When thinking of rare cameras, a plastic point & shoot is not the first one that comes to mind. I have been collecting Chinon cameras for several years and this is the only AF-8 I have come across. I browse websites around the world, and found this camera for sale in Romania!
Recently I found a Goldline AW2000 Mini which looks to be the exact same camera, so maybe Chinon is the OEM manufacturer like in several other cases. Chinon cameras can be found badged as Kodak, Revue, Porst, Mirage and others - so maybe the AF-8 was made for distributers, but a small number sold under their own name.
Chinon AF-8
I cannot find any information about the AF-8, and had to get this one as may never see one again.
It is a fairly basic compact with auto focus, motor wind which is actually quite quiet, flash and that is about it! Although it arrived working, the plastic lens covering is a bit hazy. I thought it would slide out of the way when you flick the on-off switch, but it doesn’t.
For a bit of non-serious photography I chucked a roll of unknown date Portra 400 in and took it for a spin… In retrospect I should have used a cheaper film, but hey!
Chinon AF-8 - Kodak Portra 400
As expected the hazy front plastic is evident on the images, but it isn’t too bad - just adding a bit of atmosphere (he says, clutching at straws!)
It does add a touch of dreaminess to this idyllic scene of a nice house in the country though!
Chinon AF-8 - Kodak Portra 400
Without the haze, the images would actually be fairly good - the detail on the writing is sharp enough for a cheap compact, and it was ok to use. Nothing out of this world, but just fine for on-the-go snapshots, which at the end of the day that is what it is for… Keep it in your pocket for those mildly humorous shots or scenes that you see whilst out and about driving or walking.
Chinon AF-8 - Kodak Portra 400
Knowing full well how it would go shooting directly at the sunrise, it isn’t actually that terrible! The exposure is good, the colours are nice, and the haze is not too distracting like some other cameras I have used.
Shooting this camera was only going to be a casual affair and to justify buying it in the first place - a lot of Chinon compacts I have do not even work, so it is a plus that this one does at all. The Goldline version for sale online is a tempting opportunity to change the hazy front piece to make the Chinon good - I can’t imagine it would be too difficult to do. The main issue, is there are much better point & shoots out there to put money into instead.
Chinon AF-8 - Kodak Portra 400