127 camera number 29 - Nagel Vollenda

Nagel Vollenda, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is another of the little black folding cameras from the 1930s that I am particularly fond of. It all seems to work, but I've not put a film through it before, so I won't know how light tight it is until next week.

photo from 127 camera No. 28 - Baby Brownie Special

Arts Tower, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The age-related degeneration in the film is much in evidence here, though I was rather disappointed not to see in of the backing paper markings as I have sometimes found on very old film.

127 camera number 28 - Baby Brownie Special

Baby Brownie Special, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

It's been a couple of months since I last used a "new" 127 camera, so with the centenary year drawing to a close, I'll try to fit some more in. This is a full frame model, so it takes 8 photos on a roll. It is as basic as you can get, no focussing, fixed aperture and a single shutter speed with no "B" setting. I loaded it with Efke black and white film.

photo from 127 camera number 27 - Purma Special

Sir Isaac Newton, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The Purma special has three shutter speeds, selceted according to which way up the camera is held, but there is no "B" setting, so indoor shots are generally not feasible. This sunlit chapel seemed just about bright enough to get away with the "slow" shutter speed, so I took this picture of Isaac Newton. Even though the sculpture was several feet away, it is clear that the lens is focussed better on the wall behind, there is no way to focus the Purma, other than by attaching supplementary lenses, but I don't have any of them, so this was the best I could do.

127 camera number 27 - Purma Special

Purma Special, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is something of a design classic, with its art deco lines and bakelite construction. It also has an unusual shutter, which has three speeds depending on which way the camera is held. The format is square (but not the standard 12 on a roll 4cm x 4cm, this takes sixteen 32mm x 32mm photos) so the orientation of the camera doesn't matter. There is no focusing, and a fixed aperture of f6.3.

photo from 127 camera No. 26 - Brownie Starmatic

Gondolas, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This camera was made for the expanding tourist market in the early 1960s, so this rather obvious holiday snap is an appropriate choice of subject.

127 camera number 26 - Brownie Starmatic

Brownie Starmatic, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I found this camera recently in a charity shop, it has an automatic exposure system which still seems to work despite being around 50 years old. At 44mm the lens is quite wide, which makes a nice change for this format. I loaded it with Efke 100 film to take away on holiday.

Helter-Skelter

Helter-Skelter, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This was taken with a Kodak Brownie 44A, I used one of these back in February, but this one was a recent find at a car boot sale, it had a partly used film in it, and I decided to finish the film off and develop it. At first it seemed completely blank, but when it dried out, I could just make out some very faint images, so I scanned the negatives and did what I could to salvage them in photoshop. Technically the results are abysmal, but this timeless subject has a certain charm.

photo from 127 camera No. 25 - Falcon Miniature

giant pigeons, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The quality of the images from this camera proved to be rather poor, this is one of the better photos, using a miniature camera to photograph giant pigeons!

127 camera number 25 - Falcon Miniature

Falcon Miniature, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

There were a number of very similar looking models made in the 1940s and 50s, the styling of this one was a source for the current retro-looking "Sprocket Rocket" from the Lomography store. It has an unusual feature in that a spare roll of film can be stored in a chamber inside the back. The weather has brightened up a bit, so I hope to be able to use this fixed speed, fixed aperture, focus-free camera without too much difficulty this week.

photo from 127 camera No. 24 - Luxette

Lincoln Cathedral, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The definition, at least in the centre, of this lens is quite good. This one was taken during a cloudy spell on a fairly bright day, I can't remeber which aperture I used, but I think it was probably f11.

127 camera number 24 - Luxette

Luxette, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This little camera is rather scruffy, but seems to work OK. It takes square photos and has 3 apertures and 4 shutter speeds (plus B).
At the height of the English summer I was hoping to use a more basic camera that needs good light, but it is so dull and wet here that I decided to use one with a bit more flexibility in terms of lighting conditions. I've loaded it with Efke 100 film.

photo from 127 camera number 23 - Baby Rolleiflex

Spitalfields Church, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I took the camera to London for the "Film Photography Podcast" meetup. This is one of the few photos that doesn't feature another photographer!

127 camera number 23 - Baby Rolleiflex

Rolleiflex 4x4, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Although it's a bit battered, this one works OK, except for hesitant slow shutter speeds. It was made in Germany in the early 1930s.

photo from 127 camera number 22 - Bencini Minicomet

bunting, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The film was in poor condition, and was stuck to the backing paper, I had to develop it as it was, though at the end of the process the paper peeled off quite easily. There was a considerable residue of paper particles left stuck to the film, these are the white flecks visible on this photo.

127 camera number 22 - Bencini Minicomet

Bencini Minicomet, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is not only a new model for me, but a new format, it takes 2cm x 3cm pictures, and squeezes 24 exposures out of a roll. So far I haven't been able to find any other cameras that use 127 film in this way.
It was made in the early 1960s, there was a film in it when I found it, Kodacolor II, which was introduced in 127 size in 1973.

photo from 127 camera number 21 - Bell & Howell Electric Eye

Madina Masjid Sheffield, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The automatic exposure mechanism on this camera seems to have died, but it still works as a fixed aperture, single speed device. I transferred the partly used film from the Kodak Brownie Super 27 that I was using earlier in the week.

