With film disappearing – and reappearing – it seems the only new cameras for film are made of plastic and don’t cost too much or else are quite expensive. There is something to be said for both approaches, but the quality of pictures taken with a plastic camera are not as “good” to my eye as are ones made from better quality film cameras, whether old or new.
Of late, I have been enjoying the usage of old folding cameras, made from the 1930s and into the 1950s, which use both 35mm and 120mm film. Besides the folders, I do have some SLRs, but, those are for discussing another time. The folders are weird (compared to today’s digital) and definitely slower. I mean, you have to get the film developed, or do it yourself! The majority of folding cameras use 120mm film, but 35mm did make its debut in the 1930s, popularized by Leica.
When I become interested in something, I tend to end up with a small collection. That is what has happened with folding cameras. I have ones which range from 6×4.5 to 6×6 to 6×9, all in cm, not inches. They use 120 film, and the results can be great to deplorable, but always interesting. The 6×6 square format is perhaps the most challenging because the viewfinders are offset and the image – as is for all of these kinds of cameras (non-SLR) – but with a square format, the eye wants to move into the center.
So, here are some images. I plan on taking some of these cameras up to the Sierra Nevadas next week, along with a digital or two . . .
Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy all these square images, taken with an early 1950s Perkeo II by Voigtlander, sporting a 75mm Color Skopar f3.5 lens, and Portra 400 film by Kodak. Post in LR and other critters.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 