SamsungFino 105S
Zoom Compact
The story
The Samsung Fino 105S is a product of the last full decade of mass-market film, before APS and digital fought over the leftovers — a zoom compact paired with a Samsung 38–105mm f/4.5–8.5. Some backstory: sold as Maxima Zoom 105GL in some markets.
Specifications
- Format
- 35mm
- Year
- 1997
- Lens
- Samsung 38–105mm f/4.5–8.5
- Min. focus
- 0.8 m
- Flash
- Built-in
- Battery
- 1× CR123A
Notable features
- Power zoom
- Multi-mode flash
- Self-timer
Shooting it today
The Samsung 38–105mm f/4.5–8.5 covers wide-to-short-tele in one barrel — one lens, no decisions, point and shoot. Film supply is a non-issue: any 35mm cassette from any lab works. A single CR123A lithium cell powers everything including the motor; still cheap and stocked at most camera shops. The built-in flash will fire whenever the meter decides it should, so learn the override before your first night out. Minimum focus is 0.8 m, close enough for a coffee cup or a face but stops short of true macro. Built for family events, holidays and anything where you'd rather reframe than walk.
Who it's for · Verdict
Zoom compacts are still the bargain corner of the film market — pick up the Samsung Fino 105S cheap, run a roll through it and judge whether the convenience outweighs the slower aperture.
Fun facts
- §1Sold as Maxima Zoom 105GL in some markets.
Field note
The lab rang with that careful voice people use for bad news — something about a light leak on the roll from the Fino 105S. I never left my chair — the Samsung 38–105mm f/4.5–8.5 on the Fino 105S covered everything from the awning to the bell tower. Somewhere near frame thirty I realised I hadn't thought about the Fino 105S once, which is the highest praise an late-1990s compact can earn.
Creative field note — inspired by this camera's character, not based on real events.
Find one
Most copies turn up second-hand on eBay. We've linked a saved search so you can see current listings.
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