tunalegs
Pretended Artist
http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=15400
I got one of these still in the box. Very cute camera. Very simple. Mine seems to be a later production from after they switched to modern f/stops.
These were the cheapest 35mm cameras one could buy in the U.S. in the mid 1950s (excluding the toy Spartus 35, which was hardly cheaper anyway). There are three marked shutter speeds, but none of them are different anymore, the spring regulated shutters never age well.
What is impressive for the price is a unit-focussing triplet, flash sync, and double exposure prevention.
The camera will not take modern 135 cannisters without some modification. The two small tabs in the "top" of the spool must be cut out otherwise it will not fit into the camera. The metal spools used in the 1950s didn't have these tabs yet.
The viewfinder is tiny, as usual, although it is slightly larger than those of the Argus C3 or Leica IIIf cameras.
The lens is actually pretty decent for a triplet, although as expected, soft wide open. The bigger enemy of sharpness is camera shake - the camera is tiny and lightweight and about half of my exposures showed evidence of camera shake despite my best efforts.
As usual for this era the viewfinder shows noticeably less image than will apear on the film.
The Old Dam by Berang Berang, on Flickr
Wall and leaf by Berang Berang, on Flickr
96 by Berang Berang, on Flickr
pond by Berang Berang, on Flickr
leaves by Berang Berang, on Flickr
When these cameras were new they would have been an unbeatable bargain. Here's a camera that will produce results as well as an Argus C3, Bolsey, etc. at nearly half the price of those cameras. Today though, with really good film cameras selling for so little - you'd have to be after something really odd, or cute for the collection shelf if you buy one. As a user it may be fun every now and then, but there are much better cameras out there to be had for the same money.
I got one of these still in the box. Very cute camera. Very simple. Mine seems to be a later production from after they switched to modern f/stops.
These were the cheapest 35mm cameras one could buy in the U.S. in the mid 1950s (excluding the toy Spartus 35, which was hardly cheaper anyway). There are three marked shutter speeds, but none of them are different anymore, the spring regulated shutters never age well.
What is impressive for the price is a unit-focussing triplet, flash sync, and double exposure prevention.
The camera will not take modern 135 cannisters without some modification. The two small tabs in the "top" of the spool must be cut out otherwise it will not fit into the camera. The metal spools used in the 1950s didn't have these tabs yet.
The viewfinder is tiny, as usual, although it is slightly larger than those of the Argus C3 or Leica IIIf cameras.
The lens is actually pretty decent for a triplet, although as expected, soft wide open. The bigger enemy of sharpness is camera shake - the camera is tiny and lightweight and about half of my exposures showed evidence of camera shake despite my best efforts.
As usual for this era the viewfinder shows noticeably less image than will apear on the film.
The Old Dam by Berang Berang, on FlickrWall and leaf by Berang Berang, on Flickr96 by Berang Berang, on Flickrpond by Berang Berang, on Flickrleaves by Berang Berang, on FlickrWhen these cameras were new they would have been an unbeatable bargain. Here's a camera that will produce results as well as an Argus C3, Bolsey, etc. at nearly half the price of those cameras. Today though, with really good film cameras selling for so little - you'd have to be after something really odd, or cute for the collection shelf if you buy one. As a user it may be fun every now and then, but there are much better cameras out there to be had for the same money.
Kate-the-Great
Well-known
Neat little camera! Thanks for sharing 