110 rangefinder cameras

[pshinkaw]

I just dusted off a couple of 110 rangefinders, the Pocket Instamatic style. Some film is still being manufactured, so I thought I would give them one last whirl before they became orphan film cameras. I found 110 color negative film from three manufacturers. Kodak (ISO 200 in ISO 100 cartridge, outdated, late 2004) Kodak (ISO 400 in an ISO 100 cartridge, fresh dated), Fuji (ISO 200 in ISO 100 cartridge, fresh dated and Walgreen’s (ISO 200 in ISO 100 cartridge, probably made by Agfa)

Three cameras I found have actual rangefinders, Pocket Instamatic 60, Trimlite Instamatic 48 and Canon 110ED. The Trimlite 48 and the Canon 110ED also have the film speed sensor which allows the meter to reset for ISO 400 film if the cartridge is modified. All other film is exposed at ISO 100.

Does anyone still shoot with their old Pocket Instamatics?

-Paul

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have a Pocket 48; but have not used it in years. I also have a Pentax 110 SLR, same story.

The results from store-processed 3x5's were not that sharp. I attribute it to the paper-backed Kodak cartridge. The shots from a Minolta 16 with its pressure-plate cartridge always "seemed" better. With the advent of very small 35mm P&S, I would use a Nikon Lite-Touch in the situations that I used to carry the Instamatic 48.

 

[lkgroup]

Funny you should start this treat. In cleaning my camera shelf I was getting ready to offer a 110 camera. While not a RF but a SLR it is the Minolta 110 Zoom. My wife is out of town so no Digital camera for a picture so I borrowed a picture. Mine looks like that with case, Instructions, (Some writting on front) the lens shade, I can't find the lens cover, may find it later. Very nice condition, no marks on the glass and light wear.

Picture borrow from ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=709&item=3869977260&rd=1

$25 with a roll of Fuji color 200 24 exposure. If you have any interst PM me.

Selling gear to buy a Contx RF.

Thanks

Leo

 

[Doug]

My 110 cameras aren't rangefinders either (Pentax). In my experience prints can be very crisp and sharp. I used to develop and print Verichrome Pan myself with the appropriate gear intended for that size neg. I had to be extremely careful, and there was print-spotting as a given. But the results could compare well with 35mm Tri-X up to about 8x10 as I recall. I've not been so pleased with lab-processed color negs. One project I have in mind when I get a film scanner going is to see how much can be done with 110 digitally.

 

[JohnM]

I have a Canon 110ED - it is definitely a rangefinder camera and it has a sweet f2 26mm lens. Focusing the rangefinder image is done via a slide on top of the camera - works well. I think it actually exposes film at ASA 80 - the 100ED 20, a later version, can handle the 400 film properly.

Has a few neat features - the lens cover is a better design than most similar cameras. The 110ED also had a date feature - there is a series of dials on the left side of the camera where you can input the date if you'd like - no Y2K issue, either. Also comes with a standard tripod mount, battery check and hotshoe.

Canon made a version of the Canolite flash for it - the Canolite ED. It came with a 2" extension piece that I have used with other compact rangefinder - helps cut down on redeye.

All in all, a cool little camera - seriously well made and very sharp. Because of it's profile, it's more pocketable than anything this side of an Olympus XA. It's gotten to the point of being a novelty, though, and I rarely use it. (Maybe a roll every other month.)

 

[marceloporto]

I have a Kodak Pocket Instamatic 60, but haven't used it in years for the lack of batteries...when I saw this post I remember that the Pocket Instamatic was the camera that started for me the healthy habit of always carrying a camera around. So I went to the old picture box and found my first try at photojournalism, 30 years ago. Passed the 4x6´s through the scanner and voilà, time travel courtesy of the faithful rangefinder…

One day, as I came home from the school I found a quite a scene around the house: neighbours going in and out, excited voices, confusion. A teenager had broken into some houses and finally got caught at ours, with the unlikely help of my grandmother! At the time of his capture, the boy had already stolen a bicycle, a portable radio, some money and was going through the drawers in my granny’s room when she saw him and gave the alarm call. He jumped from the first floor window an tried to run, but more people came out and stopped him. So all that left to me was to take the camera out and document it (since my grandmother had already upstaged me in the heroics department, that is).

I have attached 4 pictures from that day: the escape vehicle, the proof of the the crime, the unlucky perpetrator and finally the intervention of the police.

Innocent times were those, today the guy would most likely have a gun, possibly be drugged and my grandmother would not survive to her current 92...

If anyone know of a battery solution for this camera, I would be glad to give it a try, before 110 disappears from the face of the earth.

Cheers, Marcelo

 

[JohnM]

The battery outlook is not good - you essentially have to "rebuild" a K battery. It's not rocket science, but it takes time and more effort than most are willing to put in for these old 110's.

If you do go ahead and fix it up, look for the 200 Fuji Superia. Someone passed along that tip to me and it works great - like my 110 ED, your camera exposes film at around ASA 80. The 200 has more than enough latitude.

Have fun - those are great pics!.

Repairing K batteries

 

[marceloporto]

John, thanks for the tip. It looks doable, I may still have one of those batteries somewhere.

Marcelo

 

[John Robertson]

I had a Rollei A110 with a Tessar lens, I used to get great prints with Verichrome pan, and still have some nice slides I took with it. Beautiful little camera, and really tiny when closed. Main problem was the only flash was these damned cubes, three of them together were bigger than the camera!!