Kodak No. 2 folding cartridge Premo

[DannyBoy]

Hi All! I'm Danny, to day I just bought a Kodak No. 2 folding cartridge Premo for $7.00. It seems to all work just fine. I don't know much about this camera and was hoping you could tell me more. The aperture gos 1,2,3,4. I think thats f11-f32 right? I think it all so says to use 116 film, but I know they don't make that anymore...so can I use 120? I thought 116 was about 1/4 inch wider.

Here are some photos I just took.

 

[P C Headland]

Welcome

There are a few internet sites that show you how to make adapters that will allow you to use 120 film in 116/616 cameras. You'll end up with a sort of panoramic format. You can still find 616 film from one or two sources, but it is expensive. The other option is to find some backing paper and roll your own using 70mm film.

I'm just testing a camera that originally used 130 film. With some adapters and new film guide rails, it now takes 120 film. I hope to complete a test roll this weekend to iron out the frame spacing, framing and make sure everything works.

 

[Whiteymorange]

The Pocket Cartridge Premo that belonged to my grandmother was one of the things that got me started using old cameras (and old film and old chemicals... .) I've take it with me to Europe and shot it side by side with a Rolleiflex. The difference in the resulting images is really interesting. That meniscus lens has a distinct barrel distortion, but the images are often softly clear and interesting, not out of focus at all, but never really sharp or crisp. i like them quite a bit. Mine takes 120 film.

Here's a shot I took with it this fall in NY.

 

[DannyBoy]

Thank you both! I just found a site that has online manuals for this camera!

Can I ask where I would post a camera that I just bought and have to idea what kind it is? It says something like Ernemann doppel objektiv on the lens.

 

[Whiteymorange]

Look here. Or post a picture of it here. Somebody will know something about it. APUG is an amazing resource.

 

[DannyBoy]

Thank you!

 

[bsouth1202]

Hi All!

I recently purchased a Kokak No. 3A Folding Cartridge Premo. That's what it says on the leather strap and on the front, but it looks exactly like the No. 2A models that I have found online.

It seems to have all the parts and I would dearly love to take pictures with it. Does anyone know if the 3A model can use 120 film. I've read that film is still available. If so, where can I buy it?

Also, I am new to photography and don't have any darkroom equipment. Do photo labs develop this kind of film.

Thanks for your help!

Beth

 

[Paul Sorensen]

Hi Beth,

Unfortunately, the 3A cameras from Kodak used 122 film, and that will be more of a challenge to get, I believe. The best ones to get from a usability standpoint are the ones that were designed originally to take 120, from Kodak they are often called #2. 2A is 116 and 3A is 122. 122 film is absolutely huge, the negs were 5 1/2 X 3 1/4, much bigger than 120 and actually pretty close to 4X5 large format. They were often referred to as Postcard format. The film has been gone for many decades, from what I understand. Actually, I just found 122 film at Central Camera, here is a link: http://www.centralcamera.com/Film/Film-for-Older-Cameras/Type-122-Black-White-Film/. It sure ain't cheap, and then you have to figure out how to develop it since I am guessing that your camera didn't come with reels or a tank. The stuff at Central Camera is respooled, I am guessing that they are cutting down some aero stock or something like that, since there are no consumer roll films that are big enough.

Edit: you also need a takeup spool for the camera, unless it came with one (hopefully it did).

 

[bsouth1202]

Thanks Paul!

I'm still confused as to what I actually have. My camera clearly says on the leather strap and in brass on the front of the camera that it is a 3A Folding Cartridge Premo. The only picture I have found online of a 3A Folding Cartridge Premo (picture attached) is definately not my camera. It is much more boxy and square.

I have found many pictures, including on an online manual, of a 2A Folding Cartridge Premo (picture also attached) and it is exactly like my camera.

If anyone can help me solve the mystery, I would really appreciate it. I'm trying to find out what film to use, but can't determine that until I figure this out.

Thanks for your help!

Beth

 

[Paul Sorensen]

3A is a Kodak term for 122 film cameras, so unless there is something mislabeled or a part that was moved from one camera to another, I think that you have a 122 camera. I would open the back and do a rough measurement of the film gate, if it is a little over 5 X 3, it is almost certainly 122 film. For 120 it would be more like a little over 2 X 3, a really big difference. For 116 film, I would be about 2 1/2 by 4 1/4. Since the width of the 116 is fairly close to that of 120, folks have been able to modify the camera to use with 120. I can imagine doing the same with a 122 camera, but the job would be a lot more involved.

Also, I would inspect the back and inside for embossing or labels, usually there was something from Kodak to indicate the film used. Often this labeling survives. I have a box brownie of some sort sitting right here and it has "Use Film No. 116" embossed in the leatherette on the back. My Kodak folding Boy Scout camera has a label on the inside.