Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic

[Silverpixels5]

I've had this camera for a few years now, and out of mere curiosity I've decided to give it a try. The only thing is that I'd like to make rather accurate exposures which is difficult to do when there is only one shutter speed(with no label) and the f stops are labeled as numbers 1, 2, 3,and 4 instead of their actual values. Now eyeballing the shutter speed, it seems like its about 1/50th of a second, but thats just a guess. If i knew what the focal length of the lens was I could calculate the f stops. So does anybody have any idea what the lens focal length is, and at what speed the shutter fires? This is the model B version of the camera. Thanks!

 

[resummerfield]

I have a Vest Pocket model B Autographic. My lens’ focal length is not marked, but I had read somewhere that it was 85mm. Mine has 4 apertures, marked 8, 16, 32, and 64. Comparing the marked apertures to the actual measured holes, the 85mm focal length seems about right. Years ago I checked my shutter speed with a tester, and it was about 1/100. Remember, it takes 127 film. I hope this helps!

 

[Silverpixels5]

Thanks Eric! Is your lens just a single element mounted in the back of the shutter?

 

[resummerfield]

My Vest Pocket has the Periscopic Lens, which is a 2 element, 2 group lens, with an element on each side of the shutter. In actual picture taking, I would give a “best guess” on the exposure, and then develop a little longer to compensate for lens flare. Good luck!

 

[Silverpixels5]

ok then ours are a little different, as mine only has the single element in back of the shutter.

 

[Whiteymorange]

I have a #2 Cartridge Premo with the single meniscus lens behind the ball-bearing shutter, and I've taken lots of great shots with it. 6x9 on HP5 120 film. The f stops are roughly equivalent to F11, 16, 22, 32. Mine shoots at 1/25 or 1/50. I find that the whole shooting match is great for the "sunny sixteen with a fudge-factor rule" I do lens opening 3 or 4 at 1/50 on a sunny day in the summer and guesstimate it from there. The shots are remarkably... well, not sharp, exactly, but nicely resolved and old-timey.

 

[Murray@uptowngallery]

The Butkus.org manuals have a VPA 'Special'. It has some discussion/comparison of the Special Anastigmat vs meniscus options. As one of the posters above noted, I somewhere found apertures 1-4 = 11, 16, 22, 32. I think that would be the meniscus one as the manual mentions f/11.3 being wide open for meniscus vs 7.7 for the Special. 1/50 & 1/25 are what I think I saw on one I just got this week.

Mine has bad bellows. I am curious if anyone has figured out how to access the bellows. The larger one (1A Jr using A-120 film) back comes off to load and thus bellows back is accessible there. You could put a ground glass on for testing etc.

My VPA, per the manual loads from the top like a cash register tape with a pre-started takeup spool. I'm not sure how to get at the bellows on that guy.

Only f.l. Ive seen documented on VPA A-127 was 84 mm.

Murray