World Pinhole Photography Day in Oxford—with Alfie Cameras and Friends
Trying new gear, new film, and meeting great people along the way…
What I Planned to Shoot vs What Actually Happened
On 27th April 2025, I joined Tom Bob Warland and a small group of fellow analogue enthusiasts for a relaxed photowalk around Oxford to celebrate World Pinhole Photography Day. The plan was simple: wander, shoot, chat, and enjoy shooting pinhole together. We were lucky to be gifted some Apollo 18 400 ISO colour film (shot at 200 ISO) by Analogue Wonderland to use with the Alfie TYCH cameras. They’re half-frame and so you get at least double the shots.
I’d packed my Reality So Subtle 6x9F pinhole camera and my Fuji GW690iii. But then… I saw the Alfie TYCH+. The demo version was being offered to try out during the walk, and I couldn’t resist.
In the end? I only took four shots with my GW690iii — and spent most of the time exploring what the Alfie could do and it definitely stole the show!
First Impressions of the Alfie TYCH+
Pronounced “Titch”, the Alfie TYCH+ is a modern, half-frame film camera created by Dave Faulkner and named after his son, Alfie — who was actually there on the day, proudly wearing a matching orange Alfie Cameras T-shirt along with his Dad.
I was expecting something a bit plastic and gimmicky, but the TYCH+ is nothing like that. It’s a really modern take on analogue, it’s beautifully made, super compact, and feels solid in your hand. A proper piece of engineering from yes, you guessed it, an engineer. You get a little LCD screen (yes, really!) to help navigate settings — though do be warned, the text is small.
It’s a half-frame camera, so you get double the shots from a standard roll. That alone felt like a win — but what really stood out was the portrait orientation. As someone used to landscape-format cameras, I loved being nudged into a new way of seeing. It made me think differently about my compositions.
What’s the difference between the two versions — the TYCH+ and the TYCH (standard)?
Both the TYCH standard and plus have these features/elements:
- ISO settings from 12 to 6400
- Electronic shutter count
- Auto modes for each of the lenses (f8, f56 and f125)
- Exposure compensation +/-2 stops in ½ stop increments
- Shutter delay
- 30mm (45mm equivalent on half frame) f8 meniscus lens
- 25mm (38mm equivalent on half frame) f56 zone plate
- 25mm (38mm equivalent on half frame) f125 pinhole
Both versions allow you to switch lenses using a clever rotating turret. I used a mix of all four and loved how different each one felt. (Top tip: don’t forget to reset the settings every time you switch lenses — it’s a mix of button and dial, but it’s NOT automatic).
The two key differences on the TYCH+ are the premium lens and the viewfinder:
01.
The TYCH+ has a premium lens
“33.3mm (50mm equivalent), f8.0, fixed focus”
—This means the lens gives you a natural-looking photo — similar to what your eye sees — with everything from about 2 metres to infinity in focus. You don’t need to focus manually; it’s set up to keep most scenes sharp.
“4 elements in 2 groups (2 low dispersion elements)”
—Inside the lens are 4 tiny glass pieces arranged in 2 pairs. Two of them are low-dispersion, which helps reduce the colour fringing (where colours can look separated or “off” at the edges of things). Basically: better image clarity and cleaner colours.
“Rapid Rectilinear design”
—This is a classic lens design from the 1800s, known for keeping straight lines looking straight (so buildings don’t bow or bend weirdly at the edges).
“Corrects distortion, coma, and lateral colour”
—This lens is designed to fix common optical problems:
- Distortion: keeps your photo lines straight.
- Coma: prevents light points (like stars or lamps) from turning into smudgy shapes.
- Lateral colour: helps avoid those weird rainbow edges in contrasty scenes.
“Single-layer anti-reflection coating”
—A thin layer on the glass helps reduce lens flare and light reflections, giving you better contrast and colours, especially in bright light.
02.
Premium viewfinder
The TYCH+ comes with larger and brighter viewfinder than the standard TYCH camera.
This just means it’s really nice to look through. It’s big, clear, and makes it easier to frame your shot — much better than a tiny, squinty one. Especially helpful when using the camera in daylight or when you’re composing more carefully.
30mm (45mm equivalent) f8 Meniscus Lens
This is your classic “lo-fi” lens.
- It gives a slightly soft, vintage look — not tack-sharp, but dreamy and artistic.
