Kodak Pony

Several month ago I was in the Indianapolis Midland Antique Mall.  It's a fairly large antique collective that has some pretty pricey & nice antiques.  I've gone there a few time to look for vintage film cameras.  It's kind of hit and miss, and many times the cameras I find are overpriced.  

Well, during my last visit I found this Kodak Pony.  It's a cool rangefinder manual camera.  Very hipster.  $30 all-in including a flash gun (which by the way I have flashbulbs that work for this camera).  I checked it out and it looked clean.  Mechanics all seemed good.  A bit rough looking with natural wear & tear, but thats all cosmetic.

The camera comes with a 44mm f/3.5 Kodak Anastar Lens.  Aperture from f/3.5 to f/22.  The lens has 3 zone focus groups which makes it really easy to set.  The thing that's unique is that the back of the camera comes with a "guide" that has 5 graphic pictures / descriptions.  As an example it has a full sun, and says "BRT SUN SAND SNOW".  There are corresponding numbers under the icon.  As an example for full sun the number is 14 described as the exposure value.  

The way you set the exposure is to use the 2 dials on the lens barrel.  One is the Shutter Number (corresponding to B to 1/250).  The other dial is the Lens Opening Number (corresponding to f/3.5 to f/22).  Each has a series of numbers which corresponds to speed & aperture.  You simple move the numbers until they total the number under the icon.  Using the Full Sun icon you move the dials so the total of the 2 numbers equals 14.  You'd have to see it.  

Of course if you know exposures or use the Sunny 16, you can eyeball it.  This is how I often use manual cameras.  I know what apertures & speeds to use based on the ASA.   That's what you get when you use a light meter in studio and shoot film as a goof.

Anyway, I shot a roll of Kodak BW400CN around town.  It WORKS!

What's weird there's a cold shoe, but no PC port.  Not sure how you would fire an external flash.  That's where the flash gun comes into play, and I've tried it...it works.

Fun camera.  Completely impractical, but you will get stares...especially if you use the flash.  I'll use it again.

Here are some photos

Enter Here in Plainfield

Capri Motel in Plainfield

Old Military Trucks for Sale

Double Exposures are Easy

Bike in Bloomington

Run Run in Bloomington

This Week in Photo - Street Focus - Episode 49 with Valerie Jardin

Sunning in Los Angeles - Canon AF35F with Kodak BW400CN

I had the honor of being street photographer Valerie Jardin's guest on her Street Focus podcast this week. I've known Valerie for about 3 years through social media & workshops. Even though I primarily do studio based editorial / commercial fashion and portrait work, readers of this blog know I also do street photography, primarily with a Sony A6000 and film cameras. We spent about 45 minutes talking about street photography, percent of usable photos, how to get into a street photography meet up group & an appropriate starting aperture for street photography.  

When I was on her workshops I've used multiple film cameras when I wasn't using digital.  Something about film is just right.

Being on the podcast was a blast.

Here's a link to the podcast and Valerie's links:  

Street Focus Ep. 49 with Valerie Jardin

Photos I've Taken - Vivitar Series I 500PZ

My primary photo gigs are editorial fashion / model / portrait shoots at M10 Studio in Indianapolis.  Take a look at www.stevenbrokawphotography.com. I shoot these sessions with digital.  

HOWEVER, every once in awhile I'll pull out a film camera and pop off a few BTS shots.  You probably know I do this all the time with Polaroids., For this shot I took of model Lindsay with a Vivitar Series I 500PZ point & shoot using a roll of Kodak BW400CN.  Fun.

Time To Get Processing

Looks like I've gotten behind.  I just sent 7 non-C41 rolls off The Darkroom and now I need to take these into Roberts Camera in Indianapolis.  Got myself backlogged.  Yikes

A combination of Fujicolor, Ilford & Kodak films.

What I'm Shooting - FujiFilm & Kodak

Just finished shooting a roll of Fujifilm Color 400 in FujiFilm Discovery 270 Zoom.   Had a few small issues with the camera, but overall pretty nice.  Blog post after I get the film back.

Next up is a Kodak Cameo Motor EX with a roll of Kodak BW400CN.  This looks like a fun little camera.  Very pocketable, & very few settings.  I'm taking the Cameo with me tomorrow for a commercial fashion shoot for behind the scenes photos.  Should be fun.

Fujifilm Discovery 270 Zoom - Ate My Film

Mean, mean Fujifilm - Ate My First Roll of Film

Another thrift store find was the Fujifilm Discovery 270 Zoom.  Looks like a fun little camera.  However, I loaded it with a roll of Kodak BW400CN as instructed.  I must have loaded it wrong because it immediately rolled the film into the can.  Great, one roll of film trashed.  I wanted to try the camera so I reloaded it with a roll of Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 400.  Lets try this again.

Photos I've Taken - Pentax IQZoom 130M

Photo with the Pentax IQZoom 130m using Kodak BW400CN film.  A simple point & shoot.  Just walking around the city.

What I'm Shooting - Nikon, Bell+Howell & Pentax

This weekend while out running chores I took a few cameras.   This weekend I brought a Nikon Fun-Touch 6, a Pentax IQZoom 130m & a Bell+Howell.  All are simple point & shoots.  Easy to load & simple to use.  I ran both Fujicolor 200 & Kodak BW400CN film through them.  

A blog post on each camera to follow