Spartus "35 f" Model 400

[Hamish Gill]

Another one of my collection ... The 'Spartus "35 f" Model 400'

This is without doubt one of the most simple cameras I own!
It has a single shutter speed "inst" which i would guess to be about 1/50th as well as a bulb or "time". The shutter is fired by a lever on the side of the lens. There are 3 aperture settings, f/16, f/11 and f/7.7 there is also a f/7.7 with a yellow filter labeled 'K-2'
The view finder has a reflective interior making it quite hard to accurately frame your subject.
There is nothing to prevent the user from taking photos on the same frame other than their own memory to wide the film on! Film wind is done by depressing a button on the back which releases a sprocket inside, then rotating the wheel on the top left of the camera.
The back clips on and of with a flick of a metal latch. There is a simple shot counter on the top of the camera.
Despite its flaws, its simplicity makes it a good fun camera to use ... and it takes lovely soft low contrast images with a vignette (ill post some soon)

Some more photos

The shutter release

Film wind release button

Back plate latch

VF and shot counter

Some photos i took with it on my old blog ... colour shots are a lot nicer - more to come.

A useful bit of info for shooting with cameras like this - sunny 16 rule

Shot taken with this camera http://www.realphotographersforum.com/threads/1946-Shot-taken-with-Spartus-35f-model-400

 

[Pete Askew]

Great write-up again Hamish and a stylish set of images to accompany it.

As you say, nice low contrast images. I can image colour shots being quite dream-like. Looking forward to them.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I am Spartus!

That's one cool looking camera Hamish, and a nice treatment on the series. - Were you shooting outside?

Looks like it's a few years old - any idea when it was produced?

Given the lack of features, I'm guessing this was the equivalent of the disposable camera in regards to how/when you could use it!

That shutter release reminds me of the one on my old Lubitel - old skool

 

[Hamish Gill]

1947 seems to be the date quoted around the internet
Yeah, I think there would have been a lot more available to you in terms of features if you had a bit more money to spend by that time!
The 'f' stands for flash, there is a threaded mount for a flash on the top of the camera.... I think that was perhaps it's key selling point!
I think most cameras could really only be used in the sort of circumstances we might use a disposable or cheap p&s!
Film speeds were low back then, so it was daylight use or fairly close quarters flash photography for even the most high end kit I think really!
I guess this would have been the equivalent of a £100's worth of digi p&s in the hierarchy of available kit ... Although I'm sure it cost more than the equiv of £100 back then!

 

[Hamish Gill]

... And yeah, shot these outside, fancied mixing things up a bit

Cheers Pete, yeah, dream like indeed, there are a few series on flickr from people using this camera, some actually really nice! I thought it worth digging out! I have a test film in at the mo. I'm going to get that deved cheap and see what I get!