Please recommend a camera

[IanG]

Interesting, there's a link to a site where they got much of the information, which mentions a 1954 BJP Almanac advert, I actually have that book open in front of me here in Turkey

The only mention of 620 in the 8 pages of the Ross Ensign Adverts is that that the top Ensign model the Selfix 820 Special will take 120 or 620 film.

In the review of new products later in the book the Snapper is shown as being a 620 camera. It seems very odd to take a backward step to a film size with limited choice of films available.

So I guess it could be a 620 camera.

Ian

 

[compur]

The Bilora Bella 66:

... and similar cameras such as the Felica, Klimax, Bunny, Agfa Click, and many others.

 

[Battou]

Beautiful camera but I would prefer 6x6 negs. The Tengor shoots 6x9 negs.

Sorry, I misread the 6X6 part :blushing:

 

[walter23]

You could get a real Kodak Brownie (why get that "type" if that is what you want?) for anywhere from $5.00 - $15.00 on eBay

Most old Kodak rollfilm cameras use film sizes or spool types that aren't available anymore.

Keep an eye out for German-built box cameras. They seem to usually take 120 film. You could just search ebay for "120 camera" and find all kinds of weird stuff.

There are, of course, about a billion varieties of 120 film camera other than the box-style that you could consider as well. Dacora digna, ilford sporti, about a zillion cheap TLRs, cheap folding cameras with scale focusing, etc... you should expect that any old camera, even a simple box camera, might need repair. Cheap old cameras often have rotary style shutters that have jammed up because of dirt or corrosion. You may have to disassemble them and clean the surfaces to make them function again.

Here's the shutter mechanism from a 4x5 box camera I got last week:

It's a pretty simple spring-loaded pendulum thingy, similar to what's inside a Holga. It was pretty sticky, so I had to disassemble it and sand the rust off the mating surfaces. Now it works perfectly.

 

[ksmattfish]

Far too sophisticated. I want a back to basics camera to take a pictures like it was done it the 30s and before.

Go into more detail. By the 1930s a huge range of features were available. Do you want a camera with a range of shutter speeds and apertures? Or just a few selections? Box cameras were the point-n-shoots of the day, but there were plenty of more sophisticated cameras. I've got several cameras in my collection from the 1880s that have many of the features of my circa 1970ish Super Graphic.

It's not wood and leather, but the Agfa Clik is pretty simple, has few features, usually goes for cheap, and shoots 6x6.

http://www.merrillphoto.com/agfaclick.htm

My favorites for simple, classic, 6x6 cameras are folders. Most are mid-20th century, but still simple compared to anything recent. Most 6x6 folders will fit in a pocket like an over stuffed wallet.

http://www.cleanimages.com/Article-MediumFormatInYourPocket.asp
http://www.williamsphotographic.com/ocr/mf/other.html

 

[ksmattfish]

Here's a list of Kodak 120 cameras

kodak classics - mischa koning