The Kodak Pony 135 Model C

[Brian Moore]

I picked up my Kodak Pony 135 Model C through an on-line auction last year and at the time I really had no idea what I was buying. Given that its a consumer-grade Kodak from the mid-50s, I was pleasantly surprised by the camera's quality and exposure capabilities.

Here's a link to a little write-up I've done on the 135 C and the other cameras in the Pony line up.

Kodak Pony: 1950's Little Work Horse | Film Photography Project

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Loving that first shot - the lighting and the backdrop color really compliment the camera.

It's a handsome looking bit of kit isn't it.

Mine has yet to have any film put through it - anything I need to pay attention to when cleaning/prepping it?

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks Chris. Didn't know you had one. Is it 35mm or 828?

Pay attention to,...? Uh,...avoid licking the radioactive lens bits?

Seriously,...it's pretty simple stuff really. As long as your shutter is not hanging up you're probably good to go.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Ahh... just checked mine, it's actually the Kodak Pony IV model - 135 film

Mine has a flash-shoe located where the film dial is on your model, otherwise very similar visually - came out a few years after your model I expect.

Similar 44mm, f3.5 Anastar lens I see

 

[Brian Moore]

A Pony IV, eh? 1957 to 1961. (My Model C? '55-58.)

The good news: The Anastar lens in the IV is said to be the best of the Pony lenses. Congratulations on that Chris!

The bad news: The Anastar lens in the IV is the radioactive one. Congratulations on that too Chris!

But no worries, the half-life is only 14.05 billion years.

Found this (Wikipedia):
Thorium dioxide was formerly added to glasses during manufacture to increase their refractive index, producing thoriated glass with up to 40% ThO2 content. These glasses were used in the construction of high-quality photographic lenses. However, the radioactivity of the thorium caused both a safety and pollution hazard and self-degradation of the glass (turning it yellow or brown over time).

 

[Paul Lange]

Pony, is that because it cost £25?

Looks like a good find Brian, interesting to see what you get from it. Old lenses tend to have soft coatings which makes them a bugger to clean. I have an old Halina 35X. The elements look good but if you inspect them closely you can see the surface scratching on the coatings. Of course this might actually yield some interesting results!

 

[Brian Moore]

Pony, is that because it cost £25?

Looks like a good find Brian, interesting to see what you get from it.

Thanks Paul. Mine cost me about $10US. 25 quid seems a lot. I took the one below with it. There are a few more in the article I linked.

 

[Paul Lange]

Ah The Dog Photo!. I missed the link in your first post - Teach me to skim read. I forget not everyone is from the UK sometimes. Pony is slang for £25, hence the comment.

 

[Pete Askew]

Nice write-up Brian and I do like like that first shot too. Chrsi is right about the background colour, it works a treat and has the right sort of tone for a 'vintage' camera. It certainly is an attractive beastie isn't and the results are pretty good too.

 

[Brian Moore]

Pony is slang for £25

Oh,...never heard that. Thanks Paul.

Nice write-up Brian and I do like like that first shot too.

Thanks very much, Pete. I quite like that first picture myself. It's just natural light but it almost looks illuminated artificially somehow.