The Simple Cameras Can Be Fun

[farlymac]

I got this Kodak Pony 135 Model C in with a bunch of cameras about a year ago, and it had a bad shutter, so I put it in the to-do box. It had languished long enough, so when I was looking for something to put in the Great Christmas Give-Away, I decided to fix it. It wasn't a hard repair to do, and I liked the feel of the camera when I was testing the functions. So I took it out last week for a test run with some Ilford FP-4 Plus 125. It's light enough, and has a smooth shutter release, so that when you have to use one hand to shield the camera from the sun, you can get a steady grip on it. Just wish there was a good surface to attach filters and a hood, but it did good with the Ilford.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/sets/72157628492642301/


Christmas Tree Crane #2 by br1078phot, on Flickr


White Grille by br1078phot, on Flickr


The Lot by br1078phot, on Flickr


Big Merc by br1078phot, on Flickr


Ice House Renovation #2 by br1078phot, on Flickr


Rock Up Close by br1078phot, on Flickr


Retaining Wall by br1078phot, on Flickr


Sun Glint On Rapids by br1078phot, on Flickr

What do you think?

PF

 

[Vincent.G]

Looks good! 🙂

 

[Richard G]

Amusing to play with different cameras. I revived my mother's Zeiss Ikon Contina II. It has a nice little 45mm lens. The trouble is the opportunity cost of being out with inferior technology that may not deliver and has a higher chance of failing altogether. I have four film cameras I regularly use. I don't think I could keep me all going well if that number expands. Keeping just one extra car I found very difficult. It was always filthy, tired and often the battery was flat. The need for mechanical objects to be in use is tyrranous. Nice shots. That glancing light on one face of the building was a fine element.

 

[Jack Conrad]

Nice... What lens is on that Pony?

 

[Kent]

Oh yes! They can be fun. Even simple digital cams can be real fun!

 

[kshapero]

Some nice shots.
My Nikon F or Leica M3 is about as simple as it gets. (an auto everything camera excluded because I would like to be involved in the results)

 

[farlymac]

Nice... What lens is on that Pony?

3.5/44mm Kodak Anaston coated triplet (front cell focusing).

PF

 

[zauhar]

I just fell into an Olympus XA, which I immediately took a shine to. What a cool little RF!

Unfortunately, my ten-year old picked it up first. ;-)

Randy

 

[farlymac]

Amusing to play with different cameras. I revived my mother's Zeiss Ikon Contina II. It has a nice little 45mm lens. The trouble is the opportunity cost of being out with inferior technology that may not deliver and has a higher chance of failing altogether. I have four film cameras I regularly use. I don't think I could keep me all going well if that number expands. Keeping just one extra car I found very difficult. It was always filthy, tired and often the battery was flat. The need for mechanical objects to be in use is tyrranous. Nice shots. That glancing light on one face of the building was a fine element.

One of my next projects is to make one good camera out of two Zeiss Contina III's.

PF

 

[farlymac]

I just fell into an Olympus XA, which I immediately took a shine to. What a cool little RF!

Unfortunately, my ten-year old picked it up first. ;-)

Randy

Your ten-year old knows quality.

PF

 

[farlymac]

Oh yes! They can be fun. Even simple digital cams can be real fun!

I used to like my Panny TZ-3, but the more I use it, the more frustrated I get. And the out-put isn't all that great either. But it works, and that's all I can ask of it (till I find it's replacement).

PF

 

[farlymac]

Some nice shots.
My Nikon F or Leica M3 is about as simple as it gets. (an auto everything camera excluded because I would like to be involved in the results)

I always considered the early Leica's to be simple cameras, in that they were designed to get a decent image with the minimum of fuss. And my Nikon FM is a simple camera, with only meter LED readouts to break the simplicity. But they are both way more complex in design than the Pony series. Kodak redefined camera simplicity by coming up with designs that while on the surface look 'cheap', are actually engineering marvels that give the photographer a perfectly functioning camera that does not cost a lot to make. And the fact that after more than fifty years, with just a simple adjustment of a spring, I was able to bring this one back into compliance with the original specs. And get darn good pictures, too. (well, the last statement is quite open to interpretation)

PF

 

[Gary Briggs]

my first real camera was the k1000, a few others had it also I hear.
It certainly didn't seem simple then, quite the contrary (I was coming off a brownie).
Now I pick it up and am amazed at the controls, so wonderfully simple and basic.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Hey, that's a real sharp lens for such an inexpensive camera.
I'll have to look for one of those...

Chris