This is another camera which I had not heard of before. I was introduced to it through a reader of this blog who has been writing to me and regaling me with all his photography adventures. He mentioned that he was playing around with this camera. I looked online and they were quite rare in the UK as they were originally produced in New York around 1946. I managed to find one for a reasonable price and it arrived quickly. I think I ordered it, cut some film to 127 and used it within a week. Here it is…

It’s a tiny little camera, about the size of my palm and my hands are small. I should have used a banana for scale. As I said it uses 127 film and takes a ‘half-frame’ type shot. You move a number on the film from one window to the other meaning you get double the shots. I actually got 18 on a cut-down 120 roll, which is a bit longer than the original 127 film.

As you can see it is a simple camera with just an instant 1/50th and a bulb mode. The aperture is set at f16 and has no alternative. That means the best film for it is 100asa on a slightly cloudy day. There is no shutter lock so you can take as many shots on one frame as you like. Saying that, it still fooled me. When it first arrived, I could not make it work. I sent a message to the seller and then realised I needed to pull the front out to release the shutter mechanism. I apologised immediately, durh. Anyway, the viewfinder isn’t large, but for such a small camera it is bigger than you think. It is definitely much bigger than any Purma I have tried, which is a 127 camera of about the same era.

I loaded mine with a roll of cut-down, expired HP5 due to the rubbish weather we have had recently. Then I trundled off to a new to me place, Howden.

Here are most of my shots

The photos are better than I expected. I think the minimal focal distance is about 6ft. There is some fogging, the shape and even strength of it looks like it could be from the hinge. It is more likely to be from pulling the front in and out. I did walk around with the front pulled out, maybe it is better to keep it collapsed when not in use or keeping it out and adding some tape.

Either way, I liked using the camera, I found it ‘cute’ due to the size. Unfortunately, I probably wouldn’t use it again and will add it to my ‘Pentax 17 Project‘….Talking of that, I might have to abandon that before it even gets started. My car is having issues and I might need to replace it. As much as I want the Pentax, I need a car. As you have seen, I drive all over the UK, playing with cameras, camping, and walking. I have been cycling to work this week while it is being looked at. The weather has been in my favour for a change, but it isn’t a permanent solution. So I need to save for a new car. That means the sales will continue, but the resultant purchase might differ.

So if you are in the UK and want a fairly rare camera, look no further..

And…This one has sold.