I shoot a GB630, I love it. It has got a bit more manual control. Full-aperture range, variable shutter speed and focus. It's dirt cheap and has a fantastic lens.
This is my first encounter with GB Kershaw, but I'm pretty impressed. I think I'll keep a look out for a 630, or a 450. I'd be keen to see what they're like. I have an Isolette, which is a similar set up, but plagued with problems. I actually have two of them and they both have light leaks. Would be good to have a nice pocket sized 120 folder to carry around again!
@@andrewrothman7805 Strange that these Kershaws have held up so much better. I have two Isolette I's, which are exactly the same age, 1950s, and they're really in noticeably poorer condition than these Kerhsaws. Coincidence? Maybe...
@@the120ist perhaps the Kershaws were used (as intended) by the casual, occasional weekend shooter, while the Agfa was used by a professional or more avid shooter. This might explain why the Kershaw was in better shape.
Great video i found one of these in an old cupboard and im not a camera person id love a video on how to put film in it 😂 dont judge ive never used an old camera before
No judgement at all! If you take a look at my vid on 120 film and how it works, you'll see the basic concepts - ua-cam.com/video/OCeUhHkXFd4/v-deo.html I did the example there with a TLR, but the Kershaw is the same in principle, just on its side, if that makes sense!
Hello, thank you for the great video. I want to take off the top deck to clean the viewfinder and will need to remove the wind on nob. Is the centre screw a reverse thread? Thank you.
Hey, sorry for the late reply. I would need to look at my 110 to me sure, but generally camera makers don't use a reverse thread unless they need to. So if the wind on knob turns counter clockwise, ie the same way you would unscrew that screw, then they'll use a reverse thread, so that the act of winding-on doesn't gradually loosen the screw. Thinking about it... if the wind-on knob is on the RHS of the camera, then it must wind-on counter clockwise, and therefore it would be a reverse thread. But I will check for you!
No apologies needed! Interesting review of this camera. Looked it up on eBay and it seems to only be available in Europe (I’m in the USA). Looking for 120 cameras to play with! 😉. Purchased a few Brownie Hawkeyes that I’ll run 120 film through soon (this is a 620 camera but will try the hack to fit 120 film). Love your videos and like your dry sense of humor. Keep up the good work! 👍
Thanks so much! Yeah it turns out the GB Kershaws were all made here in the UK, up in Leeds I think. Who knew the UK could make such good cameras! They are really similar to the Agfa Isolette series, but as mentioned I haven't yet found an Isolette that is 100% functional. I've got a backlog of 120 cameras sitting here waiting to be shot and reviewed... I need to stop trawling eBay and start shooting more reviews! I'll get a few more done soon, give you some ideas! What are you shooting with currently? Just the Hawkeye?
@@the120ist Hi Nick! My main 120 camera is a Yashica-A that my dad gave me a long time ago. Just shot my first roll of 120 (Portra 400) a month ago. Made lots of mistakes haha - missed frame 1 when first winding the camera, and did a few double exposures when I forgot to advance the frame! Great learning experience though. I posted the camera and results on my Instagram @anthony_plescia if you want to see. Over the last month I found 3 Kodak Hawkeye cameras (about $5 to $7 +postage each ) that I bought to learn and clean up. Look forward to using them. I’ll keep you posted if you’re interested! 👍😊
@@plestj I'm definitely interested. I picked up a Hawkeye myself a few weeks back, condition looked ok initially, but when I opened it up the film holder was rusted to bits. I do need to keep an eye out for more box cameras, I haven't shot enough on that type. Will find you on insta and and take a look at those photos!
I've just bought a GB Kershaw 110 on the strength of your video (£10). Looking forward to its delivery. Can it be used with a remote shutter release cable? Thanks very much, it will be my first venture into 120 film.
Great choice! They're great starter cameras, simple but effective. You'll love shooting 120, those lovely big negatives and so much resolution! Shout if you have any questions or issue with the Kershaw, I'll help if I can!
