Old Cameras in Old Movies

Helios 1984 · Aug 10, 2021

MattKing said:
Looks a lot like the Retinette 1b in my avatar
From the internet:

I believe you are correct, the shape of the Kodak badge can be seen in the right corner.

drkhalsa · Aug 10, 2021

MattKing said:
Looks a lot like the Retinette 1b in my avatar
From the internet:

Yes it sure does. I believe the character using it is a member of the forensic team documenting the victim.

MattKing · Aug 10, 2021

A fine and under-appreciated camera, although why a forensic team member would use a scale focusing camera is a mystery in its own right.

tokam · Aug 10, 2021

That speedlite looks to be from a much later time. George Gently was set in the mid '60s.

Kino · Aug 10, 2021

MattKing said:
A fine and under-appreciated camera, although why a forensic team member would use a scale focusing camera is a mystery in its own right.

The "cool" factor overrode the practical reality; that's Hollywood.

drkhalsa · Aug 10, 2021

Kino said:
The "cool" factor overrode the practical reality; that's Hollywood.

I went back to double check and it's Episode 2 from Season 2 in case anyone wants to watch. And it is being used for forensic purposes.

AgX · Aug 10, 2021

Kino said:
The "cool" factor overrode the practical reality; that's Hollywood.

Well, even in movies where the camera still was contempory it often was seemingly wrongly chosen especially in forensics.

But who knows what equipment police forces actually had at hand for instance in the 60's.

Europan · Aug 12, 2021

Does it count when I say the swimming Kodak-Film camera booth in Police Academy?

RDW · Aug 14, 2021

Another glaring anachronism from the Tate Gallery's 'Picasso 1932' exhibition promotional trailer (the cameras in the next shot also look decades adrift, and nothing like press cameras).

drkhalsa · Aug 17, 2021

Patriot Games 1992
Used for forensic purposes.

Donald Qualls · Aug 17, 2021

I guess the actor (or character) had just transitioned from a Contax (or Kiev) -- look at that Contax grip, and not even a finger on the lens focus ring...

CMoore · Aug 17, 2021

Some of you Gals/Guys have been at this a LONG Time and have a great memory of products of the past. Some of you also sold cameras and chemicals over the years.
You WILL appreciate this movie. Not so much for the cameras, but for all the displays and "Stuff" that are in the camera store.

The Salzburg Connection 1972

AgX · Aug 18, 2021

Yes, camera stores are a great setting, to our standard. I myself hinted at this thread at 3 german ones. But still I am surprised, as I find the number already large. In two cases they even were a major location, part of the story.

removed account4 · Aug 22, 2021

clockwork orange. .. looks like we will be film secure in the years go come

Bronson Dugnutt · Aug 23, 2021

A pro photo trio

AgX · Aug 24, 2021

Liesegang Antiskop II
(still with skid for its wall mount)

Beseler VU-Lyte IIII

"Graf Yoster gibt sicht die Ehre" , crime-movie series , West-Germany , 1974

Helios 1984 · Sep 1, 2021

Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) holding a Canon F-1

Spiderman (2002)

Moose22 · Sep 1, 2021

Interesting thread.

Not an old movie, but modern set in an old time frame. I was watching an episode of Endeavour last night. I think it was 1968 in that episode and there was a scene with a movie star appearing. Saw a couple of Nikon Fs, at least one Hassleblad 500, and a TLR. I'm assuming a Rolliflex T -- don't know to much about those though.

I've seen more than a few cameras in the series. Rangefinders, early 60s press cameras, and even a large format field camera (Supposedly the 1860s) and never really thought about them, but they DO seem to pick era appropriate gear rather than "Just old looking cameras" to set the scene.

guangong · Sep 2, 2021

Just finished watching Ozu’ Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family (1941). During a group photo shoot, one of the brothers is said to own and use a Leica. A professional photographer is taking portrait with 8x10,:but one of the sisters mentioned the Leica, perhaps to reinforce the perception that this is a well heeled family.

schyter · Sep 3, 2021

Mr Jones (UK 2020) Fed 1 (B or C ... probably pre war)

AgX · Sep 3, 2021

Hasselblad being cocked !

"Peppermint Frappé" , drama , Spain , 1967

removedacct2 · Sep 9, 2021

sorting some movies archives, remembered a 1984 movie set in two historical periods, 1945 Postdam conferences and 1975 Helsinki meetings. The plot is about two photo reporters at the events, so plenty of cameras in the movie.

a rarity, Foth-Reflex II ... this is the camera used by one of the main character in the Postdam segment. It's historically consistent, that a Foth-Reflex could be used in 1945, but likelihood I guess not because the character using it is an american, and I don't think american photo reporters, army embedded or not, did use Foth cameras in 1945, but either their own domestic brands of press camera, or some Leica.

the guy standing holds the Foth-Reflex II

in one of the BW segments:

this is in a scene he grabs the camera after it accidentally fall on the ground. Previous frame, after camera drop, we can see in the background some Linhof Technika. I' d say the III, but then it would not be historically consistent, not sure the III was available in 1945. Otherwise in the middle a Graflex SLR:

tons of cameras in this movie. Here at the bottom a Contax or Kiev, middle a black Leica III, then an Exakta I think, reminds me of the old Exakta 66 :

here the small format camera on the left, with the big knob by the lens, I don't know what it is:

in the 1975 segments, one can see Nikon, Pentax, Chinon, Zenit, Polaroid and more.

soviet movie, so public domain, this is a copy of a download from russian tv channel "Star" (the red log on top corner). I have it online too: )

AgX · Sep 9, 2021

Thank you for hinting at this movie. I have watched a lot of soviet movies, but somehow was unaware of this one.

removedacct2 · Sep 10, 2021

AgX said:
Thank you for hinting at this movie. I have watched a lot of soviet movies, but somehow was unaware of this one.

well this one doesn't belong the most famous ones.
So, when I decided to watch it closely i was amazed to see one the main character with a Foth-Reflex II. In the past I didn't pay attention to the side knob on the front,

i did check a bit google.de in german, and most info seems to be summarized on wikipedia. One of the many minor optic and photographic german manufacturers, C. F. Foth & Co. Optisch-Mechanische Anstalt founded in 1924, and whereabouts disappears in the turmoils of war economy in 1940. Strangely after the war there is a french manufactured improvement of one of their camera, the Foth Derby, by Paris area manufacturer Gallus. Not much information in french either, Sylvain Halgand s site mentioned Gallus appeared in France in 1924, so probably a french branch on Foth's business, or associate.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.F._Foth_&_Co.
https://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/historique.php?marque=Gallus

anyway that Foth-Flex II TLR is quite unusual because the focusing lever on the front between the two lenses, and, mainly, a focal plane shutter.
I found a recent presentation on youtube.

the Potsdam 1945 part of the movie is chronologically consistent with the use of this TLR, but as I commented, i don't think american army photo reporters did use a Foth .... so that's a goof in an otherwise well done movie. What could bring the team of this 1984 movie to use this camera? Filming locations were USSR, DDR and Finland, so maybe their german comrades did give them that. Otherwise there are Leica. many Linhof, some Rollei in the bunch of cameras seen in the movies. In fact i can't remember a movie with so many cameras at once ...

that said, there are probably some Foth TRL used in german movies of the 30's...

KinoGrafx · Sep 17, 2021

The 1960’s Gamera (Japanese monster) movies are littered with great old cameras. Nikon Fs, leica (or Canon?) rangefinders, 4x5 Graphics and more!

Old Cameras in Old Movies

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