- Great for capturing atmosphere and mood, like old family photos or hazy light.
- Think of it as your everyday, creative lens for experimenting.
- It’s simple in design (just one curved piece of glass) and gives some vignetting and character around the edges.
25mm (38mm equivalent) f56 Zone Plate
This is a creative, soft-focus lens with a glow.
- Instead of traditional glass, it uses a transparent disc with a ring-shaped opening, which causes light to diffract (spread out slightly).
- The result is a dreamy, glowy, almost painterly effect — especially around highlights.
- It’s often compared to soft-focus lenses used in romantic portraits or ethereal scenes.
- Best used when you want that soft, artistic look — not for sharp details.
25mm (38mm equivalent) f125 Pinhole
This is your pure pinhole photography option — no glass, just a tiny hole letting light in.
- Creates a very soft, low-contrast image with infinite depth of field — everything from front to back is equally in focus (though never sharp).
- Because the hole is so small, it needs a long exposure, so a tripod is essential.
- This is the most experimental lens — perfect for still scenes, abstract shots, and playing with time and light.
33.3mm (50mm equivalent on half frame) f8.0 lens
This is the sharpest, clearest lens on the Alfie TYCH+ — the one to reach for when you want clean lines, rich detail, and the most “accurate” results.
- Produces clean, natural-looking images with good contrast and detail — ideal for everyday scenes, street photography, or anything with strong lines.
- Fixed focus from 2m to infinity makes it easy to use — just point, compose, and shoot.
- Perfect when you want at least a few frames from the roll to be clean, sharp, and well-exposed.
A Cheeky Handheld Confession
Now… I was a bit cheeky. Even though the TYCH+ is perfect for tripod use—and we were on a photowalk and I had my Peak Design tripod— I actually shot most of my frames handheld. I did borrow a Manfrotto mini tripod, which I highly recommend for low-angle or creative shots (or, frankly, balancing the camera on bins), but I also wanted to see how the TYCH handled movement and camera shake. Check out the results below for the best and the worst of the roll…
The Route (Or Not)
We started at Carfax Tower with the idea of heading to The Perch pub, but as anyone who’s shot pinhole or used tripods knows… it’s not exactly a fast-paced affair. We ended up adjusting the route (shortening it dramatically) and finished at The Oxford Retreat, near the station — the perfect spot for a drink, a chat, and catching a train back to London. Bonus: indoor and garden space, ideal for a group of 10 or so.
What I Learned
- I got 40 frames out of a roll marked 36 (and another person got up to 63 on the walk!). Flic Film Apollo 18 has clearly been cut generously, so you can expect to get more than you expect.
- Portrait orientation? Refreshing! It changed how I saw everything, and I kind of want this camera because of that! I find I really struggle with shooting portrait and it would be good to have a camera that does it by default.
- Half-frame meant I could experiment more freely without worrying about “wasting” shots. Especially when you discover you have ‘free’ shots to take, after the expected 36 shots!
- New friends + new gear + new ideas = the perfect combination.
The photowalk was the perfect excuse to try new gear, test out new film, and connect with other film geeks—without any pressure.
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/56 Zone Plate
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/56 Zone Plate
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/125 Pinhole
30mm (45mm equivalent) f/8 Meniscus Lens
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/125 Pinhole
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/56 Zone Plate
30mm (45mm equivalent) f/8 Meniscus Lens
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/56 Zone Plate
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/56 Zone Plate
33.3mm (50mm equivalent) f/8 Premium Lens
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/56 Zone Plate
30mm (45mm equivalent) f/8 Meniscus Lens
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/125 Pinhole
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/56 Zone Plate
30mm (45mm equivalent) f/8 Meniscus Lens
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/56 Zone Plate
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/125 Pinhole
30mm (45mm equivalent) f/8 Meniscus Lens
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/56 Zone Plate
30mm (45mm equivalent) f/8 Meniscus Lens
25mm (38mm equivalent) f/125 Pinhole
30mm (45mm equivalent) f/8 Meniscus Lens
33.3mm (50mm equivalent) f/8 Premium Lens
What’s it like to shoot with the Alfie camera?
I worked through all four lenses, mostly on auto mode but occasionally shifting to manual when the lighting needed it. The camera helpfully flags when a shot is underexposed (‘UX’ on the screen).