Great review of an interesting camera. Compared to more advanced cameras, it's nice not to get bogged down with exposure details, really. What is that device you used to measure shutter speed? Looks very useful. Cheers.
Thank you! I wasn't all that excited about shooting this camera, but the results really took me by surprise. And as you say, it is liberating to just put all the metering and obsessing with settings and measurements behind you, and just enjoy using the camera. I think I'll be taking this one out and using it to get some snaps of the family, have a bit of fun with it. The device is called a Filmomat Photoplug, made by a guy in Germany. It is really useful actually, I can't vouch for exactly how accurate it is, but the measurements tally up with the resulting exposures quite well, so I assume it's working! The Photoplug bit is just a device that you plug into the microphone socket of your phone, and it converts light readings into a format that the phone can see, or hear I suppose. It works with an app called Shutter-Speed, made by the same guy. If you search for that in the App Store, making sure you add a hyphen between words, it comes up first. The icon looks like a shutter speed selector from a 35mm. You can actually use the app without the Photoplug, and it goes on shutter sound only, gives you an audio waveform, you line up the peaks and it gives you a time reading. Like I say, seems to work!
For not a lot more you could have a Kodak 66 seriously a tenner will get a model ii and it has as many features as the Agfa's but a less gummy shutter.
@@the120ist not a problem. The model iii has the higher specs probably similar to but not quite as good as a Agfa Isolette ii and without the chance of the lens seizing up because of that awful Agfa lubricant . They can can be got on eBay for well under £30 except for those sellers who are chancing their arms in my opinion.
That's an interesting idea. I've never tried a monopod... and my issue with tripods is that, even with a lightweight travel tripod, I don't want to have to carry it around. Plus they take time to set up. It's laziness, I know it is. But maybe a monopod might be a solution. I'll look into it. Thanks!
@@the120ist I have a monopod and have used it only once so far, it was fairly crowded where I was and got some really "funny"looks, but at the time I was experimenting with a 0.8 ISO B&W slide film which has no sprocket holes, so my camera options were down to one, a Saraber Goslar Finetta 88 which doesn't have sprocket wheels. By virtue of the ultra slow film, I was using 1/25 of a second so hand held was impossible. The results were underexposed sadly as I was guessing the aperture settings having forgotten my light meter, silly me I should have bracketted a few shots. I don't mind making mistakes as long as I learn from them, that's what it is all about isn't it. Cheers.
@@ianwilkinson4602 Well if making mistakes is what it's all about then i am totally on the right path!!! I know that on my carbon fibre tripod, one of the legs comes off to become a monopod, but I've never even been tempted to try it. My thinking is that if I should be using a tripod, I carry a tripod. I'm not usually one for half measures, or compromises. Now, what I really need in my life is a fast extending lightweight tripod. And by fast extending, I mean push button extension. Like an automatically unfolding umbrella. Push a button and it pops out, and you reload the springs when you push it back in again. If someone brings out one of those, I'll carry it everywhere with me! Saraber Goslar Finetta 88... totally new one on me, I've never even heard of it! Off to look it up right now!
@@the120ist I have a medium format 6 x 6 format folder with an exotic sounding name, it is a Foitzik Foinix Foinar Trier folding camera, the name is the only interesting thing about it, but is was very cheap :-)
@@ianwilkinson4602 That is a fantastic name!! Just looked it up... I think I'll having to start looking out for one of those as well, just for the novelty value of the name! Is the camera any good?
I shoot a GB630, I love it. It has got a bit more manual control. Full-aperture range, variable shutter speed and focus. It's dirt cheap and has a fantastic lens.
This is my first encounter with GB Kershaw, but I'm pretty impressed. I think I'll keep a look out for a 630, or a 450. I'd be keen to see what they're like. I have an Isolette, which is a similar set up, but plagued with problems. I actually have two of them and they both have light leaks. Would be good to have a nice pocket sized 120 folder to carry around again!
@@the120ist yes, every single Agfa folder has a bellows with light leaks.
