Kodak Bantam Flash Anyone?

[wjlapier]

I found a nice condition Kodak Bantam Flash camera and intend to run some 35mm film though it to test. Then maybe slit either 70mm or 120--got some expired stuff just for this sort of thing.

Anyone else shoot with one of these cameras? I really like the way it feels in the hand--nice heft. I'll see how the lens is soon.

 

[Brendan Quirk]

I started with the Kodak Bantam 828 - don't know if it was the flash sync version, but the photo above looks very familiar. 828 was hard to get, even in 1971, and I graduated to 35 mm the next year. I do have good memories of the Bantam, as I learned to focus and guess exposure by eye at the very beginning, in my first year.

 

[MattKing]

828 was hard to get, even in 1971

I'm surprised to read this, as 828 Kodachrome was certainly available here into at least the later 1970s - I have hundreds/thousands of my Dad's slides to attest to that.

 

[Brendan Quirk]

I would go to the downtown photo stores in Chicago and ask for 828 B&W (Verichrome Pan?) and they would make a big deal about getting it from the stockroom, and telling me that it wouldn't be available much longer. I just saw a reference that Kodak didn't discontinue it until 1985, but they sure treated me as if it were a dinosaur! Maybe ulterior motives on their part...

 

[wjlapier]

How I prepped the Bantam camera. I read someone who used the camera had some reflected light maybe off the silver colored screws on the back door. So I covered the screws with some backing paper. Then covered the green window with gaffers tape. I have to experiment with advancing the film. A reviewer said to rotate the dial on top 1 and 1/2 turns about 6 frames and then only one rotation for the remainder of the shots. Too much space between the first few frames. Lens is fine enough to shoot for fun. Mainly sunny 16 or 11 and 1/100th shutter speed. Portra 160.

 

[nosmok]

I have a non-flash Bantam whose lumenized Anastigmat Special lens produces some of the best images I have ever shot on 35mm film. My Flash Bantam isn't far behind. In this era, Kodak was making some of the best lenses in the world.