127 camera number 21 - Bell & Howell Electric Eye

Bell & Howell Electric Eye, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is a very heavy and chunky camera, although it has an automatic exposure system, this doesn't seem to be working, so I treated it as a simple point and shoot, with fixed aperture and shutter speed, and took the four frames in bright daylight. I didn't want to risk wasting a whole film, so tranferred the part used roll from the Brownie Super 27 to finish it off.

photo from 127 camera number 20 - Kodak Brownie Super 27

water feature, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The curly Efke film managed to slip free from the film plane and provide an unplanned selective focus effect.

127 camera number 20 - Brownie Super 27

Brownie Super 27, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The Brownie Super 27 is one of the less common Brownies, at least on this side of the Atlantic. Made between 1961 and 1965 it takes twelve square photos per roll. There is no "B" setting, and two apertures marked sunny and dull, so I'm having to wait for suitable lighting conditions to finish the film off.

photo from 127 camera number 19 - Bencini Comet III

Kenilworth Works, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is one of the many old industrial buildings in Sheffield that are still in use, though sadly many more have been lost.

127 camera number 19 - Bencini Comet III

Bencini Comet III, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is one of the less common of the Bencini range, it is styled rather like a cine camera, with a vertical layout. There is a single shutter speed of 1/50th, plus "B", and unusually, a cable release socket.
I loaded it with a roll of Macocolor C41 negative film, and managed to make rather a mess of it, losing the first 3 frames in the process. I'll know what to do next time!

photo from 127 camera number 18 - Whitehouse Beacon

Accordionist, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

There is a very noticeable light leak on all the negatives from this camera. It did occur to me that I might have caused some fogging when I re-rolled the film in order to swap it between cameras, but if that was the case, there would have been fogging on those negatives as well, and there isn't. The fault therefore lies with the Whitehouse.

127 camera number 18 - Whitehouse Beacon

Whitehouse Beacon, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is quite a stylish little model, with a lens board that collapses into the body when not in use, leaving quite a slim, squarish camera.
It takes sixteen 3cm x 4cm frames per roll, and I transferred the part used roll from the Voigtlander Perkeo into it. There is no focus or aperture adjustment, and only one shutter speed plus "B".

photo from 127 camera number 17 - Voigtlander Perkeo

Sax Max Quartet, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This photo was taken against the light, and with the un-coated lens, the flare could have been worse.

127 camera number 17 - Voigtlander Perkeo

Voigtlander Perkeo, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is an old favourite camera, it was made in Germany in the early 1930s, and still works as it should. I loaded it with a roll of Efke 100 film, and took it an a trip to Barcelona.

photo from 127 camera number 16 - Exakta VP model B

playing the blue guitar on the red sofa in black and white, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This camera has a series of very long exposure settings, going up to 12 seconds, this one was taken indoors, away from a window, the exposure was 4 seconds at f22.

127 camera No. 16 - Exakta VP model B

Exakta VP model B, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is one of the early Exakta SLRs taking 127 film, it works fine, even the very slow shutter speeds (it goes down to 12 seconds!) are OK.
I used a roll of Efke 100 black and white film in it.

photo from 127 camera No.15 - Kodak Vest Pocket Series III

penguin with light leaks, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I knew there were holes in the bellows, and expected, indeed was looking forward to, some light leaks, but there was rather too much stray light sloshing around, and this is the only one of the four photos I took that has anything to see on it! The film was considerably expired as well, which didn't help...

127 camera No.15 - Kodak Vest Pocket Series III

Kodak Vest Pocket Series III, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Probably made in the 1920s, this is one of the many variations of the "VP" format, using the newly released 127 film. There are a number of holes in the bellows, so I expect light leaks and fogginh, hopefully it might add some interest if it's not too bad.

photo from 127 camera No.14 - Bilora Bella

Norton Hotel, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The blotchiness is related to the age of the film, which expired the best part of 20 years ago. This photo was taken at around 7pm, when the sun finally came out after a dull day.

127 camera No.14 - Bilora Bella

Bilora Bella, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The Bilora Bella was made in the late 1950s and has a sleek curvy look to it. There is very little to go wrong, and this one seems to work OK.

photo from 127 camera No.13 - Whitehouse Beacon Reflex

wind turbine, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

There were only three exposures left when I transferred the partly used film into this camera. It was a sunny spring morning, and with ISO 200 film, the image is quite over-exposed, even using the smaller of the two apertures. When this camera was made, film would have been a couple of stops slower, so the exposure would have been about right for a sunny day.

127 camera No.13 - Whitehouse Beacon Reflex

Whitehouse Beacon Reflex, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Another very basic camera using the 4x4 square format. I tranferred the partly used Maco colour negative film from the Bencini Comet camera. There were only three exposures left, but I found this camera more fun to use than the Bencini, so I may put a full film in it at some point.

photo from 127 camera No.12 - Bencini Comet

lonely arch, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This was taken using Maco colour negative film, slightly expired and developed in Tetenal C41 chemistry.

