shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Funny you should mention him, Will - he used to be my sister's "next-door" neighbour (rural Essex - so next door was about half a mile). And t'other half and I saw him at Cropredy last year. Surprisingly good, actually.
Adrian
Hehehe, that's quite a coincidence, Adrian.
You saw him perform last year? wow, he must be quite a bit older. I remember confusing him with Howard Jones (another excellent musician, IMHO).
HarryW
Established
DaCh
Member
I have a 450, there is something nice about it and the images are better than a lot of the folders I have seen, the simple lens works amazingly well.
Kershaw were not big on self publicity, the body has no markings on it anywhere, the only name on it is a strip attached to the front of the shutter body. It really is a statement in minimalism, hard to find anything that does not absolutely need to be there.
I am a great fan of the cheap no frills approach to photography and I think my 450 is probably my favourite way of doing it.
There is a Kershaw group on Flickr.
Here is a good test against the light. shot on Rollei Retro 100, developed in Rollei RHS.
Kershaw were not big on self publicity, the body has no markings on it anywhere, the only name on it is a strip attached to the front of the shutter body. It really is a statement in minimalism, hard to find anything that does not absolutely need to be there.
I am a great fan of the cheap no frills approach to photography and I think my 450 is probably my favourite way of doing it.
There is a Kershaw group on Flickr.
Here is a good test against the light. shot on Rollei Retro 100, developed in Rollei RHS.
Attachments
fidget
Lemon magnet
Good to see another Kershaw user, thanks for posting your image DaCH.
I looked through the flickr group, and even recognised a scene!
So, there's few of us with Kershaws.
Dave...
I looked through the flickr group, and even recognised a scene!
So, there's few of us with Kershaws.
Dave...
fidget
Lemon magnet
Thought that I would lower the tone with a tatty King Penguin
Regards
Harry
Hey Harry, nice shot of yer Penguin. Got any images from it to show off?
I bought one, thinking it was, er, more complex than it is. I've never used it, but my technophobic (?) wife has and thinks it's great fun. Of course she's not the one developing her double images and blank frames, but then.....it will get better and still be fun, hopefully.
Edit: I do my share of double images and blank frames too, but I hide them and pretend that I am competent.
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porktaco
Well-known
fidget
Lemon magnet
I marked a Kershaw Peregrine II to watch on the bay.
I planned to bid a fair amount for this cam in unknown condition, say £75.
It just finished at over £220 (without any bids from me)
Someone likes them!
I planned to bid a fair amount for this cam in unknown condition, say £75.
It just finished at over £220 (without any bids from me)
Someone likes them!
citizen99
Well-known
Here's my Peregrine II. It's quite heavy, and mechanically smooth in operation.
It has an automatic film-wind and shutter interlock (the same design as that in the Curlew III) intended to avoid the need to use the traditional rear red window (after setting up at the first frame) when winding on the film. However, I tested it first with a dummy film, and by comparison with the printed film positions, the 'automatically' set frames looked to be in danger of overlapping one another, so I leave the rear FREE/LOCK control in the FREE position and use the red window.
Here's one of its pictures :-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43334883@N03/4400871855/
It has an automatic film-wind and shutter interlock (the same design as that in the Curlew III) intended to avoid the need to use the traditional rear red window (after setting up at the first frame) when winding on the film. However, I tested it first with a dummy film, and by comparison with the printed film positions, the 'automatically' set frames looked to be in danger of overlapping one another, so I leave the rear FREE/LOCK control in the FREE position and use the red window.
Here's one of its pictures :-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43334883@N03/4400871855/
fidget
Lemon magnet
Nice cam! Now I feel the GAS, this and/or the Curlew are on my wanted list.
Dave...
Dave...
Bill58
Native Texan
If you do a search on Kershaw cameras on the bay, you will be sure to find heaps of Penguins or "King Penguin". This is a very simple 6x9 folder with a meniscus lens and a performance to match. Kershaw made much better cams too.
A range of 6x6 folders named after the max aperture is frequently seen on the bay. The smaller the max aperture, the simpler the shutter.
The Kershaw 110 is a very simple cam, the 630 has selectable aperture and shutter. The "top" of this range (AFAIK) is the Kershaw 450.
The 450 has an aperture range fro f22 to f4.5 and its Velio shutter is speeded B, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200. Wow! The lens is an 80mm Anastigmat 3 element "Otar". Nicely made but not expensive looking.
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They have a simple shutter release button (which can take some time to find if the user is not familiar with it) that gives a nice direct feel to the release.
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My example had a sticky shutter, removed from the body and flushed out, it now works very well, (except the 10th). No light leaks, bellows are a plasticy fabric which seems to have held out well and has that smell of old impregnated electrical insulation tape (Blakely tape?)
This was one of my first folding cam purchases and has spent time in a box, then as my car cam. It's now one of my favourite cams. I like the look of the images it can make.
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Park bench (again) showing some of the swirly oof area building.
Kershaw made a range of folders with names based on birds, Raven, Curlew, Peregrine. Some of these were top class cams. Anyone got one to show off?
Typical quirky UK product names, but no "Boobie"? Those obscure cameras yield fine results.
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IlyaB
Established
Another 450 to join the club
Another 450 to join the club
Hello,
Here is another Kershaw 450 to join the club:
and here is what came out of the test roll:
The only problem noted was that the spring in the film compartment was not sufficiently pressing the roll therefore the film was spooled pretty loose. A few frames went sour, otherwise the results are not bad.
_____________________________________
Ilya
Another 450 to join the club
Hello,
Here is another Kershaw 450 to join the club:

and here is what came out of the test roll:

