modify Kodak 3A for more common film?

[Chad]

I might be able to get a good condition Kodak 3A inexpensively. I understand this takes Kodak 122. Is there any way to convert this camera to accept a more common film size? Is converting it to accept 120 possible?


Chad

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Yes Chad, you can convert it to 120 roll film. You will end up with about a 6x14 negative.

Here is a thread discussing the coversion. I had a book mark showing a conversion but the link is dead.

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009XaP

Wayne

 

[wlewisiii]

Honestly, it's much more fun (& I think, practical) to take the lens & shutter off the 3A and mount it on a lens board for a 4x5. I use a B&L Rapid Rectilinear from a 3A on my Anniversary Speed Graphic with interesting results.

William

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Honestly, it's much more fun (& I think, practical) to take the lens & shutter off the 3A and mount it on a lens board for a 4x5. I use a B&L Rapid Rectilinear from a 3A on my Anniversary Speed Graphic with interesting results.

William

I did the same thing with my B&L Rapid Rectilinear it is about 170mm in focal length. But then I replaced the B&L on the Kodak 3A with a B&L 88mm f6.8, I am trying for a wide angle panoramic type camera. I need to finish my conversion this spring and go do some shooting.

Wayne

 

[wlewisiii]

That would be an interesting take on the world. I've been pondering trying my RR on one of my 2x3's as it might be a fun slightly long focus lens there. Certainly could be fun to try for black & white portraits.

William

 

[BILLC]

I have made a converter for my 3A to take 120 film. It drops in with no change to the camera. I made mine out of 1/2 inch brass stock and small square stock on each end. For a pressure plate I cover the whole thing with a thin plate of aluminum. To advance the film I use the autographic window and cut a small hole in the aluminum plate to view the 4.5mm track. I don't use a red window and have not had a problem yet. I made takeup spools by glueing a cut up 120 spool to the ends of a whole spool, for the feed you can just put spacers to keep the roll centered. I get 5 and 2/3rds exposures to a roll by starting at the leading edge of the film and then every 3rd frame after that. It is fun to use the old cameras and some are very good performers. I will post pictures.
Bill

 

[Chad]

I have made a converter for my 3A to take 120 film. It drops in with no change to the camera. I made mine out of 1/2 inch brass stock and small square stock on each end. For a pressure plate I cover the whole thing with a thin plate of aluminum. To advance the film I use the autographic window and cut a small hole in the aluminum plate to view the 4.5mm track. I don't use a red window and have not had a problem yet. I made takeup spools by glueing a cut up 120 spool to the ends of a whole spool, for the feed you can just put spacers to keep the roll centered. I get 5 and 2/3rds exposures to a roll by starting at the leading edge of the film and then every 3rd frame after that. It is fun to use the old cameras and some are very good performers. I will post pictures.
Bill

Thanks for the information Bill. This sounds like its a bit over my head.


Chad

 

[Avotius]

I have one of these and I modified to to use 120 film

it was easy, I just made a little space filler out of two cut to size ilford film containers to keep the film roll on one side of the film chamber, then used the ruby window to wind the film to start, shoot a shot, then gave it 6 turns on the advance tab to bring up the next frame, and so on, for 4 shots, I think I could squeeze 5 on a roll but the time I tried it didnt work right, might try again later. It took about 45 minutes in all to do it.

Here are shots from mine:

 

[Chad]

Avotius, I ended up passing on the camera but I appreciate the information and the pictures!


~Chad