New Toys

[Brian Moore]

All acquired in the last week.

Left: Kodak Retina 1a. (1951 between January and May, based on the serial number)
Center: Polaroid 450 Automatic Land Camera. (1971-1974)
Right: Yashica 635. (c1958)

 

[Beth Anthony]

i've got my grandfather's kodak retinette 17b which looks a lot like your retina. some nice paperweights, i mean, toys you have there.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

And all in plain site as well!

Very nice looking purchases Brian - will you be able to put film through the Polaroid?

 

[Brian Moore]

And all in plain site as well!

Very nice looking purchases Brian - will you be able to put film through the Polaroid?

Thanks Chris.

Yes, I think the Polaroid will be functional. They're pretty robust. The battery compartment is clean and free of corrosion. I'm trying to find an original battery for it. But if I can't I'll modify it to take a modern battery.

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i've got my grandfather's kodak retinette 17b which looks a lot like your retina.

Looking forward to seeing some images out of it, Beth!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

They all look interesting. I'm especially interested in seeing shots from the Land Camera. Good haul. Getting into film photography, eh?

 

[Brian Moore]

They all look interesting. I'm especially interested in seeing shots from the Land Camera. Good haul. Getting into film photography, eh?

lol. Yes Rob. Starting to get fed up with digital.

 

[Pete Askew]

Now there's an exciting looking collection of new toys (and a super shot of them too). Looking forward to some shots from the Land Camera especially as well. That reminds me, I have a few packs of 5x4 in the fridge that need using up. Hmm.

 

[Hamish Gill]

nice line up Brian!!!!

 

[Brian Moore]

Now there's an exciting looking collection of new toys (and a super shot of them too). Looking forward to some shots from the Land Camera especially as well. That reminds me, I have a few packs of 5x4 in the fridge that need using up. Hmm.

Thanks, Pete. Regarding the 5x4,...make 'em count! They don't make that stuff anymore, Pete. (Neither Polaroid--of course--nor Fuji.)

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nice line up Brian!!!!

Thanks Hamish.

(You know I have a thing--I suppose its a fetish--for small 35mm cameras. The Retina fits right into that niche.)

 

[Pete Askew]

I might just have to look for a 10"x8" holder...

IMPOSSIBLE - film: Impossible PQ 8x10 Silver Shade Film 10 Frames

 

[Brian Moore]

I might just have to look for a 10"x8" holder...

IMPOSSIBLE - film: Impossible PQ 8x10 Silver Shade Film 10 Frames

That would be interesting. I believe the IP is based in the Holland. It would be worth a detour to stop by!

 

[Pete Askew]

It is indeed. Yes it would be fascinating. We work with another producer of more traditional film but I haven't been to the works. We did some work on gelatine recently though and I plan to use some make a bit of home-made film.

 

[Brian Moore]

It is indeed. Yes it would be fascinating. We work with another producer of more traditional film but I haven't been to the works. We did some work on gelatine recently though and I plan to use some make a bit of home-made film.

Home made film....? With a tutorial to accompany it?

 

[Pete Askew]

Will do. There is a book by a guy who used to work for Kodak on emulsion formulations but it's £120. I'll try a more 'empirical' approach first I think.

 

[Brian Moore]

Very cool stuff, Pete!

I've wondered if there is a market for new film emulsions. (I think there is.) With all the emulsions that have gone away in recent years, film shooters are hungry for new product. Is it feasible for a low-key, low cost start-up business? (IP did it,...though the term "low cost" is relative.)

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Chris.

Yes, I think the Polaroid will be functional. They're pretty robust. The battery compartment is clean and free of corrosion. I'm trying to find an original battery for it. But if I can't I'll modify it to take a modern battery.

ok - I might need to pick your brains then - I have a minty polaroid from an estate sale that looks almost new

Would be great to be able to use it - I had assumed I would be SOL

I'll dig it out from my 'magic closet' later

 

[Brian Moore]

ok - I might need to pick your brains then - I have a minty polaroid from an estate sale that looks almost new

Would be great to be able to use it - I had assumed I would be SOL

I'll dig it out from my 'magic closet' later

What model number, Chris?

 

[Chris Dodkin]

What model number, Chris?

J66 Electric Eye Land Camera Kit

 

[Brian Moore]

J66 Electric Eye Land Camera Kit

Sorry Chris. I think you're SOL. The J66 is a Polaroid roll film camera. Nobody makes that stuff anymore. Not Polaroid, not Fuji, not Impossible Project. Its always feasible that someone has some for sale on E-bay, but unless someone has kept it in a fridge for 2 or 3 decades the chemicals are likely desiccated.

As far as old Polaroids go, you'd want a "peel-apart" film camera (Fuji makes film for those) or one of the later cameras--SX-70 or Spectra or such like--that use the integral film (no peel apart paper backing,...the camera spits out the film and the image develops before your eyes) made by Impossible Project.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Mmmmm, pretty much as I'd thought

I have seen a few home brew conversions online to 120 film - might be worth a play

Either way, it's a nice looking camera kit for the vintage display section of the home office