• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Suggestions for a WWII period camera

My Dad took some amazing Kodachrome slides with a C3. ASA 10 ain't for sissies . He used an amazing, to me as a kid, folding flash unit also made by Argus, 22V battery and 25B flashbulbs for fill and indoors. Ann Arbor Michigan, the second city of the American Photographic industry in the 1940s. I like this idea.
 
Box cameras, Ciroflex, Rolleiflex, Speed Graphic, many 120 folding cameras.
 
One pre-war camera that had a simple but reliable rotating focal plane shutter (1/20 to 1/1000) was the Mercury made by Univex. Unfortunately, it used a unique loading of 35mm film. Most people would never realize if someone was using the similar post-war model, the Mercury II, that used standard 35mm cassettes. The Mercury II came with a triplet lens that perhaps performed as well as the Argus 3C lens. Several interchangeable lenses were available, although these are now scarce. It was also a half-frame camera, popular in the depression yearsys before the war. Its looks were unique due to the shutter housing.
 
If 35mm becomes acceptable, the Argus is the obvious choice, small, light, and (http://tonyvaccarofilm.com/) carried by American foot solders into battle to record that life. The Leica II would be an (more expensive) alternative.

Personally I'd see if I could get the Medalist working - that was the quality "portable" camera used in that theater, and you already have one... and the film! As mentioned before, the lighter alternatives are the folders (ie: Zeiss) or the TLRs (ie: Rolleiflex).
 
My Grandfather was in the Canadian Army in WW2 and went through Italy and Holland. He carried a Zeiss Nettar 515 folder in 645 format as his personal camera through the war.
 
Another vote for the Voigtlander Bessa RF. Light, well built medium format with good rangefinder and built in filter. Added feature is a solid black body for that truly professional look.
 
The Kodak Medalist was made specifically for the US Navy for use under all conditions. It is rugged. Get it serviced by someone who understands its quirky engineering. The lens is phenomenal. On purpose of Medalist was to photograph enemy shore defenses from ships as sea.
 
Speed Graphic. Will help you appreciate what photographers did to get the shot. Fun cameras to use!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register