My New Favorite Good Bad Camera

[zgauthier]

I've had this little box camera for a while, but just got around to respooling some film for it. It's a Herco Imperial. 620 film, 6x6, no focusing, 1/50th. The Herco Imperial is like a really enjoyable bad movie. Sharp in the center, garbage by the corners, vignetting, tons of distortion, and a really pretty low-contrast look.

Here's some pictures I took with it.

Look at those bendy windows!

Anyway. I learned after seeing my negatives that the viewfinder only shows about 20% of the actual recorded frame(the sharp part), fun. These are foma 100 in pmk.


Thanks for looking!
-Zack

 

[vha]

Lovely, would be fun to try one of those.
Sharpness is not always the issue 🙂
Can´t wait to get out to shoot myself, waiting for some unknown crappy camera in the mail any day now ..

vha

 

[Blake Werts]

"Liberating" is the word that I use to explain the feeling I have when out shooting with a "low fidelity" camera. It becomes you, good composition, and taking advantage of those dreamy qualities.

Some good shots there.

 

[jayjee]

sweet! the liberation of these types of cameras can be so awesome. that's why i love my pinhole! eep

 

[charjohncarter]

My 'crappy' camera is a Petri 7s. Really not that crappy, but everybody says,'Weren't those cheapies?' My other is a First Six which I just got it running. Here they are:

And from the Petri:

 

[oftheherd]

Nice shots dgauthier. Sometimes those old cameras have a dreamy quality that is enjoyable and can't be gotten by any other camera.

charjohncarter. That Petri looks very sharp. I have a Petri Computer 35 I keep telling myself to go out and use. I will too, one day. I just have to fit it in with all the others I still need to get out with. I seem to remember the Petri Cameras were inexpensive somewhat, but usually got good reviews.

 

[Tom Harrell]

Nice photos. It is amazing what kind of output is given from some cameras. When we know that hundreds and even thousands of dollars are spent on cameras and lenses that produce extremely sharp contrasty photos and a dreamy surrealistic photo is produced by a cheap immation lens on a cheap box housing some film. Yes, I am constantly amazed at what photographers come up with. Good work.

John, those are some nice looking cameras you have. I saw a Petri in a junk store about two years ago. I wished I would have bought it. I don't remember the model number. There are a few antique/junk stores here in Indianapolis that I go and look through once a year or so. Usually I pick a rainy day to do things like that. Thanks for sharing your photos.

Tom

 

[Ducky]

When the outcome is unpredictable, the taking of a picture is liberating. I find that with my Holga.