127 camera No. 12 - Bencini Comet

Bencini Comet, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Only 9 weeks into the year and I'm on my 12th 127 camera, but I don't think I'll keep this pace up for the whole year, I certainly haven't got 52 127 cameras, and will do everything I can to avoid acquiring that many...

photo from 127 camera No.11 - VP Twin

if you go down to the woods today..., a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

A snap taken on a day trip to visit a snowdrop garden, the sort of photo that this camera was made for. The fall off in sharpness towards the corners is quite noticeable, but I like this effect.
This is the Efke film that I started off in camera number 10, and transferred to this one half way through.

127 camera No.11 - VP Twin

VP Twin, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is a tiny Bakelite camera from the 1930s. It takes 16 exposures on a roll of 127 film. Apparently it was sold by Woolworths in the UK, they had a policy of nothing costing more the 6d (6 old pence), so the camera was sold in 2 pieces to comply with this rule.
When I found it, the shutter wasn't working, and while I normally wouldn't go anywhere near a camera with "WD40", I carefully put a tiny amount on the shutter from behind, and it immediately sprang back to life.
I transferred the last few exposures of the Efke film that I have been using in the Baldi camera.

photo from 127 camera No.10 - Baldi 3x4

Lodge House, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

Although this looks like an idyllic rural setting, this recently extended old house is sited on a very large, very busy traffic island on the A31 in Surrey.

127 camera No.10 - Baldi 3x4

Baldi 3x4, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is another of the 1930s little black folding 127 cameras that I have a soft spot for. The 3x4 cm size is the 127 "half-frame" format, with 16 exposures per roll. I'm using Efke 100 black and white film this week.
Despite being nearly 80 years old, the shutter still fires on all speeds, but it does need a bit of warming up on the slow speeds, I find that covering the lens and firing the shutter a few times helps ensure that it will be reasonably accurate.

photo from 127 camera No.9 - Kodak Brownie 44A

intersection of planes, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The same film as used in camera No.8, with the same age related deterioration.

photo from 127 camera No.8 - Gevalux 144

Yellow Plane No. 8, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The twenty year old film I used has taken its toll on the image quality, but I quite like the effect, the blotchy appearance and odd colouring give a retro feel, which seems to match the subject matter.

127 camera No.9 - Kodak Brownie 44A

Kodak Brownie 44A, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The 44A has a single shutter speed and 2 apertures, there is no focus control. I also have a 44B, which has a 3 speed shutter, 3 apertures and focussing, unfortunately the shutter doesn't work on that one, but I hope I may be coax it back to life so that I can use it later this year.
After shooting half a roll in the Gevalux 144, I transferred the film into this camera to finish it off.

127 camera No.8 - Gevalux 144

Gevalux 144, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The Gevalux is a chunky camera, barely any smaller than a 120 camera of this style. I've loaded it with a roll of expired Kodak colour negative film, and will probably transfer the film to another 127 camera to finish it off.

photo from 127 camera No.7 - Bencini Comet-S

two pigeons, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

After taking 11 pictures in the Baby Ikonta, I transferred the film into the Comet. It was a sunny day, so I used the yellow filter which came with the camera to darken the blue skies a little. There weren't any clouds when this photo was taken, so the two flying pigeons are the only thing to break up the plain sky.

photo from 127 camera No.6 - Baby Ikonta

light and its shadow, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

I saw this simple light and shadow composition in the Derby City Museum. It reminded me of one of Man Ray's photos from the 1930s.

127 camera No. 7 - Bencini Comet S

Bencini Comet S, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

There are many variations of the Bencini Comets. This one takes sixteen 3cm x 4cm exposures on a 127 roll film. There is a fixed aperture and single shutter speed, plus "B". This one has a focussing ring, and came with a yellow filter attached.
I took 11 exposures on a roll of Efle 100 B&W film in the Baby Ikonta, then transferred the film into this camera to finish it off.

photo from 127 camera No.1 - Gelto D-III

Dragon Dance, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is the first time I have put a "proper" 127 film in this camera, last time I used it I re-spooled some 35mm film onto a 127 backing paper, and while I liked the results, there was loss of focus at the centres of the pictures, presumably due to the film not laying flat. This Macocolor film shows no sign of the focus problem, so I think my theory was correct.

photo from 127 camera No.5 - Babette

yellow taxi, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

The quality of the image is very much as I would have expected, but I least I got something!

Winter 127 Day

Friday 27th January is a "127" day, in this case the American convention of month:year applies, so month 1, day 27 = 127.
Currently I have films in two 127 cameras, and hope to use both of them tomorrow.

127 camera No. 6 - Zeiss Ikon Baby Ikonta

Zeiss Ikon Baby Ikonta, a photo by pho-Tony on Flickr.

This is possibly the smallest folding 127 camera ever made. A range of lens and shutter combinations were available, this is one of the more basic models with a Novar lens and a Derval shutter. I've never used it before, and have loaded it with a roll of Efke 100.