a Bonita?</p>

<p>Who indeed! That's a great looking camera, and I really like your street photography, no one could be offended by the Bonita being pointed at them.<br>

The spherical aberration is indeed impressive, damn thing is a bit too sharp though! </p>

<p>One of the best-looking boxes, IMHO, with a really great standard of finish. There's actually a little more spherical distortion than I would have expected, but it doesn't detract from your images. Watch it <strong>Dmitri</strong>, you're heading for Lomoland! Nice post; thanks.</p>

<p>Tony, thank you! Well, one can always smear some grease over the lens to fight the sharpness problem. Otherwise, yes, a gem for street photography. People don't realize you are taking pictures! And the shutter is so silent, you can hardly hear it.</p>

<p>Thanks Rick! I'm just too old to get to Lomoland anyway :)</p>

<p>Thank you Les, good to know that. Glad you liked those, although the first one always makes me a bit sad for some reason.</p>

<p>Really sweet, nice work with what at least I would consider a real classic, even if its cash value might be small, though perhaps not after they see what can be done with it.</p>

<p>I'm always amazed by the performance a skilled photog can get from a camera that really should have no right to take pictures this good - the simplicity of the "optics" just imparts that vintage flavour without obliterating the image:) Great work and a really cool camera - the snake skin alone would have sold me;)</p>

<p>Now that's another cool looking camera. Love the fake snake-skin covering.<br>

Nice pictures too. "Holding Hands" gets my no.1 vote.</p>

<p>A wicked cool camera.</p>

<p>That is really a "Bonita" (pretty) camera.</p>

<p>Estraordianry pictures. I liked "In a Caffe" and "Holding Hands" the most.</p>

<p>Peter, thank you. You are really too kind. I do not think I am a skilled photographer, there's so much I still have to learn and understand about photography. Also, a camera like this offers equal opportunities to a skilled photog and a novice, there's not much you can do wrong with such a rudimentary controls :)</p>

<p>Rick, yes, when I first saw this camera I fell for that artificial luxury.. Paid a few bucks more than I would for any box camera!</p>

<p>Gene, Moises, thank you, I appreciate your feedback.</p>

I'm very impressed and I never consider too sharp as a downside.. I find lens distortion and vignetting normal on this kind of thing but as Mr Sanchez said Muy Bonita (sorry non espanol) !! I'd shell out a bit more a fine example! I think the caption and the first picture are really cool!