Old film cameras

King Damager

King Damager

King Damager

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Ok, so I'm looking for a few things regarding old film cameras.

I've just inherited five, seemingly quite old cameras:
  • Kershaw eight-20 Penguin
  • Kodak Brownie 127
  • Iloca Quick (can't quite tell model) but comes with a 45 3.5-22 it seems
  • Neoca 35-A
  • Voigtlander Brilliant (again can't quite tell which one)

Having spent most of my time in the digital realm, frankly, I think I'd quite like to try shooting some film. More to the point, these cameras were recently left to me and I like the idea of shooting with them.

As such, does anyone have any idea where for a start, beyond eBay, I may be able to source some film for the above (or even what films they take)? I'll resort to eBay if I have to, but I'd really rather not xD

What's more, if any of the cameras in question don't work, does anyone know anywhere I may be able to look to get them restored? They all look in pretty good condition, apart from one which definitely looks like the optics are a bit dirty. I realise getting them restored could cost more than they're worth, but that doesn't really bother me. Anywhere in London would be preferred :)

Finally, anyone know any good decent guides for shooting with any of the above? Or am I going to have to resort to finding whatever I can on Google/YouTube?

Cheers all :D

kd
 
King Damager said:
  • Kershaw eight-20 PenguinShoots 120 roll film which is still widely available and easily processed professionally or at home watch for the bellows they may have perished and no longer be light proof
  • Kodak Brownie 127Shoots the now defunct 127 roll film which is hard to get hold of as the big companies have all stopped making it
  • Iloca Quick (can't quite tell model) but comes with a 45 3.5-22 it seemsLooks to be a 35mm roll film camera so film is widely available at decent prices and easy to process professionally or at home
  • Neoca 35-ASame as above
  • Voigtlander Brilliant (again can't quite tell which one)Shoots 120 roll film which is still widely available and easily processed professionally or at home
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Manuals are probably available on the internet for most of those models, good luck!
 
(5x4 shooter here :D )

If I was starting out with film I'd opt to shoot negative B&W to start with, such as Ilford delta 400 or if you wanted to do colour use something like Fuji Pro 400H.

Negative B&W films have a huge exposure latitude so they're great for beginners as you'll need to be miles out in exposure to screw the images up, aside from that just buy film and practise!

I don't know anything about the cameras you've listed but provided they all do some sort of metering it should be fine, I imagine they'll all take either 35mm or 120mm rollfilm.
 
AG Photographic

http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/index.asp

Firstcall Photographic

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/

Both have a good range of films, black and white, colour and slide.

If you do Google Searches you should find that camerapedia.wiki.com should pop up regularly with information about the Camera.

For manuals www.butkus.org is always a good one.

As for values, amazingly some old cameras are worth a fortune. Most however were mass produced and are worth a few quid.

If you want to know a rough ballpark figure take a look at

http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/

they have some rough figures (in dollars unfortunately) for a ton of old cameras - ok you've got to convert into pounds but it will give a rough value. If the Kodak Brownie 127 is a white one, then you've hit the jackpot since according to that site it is very rare.
 
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I've used FirstCall for various b&w film orders and found their both their range and service very good. (One of the few places that stock IR film). Not bad on price either.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Manuals are probably available on the internet for most of those models, good luck!
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Cheers :) I think I'll buy some 127 still to try each one. How's it to process? (Not at home - don't really have the room for a darkroom setup)

Red.5ive.Oh said:
I've used FirstCall for various b&w film orders and found their both their range and service very good. (One of the few places that stock IR film). Not bad on price either.
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Thanks for the info :D

Andy90 said:
AG Photographic

http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/index.asp

Firstcall Photographic

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/

Both have a good range of films, black and white, colour and slide.

If you do Google Searches you should find that camerapedia.wiki.com should pop up regularly with information about the Camera.

For manuals www.butkus.org is always a good one.

As for values, amazingly some old cameras are worth a fortune. Most however were mass produced and are worth a few quid.

If you want to know a rough ballpark figure take a look at

http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/

they have some rough figures (in dollars unfortunately) for a ton of old cameras - ok you've got to convert into pounds but it will give a rough value. If the Kodak Brownie 127 is a white one, then you've hit the jackpot since according to that site it is very rare.
Click to expand...

