Messing around with an old Kodak camera

[timber_cruiser]

I rediscovered an old Kodak No.2-C Junior camera that has been in our family a long time. My great uncle bought this new in 1917 and gave it to my mother when she was in High School. Mom used this for many years. I found this with her hand written notes on how to use this camera.

On line searches have provided additional information. The original film format was 130 so I am using adapters to fit 120 standard film. I applied liquid electrical tape to repair a few minor pin hole light leaks. Otherwise, the camera looks to be in good mechanical condition. It has the Anastigmat lens which apparently was a higher quality lens for this model. The lens has F7.7 – 45 settings with 1/25, 1/50 and 1/100 shutter speeds.

With a slight break in our winter weather I took some shots today. I used Ilford FP4 Plus B&W ISO 125 as a start. I just shot a roll and dropped it off for processing.
I hope to post some successful pics later…

IMG_8752.jpg

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Obviously there is a deep talent of photographers out there, please share what you might know about using these older types of cameras.

[Paul Pless]

that is very very cool
looking forward to seeing your pics

[lupussonic]

But but but, it has f stops and stuff?

[Paul Pless]

...

[Yeadon]

So many knobs.

[Jimmy W]

But can it do vignetting?

[Jim Bow]

But can it do vignetting?

Can’t you do that in the darkroom?

[Jimmy W]

You could if you had a darkroom.

[Spin_Drift]

That’s a beautiful and very special camera. Where do you get the film for it? I inherited my mother’s old Hasselblad camera. It would be interesting to take some photos with it.

[Nicholas Carey]

That’s a beautiful and very special camera. Where do you get the film for it? I inherited my mother’s old Hasselblad camera. It would be interesting to take some photos with it.

Hasselblads are 6x6. They use 120 or 220 film.

220 is the same width as 120. No paper backing and the film strip is twice as long, so twice the number of frames. It's no longer made, but there is apparently some folks trying to resurrect it.

120 is still made

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/120-film/ci/39570

so go to town.

Probably worth taking the Hasselblad in for a service and getting a tune-up. New light seals at the very least.

[skuthorp]

I have one but not at present in operating condition,

[timber_cruiser]

I have been able to find 120 B&W and color film locally. This pic shows the modification I made to accept the slightly narrower 120 film. The orange spacers snap into the 120 roll. I also added some shim stock to support the film edge. The size of each exposure is 2 1/8" by 4 7/8" which should be good for panoramic shooting.

IMG_8758.jpg

[timber_cruiser]

I just got my processed film back today. Disappointing results due to my error. I forgot to cover the red frame counter sight glass with tape. Light leak!

Fixed that, purchased some new color and B&W film. Heading out on a road trip.

This is a pic I took from a few years ago with this camera. I hope to be able to do better.

[elf]

How slow was that film? How did you get the image into digital form?

The image is not very sharp and very noisy.

[Spin_Drift]

I think it’s a beautiful picture.

[Joe (SoCal)]

I sense a lot of Joe taunts in this thread

other than that looks like fun, have fun, always have fun.

[Jimmy W]

Yes, the photo looks good to have been taken with a 100+ year old camera with film that doesn't quite fit. Does the film fit the film rails if the camera even has film rails? Also no pressure plate to hold the film flat to the opening.

[timber_cruiser]

Thanks for the comments. This picture was taken using Kodak Gold 200 120 format film. It was scanned by the lab that did the processing.

Elf, I admire and always enjoy the pics that you post. I am not sure what you mean about the image being noisy and not sharp. I thought this looked ok.

Jimmy, you are right about the film rail pressure, hmmm, I think I can fix that.

Joe, you are right about doing this for the fun. The catalyst for this is the road trip that I am starting tomorrow. I am driving down to Arizona to connect with my brother and sister that I have not seen recently. I thought it would be fun to get a picture of us together using the camera that belonged to our mother many years ago.

This is my quest...

[Paul Pless]

Joe, you are right about doing this for the fun. The catalyst for this is the road trip that I am starting tomorrow. I am driving down to Arizona to connect with my brother and sister that I have not seen recently. I thought it would be fun to get a picture of us together using the camera that belonged to our mother many years ago.

This is my quest...

worthy

[timber_cruiser]

I finished shooting some rolls of film. I got a few decent family pictures in AZ. I continue to have light leak issues. The camera mechanics are in good shape but the bellows are fragile and develop pin hole leaks easily.

Using the camera with family members was good. We talked about memories and things I thought I had forgotten.






I think it might be time to put this camera back into its shoe box and return to the closet shelf.

[George Jung]

Is there a replacement bellows? That could work.

[timber_cruiser]

George, I did look at that briefly, but unfortunately it would require some grinding to remove micro rivets on the bellows frame which I am reluctant to attempt.

[lupussonic]

It doesn't matter about the light leak, the camera was your mothers.

I like the flare over the dome..

[timber_cruiser]

Thanks, I thought I had captured a moment when a bolt of lightning infused logic, compassion and wisdom into our state legislature, but alas...

[elf]

I finished shooting some rolls of film. I got a few decent family pictures in AZ. I continue to have light leak issues. The camera mechanics are in good shape but the bellows are fragile and develop pin hole leaks easily.

Talk to someone who repairs accordians and concertinas. They know all about bellows maintenance and repair.

[timber_cruiser]

Elf, Thanks, that is great advice!