Shooting a 100-Year-Old Folding Camera

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 28 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 54

  • @derekr7814
    @derekr7814 3 роки тому +39

    Maybe if you learned how to use it lol. You clearly did 0 research on how to use a vintage camera. I know a guy who takes award winning quality photos with this camera model. The misinformation in this video is astounding.

    • @derekr7814
      @derekr7814 3 роки тому +12

      @@mtryambon why because I pointed out a fact. This guy discredited a good camera merely because he had no idea how to use it and then blamed the camera lmao.

  • @blaskkaffe
    @blaskkaffe 4 роки тому +33

    Those old folding cameras have no lens coating or anything even closely related to antiglare features. If you read the manual for any of those old cameras they are VERY clear that you should not aim the camera towards anything bright, always keep the light from behind the camera, i guess that is why your shots turned out with so much bloom (might be a dirty lens too).
    Awesome video and seems like a fun experience! Makes me want to try shooting some old camera! Would like to see some more content like this!

    • @samvarleystephens
      @samvarleystephens  4 роки тому +4

      That would make sense! I suspect the lens is also just quite dirty as you said, but this camera is mainly a display piece anyway.

  • @MsElleBee
    @MsElleBee 4 роки тому +17

    I shot an autographic 2A about a year ago and got some amazing images from it. I remember needing to adapt my 120 film to fit in my camera, and having to wind with really weird spacing, but nevertheless I was really pleased with what I got. I think it's amazing that we both took a 100 year old camera and were still able to capture images with it -- Something you will not be able to do that with any modern digital camera or phone.

    • @michaelkimball8347
      @michaelkimball8347 3 роки тому

      @Lori Brooks how were u able to adapt the 120 film for the camera ?

    • @alessandromcc79
      @alessandromcc79 3 роки тому

      @@michaelkimball8347 with four adapters

  • @stephenwhited1833
    @stephenwhited1833 2 роки тому +15

    Just a couple of tips from me who shoots these often. Modern film is a lot more light sensitive. Learn how many turns of the winder to get to the next frame and keep black electricians tape on the red port hole. Some of your pics show the light leak you would get from that. Also get a can of flex seal or black liquid electrical tape and put a thin coat on the bellows just in case there is a light leak you didnt catch. The flex seal works best and blends into the color of the bellows. Spray a little in a paper plate and use a qtip to spread it around. The liquid electrical tape would need to be thined.After that I really feel your images will improve quite a bit.

    • @richardwest217
      @richardwest217 5 місяців тому +1

      I'm experimenting with Plasti Dip. Seems to work and much easier than liquid electrical tape.

  • @WorldInThe
    @WorldInThe 3 роки тому +5

    If you end up wanting to shoot that camera again because they were pretty nice. That red leak at the bottom looks like it's from the red window at the back. It'd be a good idea to tape it up between exposures

  • @Foxglove963
    @Foxglove963 3 роки тому +5

    Sam, the Kodak No 2 Autographic Brownie cameras were made between 1915 to 1926.But one variation concerns the lens, it was either fitted with a first class lens, a rapid rectilinear of 4 elements, or with a rather modest 2 elements achromatic doublet. Prior to picture taking, clean the lens softly using a lens cloth and lens fluid. Use a tripod, for exposures of 1/5 sec. to 1/2 sec. press the shutter more than once, thus for 1/25 exp. for 1/15 sec. and four times for 1/8 sec. The vintage lens is uncoated, as it far predates the invention of color film, hence your poor color images. But you can use push on filters for black and white, such as yellow and orange filters by which you can obtain more contrast and toned skies. To correctly gauge distances without guess work you can use a vintage rangefinder, or go modern and use a laser.

  • @justcasris6991
    @justcasris6991 3 місяці тому

    antique folding cameras are like children, you gotta put a ton of effort into getting their shit together for them to produce anything good, but once they do you put it directly on the fridge, front and center because you're proud more of the effort you put in than the quality of the image

  • @LP11294
    @LP11294 10 місяців тому

    Hi, I've recently come into possession of one of these, however when I see the 120 film online I see things like 400 120 or 200 120 or 100 120 film. My guess is the first numbers are the shutter speed? Would I be right to guess that 100 120would be most suitable for this camera?

