Questions about old cameras

AgX · Nov 2, 2015

narsuitus said:
In additon to a Leica, also consider a 1940s Argus C3 as her time travel 35mm camera.

We have no idea where the plot is situated. The Argus is a very american camera.
The same for all Jim Jones's proposals.

Though "Alaskahsm" is a hint at the location of the OP. But that is not the point.

MattKing · Nov 2, 2015

I think a Retina would be a good choice.

They were sold internationally, and they look iconic.

frank · Nov 2, 2015

How about a graflex camera with 4x5 sheet film?

Closed, it just looks like a box. Open it and it's steam punk magic.

AgX · Nov 2, 2015

Press-type cameras also had a different spread throughout the world.
With more modern smaller cameras being used much earlier in some parts.

Truzi · Nov 2, 2015

How about that instant camera from The Twilight Zone?

Alaskahsm · Nov 3, 2015

You guys have been so much help. I really like the look of the Retina. I hadn't really decided on really how old the camera was going to be until I really knew much about the wide world of photography. If this book ever gets published I will be sure to thank all of you in the acknowledgements. I think I also found my next obsession.

How early was 35mm film available to the general public, as in just pop on in to a store and buy it. I think my character is going to run out of film and the only way to get back to her own time is to refill. I don't want it to be too easy, but I also don't want her to be stuck with no way home.

Also it is set in Denver area where she buys the camera. Is there a camera with the name of Majestic? The time travel will take her anywhere in the world though, so the question about the film applies to worldwide.

AgX · Nov 3, 2015

Alaskahsm said:
How early was 35mm film available to the general public, as in just pop on in to a store and buy it?

The first film specially marketed for the Leica came from the german manufacturer Perutz in about 1925. It still had to be filled into original Leica cassettes.

Only in 1934 Kodak introduced their single-use Type 135 cassette, filled with their film, for their cameras.

By time other film manufacturers took over this single-use cassette for offering their films. In the 30s there first even was a competive system by film manufacturer Agfa for their own cameras.

So it took some time for type 135 cassettes to be generally available.

But that is a good question, not easy to answer as not well documented.

Xmas · Nov 3, 2015

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/ps how choose cassetes.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/135_film

You have picked a complicated question.
You need a date and you then need to chose a camera that had been on general sale earlier.

Before '34 with a Leica or Contax you probably would have used one of their dedicated cassette (or in the case of the Contax maybe two cassettes with no rewind) but that would be exceptional normally rewind before unloading, unless you forget and exposed the film to light.

You could buy film in correct length or on a longer cine reel and cut off two meters, about.
There would probably also have been daylight loads with the film wrapped in a paper enclosure to be inserted into the cassette in daylight.
But I'd stick with preloaded cassette they are complicated enough already.

Truzi · Nov 3, 2015

Perhaps a Voigtlander Vitessa:
https://www.cameraquest.com/voitvitl.htm

narsuitus · Nov 3, 2015

Alaskahsm said:
Is there a camera with the name of Majestic?

Yes, the Majestic was an inexpensive U.S. manufactured camera that used 127 film -- not 35mm. Two similar 127 film cameras are the Kodak Bullet and the Detrola. Today, 127 film is harder to find than 35mm.

Kodak Bullet by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Detrola by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Paul Howell · Nov 3, 2015

Alaskahsm said:
You guys have been so much help. I really like the look of the Retina. I hadn't really decided on really how old the camera was going to be until I really knew much about the wide world of photography. If this book ever gets published I will be sure to thank all of you in the acknowledgements. I think I also found my next obsession.

How early was 35mm film available to the general public, as in just pop on in to a store and buy it. I think my character is going to run out of film and the only way to get back to her own time is to refill. I don't want it to be too easy, but I also don't want her to be stuck with no way home.

Also it is set in Denver area where she buys the camera. Is there a camera with the name of Majestic? The time travel will take her anywhere in the world though, so the question about the film applies to worldwide.

35mm in cassettes was readily available by the mid to late 1930s.

MontanaJay · Nov 4, 2015

Or, you could go with the 828 Bantam, introduced in 1935, a roll film camera yielding larger negatives from the same 35 mm film stock (but without the sprocket holes).
There's some classy-looking Bantams from that era, and I remember as a kid being impressed by the super slides they produced in Kodachrome.

Theo Sulphate · Nov 4, 2015

Does the camera itself act as a time machine or are the photos (negatives) used as input to a time machine?

I ask because readers familiar with an existing camera (e.g. Kodak Retina IIa) might wonder how it gained such magical properties. If it were a special camera that never existed in real life (such as the Twilight Zone camera [*]) that would avoid the question.

Either way, becoming familiar with film camera operations helps. Happy writing!

[*] "A Most Unusual Camera", episode 46, Dec. 1960

Mikkornat · Nov 5, 2015

The camera should be a Japanese brand. That way, when she has to explain how the camera transports her through time, she can just wink and say "It's Japanese."

Truzi · Nov 5, 2015

Mikkornat said:
The camera should be a Japanese brand. That way, when she has to explain how the camera transports her through time, she can just wink and say "It's Japanese."

Similar to the "ancient Chinese secret" commercials?

Alaskahsm · Nov 5, 2015

It's the camera that matters. It is a special one of a kind camera. That was why I asked about the Majestic. That's what I called it, so I'll have to change the name. There is a roll of film still in the camera and I wanted to make sure I was accurate in saying if she opened the back the film would be ruined. So I need to make sure I don't use the double cassette feature and just keep it standard.

Jim Jones · Nov 5, 2015

Opening the back without rewinding standard 35mm cassettes will likely ruin much if not all of the exposed film. Only an exposure or two would be ruined in 35mm cameras that wind from cassette to cassette. Opening the back of roll film cameras where the film has a paper backing would likely ruin a frame or two, and perhaps more.

Sirius Glass · Nov 5, 2015

Mikkornat said:
The camera should be a Japanese brand. That way, when she has to explain how the camera transports her through time, she can just wink and say "It's Japanese."

Truzi said:
Similar to the "ancient Chinese secret" commercials?

What?!?

Truzi · Nov 5, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
What?!?

Explaining the magical powers of the camera by saying it was made in Japan reminds me of the old Calgon commercials. Check Youtube.

Sirius Glass · Nov 5, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
What?!?

Truzi said:
Explaining the magical powers of the camera by saying it was made in Japan reminds me of the old Calgon commercials. Check Youtube.

I guess that I do not watch enough television. <<sigh>> What can I do about that?

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