@@andrewrothman7805 Strange that these Kershaws have held up so much better. I have two Isolette I's, which are exactly the same age, 1950s, and they're really in noticeably poorer condition than these Kerhsaws. Coincidence? Maybe...
@@the120ist perhaps the Kershaws were used (as intended) by the casual, occasional weekend shooter, while the Agfa was used by a professional or more avid shooter. This might explain why the Kershaw was in better shape.
Great video very helpful and informative, thank you.
Glad you found it helpful. It's a nice little camera!
Stating the bleeding obvious but errrr tripod 🤣 sorry couldn’t resist 😬 great review and some more than acceptable images.
Yeah yeah yeah!!! I'm terrible for that... I need to give myself a clip round the ear for being lazy!
@@the120ist not lazy mate just an unencumbered free shooter nowt wrong with that at all 📷
@@paultaylorphotography9499 I'll take that! But still maybe a little lazy.......
@@the120ist if u were lazy you would stick it on a tripod so actually you work harder hand holding 😂
Maybe even just use mono tripod, packs up small when not in using and quick to put on and off, simple, oh and enjoyed the video thanks, cheers.
Great video i found one of these in an old cupboard and im not a camera person id love a video on how to put film in it 😂 dont judge ive never used an old camera before
No judgement at all! If you take a look at my vid on 120 film and how it works, you'll see the basic concepts - ua-cam.com/video/OCeUhHkXFd4/v-deo.html
I did the example there with a TLR, but the Kershaw is the same in principle, just on its side, if that makes sense!
Ahh thanks so much
Hello, thank you for the great video. I want to take off the top deck to clean the viewfinder and will need to remove the wind on nob. Is the centre screw a reverse thread? Thank you.
Hey, sorry for the late reply. I would need to look at my 110 to me sure, but generally camera makers don't use a reverse thread unless they need to. So if the wind on knob turns counter clockwise, ie the same way you would unscrew that screw, then they'll use a reverse thread, so that the act of winding-on doesn't gradually loosen the screw.
Thinking about it... if the wind-on knob is on the RHS of the camera, then it must wind-on counter clockwise, and therefore it would be a reverse thread.
But I will check for you!
@@the120ist Much appreciated.
No apologies needed! Interesting review of this camera. Looked it up on eBay and it seems to only be available in Europe (I’m in the USA). Looking for 120 cameras to play with! 😉. Purchased a few Brownie Hawkeyes that I’ll run 120 film through soon (this is a 620 camera but will try the hack to fit 120 film). Love your videos and like your dry sense of humor. Keep up the good work! 👍
Thanks so much! Yeah it turns out the GB Kershaws were all made here in the UK, up in Leeds I think. Who knew the UK could make such good cameras! They are really similar to the Agfa Isolette series, but as mentioned I haven't yet found an Isolette that is 100% functional. I've got a backlog of 120 cameras sitting here waiting to be shot and reviewed... I need to stop trawling eBay and start shooting more reviews! I'll get a few more done soon, give you some ideas! What are you shooting with currently? Just the Hawkeye?
@@the120ist Hi Nick! My main 120 camera is a Yashica-A that my dad gave me a long time ago. Just shot my first roll of 120 (Portra 400) a month ago. Made lots of mistakes haha - missed frame 1 when first winding the camera, and did a few double exposures when I forgot to advance the frame! Great learning experience though. I posted the camera and results on my Instagram @anthony_plescia if you want to see. Over the last month I found 3 Kodak Hawkeye cameras (about $5 to $7 +postage each ) that I bought to learn and clean up. Look forward to using them. I’ll keep you posted if you’re interested! 👍😊
@@plestj I'm definitely interested. I picked up a Hawkeye myself a few weeks back, condition looked ok initially, but when I opened it up the film holder was rusted to bits. I do need to keep an eye out for more box cameras, I haven't shot enough on that type. Will find you on insta and and take a look at those photos!
I've just bought a GB Kershaw 110 on the strength of your video (£10). Looking forward to its delivery. Can it be used with a remote shutter release cable? Thanks very much, it will be my first venture into 120 film.
