Vashika Electro 35

I first saw these types of 'cameras' decades ago. Once upon a time, you got one similar to this if you got a paid 1 year subscription to Time magazine. They come in a few variations and body types and colors, and all have a name that's close enough to a major brand that might mislead a first time buyer into thinking they'd get a bargain.

These are actually nothing more than toys, and I mean that in the worse sense possible. With the exception of the block of real (and potentially toxic) lead inside these things to make them feel heavier, and a few metal screws and cheap springs -these are all plastic. No filter threads, no glass in the eyepiece, a single 1/2 inch plastic lens like the early Kodak Hawkeyes, and they're almost guaranteed to break when you crank the lever to advance the film to the first frame. They will take a 35mm film canister, yes... but I doubt if anyone actually got a real photo produced by any one of these things.

Unfortunately these are still for sale. From flea markets to eBay, these are listed - and (over)priced - like real cameras. I used to send messages to the sellers trying to get $75+ for these, but after a few rude replies, I just gave up sending anything. Sad, truly sad, that people still get tricked into buying these.