The only problem noted was that the spring in the film compartment was not sufficiently pressing the roll therefore the film was spooled pretty loose. A few frames went sour, otherwise the results are not bad.
_____________________________________
Ilya
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fidget
Lemon magnet
Hi Ilya, welcome to the forum!
Nice 450 too, looks in mint condition. I hope to see more of your work from this or any others you use.
Dave..
Nice 450 too, looks in mint condition. I hope to see more of your work from this or any others you use.
Dave..
IlyaB
Established
Hi Dave -
Thanks for your kind welcome! In fact you photos in this thread had inspired me to buy a Kershaw 450. I was previously looking at Zeiss Ikon Nettar but changed my mind after looking into this thread.
This 450 is a pretty good catch in a mint condition with the Velio shutter working perfectly and a clear glass.
You can see more of the shots from my first test roll here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilya_bur/tags/gbkershaw450/
Cheers!
- Ilya
Thanks for your kind welcome! In fact you photos in this thread had inspired me to buy a Kershaw 450. I was previously looking at Zeiss Ikon Nettar but changed my mind after looking into this thread.
This 450 is a pretty good catch in a mint condition with the Velio shutter working perfectly and a clear glass.
You can see more of the shots from my first test roll here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilya_bur/tags/gbkershaw450/
Cheers!
- Ilya
OMboy
Established
I've just discovered this micro club - can I join please...?
I have Kershaw 450 in mint condition and a Penguin too.
I picked up a couple of rolls of B/W film last week - I'm just waiting for the weather to break so I can give the 450 a spring workout...!
I have Kershaw 450 in mint condition and a Penguin too.
I picked up a couple of rolls of B/W film last week - I'm just waiting for the weather to break so I can give the 450 a spring workout...!
Steve M.
Veteran
Thanks a lot! Yet another camera to lust after.
The first 2 photos look amazing. Looks like the lens images sorta like a Heliar. Who knew? Probably a UK thing, not sure we see many of these over here in the colonies. I like the look of the Ross Ensigns too and have yet to see one in the flesh. Thanks for posting these great shots.
The first 2 photos look amazing. Looks like the lens images sorta like a Heliar. Who knew? Probably a UK thing, not sure we see many of these over here in the colonies. I like the look of the Ross Ensigns too and have yet to see one in the flesh. Thanks for posting these great shots.
Steve M.
Veteran
Here's another Kershaw from my neck of the woods. Best dam* fiddle player you'd ever want to see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AQvUPN1jAk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AQvUPN1jAk
fidget
Lemon magnet
Thanks a lot! Yet another camera to lust after.
The first 2 photos look amazing. Looks like the lens images sorta like a Heliar. Who knew? Probably a UK thing, not sure we see many of these over here in the colonies. I like the look of the Ross Ensigns too and have yet to see one in the flesh. Thanks for posting these great shots.
Thanks for your comments. I like the Ross Xpress lens too. My example on a 6x4.5 folder (1620) gave promising results. Seemed to have very good resolution. The fastest speed of 300th gave out, so its awaiting some attention. I also managed to pick up a 6x6 (1220) which seems just as good, but is surprisingly heavy. (The 820 is the obvious one to go for, but they fetch fairly high prices.) I hope to get some good images from these this year.
Steve M.
Veteran
I just got mine today. A 450 that looks exactly like yours fidget and IlyaB. Took me forever to find the shutter release, but now that I did, it makes me wish all the folders had theirs on the lens board. It falls perfectly into your hand like that. I had seen the photos that were posted on this but until you get the camera into your hand it doesn't click (bad bun).
Hopefully I can run some film through it in the next few weeks and post some shots. There should be a Kershaw club. The build quality of the camera is a pleasant surprise. Very nice camera, and I think it cost me all of $11.40 plus shipping costs to the US.
Hopefully I can run some film through it in the next few weeks and post some shots. There should be a Kershaw club. The build quality of the camera is a pleasant surprise. Very nice camera, and I think it cost me all of $11.40 plus shipping costs to the US.
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Datatw
Member
Steve M.
Veteran
Ok, here's a shot of my Kershaw 450, and a shot from the first roll taken with it. I used Tri-X and a yellow filter. Yimminy, what's the deal w/ this lens?!! Looks great!
Unfortunately I had a hood that vignetted, lousy metering that day and other issues, so only one other shot is passable, but it's worth trying another roll from what I see here. The top shutter speed of only 1/200 is a liability in the desert, but maybe Delta 100 would work. Certainly is an interesting camera.
Sorry about the large file but I wanted to show the detail in the shot.
Unfortunately I had a hood that vignetted, lousy metering that day and other issues, so only one other shot is passable, but it's worth trying another roll from what I see here. The top shutter speed of only 1/200 is a liability in the desert, but maybe Delta 100 would work. Certainly is an interesting camera.
Sorry about the large file but I wanted to show the detail in the shot.


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