Purma Special
At first glance, this camera appears too big for its britches. In classic, hulking 1930s Bakelite this 127 fixed-focus camera is a bit on the portly side. But there’s a reason for that, which we’ll get to in a minute. With its Beck lens , it’s not a loser, baby and love is what it’s […]
Argus C3
This review is out of control. It’s nearing springtime and I need to weed it and trowel the rows. I’m not one for thinning my seedlings however so, if you’re going to read this, you’re going to suffer. I think it’s turning into my quest for World Peace, rather than an actual Argus review. My […]
Birdseye Camera
I had some fun with the Birdseye camera today. Took my friend’s eagle sculpture out for a photo opp. (That’s at the bottom of the page.) The original review is here: Cam McCubbin sent the Birdseye to me, all the way from Canada. It accepts 620 film, so I re-loaded some 120 onto 620 spools. […]
Thunderbird
The Thunderbird Camera… named after “The American Classic”. Long after receiving this camera, I happened into a small fortune of c41 127 size film. Thought I’d blast a roll through the Thunderbird. I was shocked to find that this camera expressed itself in true form as a pillar of visual culture! The images! After the […]
Univex Uniflash
Made in the USA by Universal Camera Corp, this little bakelite camera accepts those special Univex #00 film rolls. I used 828 size film and just kind of jammed it into the battery compartment. I kept having to open it in the dark bag to advance the roll, but it worked. The camera has simple […]
Coronet 3-D
Mike Levy of SELECTING AND USING CLASSIC CAMERAS fame gave me this camera. It was kinda bunged up, but in working condition. Just the way I like ’em. Sporting a binocular viewfinder, this 3-D camera was manufactured in 1954. It has a little finger that you slide across the front to cock the shutter. […]
Pro Camera E
This “single use” camera looks like cardboard but is actually hard Bakelite. I picked it up for four bucks at a camera show. The little window on the bottom reveals a piece of ribbon that says “pull to number 1″. This proves to be too much for my willpower and I’m going to pull […]
Dover 620-A Camera
Manufactured in Dover, New Hampshire, the Dover 620-A is one of the weirdest cameras I’ve used. I bought it at a camera show. I bought it because it’s weird and four bucks was within my budget. When I carry this camera, I need nothing more … other than maybe flashbulbs. Stamped on the camera’s back is what might […]
Kodak Baby Brownie Special
I was working on my taxes. Had the St Jude and the guardian angel candles lit…tax time is such a pain! Half way through, I decided to take a break and go for a walk. I selected the Baby Brownie Special as my walkin’ partner. A closer look revealed just a bit of scum on the inside […]
Brownie Hawkeye
My mom had one of these. If you were born before 1970, your mom probably had one of these too: When I was a kid, it sat on the floor in my older brother’s room. I remember picking it up and making the button click. Then I’d mess with both buttons and it wouldn’t click […]
Imperial Debonair
Olive drab Bakelite, inlayed with stylish graphics, this camera has Herbert George’s DNA all over it . With its little carrying strap sticking straight up out of its head, it grows on you. It takes twelve wide-angle-ish images on 620 film. (Here’s a link about how to respool 120 film onto a 620 spool.) The […]