    • @samvarleystephens
      @samvarleystephens  10 місяців тому

      The numbers are the ISO/ASA, which measures how light sensitive the film is. The lower the number, the less sensitive, so the more light it needs to expose an image. Personally I'd choose 400 for convenience unless you live somewhere sunny.

    • @tortron
      @tortron 12 днів тому

      Film in the 19teens was like iso 25 for fast film (which you can get still) iso 100 would be real fast even by say 1950s standards

  • @outlawflyer7868
    @outlawflyer7868 Рік тому

    So I jut found tis camera my mother in law has had and was never used. It took me a while to get the bellows to extend. I had to use a lot of Vaseline which helped but a few holes are at the bottom but some of you have great tips on how to remedy that issue. I am looking into getting film but I am not sure which is the right one and how many pictures does just one roll take if anybody knows any of these questions. please let me know. I am by no means a professional camera man but I love taking BW photos with my cell phone.

  • @JObama.
    @JObama. 4 роки тому +2

    This vid is good quality i wonder why it doesn't have more views

    • @Sennmut
      @Sennmut 4 роки тому +1

      The speaker is about as exciting as mortar mix. Jus' sayin...

  • @Mucklegipe
    @Mucklegipe Рік тому

    I think part of the problem with the picture quality may be dust on the lens, because the clarity of the pictures is usually better than what you had.

  • @spenny6447
    @spenny6447 7 місяців тому

    I have a very similar camera. Just developed my first roll. Everything was way over exposed. Can you give me some tips on properly exposing shots?

  • @TRUCK-FREAK
    @TRUCK-FREAK 4 місяці тому

    What type of film were you using at the beginning?

  • @MIISSSIIX
    @MIISSSIIX 3 роки тому

    I'd love to see more variation of distances / locations / lighting conditions.
    A very close portrait, landscapes, maybe something in motion? it does seem like a great exercise camera for learning patience and setting your settings correctly lol

  • @entity9742
    @entity9742 3 роки тому

    Hi i have one of these but i was cleaning the shutter and the shutter fire spring was improperly placed i was wondering if you could take a snapshot of the spring assembly so i could realign the spring properly?

  • @loncle.bonkle
    @loncle.bonkle 4 роки тому

    Looks like fun! I've been wanting to pick up an old kodak like this for some time

  • @f1remandg
    @f1remandg 2 роки тому +3

    That’s a shame that you didn’t do your homework, before using something four times your age, and it worked, however if you had you would have covered the red widow, because the film nowadays is far more sensitive, and with a little research you might have had better results, but ask yourself this, take any piece of today’s tech and certainly the cameras and they won’t be working in 100 years, you can always fix mechanical, but you can’t fix digital, there are people on UA-cam who have done tests and vs comparisons and they have got results equivalent to 24 mp, I accept that they are not as convenient, but they are the pioneers of where we are today and should be respected, like vinyl.
    DG New Forest 71 U.K.

    • @samvarleystephens
      @samvarleystephens  2 роки тому

      i've used modern film in other cameras with a frame counter window without issue

  • @audgema130
    @audgema130 2 роки тому

    Ok so, I assume its 120 Kodak film? Could you share a link to the exact film you used?

  • @MichealSchmidt-nu8sq
    @MichealSchmidt-nu8sq 10 місяців тому

    Hello i just got a 1920s vest pocket kodak camera series 3 and when i spin the film thing it wont turn, is it supposed to do that without the film or is it broken?

    • @tortron
      @tortron 12 днів тому

      It will only spin in one direction

  • @sonyxperiathree4554
    @sonyxperiathree4554 3 роки тому +4

    Might not be too bad if the lens was cleaned.

  • @alanbeavers1485
    @alanbeavers1485 4 роки тому +2

    I was looking at cameras of this style and I was so curious on how you actually know far a subject is?

