I don’t have many Kodaks in my collection but over the last two days I have been given three very old Kodak cameras. I’ve enjoyed doing a little research on these cameras, and here are my notes. Vest Pocket Autographic (1915-1926) The Vest Pocket cameras were tiny by standards of the day, hardly any larger thanContinue reading “Old Kodaks”
Tag Archives: medium format
Kodak Duaflex
Released 1949 The Duaflex is a pseudo-TLR. TLR because it has two lenses (one for viewing, one for taking) but pseudo because it isn’t a true TLR. It has fixed focus, no ground-glass viewing screen and behaves more like a box camera. This one was a gift from my colleague Paul. See all photos takenContinue reading “Kodak Duaflex”
Zeiss Ikon Icarette 500/15
Released 1925 I’ve long fancied a 6×12 good-quality panoramic camera. The best option seems to be a 6×12 roll film back for a large format camera (such as my Horseman 45HD) but these are very expensive. Even more expensive are most of the dedicated 6×12 cameras from the likes of Fuji, Horseman and Linhof. I managedContinue reading “Zeiss Ikon Icarette 500/15”
Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta A 531
Released 1937 This wonderful camera is one of the oldest in my collection, and yet I bought it specifically to use, not to look at. I wanted a medium format travel camera, because my medium format SLRs are too heavy to cycle with comfortably. This Super Ikonta folds up to a size barely larger thanContinue reading “Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta A 531”
645
645 is probably a mysterious code to most people, but to film photographers it represents the smallest of the medium format sizes, 6×4.5 cm. I’ve always overlooked 6×4.5 in the past, thinking that if you’re going to shoot medium format, you might as well do it “properly” and shoot at least 6×7. To me, 6×4.5Continue reading “645”
Mamiya M645J
Released 1979 I dearly love my Mamiya RB67 but sometimes it’s just a bit too big and heavy to lug around all day. I decided to buy this M645J for “travel” use. Its 6×4.5 format has most of the benefits of the 6×7 format, while the camera is significantly smaller and lighter. At a glanceContinue reading “Mamiya M645J”
Agfa Click-II
Released 1959 This is a simple camera, basically a box camera in all but shape. It has a slow, fixed-focus lens, a single-speed shutter and three selectable apertures. These are three holes of different sizes punched in a sheet of metal, rather than a continuously variable diaphragm. At a glance Lens Fixed Achromat 72.5mm f/8.8Continue reading “Agfa Click-II”
Ensign Cameo
Released c1928 I was given this camera by my father-in-law as a birthday present. It’s a strange cross between a view camera and a more common folding camera. It has a ground glass focusing screen and front rise, but also has a pop-up sports finder and waist-level finder. Unusually, its default orientation is portrait ratherContinue reading “Ensign Cameo”
Mamiya C220
Released 1968 I bought this TLR for the purpose of shooting infrared. Sure, I’ve got lots of other cameras that can do that, but with an infrared filter over the lens you can’t see anything in the viewfinder. With a TLR, the viewfinder uses a separate lens and you can still see what you’re doing without havingContinue reading “Mamiya C220”
Ensign Ranger Special
Released 1953 This camera was a gift. It’s a fairly standard folding camera which prefers to be in the portrait orientation. Its main interesting feature is the built-in mask which allows the photographer to choose 6×9 or 6×6 exposures. See all photos taken with the Ranger. At a glance Lens Fixed 105mm f/4.5 Film 120Continue reading “Ensign Ranger Special”
Jonathan Gazeley 