Luke's Spy Camera Pages

Variations

There are seemingly infinite variations in the "Hit" camera genre, so that even though these cameras all look alike, many are subtly different -- even cameras made by the same company.  Some of the differences are obvious -- different names, different colored bodies, different colored lens rings.  Some are more subtle, as we explore.  Here are some of the ways the cameras differ...

The Winder

The humble winder comes in a variety of styles, from the el cheapo knob to the more robust four-ring variety...

From left to right: Speedex, Minetta, Hit (silver), Hit (Black)

One can have winder variations even within the same type of camera, witness these two Hit cameras with a silver lens ring.

The viewfinder

The two Hit cameras directly above illustrate another difference among these cameras: in some (left, above, the viewfinder section, or top, of the camera goes all the way across and the winder rest upon it; in others (right, above), the viewfinder section is cut off and the winder rests on the camera body itself.  There are variations even on this theme.

Squared off on left (Star-Lite, left above) versus sloped on left (Walklenz, right above).

The Screw (Speedex, left) and no screw (Arrow, right).

The lens ring

Perhaps the most obvious difference in each of the "hit"-type cameras is the name on the lens ring.  But the ring itself also has other differences.  In some cameras the lettering is white on a black background, in others, black on a silver background.  In one case, the HOMER, the letters are yellow on a black background.  In most cameras, there are also stars -- usually three -- in the circle with the name.  In the cameras of higher quality, such as the MYCRO, there may be further information.  In the cheapest cameras, the lens ring is merely a sticker which can be peeled off; in the better-made ones, the name and stars are painted on.

Soon to be added....

The shutter release

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