    • @samvarleystephens
      @samvarleystephens  4 роки тому

      like most things with this camera it's pure guesswork

    • @billforgie-slippery-jimdigriz
      @billforgie-slippery-jimdigriz 3 роки тому

      There are rangefinding devices available on eBay for example, or take a tape measure until such time as you are able to judge the distance accurately enough.

  • @mikemcinnis9341
    @mikemcinnis9341 2 роки тому

    These cameras work best if you give'em a chance by watching out against potential glare, use a tripod and even a minimalist light meter. I have 2 Kodak No 2 Folding Cartridge PREMOs about the same vintage that can deliver very nice landscapes and architectural shots. Just takes patience. Not good snapshooters.

  • @chrispower475
    @chrispower475 3 роки тому

    I inherited one from my aunt after she passed. It is a "No. 3A folding pocket kodak model b-5" S/N 26486" that was made in Toronto, Canada.
    I have been trying to figure out when it was made and which location in Toronto that it was made in? Any site that you can direct me to to answer my question?
    Thanx!

  • @DefaultName-kd3uy
    @DefaultName-kd3uy 2 роки тому

    I didn't have to buy the cameras. My dad collected them when he was a teenager, so I just have them

  • @munchrmx
    @munchrmx 3 роки тому

    Grandpa just gave me his 1909 3a. is it just large format 4x5 or is it special. just wondering if I can even find film for it thanks

    • @samvarleystephens
      @samvarleystephens  3 роки тому

      I'm not sure about that model. Mine is from somewhere around 1920 so it take standard 120 film which is very easy to buy.

    • @aeromodeller1
      @aeromodeller1 3 роки тому

      It uses 122 roll film, makes postcard size images.
      vintagecameralab.com/kodak-no3a-autographic/

    • @munchrmx
      @munchrmx 3 роки тому

      @@aeromodeller1 I found multiple 122 to 120 adapters on ebay so should work

  • @schne7740
    @schne7740 3 роки тому

    What film do you use?

  • @craigfouche
    @craigfouche 3 роки тому

    Did you shoot with 120 or 116 film, if not 120 where did you get your film from?

    • @samvarleystephens
      @samvarleystephens  3 роки тому +1

      I did shoot 120, the camera is designed for 120.

    • @craigfouche
      @craigfouche 3 роки тому

      @@samvarleystephens thanks for your reply. I have the 2A and doesn't take 120 film but can be adapted.

  • @turloughkennedy6579
    @turloughkennedy6579 Рік тому

    I don't get the bitchy comments. You did a great job working with an old camera. Personally I love this camera for B&W but I use expired film not the 120 heck. The trick is not on how to the use the camera, it's the lab afterwards. Good video.

  • @mayorlewispurpleshorts9693
    @mayorlewispurpleshorts9693 3 роки тому

    I’ve had one of these for a couple years and have never got around to figuring out how it works, but I’ve always wanted to shoot some pictures with it. I don’t know much about old cameras though. What film did you use for this exactly, and where did you get it from?

    • @samvarleystephens
      @samvarleystephens  3 роки тому +1

      They generally take standard 120 film. If you're in Europe, Analogue Wonderland is my go to place for all film needs.

    • @mayorlewispurpleshorts9693
      @mayorlewispurpleshorts9693 3 роки тому

      @@samvarleystephens Thanks! I’m not in Europe but I can look for it online. 😁

  • @carlrudd1858
    @carlrudd1858 Місяць тому

    I never load roll film in the sunshine. Just sayin'.

  • @KarolaTea
    @KarolaTea 4 роки тому

    They're relatively cheap, ok. But how much is the film?
    Those images look pretty decent to me! Genuinely surprised! But I guess that sort of old technology is pretty sturdy. And definitely cool it still works with modern film! Big yay for backwards compatibility.

  • @_H_2023
    @_H_2023 Рік тому +1

    I was just about to say the same thing as the comment below by @derekr7814; Looks also like something is not light tight. I think if you gave it time and learnt how to actually understand this camera you would produce decent images. the eye piece is merely to give you an idea of the composition not the definitive image like digital.

  • @ЛёхаГуров-м6п
    @ЛёхаГуров-м6п 3 роки тому

    Super 😻😻😻