Great choice! They're great starter cameras, simple but effective. You'll love shooting 120, those lovely big negatives and so much resolution! Shout if you have any questions or issue with the Kershaw, I'll help if I can!
Great review of an interesting camera. Compared to more advanced cameras, it's nice not to get bogged down with exposure details, really. What is that device you used to measure shutter speed? Looks very useful. Cheers.
Thank you! I wasn't all that excited about shooting this camera, but the results really took me by surprise. And as you say, it is liberating to just put all the metering and obsessing with settings and measurements behind you, and just enjoy using the camera. I think I'll be taking this one out and using it to get some snaps of the family, have a bit of fun with it.
The device is called a Filmomat Photoplug, made by a guy in Germany. It is really useful actually, I can't vouch for exactly how accurate it is, but the measurements tally up with the resulting exposures quite well, so I assume it's working!
The Photoplug bit is just a device that you plug into the microphone socket of your phone, and it converts light readings into a format that the phone can see, or hear I suppose. It works with an app called Shutter-Speed, made by the same guy. If you search for that in the App Store, making sure you add a hyphen between words, it comes up first. The icon looks like a shutter speed selector from a 35mm. You can actually use the app without the Photoplug, and it goes on shutter sound only, gives you an audio waveform, you line up the peaks and it gives you a time reading.
Like I say, seems to work!
Meant to give you a link - www.fotoimpex.com/cameras-accessories/filmomat-photoplug-shutter-speed-tester.html
@@the120ist fantastic, thanks!
For not a lot more you could have a Kodak 66 seriously a tenner will get a model ii and it has as many features as the Agfa's but a less gummy shutter.
Sorry for the late reply! I don’t think I’ve tried a Kodak 66… one to add to the list. Thank you 👍👍
@@the120ist not a problem. The model iii has the higher specs probably similar to but not quite as good as a Agfa Isolette ii and without the chance of the lens seizing up because of that awful Agfa lubricant . They can can be got on eBay for well under £30 except for those sellers who are chancing their arms in my opinion.
monopod?
That's an interesting idea. I've never tried a monopod... and my issue with tripods is that, even with a lightweight travel tripod, I don't want to have to carry it around. Plus they take time to set up. It's laziness, I know it is. But maybe a monopod might be a solution. I'll look into it. Thanks!
@@the120ist I have a monopod and have used it only once so far, it was fairly crowded where I was and got some really "funny"looks, but at the time I was experimenting with a 0.8 ISO B&W slide film which has no sprocket holes, so my camera options were down to one, a Saraber Goslar Finetta 88 which doesn't have sprocket wheels. By virtue of the ultra slow film, I was using 1/25 of a second so hand held was impossible. The results were underexposed sadly as I was guessing the aperture settings having forgotten my light meter, silly me I should have bracketted a few shots. I don't mind making mistakes as long as I learn from them, that's what it is all about isn't it. Cheers.
@@ianwilkinson4602 Well if making mistakes is what it's all about then i am totally on the right path!!!
I know that on my carbon fibre tripod, one of the legs comes off to become a monopod, but I've never even been tempted to try it. My thinking is that if I should be using a tripod, I carry a tripod. I'm not usually one for half measures, or compromises. Now, what I really need in my life is a fast extending lightweight tripod. And by fast extending, I mean push button extension. Like an automatically unfolding umbrella. Push a button and it pops out, and you reload the springs when you push it back in again. If someone brings out one of those, I'll carry it everywhere with me!
Saraber Goslar Finetta 88... totally new one on me, I've never even heard of it! Off to look it up right now!
@@the120ist I have a medium format 6 x 6 format folder with an exotic sounding name, it is a Foitzik Foinix Foinar Trier folding camera, the name is the only interesting thing about it, but is was very cheap :-)
@@ianwilkinson4602 That is a fantastic name!! Just looked it up... I think I'll having to start looking out for one of those as well, just for the novelty value of the name! Is the camera any good?