I’ll be honest, when I first started using it I was completely lost and I forgot everything I was told within 5 minutes. Luckily I had Dave on hand to helpfully remind me what to do every time I wanted to change lens, shoot in the dark etc and about a couple of hours into the walk things just clicked into place. It’s definitely one of those cameras you want to watch a video about before you start using it, or be with Dave and Alfie on one of their walks!
Dave also recommended pulling it one stop to reduce the contrast and get more pleasing results, so if you do this, don’t forget to tell your lab to pull it one stop as well. Pulling means to shoot at a lower ISO than ‘box speed—the ISO on the packet’. In this case we were shooting Flic Film Apollo 18, very kindly donated by Analogue Wonderland; the box speed was 400, but we changed the ISO manually to 200 and exposed for 200 ISO.
ANALOGUE WOnDERLAND
Analogue Wonderland are a UK-based lab that offer a wide variety of cameras, including pinhole, and an extremely wide variety of film stocks.
Check out their developing services for black and white and colour films.
Wait! What’s parallax?
You might have heard the term “parallax error” before — and with a camera like the Alfie, it’s worth mentioning. Because you’re not looking through the lens when you compose your shot, your framing may be slightly off — especially at close distances. It’s a classic quirk of cameras with separate viewfinders, and one more reason to leave a bit of extra space around your subject. Did I account for it? Absolutely not. So my framing was ‘off’ in my results, especially for subjects close to me… but that’s part of the fun of testing out a new camera!
A few tips from my experience
- Use a tripod. I was lent a Manfrotto mini tripod (ideal for low angles and balancing on bins!) and found it brilliant.
- Don’t forget to wind on after each shot — easy to miss when you’re in the flow.
- Reset the lens each time you change it – it’s a mix of button and dial.
- Parallax? I ignored it. But if you want to avoid this, don’t get too close to your subject, or get to know how much it affects your shots.
- Remote cable accessory from Alfie – fantastic. Simple but really improves control. It plugs into the USB-C socket.
- It’s quiet. So quiet I couldn’t hear the shutter – but that’s probably just me (I’m deaf). If you rely on shutter sound, use a tripod and visually check your shots.
- Check your metering with a KEKs light meter or phone app if you want to be sure it’s right for critical photos, and adjust the camera manually.
Final thoughts on the Alfie TYCH+
I was originally prejudiced against the Alfie, I prejudged and dismissed it in advance, to be honest, as an extremely expensive Lomo toy, but I was shocked by the detail and the craftsmanship of this tiny little camera—and to be honest I wasn’t expecting to enjoy using this camera so much, and to have quite strong feelings of not want to give it back at the end of the walk. I was pretty lazy, most of the time shooting in auto-exposure mode, or hand-held and it coped pretty well, considering. I’m curious to know how manually exposing and shooting on a sold tripod would make a difference. But for me, the reason for having such a tiny camera would be to take spontaneous street photos handheld.
The TYCH+ doesn’t feel cheap, at £499 (or £299 for the standard version), but if you want the sharper premium lens, it’s the one you need to get. You can go out with a tiny camera that offers you 4 lenses in one camera—plenty to play with, and lots of different effects.
If you only want the experimental lenses, then you could go for the cheaper one. To keep the price in perspective, if you were to buy separate film cameras with ‘similar’ lenses, then check out the ones listed below—but the Alfie TYCH is the only one to offer these in a tiny half-frame camera.
- ZONE PLATE: Zero Image Zone Plate Cameras. Zone plate cameras are niche; Zero Image is one of the few manufacturers specializing in them. (approximately £150 to £200—2025 prices)
- MENISCUS LENS: Holga 120N Medium Format Camera. The Holga 120N features a simple meniscus lens, producing characteristic vignetting and soft focus images (approximately £40 to £60—2025 prices)
- PINHOLE: You can make your own for free, but if you wanted a ready-made one, then the Reality So Subtle 35 is probably comparable to this. (approximately £80 to £110—2025 prices)
Dave Faulkner is the founder and technical lead of Alfie Cameras, a UK-based startup dedicated to reimagining film photography for the modern era. With over 20 years of experience as a design engineer in medical devices and consumer products, Dave brings a wealth of technical expertise to his role. His passion for photography, combined with his engineering background, led him to create innovative film cameras like the Alfie TYCH—a compact 35mm half-frame camera designed to offer a unique and creative shooting experience.
