Mystery Camera

[telecentricity]

I found some family photos labelled "July 1969" in a trunk. I am trying to identify the camera. These are square color prints 3 1/8" x 3 1/8". Some of them are taken with a flash. There are 22 prints in the photo book, but that may be multiple rolls.
I am guessing that it is old 126 square format from a Kodak Instamatic camera.
Can anybody else think of a popular square format camera sold in 1969?
Thanks,
Gary

 

[David Goldfarb]

126 is probably a good bet for family snapshots in 1969.

There were a few 4x4cm TLRs that shot 127 film, but these weren't nearly as common at that time as the Instamatic.

Of course 6x6cm is another square format, and there are many cameras that have used it, some quite fancy and some less so. Prints of that size from 6x6 negs should be very smooth, virtually grainless.

 

[dmr]

I agree, prolly Instamatic, but the whole Kodak Star* series (Starflash, Starmite, et. al) took square shots on 127 film and they were very much alive in 1969.

 

[telecentricity]

Thanks

Thanks

David & DMR,
Thanks for the quick reply. I looked up 127 film on the web and learned something.
The film quality is way too grainy for medium format - probably was 126 as you suggest.

These old photos have loads of personality and attitude -- makes my DSLR pix look sterile and soul-less by comparison. Time to break out the Yashica GSN and Kodachrome again for some new inspiration.
Thanks for the advice,
Gary