Na, just the standard Brownie. I already know that they're really not worth very much, but it's not really about any of that :)

kd
 
I shoot 35mm 120 and 5x4 and process it all at home :)

I have so many film camera's (see below)

I use lots of out of date film so don't be put off with that. Get yourself a light meter or use the iphone app stick a roll of film in and go out and practice. :)

u1ny.jpg


0uy4.jpg
 
Another tip to keep costs down to start is the pound shop do some good Colour Agfa for a £1 :) Then find a big Asda and they will dev & scan for about £3 :)
 
If I can slightly hijack this thread.
What would be a good starter if i wanted to try out medium or large format film photography?
Is it something i could pick up with little film experience?
 
King Damager said:
How often do you use each of those Willis? xD

Colour agfa are we talking 35mm film?

And Asda, only 35 processing? Or 35/120?

kd
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I've used a company called club35 to process my 120 film, unfortunately there aren't many companies that do 120 processing me it's pretty expensive, especially considering you get a maximum of 12 prints per roll.

As for a good starter 120 camera I have a mamiya c220 which seems the ideal starter camera, can be had for around £100. The other option is the rb67 which is an SLR but around £200 IIRC. Having said that I have only shot two films through my camera as they were too expensive to process when I was a student. No I need to take it somewhere interesting to get some more use out of it!
 
Amp34 said:
I've used a company called club35 to process my 120 film, unfortunately there aren't many companies that do 120 processing me it's pretty expensive, especially considering you get a maximum of 12 prints per roll.

As for a good starter 120 camera I have a mamiya c220 which seems the ideal starter camera, can be had for around £100. The other option is the rb67 which is an SLR but around £200 IIRC. Having said that I have only shot two films through my camera as they were too expensive to process when I was a student. No I need to take it somewhere interesting to get some more use out of it!
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These are the joys I'm having of no longer being a student. Plus, I'm thinking I can shoot a few things around London of more run down areas that may suit 120 B&W very well :)

kd
 
I really want to get a Fuji GX617 panoramic camera. 3:1 panoramic with a huge 6cmx17cm capture, you can easily get 200MP from such a setup., likely more if you could handle it.
Use A modern B&W film and you get 18 or more stops Dynamic range!

But they are at least 2K and you only get 4 photos on a 120 roll and so very expensive to use.
 
King Damager said:
How often do you use each of those Willis? xD

Colour agfa are we talking 35mm film?

And Asda, only 35 processing? Or 35/120?

kd
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I use them quiet often but not so much the 35mm now as i'm loving 120 and Large format. The Colour AGFA is 35mm and ASDA will only process 35mm C41. When buying film Remember that there is 2 types of Colour film C41 & E6 Slide, E6 needs different chemicals so is more expensive.

ajf said:
If I can slightly hijack this thread.
What would be a good starter if i wanted to try out medium or large format film photography?
Is it something i could pick up with little film experience?
Click to expand...

Start with medium format, i've used lots of medium format cameras, Bronica, Mamiya etc but my fav is my Pentax 645 with 75mm 2.8 Lens. if you look around you can get one for £150-200 and it is built like a tank. :)

Home processing is also fun, you can get a changing bag and a Paterson processing drum plus the chemical for about £50-60. B&W processing is fairly easy but colour requires a bit more patience. The only real outlay for home processing is a scanner at about £70-150

For me shooting film is so rewarding and nothing like shooting digital which I love just as much. Shooting film slows me down ;)

You will always get people saying digital is better then film and vice versa but who cares. Check out Film on the framed network to get inspired about film http://framednetwork.com/shows/season-1-film/

Any questions let me know, I also have a facebook fan page all about film photography but not sure if I can link to that?
 
I can't find one for less than around £200 but I guess they will come up privately cheaper.

So mainly due to this thread I have bought 5 Velvia 100 slide, 5 TMax 100 B&W and one Illford HP5+ 400 B&W films... Guess I need to go out and shoot something! This weekend had better be good.
 
The problem with film is time - it takes ages especially if you develop your own.

I sold my D300s to start my business nearly 2 years ago, I recently bought a film camera and have never even loaded it with film yet as I just don't have time to go and get it processed afterwards let alone learn and do so myself.
I just use my iPhone 4S to be honest.
 
King Damager said:
If it doesn't promote any of your business interests in any way/break family friendly guidelines, you should be fine

kd
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Here you go then https://www.facebook.com/groups/141268149379608/

:D

twoblacklines said:
The problem with film is time - it takes ages especially if you develop your own.

I sold my D300s to start my business nearly 2 years ago, I recently bought a film camera and have never even loaded it with film yet as I just don't have time to go and get it processed afterwards let alone learn and do so myself.
I just use my iPhone 4S to be honest.
Click to expand...

Thats why I LOVE film ;)
 
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