This past summer, my brother and I were blessed with the opportunity to go overseas, travel around Europe, and sail the Peloponnese in Greece. I was excited and knew that the sights we would get to see were going to be amazing. However, how was I going to expect a camera to hold up while at sea? I knew I was not going to be able to bring just any camera with me, but needed to be water resistant one at the least.
After one quick Youtube video from Grainydays, I knew this was the camera I wanted. The photos looked amazing, and the camera itself looks so cool. With it being an interesting camera with some amazing features, I knew this would be the perfect point and shoot to take overseas with me. I purchased mine used on eBay for roughly $90 in tested and working condition. I had little time to get used to the camera and shot a practice roll roughly a month before I left.
This camera is fun. I loved how simple it was and could just feel what the camera was thinking. It has a very silent and different sounding shutter and when I first shot on it I thought it was broken until I saw the image counter rising up with every fast shutter noise that went off. It is rapid at taking photos when given the right light and I loved how quickly and almost mindlessly I was able to take photos.
I packed it in my backpack for the trip in the same fashion that I packed my Ektar H35, and kept it as safe as I could alongside of a couple other cameras that I knew would hold up for the 16 day journey throughout Europe and the open seas.
After arriving in Zurich, Switzerland and getting into our hostel room, I dropped the camera. I checked it and saw no apparent damage or reason for concern. I managed to shoot many rolls of film during our two day stint and had zero issues with it.
We then travelled to Dubrovnik, Croatia. We stayed for one night near downtown where I still used the camera. I had so much fun doing so, and I knew the photos I was taking were going to be memorable. The next day we packed up and went to a little town near the Dubrovnik airport called Čilipi. While unloading and getting ready to hike to a far away beach, I grabbed for my WP-1. I picked it up, and the back fell off exposing my film. The camera had completely lost the hook holding the back of the camera on. This side of the camera is where it had landed just three days prior. This in turn ruined an almost complete roll of film because the re-rolling system was inoperable as a result of this. The camera was left unusable after that, and we were not even halfway through the trip.
Obviously, a ruined camera did not mean a ruined trip. I thankfully had other cameras with me and still had a working body that allowed me to get out and enjoy the world around me. It just sucked because I was quickly falling in love with this camera. I was so excited to use it again more in the states. I still have it today with duct tape keeping it together because I am so fond of the unique look that this camera has. The colors pop and makes it stick out in a crowd of dull cameras.
The Canon WP-1 is quick and fun. It is a camera I will be buying again as soon as I can. I absolutely loved what this camera was capable in my short tenure with it and am heartbroken that I can’t use it more. The fact that it broke was unfortunately my fault and something I am sad happened.
I highly recommend getting this camera. The photos I managed to get were amazing, and it is a camera I just want to put to work. I will hopefully be getting a replacement soon and will plan on not dropping that one.
