The festive holidays are beautiful, with streets decked out in gorgeous lighting, and I used the Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm to capture these lovely sights. Film photography has come back into frame these past few years, and this reusable film camera is hard to beat. It’s one of the best cheap cameras around, so what makes it so good?
The Swiss+Go is extremely easy to use thanks to the straightforward control scheme. It’s also highly portable so it’s perfect to take on vacation. The camera comes as part of a bundle which includes film and batteries — and it costs just £43. That’s fantastic value for money. And how about the photos? They turn out gorgeous and detailed, but the camera struggles a little in low-light conditions. Also, the build feels plasticky.
For the complete breakdown, read my full Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review.
Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review: Specs
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| Price | £43 (bundle) |
| Lens | 31mm fixed-focus |
| Viewfinder | Yes |
| Exposure control | Automatic |
| Shutter | 1/120s |
| Aperture | f/9 |
| ISO | 200 / 400 |
| Shooting range | 1m-∞ |
| Flash | Built-in |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power | 1 x AAA battery |
| Dimensions | 5.2 x 2.9 x 1.9 inches |
| Weight | 5.29oz (camera only) |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Film development cost | $20 / £17 approx. |
Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review: Cheat sheet
- What is it? A reusable 35mm film camera
- Who is it for? For beginners and fans of film photography
- How much does it cost? The Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm is available for £43 (bundle)
- What do we like? It’s compact and portable, easy to use, great value for money, and it takes gorgeous photos
- What don’t we like? Low-light performance is hit-or-miss and the build quality is plasticky
Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review: Price & availability
The Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm has a retail price of £43 at Amazon U.K. and comes as a bundle only. The bundle includes the camera, four AAA batteries and a roll of 24 exposures. At the time of writing, the Swiss+Go isn't available to buy in the U.S. but may be in the future.
This is a similar price to the Kodak Ultra F9 which costs $49 (which is available in the U.S. and has similar features), but for the camera only. Novocolor’s offering is therefore better value for money. This camera is available in three colors: black, blue, and green.
Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review: Design & build quality
The Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm is slightly bigger than the Kodak Ultra F9 but is still very compact, measuring 5.2 x 2.9 x 1.9 inches. It’s comfortable to use with one or both hands, and because it weighs just 5.29oz (camera only), I could easily carry it in my coat pocket or hang it around my wrist with the included strap.
I tested the green variant which is stylish, but has a plasticky feel and looks cheap up close. It doesn’t feel as nice as the Ultra F9 whose faux-leather-like pattern lends it a premium edge.
Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review: Lens & viewfinder
Similar to the Kodak Ultra F9, the Novocolor Swiss+Go is fitted with a 31mm fixed-focus optical lens which has a shooting range of 1m-∞. The lack of any manual control over its settings make this a very simple camera. Just point and shoot and you’re good to go. Exposure is set automatically and shutter speed is limited to 1/120s. The viewfinder is the same size as the one on the Ultra F9 too. I wear glasses all the time and struggled a little to look through the Swiss+Go’s viewfinder.
Low-light performance isn’t fantastic either because of the camera’s f/9 aperture — again, like the Ultra F9 — as the lens aperture can’t be widened to let more light through. There is a built-in flash, though, that can be toggled to aid in dimly lit environments.
Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review: Controls
The Novocolor Swiss+Go is very simple to use, so it’s great for those just starting out in film photography. Let’s start with the back of the camera where the film compartment is located. To get started, all you need to do is open the compartment, pop a roll of film in, pull a bit of the film out, hook the sprocket holes onto the teeth, then turn the film winder until the camera takes up a bit of the film. If you’re struggling, I found this tutorial very helpful — it’s for the Kodak Ultra F9 but the principle and procedure is essentially the same. Once the roll is in, you’re ready to get snapping.
After every shot you take, you’ll need to use the film winder on the back to advance to the next frame before you can shoot again. This is easily done and you even hear a very satisfying click when it’s ready.
The top plate houses the shutter button which gives decent tactile feedback when pressed, and the rewind crank for loading and unloading the film roll.
To toggle the flash, you’ll find the switch under the flash and next to the lens. When the roll is fully used up, you’ll need to press the rewind button located on the camera’s bottom plate to rewind the film back into the canister.
Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review: Image quality
The beauty of film cameras is that you can’t instantly see the photo you’ve taken, unlike digital cameras. That’s what the most exciting part of testing the Novocolor Swiss+Go was. I used this camera at Christmas and I was eagerly looking forward to receiving the digital copies the day I handed the roll in for processing. The results? Awesome.
Results can, of course, be hit-or-miss and not every photo will turn out the way you envisioned. This will also depend on the film you use. I used Kodak Gold 200 film which is rated at ISO 200, but you can also use 400 film (ISO 400). The Swiss+Go takes fantastic photos, especially in bright conditions, as you can see in the examples above. I love how the colors have come out, especially in the second shot of the church. Color reproduction is faithful and shadows are captured well too. However, there is some color fringing, also known as chromatic aberration, in the top of the buildings in the first photo of my partner and the top of the tree line in the third shot. This is the lens optics showing their $43 price tag, but it’s to be expected on a camera like this (The Kodak F9 also demonstrated color fringing). The chromatic aberration also adds to the retro, imperfect charm, too.
When shooting in dimly lit environments, I’d recommend keeping the flash on. The Swiss+Go has an f/9 aperture which isn’t wide enough to let much light through. The photos above were taken inside a store and at my apartment — lights dimmed at both — but the camera’s flash has done a good job of illuminating the shot. The second shot of our Christmas dinner is slightly out of focus but remember, this is a no-frills camera which doesn’t have an autofocus system comparable to that of the best mirrorless cameras.
These photos were shot with the flash on and outdoors at night. I adore the first shot of the Christmas tree lit up and because it was so bright, the camera has captured it well — albeit with some color fringing at the top. The second photo of a different Christmas tree is a little dull but you can still make out the ornaments and lighting.
Overall, I’ve been very impressed with the Swiss+Go’s shooting capabilities. Photos have turned out gorgeous with that vintage aesthetic many of us look for when sharing them on social media.
Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review: Film cost & yield
The Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm uses, well, 35mm film which is usually easy and inexpensive to procure. I used Kodak Gold 200 35mm film, a roll (36 exposures) of which cost me $11 / £11. Developing film costs $20 / £17 on average which, in the long run, can become expensive. You could always develop film yourself which will be cheaper but that requires skill and investment.
Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review: Battery life
The Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm utilizes a single AAA battery which isn't hard to come by — and chances are you already have some lying about your house. However, disposable batteries aren’t great for the environment as they can’t be recycled properly, but you can always invest in rechargeable batteries if that’s a concern. I used a single Kodak Max Super Alkine AAA battery to test the Swiss+Go 35mm and it lasted me an entire roll of film (36 exposures).
Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm review: Verdict
As film cameras go, the Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm is an excellent choice — and given its low price, it won’t give you much to complain about. Available as a bundle that includes film and batteries, you can pick up the Swiss+Go for just £43. It’s very easy to use and highly portable, making it great for travel. Photos taken in bright conditions turn out lovely with that gorgeous vintage aesthetic too.
This isn’t to say that the camera is perfect. Low-light performance is hit-or-miss while the Swiss+Go’s build feels quite plasticky.
Regardless, this is a fantastic camera that won’t let you down, and one I’ll be keeping in my photography arsenal for a while.
English (US) ·